Preparation,structural elucidation,molecular weight determination,and molecular recognition of first‐ and second‐tier dendrimer molecules

1,3,5‐Triglyceratetriazine [first tier (G₁)] and tri(1,3,5‐triglycerate) triazine [second tier (G₂)] dendrimers were prepared with 1,3,5‐trichlorotriazine and sodium glycerate in a 1 : 3 mass ratio in an ethanolic medium.G₁ and G₂ were amorphous, white, solid substances. Their structures were elucidated with IR, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR, and their thermal stability was studied with thermogravimetric analysis. The activation energy was calculated with the Freeman–Carroll model. Densities, viscosities, and surface tensions for 0.01–0.08 mol/kg aqueous solutions increased at 0.01 mol/kg for sodium glycerate, 1,3,5‐trichlorotriazine, 1,3,5‐triazine triglycerate chloride, G₁, and G₂. These values were measured at 298.15 K. The apparent molal volume, reduced viscosity, and inherent viscosity were calculated from the densities and viscosities, respectively. The data were regressed for the limiting densities, limiting apparent molal volumes, intrinsic viscosities, limiting inherent viscosities, and limiting surface tensions for solute–solvent interactions. The positive limiting apparent molal volume values were noted in the order of G₂ > 1,3,5‐triazine triglycerate chloride > G₁ > 1,3,5‐trichlorotriazine > sodium glycerate, with weaker hydrophilic intermolecular interactions of G₂. The higher intrinsic viscosity and limiting inherent viscosity values for G₂ implied stronger G₂–H₂O hydrophilic interactions, and the higher limiting apparent molal volume of G₂ indicated slightly higher dynamic conformational changes in comparison with G₁, with stronger structural activities. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Differential proteomics of human seminal plasma: A potential target for searching male infertility marker proteins

The clinical fertility tests, available in the market, fail to define the exact cause of male infertility in almost half of the cases and point toward a crucial need of developing better ways of infertility investigations. The protein biomarkers may help us toward better understanding of unknown cases of male infertility that, in turn, can guide us to find better therapeutic solutions. Many clinical attempts have been made to identify biomarkers of male infertility in sperm proteome but only few studies have targeted seminal plasma. Human seminal plasma is a rich source of proteins that are essentially required for development of sperm and successful fertilization. This viewpoint article highlights the importance of human seminal plasma proteome in reproductive physiology and suggests that differential proteomics integrated with functional analysis may help us in searching potential biomarkers of male infertility.     

A Newly Developed Synbiotic Yogurt Prevents Diabetes by Improving the Microbiome–Intestine–Pancreas Axis

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasing worldwide, and there are no long-term preventive strategies to stop this growth. Emerging research shows that perturbations in the gut microbiome significantly contribute to the development of T2D, while microbiome modulators may be beneficial for T2D prevention. However, microbiome modulators that are effective, safe, affordable, and able to be administered daily are not yet available. Based on our previous pro- and prebiotic studies, we developed a novel synbiotic yogurt comprised of human-origin probiotics and plant-based prebiotics and investigated its impact on diet- and streptozotocin-induced T2D in mice. We compared the effects of our synbiotic yogurt to those of a commercially available yogurt (control yogurt). Interestingly, we found that the feeding of the synbiotic yogurt significantly reduced the development of hyperglycemia (diabetes) in response to high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin compared to milk-fed controls. Surprisingly, the control yogurt exacerbated diabetes progression. Synbiotic yogurt beneficially modulated the gut microbiota composition compared to milk, while the control yogurt negatively modulated it by significantly increasing the abundance of detrimental bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, the synbiotic yogurt protected pancreatic islet morphology compared to the milk control, while the control yogurt demonstrated worse effects on islets. These results suggest that our newly developed synbiotic yogurt protects against diabetes in mice and can be used as a therapeutic to prevent diabetes progression.     

Lime-induced iron chlorosis in sugarcane

Lime-induced chlorosis is a potential problem on most calcareous soils particularly in arid and semi-arid climates affecting most of the plants grown on them. Bicarbonates, phosphates, calcium, iron inactivation in plant tissue and organic anions have been held responsible as the mechanism leading to the disorder which is still not fully understood, and there is a lack of agreement as to the primary factor responsible for lime-induced chlorosis. To date, no hypothesis has adequately explained why chlorosis occurs on some high lime soils and not on others. Likewise, the nutrient ratios, K/Ca, P/Fe and Fe/Mn considered as diagnostic criteria for lime-induced chlorosis, have shown inconsistency. The presence of calcium carbonate, bicarbonate, calcium and imbalance of nutrient cations in the growth medium, injudicious addition of phosphates, quality of irrigation water, and other soil and plant factors have been held responsible for the disorder. Amelioration of lime-induced chlorosis by (i) acidification of calcareous soils, (ii) use of iron salts, (iii) use of synthetic iron chelates, and (iv) by management practices including the selection and development of varieties resistant to lime-induced iron chlorosis, is discussed. Suggestions for future research work are made.     

A novel approach to design optimal 2-D digital differentiator using vortex search optimization algorithm

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The designing of 2-D digital differentiator is multimodal and high dimensional problem which requires large number of differentiator coefficients to be...     

HSIC-based affinity measure for learning on graphs

Pattern Analysis and Applications - The performance of graph-based learning techniques largely relies on the edges defined between the vertices of the graph. These edges that represent the affinity...     

CO2 process intensification of algae oil extraction to biodiesel

Algae-to-biodiesel processes are hindered by high costs and low energy return on investment.^1,2. Herein, three foci in research improve algae-to-biodiesel processes by: (1) reducing high installation and energy costs in the CO₂ sequestration, cultivation, and harvesting stages; (2) improving oil extraction and biodiesel generation; and (3) increasing utilization of the proteins in lipid-extracted biomass (e.g., for animal feed), as well as the omega-3 fatty acids for nutraceuticals and food supplements. A process is introduced that uses carbon dioxide to aid in all three of these foci. CO₂ is used first in the form of microbubbles to lyse algae cell walls, releasing triglyceride oils. CO₂ also aids with transesterification of these triglycerides using methanol. At low temperatures (353.15–368.15 K) and intermediate pressures (5–10 MMPa), carbon dioxide causes methanol to dissolve partially in the triglyceride phase and triglyceride to dissolve partially in the methanol phase, increasing the transesterification reaction rate. Due to the nondestructive nature of these processes, other metabolites can also be harvested providing improvements in both mass and economic efficiency with an overall sharp reduction in the modeled price of biodiesel.     

Epoxidized soybean oil modified using fatty acids as tougheners for thermosetting epoxy resins: Part 2—Effect of curing agent and epoxy molecular weight

A series of bio-rubber (BR) tougheners for thermosetting epoxy resins was prepared by grafting renewable fatty acids with different chain lengths onto epoxidized soybean oil at varying molar ratios. BR-toughened samples were prepared by blending BRs with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A resins, Epon 828 and Epon 1001F, at different weight fractions and stoichiometrically cured using an amine curing agent, 4, 4′-methylene biscyclohexanamine (PACM). Fracture toughness properties of the unmodified and BR toughened polymer samples—including critical strain energy release rate (G_Ic), and critical stress intensity factor (K_Ic)—were measured to investigate the toughening effect of prepared BRs. It was found that the degree of phase separation and toughening were more controllable relative to similar polymers cured using the aromatic curing agent Epikure W, and the use of higher molecular epoxy resins produces a synergistic effect increasing the toughness much more than similar polymers made with lower molecular weight epoxy resins. Average BR domain sizes ranging from 200 to 900 nm were observed, and formulations with G_Ic, values K_Ic as high as 1.0 kJ/m² and 1.4 MPa m^1/2 were attained respectively for epoxy systems with T_g greater than 130°C.     

Epoxidized soybean oil modified using fatty acids as tougheners for thermosetting epoxy resins: Part 1

A series of bio-rubber (BR) reactive tougheners for thermosetting epoxy resins was prepared by grafting renewable saturated fatty acids of different chain lengths (C6-C14) onto epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) at varying molar ratios. The tunable nature of the BR systems derives from the architecture and functionality of naturally occurring molecules. Control of BR reactivity and molecular weight by varying the degree of grafting and the chain length of the fatty acid was demonstrated. The BR-toughened samples were prepared by blending BRs with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), Epon 828, and stoichiometrically curing the mixture using an aromatic amine hardener, diethyl toluene diamine (Epikure W). Fracture surface morphology studies showed that tuning of phase separated particle sizes was possible depending on the BR type and weight fraction. The resulting toughening effect was evaluated by measuring the fracture toughness of control and toughened polymer samples. The use of BRs significantly improved the critical strain energy release rate and critical stress intensity factor values of thermosetting polymer samples without significantly reducing T_g and modulus. In addition to toughening and adding renewable content to petroleum-based thermosetting epoxy systems these new tougheners have low viscosity compared to common alternatives and aid ease of processing.     

Effect of Fe-Zn alloy layer on the corrosion resistance of galvanized steel in chloride containing environments

In this study, the effect of Fe-Zn alloy layer that is formed during galvanizing process on the corrosion behavior of galvanized steel has been investigated. The galvanostatic dissolution of galvanized steel was carried out in 0.5 M NaCl solution to obtain the Fe-Zn alloy layer on the base steel. The alloy layer was characterized to be composed of FeZn₁₃, FeZn₇ and Fe₃Zn₁₀ intermetallic phases, which constitute the zeta, delta1 and gamma layers of galvanized steel, respectively. It was observed that the alloy layer has similar cathodic polarization behavior but different anodic polarization behavior compared to galvanized steel. The anodic current plateau of alloy layer was up to 100 times lower than that of galvanized coating. Corrosion test performed in wet-dry cyclic condition has shown that the alloy layer has lower corrosion rate as compared to galvanized steel. From the results of corrosion test of alloy layer and base steel, it was concluded that Zn²⁺ has positive effect on the protectiveness of the zinc corrosion products. The measurement of surface potential over the alloy/steel galvanic couple has confirmed the galvanic ability of alloy layer to protect both the alloy layer itself and the base iron during initial stage of atmospheric corrosion.