Types Of Plastic Research Articles

Occurrence and migration of synthetic phenolic antioxidants in food packaging materials: Effects of plastic types and storage temperature.

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) are widely used in food packaging materials to extend product shelf life. Not much attention has been paid to high molecular weight SPAs (HMW SPAs) so far, despite their potential health risks. In this study, we first analyzed the concentrations of ten HMW SPAs in food plastic packaging materials (including 6 plastic categories, n=116). The total concentrations of HMW SPAs (∑SPAs) ranged from 0.0844 to 894mg/kg, with a geometric mean of 71.7mg/kg. The predominant HMW SPAs included AO1010 (accounting for 71.8% of total concentrations of HMW SPAs), AO1076 (21.4%), and AO3114 (3.14%), with AO1010 detected in all samples. Higher concentrations were notably found in polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) materials. Migration tests revealed that HMW SPAs could readily transfer into food simulants, with PP exhibiting the lowest migration levels. Migration of SPAs into fatty foods was pronounced, increasing with temperature (temperature gradients: 4°C, 25°C, and 60°C). In the 95% ethanol food simulants, the maximum migration amounts of AO1076 in PE (7.05mg/kg at 25°C) and PET (9.79mg/kg at 25°C; 10.8mg/kg at 60°C) surpassed the specific migration limit (SML) set by the national standards, posing potential food safety risks. This was the first report on the presence and migration patterns of ten HMW SPAs in food plastic packaging materials, providing crucial insights into food packaging material safety.

Combined BPA and DIBP Exposure Induced Intestinal Mucosal Barrier Impairment Through the Notch Pathway and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Mice

Bisphenol A (BPA) and diisobutyl (DIBP) phthalate are widely used as typical plasticizers in food packaging. Plasticizers can be released from polymers, migrate into food, and be ingested by humans, leading to various health problems. However, little research has investigated the combined toxicity of BPA and DIBP, particularly their intestinal toxicity. Our goal is to analyse the combined toxicity of BPA (50 mg/kg) and DIBP (500 mg/kg) on the intestines of KM mice. Additionally, we tried to find natural products that can inhibit or prevent the combined toxicity of BPA and DIBP. The results indicated that the combination of BPA and DIBP exposure resulted in a reduction of beneficial flora, an increase in D-Lac levels (136 ± 14 μmol/L), an increase in intestinal permeability, activation of the notch pathway, and a decline in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) to goblet cells, compared to single-exposure sources. Nevertheless, Rubus chingii Hu phenolic extract (RHPE) (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg) ameliorated the BPA and DIBP-induced intestinal microbiota disruption and intestinal mucosal barrier impairment by inhibiting the overactivation of the notch pathway. The results of this study highlight the potential risks to human health posed by the combination of BPA and DIBP and may help explain the potential pathways of enterotoxicity caused by combined ingestion.

Water: Impacts of plastic pollution on human health and biological systems

Current spare of human development consisting of advancements in science and technology that led to the synthesis of plastics, polymers with diverse benefits in human endeavours; and on the other hand, the need for quality water is more intensified nowadays. Plastics pollution is rising due to mismanagement, and inturn causing contamination of water bodies and ultimately affecting biological systems. A review of literatures pertaining water, plastics and water pollution was done to fulfill the objective of this study. This study examines the harmful effects of plastics in water on human health and biological systems. Plastics, widely used in daily life, contaminate water sources, posing significant health risks. This review explores the role of water in biological systems, types of plastics, sources of plastic pollution, harmful chemicals conveyed by plastics, and management strategies.This paper concludes that behavior change, effective waste management, effective water supply and treatment, awareness creation may contribute greatly in controlling water pollution caused by plastic pollution.

Co-Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste and Lignin: A Pathway for Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery

Various plastics and biomass wastes, such as polypropylene (PP), low- or high-density polyethylene (LDPE/HDPE), and lignin, have become some of the most concerning wastes nowadays. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the possibility of applying thermochemical processes for the valorization of these materials. The experiments were carried out using a thermogravimetric analyzer on individual plastic and lignin samples and their mixtures at different mass ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, and 1:4. The gaseous products evolved during the pyrolysis process were analyzed by combined thermogravimetric and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR) and chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to analyze the functional groups and chemical composition of the obtained pyrolysis products. The results showed that the main functional groups of lignin monitored by TG-FTIR were aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, while all plastics showed the same results for hydrocarbons. The investigation confirmed that mixing these types of plastics with lignin at different mass ratios led to increased recovery of higher-value-added products. Py-GC/MS analysis showed that the greatest results of compound recovery were achieved with lignin and LDPE/HDPE mixtures at 600 °C. At this temperature and with a mass ratio of 1:3, the plastic’s radicals enhanced the depolymerization of lignin, encouraging its wider decomposition to hydrocarbons that can be applied for the production of value-added chemicals and bio-based energy.

Microplastic accumulation in various bird species in Turkey

Abstract Plastic pollution constitutes one of the major environmental problems of our time, and in recent years, it has emerged as a significant threat to the environment and various organisms, including bird species. In this context, this study, which provides the first data in Turkey, aimed to determine the level of microplastic (MP) pollution in 12 bird species (Eurasian Buzzard; Short-toed Snake-eagle; White Stork; Northern Long-eared Owl; Common Barn-owl; Ruddy Shelduck; Eurasian Eagle-owl; Scarlet Macaw; Common Pheasant; Indian Peafowl; Common Kestrel and Gray Parrot). The results indicate that MPs were detected in 50% of the specimens (n = 20), with an average of 1 MP/item per individual. With an average of three MPs per individual, the short-toed snake-eagle was found to be the species with the highest MP accumulation. Fibers (range: 51-534 µm) were the most common type of plastic found in the gastrointestinal tract of birds, with ethylene vinyl acetate and navy blue being the most common polymer type and color, respectively. It is also assessed that the abundance of MPs increases with the weight of specimens, contributing to the hypothesis that there is a correlation between the size/weight of animals and increased levels of MP accumulation. These findings highlight the impact of plastic pollution on birdlife and the need for further monitoring to assess the ecological impact of pollution.

Advancing PET-Degrading Enzymes through Directed Evolution to Combat Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution poses a significant environmental challenge due to its persistence and widespread distribution. Among various types of plastic, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is especially problematic due to its resistance to natural degradation. PET-degrading enzymes, particularly PETases and cutinases, have emerged as promising solutions for enzymatic plastic recycling. However, their native catalytic efficiency and thermostability are limited. Directed evolution has enabled the development of improved enzyme variants through techniques such as error-prone PCR, DNA shuffling, and saturation mutagenesis. This review highlights recent advances in engineering Cutinase and PETases, focusing on enhancing catalytic efficiency and thermostability for PET plastic degradation by directed evolution. Key engineered variants, including HotPETase and optimized leaf-branch compost cutinase (LCC) mutants, demonstrate significant progress toward sustainable plastic recycling through enzymatic means.

Evaluation of char properties from co-pyrolysis of biomass/plastics: effect of different types of plastics

Co-pyrolysis of biomass/plastics is a viable method to obtain high-quality carbon materials. The synergistic effect in the char production process of co-pyrolysis of biomass/plastics affects the properties of the obtained char. However, the synergistic effect research on the char production process of co-pyrolysis of biomass/plastics is facing challenges owing to highly varying composition of different plastics. In this study, the synergistic effect during co-pyrolysis of bamboo (BM) and plastics (polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)) was investigated. TG results showed that PP, PS, PET, and PBT promoted the release of biomass volatiles and increased co-pyrolysis char yield. Notably, the O-aromatic structure in PC underwent cleavage and deoxygenation reactions, inhibiting the production of co-pyrolysis char during co-pyrolysis process. Char yield from co-pyrolysis process decreased from 24.80% for bamboo pyrolysis to 15.74% for co-pyrolysis of bamboo/PC. The results of physicochemical tests on char samples indicated that the addition of polyhydrocarbon plastics (PP and PS) increased H/C ratio, O/C ratio, heating value and oxidative reactivity of the char compared to bamboo char due to the vapor deposition of hydrocarbons derived from thermal decomposition of plastics on the biomass char. While, co-pyrolysis of biomass and polyester plastics (PET, PC, PBT) improved the pore structure of char and increased oxygen content.

Chemical characterization of polymer and chloride content in waste plastic materials using pyrolysis - direct analysis in real time - high-resolution mass spectrometry.

The increasing global demand for plastic has raised the need for effective waste plastic management due to its long lifetime and resistance to environmental degradation. There is a need for rapid plastic identification to improve the mechanical waste plastic sorting process. This study presents a novel application of Temperature-Programmed Desorption-Direct Analysis in Real Time-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (TPD-DART-HRMS) that enables rapid characterization of various plastics. This technique was applied on four commercially available reference polymers (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride) as well as three "waste" plastic samples of mixed origin. These waste plastic samples were obtained as discards from various industrial processes with limited analytical characterization data. Through the application of CH2 Kendrick mass defect (KMD) grouping, characteristic trends in the mass spectra of each sample were identified, allowing for a simplified numerical comparison. This approach utilized a robust statistical approach using the Tanimoto coefficient, allowing for the quantitative measures of similarity between standards and unknown samples. The application of this mathematical evaluation methodology was used to identify plastic types and to distinguish structurally similar polymers. Additionally, we report that a chloride ion clustering effect with copper substrate can identify chlorinated polymer PVC (polyvinyl chloride) utilizing pyro-(-)DART-HRMS mode. PVC polymer is of particular interest in recycling due to its high chloride content, which can present technical challenges for some types of recycling. We found that chloride ion clusters are a good screening marker for the presence of chlorinated polymers in mixed waste plastic samples. This study can possibly help advance rapid and accurate analytical techniques for identifying the composition of waste plastics to advance the effectiveness of the waste plastic sorting process.

The Evaluation of Recycling Perception in the Plastic Waste Industry

As the industry develops, plastic consumption continues to increase every year. Today, plastic pollution stands out as an important problem among environmental concerns. Plastic waste creates negative impacts on the environment, both on macro and micro levels, due to their types, size, and resistance to degradation. Recycling is of great importance its contributions to both nature and economy. The main purpose of this study is to determine the waste management, economic efficiency, sustainability and recycling awareness levels of companies operating in the plastic recycling industry using surveys and statistical tools. For this purpose, a survey was conducted with a total of 19 companies and 63 employees working in micro, small, medium and large companies that recycle different types of plastics. The data obtained from the surveys were evaluated using basic statistical methods. There are many studies in the literature that focused on consumers' perception of recycling. However, according to our knowledge, no study has been found on the recycling perception of recycling companies.

Fatigue Experiment and Failure Mechanism Analysis of Aircraft Titanium Alloy Wing-Body Connection Joint.

Taking the titanium alloy wing-body connection joint at the rear beam of a certain type of aircraft as the research object, this study analyzed the failure mechanism and verified the structural safety of the wing-body connection joint under actual flight loads. Firstly, this study verified the validity of the loading system and the measuring system in the test system through the pre-test, and the repeatability of the test was analyzed for error to ensure the accuracy of the experimental data. Then, the test piece was subjected to 400,000 random load tests of flight takeoffs and landings, 100,000 Class A load tests, and ground-air-ground load tests, and the test piece fractured under the ground-air-ground load tests. Lastly, the mechanism analysis and structural safety verification of the fatigue fracture of the joints were carried out by using a stereo microscope and scanning electron microscope. The results show that fretting fatigue is the main driving force for crack initiation, and the crack shows significant fatigue damage characteristics in the stable growth stage and follows Paris' law. Entering the final fracture region, the joint mainly experienced ductile fracture, with typical plastic deformation features such as dimples and tear ridges before fracture. The fatigue crack growth behavior of the joint was quantitatively analyzed using Paris' law, and the calculated crack growth period life was 207,374 loadings. This result proves that the crack initiation life accounts for 95.19% of the full life cycle, which is much higher than the design requirement of 400,000 landings and takeoffs, indicating that the structural design of this test piece is on the conservative side and meets the requirements of aircraft operational safety. This research is of great significance in improving the safety and reliability of aircraft structures.

RESEARCH ON THE ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY OF MATERIALS FOR ORTHOPEDIC PROSTHETICS

Introduction. Acrylic plastics are widely used in orthopedic dentistry and orthodontics. They are the main material for the manufacture of various types of dental prostheses. To create an orthopedic product, a mixture of powder (polymer) and liquid (monomer) is obtained, from which a product of the required shape and size is formed and solidified. The resulting designs must meet the requirements for compatibility with living tissues, including the little-studied compatibility of the electromagnetic component. Main part. Dielectric materials when heated form their own electromagnetic radiation in the millimeter range, which is a general property of heated dielectrics. By this, electromagnetic flows (EMF) of different directions arise. These flows can have a positive or negative direction and in a certain way affect the adjacent biotissues and the human body as a whole. Therefore, the authors conducted studies of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) of 6 types of acrylic plastics, determined their levels and compared them with the level of EMR of biotissues of the human body. Based on the obtained results, conclusions were drawn regarding their electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). “Colorless basic plastic” and “Vertex Implacryl” have the highest level of EMC (up to 58%), “Ftorax” and “Sinma-M” plastics have a slightly lower level (48-53%) and the lowest EMC (35-36%) is recorded in “Vertex Basio” and “Ethakryl – 02”. Conclusions. Compared to the level of human electromagnetic radiation, acrylic plastics and, accordingly, dental prostheses from them form negative currents in relation to adjacent biotissues. The conducted studies allow to recommend the choice of more acceptable materials for the manufacture of dental permanent and removable prostheses, as well as to determine the correlation between the emission of electromagnetic characteristics and the appearance of complications in patients during the operation of these structures.

Observation and Control of Single-Component Adhesion Interphase of Polyamide 66 through Confocal Raman Microspectroscopy.

Manufacturing using adhesion technology has attracted much attention. Examples of adhesion include the lay-up of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic prepregs and the lamination of food packaging. In single-component adhesion systems, the analysis of the boundary region poses challenges because of the absence of chemical and physical discrimination at the adhesion interphase. Polyamide 66, one of the typical engineering plastics, is widely accepted as a structural material in automobiles and packaging films. Therefore, finer control of adhesion with polyamide 66 is crucial for advancing adhesion manufacturing. In this work, we focused and investigated the interphase of a single-component adhesion system with polyamide 66. For the analyses of single-component polyamide 66 laminates, an adhesion system with nondeuterated and deuterated polyamides was utilized, and their interphase structures were evaluated by confocal Raman microspectroscopy. The interphase region of the adhesion specimens was able to be characterized and evaluated, revealing an expansion to a thickness of several micrometers. The interphase thickness was increased with thermal annealing postlamination, whereas no thickness increase was observed in adhered specimens using the polyamide 66 substrates through thermal crystallization before lamination. The formation of the interphase region can be attributed to the crystal growing and lamella interlocking in the boundary region. Moreover, the larger interphase thickness was strongly associated with an increase in adhesion fracture toughness. These results suggested that the adhesion properties of crystalline substrates were decided by crystallization behavior and the thermal annealing process, even when using the same component adhesion systems.

Myosin XVA isoforms participate in the mechanotransduction-dependent remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton in auditory stereocilia.

Auditory hair cells form precise and sensitive staircase-like actin protrusions known as stereocilia. These specialized microvilli detect deflections induced by sound through the activation of mechano-electrical transduction (MET) channels located at their tips. At rest, a small MET channel current results in a constant calcium influx which regulates the morphology of the actin cytoskeleton in the shorter 'transducing' stereocilia. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this novel type of activity-driven plasticity in the stereocilium cytoskeleton are currently unknown. Here, we tested the contribution of myosin XVA (MYO15A) isoforms, given their known roles in the regulation of stereocilia dimensions during hair bundle development and the maintenance of transducing stereocilia in mature hair cells. We used electron microscopy to evaluate morphological changes in the cytoskeleton of auditory hair cell stereocilia after the pharmacological blockage of resting MET currents in cochlear explants from mice that lacked one or all isoforms of MYO15A. Hair cells lacking functional MYO15A isoforms did not exhibit MET-dependent remodeling in their stereocilia cytoskeleton. In contrast, hair cells lacking only the long isoform of MYO15A exhibited increased MET-dependent stereocilia remodeling, including remodeling in stereocilia from the tallest 'non-transducing' row of the bundle. We conclude that MYO15A isoforms both enable and fine-tune the MET-dependent remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton in transducing stereocilia, while also contributing to the stability of the tallest row.

Fiber Reinforced Bioplastic from Food Waste (Potato peel)

The bioplastic is an evolution for plastic manufacturing units when conventional plastics use to cause various environmental issues. Biodegradability is an added advantage which can be obtained using bioplastic is that they are produced by renewal resources as a raw material for synthesis. Although, bioplastics may be classified into two types, that are biodegradable and non-biodegradable, depends on the type of plastic which are produced. Whereas, some of the bioplastics are non-biodegradable, the use of biomass in synthesizing the bioplastics will enhance in preserving non-renewable resources, which are inflammable, in producing conventional plastics. However, the mechanical strength of bioplastic still has scope for improvement in comparison with conventional plastics, which is having limited use and its application. Therefore, bioplastics required to be reinforced to improving its performance and properties to get the proper application of it. Synthetic reinforcement has been used to reinforce conventional plastic to achieve its desire properties to get the optimum application. Due to various issues, the trend has been diversified to use natural resources as reinforcements. There are different manufacturing units that have started to use reinforced bioplastic, and this article mainly tries to achieve the advantages of using reinforced bioplastic in various industries and its limitations. Thus, in this paper more emphasis is given to use the natural food waste which is available in ample quantity and possible to prepare the reinforced bioplastic of desired strength and environmentally friendly with biodegradability.

Remote detection and identification of plastics with hyperspectral Raman imaging lidar

We report a hyperspectral Raman imaging lidar system that can remotely detect and identify typical plastic species. The system is based on a frequency-doubled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser operating at 532 nm and an imaging spectrograph equipped with a gated intensified CCD spectrometer. Stand-off detection of plastics is achieved at 6 m away with a relatively wide field of view of 1 × 150 mm2, thus providing the groundwork for better solutions in monitoring marine plastic pollution.

ESTIMATION OF PLASTIC PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION, AND WASTE GENERATION IN NIGERIA: 2020 TO 2050

Global utilization of different types of plastics has been increasing over the years due to its many useful properties. However, disposal of plastic waste has been a challenge all over the world and Nigeria is not an exception. As the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria is among the highest consumer of plastic products. Plastic waste generation was considered using three different scenario that considered forecasted gross domestic production up to 2050. The results indicated that plastic production rate in Nigeria is linear as against plastic consumption rate which is exponential. The result estimates from 2020 to 2050 revealed that plastic consumption in Nigeria doubles every 9 years which was validated using the doubling time equation. However, substantial reduction was achieved if enhanced plastic waste management technologies is adopted. Further reduction is achievable through reuse, recycle and implementation of hierarchical waste management strategies.

Heterosynaptic plasticity: one name for several phenomena

Synaptic plasticity, which refers to long-term changes in the efficiency of synaptic transmission in the form of potentiation and depression, is thought to be a cellular mechanism of learning and memory. Long-term potentiation and depression can be induced under a variety of experimental conditions using different induction protocols. One such example is a protocol that follows Hebb’s rule, where induction of plasticity requires paired activation of a pre- and postsynaptic neuron that occur within a narrow temporal window relative to each other. Such plasticity is called homosynaptic plasticity because the same (homo-, Greek prefix meaning “same, identical”) synapses that participated in the induction of plasticity undergo long-term changes. However, as numerous experiments have shown, synapses that were inactive during the induction of plasticity also undergo long-term changes. This process has been termed heterosynaptic (hetero – “other, different”) plasticity in mammalian studies. Historically, however, the term heterosynaptic plasticity first appeared in studies of mollusks, where plastic changes in synaptic transmission were caused by a combination of stimulation of “weak” and “strong” synaptic inputs. As was later shown, the potentiating effect of stimulating the “strong” input in this case was associated with the release of neuromodulators, primarily serotonin. This type of plasticity was later demonstrated in mammals, where it was termed modulatory plasticity. The review considers different types of heterosynaptic plasticity, cellular and molecular mechanisms of its induction and maintenance, and explains the reasons for some terminological confusion related to this phenomenon in the literature.

Characteristics of heavy metal migration from virgin PET and recycled PET plastic bottles in beverage products

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most commonly used packaging materials for beverages. The increased use of PET has contributed to the rise in plastic waste. Recycled PET (R-PET) is a solution to address this environmental issue. This study aims to determine the migration level of Pb, Cd, Hg, and Sb in PET bottles, evaluate the effect of plastic types (virgin PET and R-PET) and testing conditions (according to BPOM following national regulation and EU following international regulation) on the migration from heavy metals into food. Sixty test samples of virgin PET and R-PET bottles, obtained from four packaging industries in Indonesia, were analyzed for Cd, Hg, Pb, and Sb concentrations using ICP-MS. The results showed that the highest concentrations of heavy metal migration for Cd and Pb were in a virgin PET sample according to BPOM, respectively, at 28 ± 2 ng/L and 636 ± 22 ng/L. Meanwhile, the highest concentrations of Hg and Sb were in a R-PET sample according to EU, respectively, at 469 ± 91 ng/L and 5042 ± 617 ng/L. There was a significant difference in heavy metal levels between the two types of plastic (virgin PET and R-PET) and two testing conditions (BPOM and EU). However, all the obtained concentrations were below the permitted limits of national and EU regulations.

Progress in the Study of Occurrence, Distribution, Material Flows, and Environmental Release of Substances of Very High Concern （SVHCs） in Plastics

Plastic additives provide plastics with excellent functions such as plasticizing, flame retardant, and antioxidant properties and are widely used in various plastics. Of these, 189 plastic additives have been included in the European Union's Candidate List of substances of very high concern （SVHCs） due to their potential environmental and health risks. These SVHCs are mainly used in PVC, PUR, and PE plastics and in the packaging, automotive, construction, electronic and electrical equipment, and textile sectors. Plasticizers and flame retardants are the most widely used and therefore the focus of SVHC risk assessment and risk management. Existing studies have carried out material flow analysis （MFA） for SVHCs in plastics, revealing the environmental and health risks of typical flame retardants and plasticizers throughout the product life cycle, such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers （PBDEs）, hexabromocyclododecane （HBCD）, and phthalic acid esters （PAEs）. A large amount of SVHCs enter waste streams at the end of the product life cycle, highlighting the importance of strengthening waste management for SVHCs risk management. In addition to the release of SVHCs from plastic products into the environment, plastic leakage is another important source of environmental release of SVHCs. Plastic debris that have been in the environment for a long time continue to release SVHCs and pose a long-term threat to the ecosystem and human health. In the future potentially hazardous chemicals must be crucially identified in different types of plastics and to assess their environmental release during their life cycle, in particular by establishing a database on hazardous chemicals in plastics and measuring emission factors, optimizing dynamic material flow analysis （d-MFA）, as well as studying the release mechanisms of hazardous chemicals from plastic leakage.

Long-Term Potentiation: The Accidental Discovery.

Long-term potentiation (LTP), is a type of synaptic plasticity now considered essential for learning and memory. Here I tell the story of how I accidentally discovered in 1966 in the laboratory of Per Andersen in Oslo, Norway, because I was not looking for it. It just emerged. I recount how I came to work with Per and why my result was not immediately followed up. Then, in 1968 Tim Bliss joined the lab and, on his urging, from 1968 to 1969 we did the experiments that resulted in Bliss and Lømo, 1973. I explain why I think the experiments later failed in Oslo, and for a few years also in Tim's lab in London, before it became a readily observable phenomenon. I also describe how Tony Gardner-Medwin and I in 1971 failed to reproduce the results that Tim and I had obtained 2 years earlier in the same lab and the same type of anesthetized rabbit preparation. I tell how this failure caused me to leave the LTP field and, instead, continue exploring mechanisms of nerve-muscle interactions, which I had studied with much success during my postdoc period in London from 1969 to 1971. I reflect on Donald Hebb's influence on LTP studies and on my experience when after many years of neglect, I became interested in LTP and the hippocampus anew and started to write about it, though without doing lab experiments. Finally, I report briefly on the experiments I am doing now in retirement, studying how the nervous system regulates body temperature through varying amounts of muscle tone.