Poly­(butylene succinate)/magnesium hydroxide sulfate hydrate whisker (MHSH) composites were prepared using the prepolymer from 1,4-butanediol, succinic acid, and modified MHSH, which were characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR. The thermal, crystallographic, and mechanical properties of the PBS composites were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) demonstrated that glass transition temperature (T g) and crystallization temperature (T c) were increased with increasing of filler content. The thermal degradation process of PBS composites was analyzed by TG-FTIR, and a possible thermal degradation mechanism of PBS was proposed. The results indicated that the prepolymer was better than UMHSH in interfacial adhesion with PBS. The tensile strength, flexural strength, and modulus were significantly increased with the addition of filler mass fraction, especially when the composites were blended with the prepolymer.

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Background Early‐onset obsessive–compulsive disorder (EOCD) is a comparatively severe subtype of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Olfactory dysfunction is a common symptom of OCD, but all previous studies have focused on late‐onset OCD (LOCD). Methods The current study compared olfactory identification ability in EOCD patients and age‐matched and sex‐matched LOCD patients and healthy controls. Thirty patients with EOCD, 30 patients with LOCD and 30 healthy controls were included in the study. Olfactory function was measured using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. The Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction components of the Revised Wechsler Memory Scale were used to evaluate verbal and visual memory. Results There were significant differences in olfactory identification ability between the three groups. EOCD patients were comparable to LOCD patients, while both patients' group showing worse olfactory identification ability than controls. Olfactory identification ability was not significantly correlated with verbal and visual memory or clinical symptoms in the EOCD group or the LOCD group. Conclusions The results of the present study suggest that olfactory identification ability may be a relatively stable indicator of OCD, independent of age, duration of illness, verbal and visual memory, and severity of clinical symptoms.

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