Characterization of Dog Glutathione Transferase P1-1, an Enzyme Relevant to Veterinary Medicine

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) form a family of detoxication enzymes instrumental in the inactivation and elimination of electrophilic mutagenic and carcinogenic compounds. The Pi class GST P1-1 is present in most tissues and is commonly overexpressed in neoplastic cells. GST P1-1 in the dog, Canis lupus familiaris, has merits as a marker for tumors and as a target for enzyme-activated prodrugs. We produced the canine enzyme CluGST P1-1 by heterologous bacterial expression and verified its cross-reactivity with antihuman-GST P1-1 antibodies. The catalytic activity with alternative substrates of biological significance was determined, and the most active substrate found was benzyl isothiocyanate. Among established GST inhibitors, Cibacron Blue showed positive cooperativity with an IC₅₀ value of 43 nM. Dog GST P1-1 catalyzes activation of the prodrug Telcyta, but the activity is significantly lower than that of the human homolog.     

In situ observation of synthesized nanoparticles in ultra-dilute aerosols via X-ray scattering

In-air epitaxy of nanostructures (Aerotaxy) has recently emerged as a viable route for fast, large-scale production. In this study, we use small-angle X-ray scattering to perform direct in-flight characterizations of the first step of this process, i.e., the engineered formation of Au and Pt aerosol nanoparticles by spark generation in a flow of N₂ gas. This represents a particular challenge for characterization because the particle density can be extremely low in controlled production. The particles produced are examined during production at operational pressures close to atmospheric conditions and exhibit a lognormal size distribution ranging from 5–100 nm. The Au and Pt particle production and detection are compared. We observe and characterize the nanoparticles at different stages of synthesis and extract the corresponding dominant physical properties, including the average particle diameter and sphericity, as influenced by particle sintering and the presence of aggregates. We observe highly sorted and sintered spherical Au nanoparticles at ultra-dilute concentrations (< 5 × 10⁵ particles/cm³) corresponding to a volume fraction below 3 × 10^–10, which is orders of magnitude below that of previously measured aerosols. We independently confirm an average particle radius of 25 nm via Guinier and Kratky plot analysis. Our study indicates that with high-intensity synchrotron beams and careful consideration of background removal, size and shape information can be obtained for extremely low particle concentrations with industrially relevant narrow size distributions.

     

Turbulent heat transfer characteristics of supercritical n‐decane in a vertical tube under various operating pressures

To explore the effect of the operating pressure on the flow and thermal characteristics in a vertical tube with supercritical n‐decane, the inner wall temperature along the streamwise direction, the applicability of empirical correlations and buoyancy criteria are studied firstly. The mechanisms in views of density distribution, velocity field, turbulence intensity, the thickness of the thermal boundary layer, and secondary flow are then analyzed. It is observed that the buoyancy is helpful for the phenomenon of heat transfer deterioration at lower operating pressures but higher operating pressures can diminish this tendency. According to this reason, the empirical correlation proposed by Bae and Kim is suitable for the higher operating pressures but cannot well predict the occurrence of heat transfer deterioration. However, it can be evaluated by the buoyancy criterion Gr/Re² = 0.01 qualitatively. The decrease of turbulence intensity, the thickened thermal boundary layer, and secondary flow generation make contributions to the heat transfer deterioration in particular. Similarly, this situation can be diminished and even removed by the higher operating pressures.     

用石灰及水泥土柱稳定边坡和深开挖

本文介绍用生石灰粉或水泥与软粘土就地搅拌在地基内形成土柱以稳定沟槽,深开挖以及边坡的设计与施工方法。石灰土柱具有石灰用量低,施工振动小,挤土扰动少,透水性好的优点。文中讨论了石灰土的强度机理,石灰土柱的受力及破坏形式,给出了计算图式及应取的安全系数值。全文结合瑞典工程实例阐述。     

Wet spun fibers from solutions of cellulose in an ionic liquid with suspended carbon nanoparticles

Wet spun fibers from solutions of dissolving pulp in 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium acetate (EmimAc) with up to 50 wt % (based on cellulose) suspended carbon black and graphene nanoplatelets particles were studied. Carbon fillers were dispersed by simple shearing in a Couette type mixer and the resulting spin dope was extruded into a hot water coagulation bath from a single hole spinneret. Microstructure, mechanical properties, and electrical conductivity were assessed as a function of filler loading and discussed in comparison to melt spun fibers with similar fillers. The coagulation process and subsequent drying of wet spun fibers was found to produce a significant microporosity, more so the higher the filler loading. The electrical percolation threshold was quite high in the wet spun fibers and relatively modest values of conductivity were obtained with regard to the high filler loadings. Carbon black was found to be superior to graphene nanoplatelets. This was related to flow‐induced orientation effects. The mechanical properties of the carbon‐filled fibers were found to be similar or lower compared to the pure cellulose fibers because of low interfacial interactions and formation of microporosity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41417.     

Synthesis and experimental study of novel double perovskite Ba2NixCo2−xO6 as promising oxygen carrier materials for CO2 capture application

Novel oxygen-deficient double-perovskite type oxide Ba₂Ni_xCo_2−xO₆ was applied to produce O₂/CO₂ mixed stream gas for oxyfuel combustion application. A series of different Co concentration substituted Ba₂Ni_xCo_2−xO₆ was synthesized by an EDTA-citrate sol-gel combustion method. The oxygen carriers, Ba₂Ni_0.25Co_1.75O_6, Ba₂Ni_0.45Co_1.55O₆, Ba₂Ni_0.65Co_1.35O₆ and Ba₂Ni_0.85Co_1.15O₆ were c\characterized by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic oxygen adsorption/desorption experiments. The results showed that the capacity of provided O₂ was improved by the partial substitution of Ni by Co. In addition, the synthesized perovskites exhibit good regeneration ability. The optimal degree of Co substitution was x = 0.25 for Ba₂Ni_xCo_2−xO₆ with consideration of oxygen desorption ability. Therefore, Ba₂Ni_0.25Co_1.75O₆ was selected to examine the influence of the operating parameters on the oxygen release performance. It was found that the desorption temperature and CO₂ partial pressure are the two main operating parameters for the oxygen desorption performance. Further, the proposed novel double perovskite Ba₂Ni_0.25Co_1.75O₆ provided excellent performance, the O₂ production of Ba₂Ni_0.25Co_1.75O₆ can still reach 120 mg/g after 10 cycles.     

Measurements of Some Characteristics of Thermal Radiation in a 400-kW Grate-Fired Furnace Combusting Biomass

A comprehensive experimental investigation relevant to thermal radiation has been performed in a grate-fired test furnace. Thermal radiation is the dominating mode of heat transfer in the grate-fired furnace and yet only a few studies have focused on thermal radiation. No previous works, to the authors' knowledge, have been carried out concerning measurements on radiative heat transfer in grate-fired furnaces. In this work measurements of temperature have been carried out for all boundaries and the flue gases at a large number of locations. The gas species volume fraction, particle mass–size distributions, and wall irradiation have also been measured at a number of spatial locations. These data are useful in a computational framework to describe the radiative heat transfer reaching the boundaries. Comparing modeled wall irradiation to the measured one makes it possible to obtain a deeper insight into the thermal radiative transport inside the grate-fired furnace.