Catalytic combustion of methane over perovskites

Perovskite-type oxides of the series La_{1− x}A_xMnO₃ (A Sr, Eu and Ce) were prepared by the amorphous citrate process, leading to high surface area catalysts (up to 45 m² g⁻¹). They were tested in a flow reactor for the total combustion of methane. Complete conversion was obtained over all of the catalysts between 500 and 600°C and catalyst performance did not change significantly after 100 h on-stream. Specific activity was found to decrease monotonically with increasing the temperature of the O₂ TPD desorption peak maximum. The rate of methane combustion was low below 500°C, then grew very fast, showing that two kinds of oxygen are active in these catalysts: an adsorbed oxygen species, that reacts at low temperature, and a lattice oxygen species, that becomes available at high temperature, boosting the catalytic activity.     

Selective hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexene using a suspended Ru catalyst in a mechanically agitated tetraphase reactor

The reactivity on unsupported Ru based catalyst in benzene selective hydrogenation to cyclohexene has been studied. The reaction has been carried out in a tetraphase slurry reactor at 423 K, at 5 MPa, in the presence of two liquid phases: benzene and an aqueous solution of ZnSO₄ 0.6 mol l⁻¹. A detailed study of the influence of the transport phenomena on the reactivity of the catalyst has been carried out. No correlation has been found between the characteristic numbers of Weeler–Weisz and of Carberry mass transport at external liquid/solid interface or into the catalyst pores for both benzene and hydrogen and the selectivity of the catalyst. The main features of the catalysts are the strong dependence between the catalysts preparation procedure and their activity and selectivity. In particular the influence of the alkaline or the earth alkaline hydroxide, employed in the precipitation of the Ru precursor, on the selectivity, has been studied. Hydrogen chemisorption measurements indicate that the amount of weakly adsorbed hydrogen depends on the nature of the base employed in the precipitation step.     

Sound influence on landscape values

In order to study the influence of the interaction between visual and acoustic stimuli on perception of the environment, 36 sound and image combinations were presented to 75 subjects. The sounds and images used were of natural and semi-natural settings and urban green space. Affective response was measured in terms of pleasure. The results show a rank of preferences running from natural to man-made sounds, with the nuance of a potential alert or alarm-raising component of the sound. The potential for alert or alarm-raising may be related, over and above the information content or meaning, to the characteristics of the sound frequency spectrum, specifically to the existence of frequency bands whose sound levels impose themselves on the acoustic background. The congruence or coherence between sound and image influences preferences. Coherent combinations are rated higher than the mean of the component stimuli. Results suggest that there is a need to identify places or settings where the conservation of the sound environment is essential, because of its salient informational content or due to the drastic impact of the loss of sound quality on observer appreciation, for example, in urban green spaces, natural spaces and cultural landscapes.     

Computer aided design algorithm for singly fed circularly polarized rectangular microstrip patch antennas

Based on a resonant cavity model, this work presents an effective computer aided design (CAD) algorithm to design singly fed circularly polarized (CP) rectangular microstrip patch antennas. The CAD algorithm allows precise prediction of the antenna performance. The analysis of radiation pattern, input impedance, and axial ratio parameters confirm the success of the design. The experimental results from a manufactured prototype operating at 2.25 GHz are in good agreement with the CAD predictions. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 9: 32–41, 1999.     

Ultrastructural Study of Platelet Behavior and Interrelationship in Sprouting and Intussusceptive Angiogenesis during Arterial Intimal Thickening Formation

Platelets in atherosclerosis, bypass stenosis, and restenosis have been extensively assessed. However, a sequential ultrastructural study of platelets in angiogenesis during the early phases of these lesions has received less attention. Our objective was the study of platelets in angiogenesis and vessel regression during intimal thickening (IT) formation, a precursor process of these occlusive vascular diseases. For this purpose, we used an experimental model of rat occluded arteries and procedures for ultrastructural observation. The results show (a) the absence of platelet adhesion in the de-endothelialized occluded arterial segment isolated from the circulation, (b) that intraarterial myriad platelets contributed from neovessels originated by sprouting angiogenesis from the periarterial microvasculature, (c) the association of platelets with blood components (fibrin, neutrophils, macrophages, and eosinophils) and non-polarized endothelial cells (ECs) forming aggregates (spheroids) in the arterial lumen, (d) the establishment of peg-and-socket junctions between platelets and polarized Ecs during intussusceptive angiogenesis originated from the EC aggregates, with the initial formation of IT, and (e) the aggregation of platelets in regressing neovessels (‘transitory paracrine organoid’) and IT increases. In conclusion, in sprouting and intussusceptive angiogenesis and vessel regression during IT formation, we contribute sequential ultrastructural findings on platelet behavior and relationships, which can be the basis for further studies using other procedures.     

Volume-Independent Sodium Toxicity in Peritoneal Dialysis: New Insights from Bench to Bed

Sodium overload is common in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality that is traditionally considered a result of extracellular volume expansion. Recently, sodium storage was detected by Na23 magnetic resonance imaging in the interstitial tissue of the skin and other tissues. This amount of sodium is osmotically active, regulated by immune cells and the lymphatic system, escapes renal control, and, more importantly, is associated with salt-sensitive hypertension. In chronic kidney disease, the interstitial sodium storage increases as the glomerular filtration rate declines and is related to cardiovascular damage, regardless of the fluid overload. This sodium accumulation in the interstitial tissues becomes more significant in ESKD, especially in older and African American patients. The possible negative effects of interstitial sodium are still under study, though a higher sodium intake might induce abnormal structural and functional changes in the peritoneal wall. Interestingly, sodium stored in the interstial tissue is not unmodifiable, since it is removable by dialysis. Nevertheless, the sodium removal by peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains challenging, and new PD solutions are desirable. In this narrative review, we carried out an update on the pathophysiological mechanisms of volume-independent sodium toxicity and possible future strategies to improve sodium removal by PD.     

Ncx3-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Midbrain Leads to Neuroinflammation in Striatum of A53t-α-Synuclein Transgenic Old Mice

The exact mechanism underlying selective dopaminergic neurodegeneration is not completely understood. The complex interplay among toxic alpha-synuclein aggregates, oxidative stress, altered intracellular Ca²⁺-homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction and disruption of mitochondrial integrity is considered among the pathogenic mechanisms leading to dopaminergic neuronal loss. We herein investigated the molecular mechanisms leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and its relationship with activation of the neuroinflammatory process occurring in Parkinson’s disease. To address these issues, experiments were performed in vitro and in vivo in mice carrying the human mutation of α-synuclein A53T under the prion murine promoter. In these models, the expression and activity of NCX isoforms, a family of important transporters regulating ionic homeostasis in mammalian cells working in a bidirectional way, were evaluated in neurons and glial cells. Mitochondrial function was monitored with confocal microscopy and fluorescent dyes to measure mitochondrial calcium content and mitochondrial membrane potential. Parallel experiments were performed in 4 and 16-month-old A53T-α-synuclein Tg mice to correlate the functional data obtained in vitro with mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation through biochemical analysis. The results obtained demonstrated: 1. in A53T mice mitochondrial dysfunction occurs early in midbrain and later in striatum; 2. mitochondrial dysfunction occurring in the midbrain is mediated by the impairment of NCX3 protein expression in neurons and astrocytes; 3. mitochondrial dysfunction occurring early in midbrain triggers neuroinflammation later into the striatum, thus contributing to PD progression during mice aging.