Solute-Solute Interactions in Jet Fuel by Ultralow Conductance Measurement

Solute-solute interactions in pure organic liquids are much easier to determine than solute-solute interactions in a complex organic mixture such as a middle distillate fuel. This paper presents a method for the determination of solute-solute interaction and infinite dilution diffusion coefficient of hydrogen bond donor-acceptor species using ultralow conductance measurement. A theoretical framework was developed to obtain both complexation equilibrium constant (K) and infinite dilution diffusion coefficient, D° from a single set of measurements. These equations were applied for the study in hexadecane, a model hydrocarbon, and in jet fuel. The D° for methanol in jet fuel, 1.38 × 10^-4 cm² s^-1, is indicative of hydrophobic environments for the polar solutes in hydrocarbons media. The conditional equilibrium constant, K', was found to be maximum for methanol in jet fuel, which indicates the presence of strong hydrogen bond acceptors in jet fuel. The present method is fairly general and applicable to polar and polarizable species in hydrocarbon media.     

Validity of the Latest Research Findings on Causes of Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in Bangladesh

Abstract

The groundwater arsenic contamination problem in Bangladesh is the worst in the world. Two hypotheses are prevailing as the cause (mobilization) of groundwater arsenic contamination in Bangladesh. One is called “pyrite oxidation” and the other is “oxy-hydroxide reduction.” According to the first hypothesis, groundwater arsenic contamination is human-made, which has a relationship with excessive groundwater withdrawal. On the other hand, according to the second one, the contamination is natural. The British Geological Survey (BGS) conducted an investigation to identify the cause of groundwater arsenic contamination in Bangladesh. Based on their findings, they rejected the pyrite oxidation hypothesis and accepted the oxy-hydroxide reduction hypothesis. However, several experts are opposing their research findings. Therefore, a case study is undertaken to examine the validity of the BGS findings. Although we obtained results which are similar to the BGS, the errors in the estimates of percent of wells contaminated, the key parameter of these analyse show that the present as well as BGS results are not dependable to make any conclusion about the cause of contamination. Moreover, the validity test shows that space-dependent relationships among different hydro-geological parameters for the heterogeneous aquifer system are not valid to represent time-dependent phenomena. Therefore, the conclusion made by the BGS is not valid. Still, there is a possibility that the pyrite oxidation hypothesis could be accepted. For a final conclusion we must observe these relationships in a time domain by generating reliable time-dependent field data.     

Regeneration of spent activated carbon by wet air oxidation

The regeneration of activated carbon was studied using the wet air oxidation process in the temperature range of 150–240°C and oxygen partial pressure range of 0.2 to 1.0 MPa. Phenol was used as substrate. The overall mechanism of regeneration has been analysed and the different steps taking place during the regeneration process were individually investigated. Kinetics of oxidation of phenol and oxygen mass transfer coefficients have been estimated in the ranges of temperature and pressure studied. Oxidative degeneration characteristics of activated carbon were also studied. The conditions of temperature and pressure have been found at which the extent of regeneration is favourable.     

Achievements and trends of solid oxide fuel cells in clean energy field: a perspective review

The main concerns in the world today, especially in the energy field, are subjected to clean, efficient, and durable sources of energy. These three aspects are the main goals that scientist are paying attention to. However, the various types of energy resources include fossil and sustainable ones, but still some challenges are chasing these kinds from energy conversion, storage, and efficiency. Hence, the most reliable and considered energy resource nowadays is the utilized one which is as highly efficient, clean, and everlasting as possible. So, in this review, an attempt is made to highlight one of the promising types as a clean and efficient energy resource. Solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is the most efficient type of the fuel cell types involved with hydrogen and hydrocarbon-based fuels, especially when it works with combined heat and power (CHP). The importance of this type is due to its nature of work as conversion tool from chemical to electrical for generation of power without noise, pollution, and can be safely handled.     

The Potential Role of FREM1 and Its Isoform TILRR in HIV-1 Acquisition through Mediating Inflammation

FREM1 (Fras-related extracellular matrix 1) and its splice variant TILRR (Toll-like interleukin-1 receptor regulator) have been identified as integral components of innate immune systems. The potential involvement of FREM1 in HIV-1 (human immunodeficiency virus 1) acquisition was suggested by a genome-wide SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) analysis of HIV-1 resistant and susceptible sex workers enrolled in the Pumwani sex worker cohort (PSWC) in Nairobi, Kenya. The studies showed that the minor allele of a FREM1 SNP rs1552896 is highly enriched in the HIV-1 resistant female sex workers. Subsequent studies showed that FREM1 mRNA is highly expressed in tissues relevant to mucosal HIV-1 infection, including cervical epithelial tissues, and TILRR is a major modulator of many genes in the NF-κB signal transduction pathway. In this article, we review the role of FREM1 and TILRR in modulating inflammatory responses and inflammation, and how their influence on inflammatory responses of cervicovaginal tissue could enhance the risk of vaginal HIV-1 acquisition.     

Formation of pyrazines in dihydroxyacetone and glycine Maillard reaction: A computational study

Based on the electronic and Gibb’s free energy changes, the possibility of the formation of 2,5-dimethyl pyrazine (25Pz) as one of the probable final products in dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and glycine Maillard reaction under different pH conditions is described. Mechanisms for the reaction have been proposed following the Hodge-scheme. Density functional computational calculations at the standard state have been performed on the proposed mechanisms of the reaction. Electronic and Gibb’s free energy changes for the formation of different compounds have been estimated by following the total mass balance for different steps of the reaction. The possible order of feasibility for the production of 25Pz has been found as DHA + deprotonated glycine (DGly) gaseous > DHA + DGly aqueous > DHA + unprotonated glycine (UGly) gaseous > DHA + glycine zwitterion (GlyZ) gaseous > DHA + UGly aqueous > DHA + GlyZ aqueous > DHA + protonated glycine (PGly) aqueous > DHA + PGly gaseous phase reactions. Amino-acetone has been found to be the most likely precursor of the pyrazine ring. Oxidation plays an important role during the production of 25Pz. Water has been found as a by-product during the formation of 25Pz.     

Highly dense and chemically stable proton conducting electrolyte sintered at 1200 °C

The BaCe_0.7Zr_0.1Y_0.2?xZn_xO_3?δ (x = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) has been synthesized by the conventional solid state reaction method for application in protonic solid oxide fuel cell. The phase purity and lattice parameters of the materials have been studied by the room temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been done for check the morphology and grain growth of the samples. The chemical and mechanical stabilities have been done using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in pure CO₂ environment and thermomechanical analysis (TMA) in Argon atmosphere. The XRD of the materials show the orthorhombic crystal symmetry with Pbnm space group. The SEM images of the pellets show that the samples sintered at 1200 °C are highly dense. The XRD after TGA in CO₂ and thermal expansion measurements confirm the stability. The particles of the samples are in micrometer ranges and increasing Zn content decreases the size. The conductivity measurements have been done in 5% H₂ with Ar in dry and wet atmospheres. All the materials show high proton conductivity in the intermediate temperature range (400–700 °C). The maximum proton conductivity was found to be 1.0 × 10^?2 S cm^?1 at 700 °C in wet atmosphere for x = 0.10. From our study, 10 wt % of Zn seems to be optimum at the B-site of the perovskite structure. All the properties studied here suggest it can be a promising candidate of electrolyte for IT-SOFCs.     

Peripheral T-cell activation in non-segmental vitiligo

Vitiligo is a hypopigmentary dermatosis of probable autoimmune origin. Previously reported aberrations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), especially T cells and T cell subsets, have been inconsistent. Lymphocyte subpopulations were examined using flow cytometry and monoclonal antibodies against CD4, CD8, CD20, CD25, CD45RA, and HLA-DR in 34 patients with non-segmental vitiligo. Twelve patients had not received any previous treatment and 22 had previously received at least one course of PUVA therapy that was discontinued at least four months prior to our study. Compared to matched controls, we found significant increases in CD25 and HLA-DR in vitiligo patients (p = 0.000). An inverse correlation was observed between HLA-DR and patient status with regard to treatment (p = 0.001). These results suggest a role for T cells in the pathogenesis of vitiligo and imply that previous PUVA therapy may be reflected by an alteration in circulating DR +ve cells.     

Contents of Volume 17

Volume Contents

Contents of Volume 17     

An optimal parallel algorithm for c-vertex-ranking of trees

For a positive integer c, a c-vertex-ranking of a graph G=(V,E) is a labeling of the vertices of G with integers such that, for any label i, deletion of all vertices with labels >i leaves connected components, each having at most c vertices with label i. The c-vertex-ranking problem is to find a c-vertex-ranking of a given graph using the minimum number of ranks. In this paper we give an optimal parallel algorithm for solving the c-vertex-ranking problem on trees in O(log₂n) time using linear number of operations on the EREW PRAM model.