The use of hybrid anaerobic solid–liquid (HASL) system for the treatment of lipid‐containing food waste

The hybrid anaerobic solid–liquid (HASL) system was a modified two‐phase anaerobic digester developed for bioconversion of food waste. The aim of this study was to estimate the feasibility of the HASL system for the treatment of food waste with a high content of lipids. The presence of lipids in food waste increased the energy value of nutrients but could inhibit growth of methanogens. The positive effect of lipids on the performance of anaerobic digestion dominated when the contents of lipids were in the range from 20 to 30% of total solids of food waste. Lipid contents of 40% diminished the production of volatile fatty acids in the acidogenic reactor as well as biogas production and the concentration of total bacteria and methanogens in the methanogenic reactor. Therefore, the HASL system can be used for the treatment of lipid‐containing food wastes if the lipid content is below 40% of total solids. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

3D-printed polymer packing structures: Uniformity of morphology and mechanical properties via microprocessing conditions

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an attractive approach to fabricate highly porous extremely lightweight structures for architecture antivibrational packaging. We report 3D printing processing of model packaging structures using biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a source material, with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) utilized as a common 3D printing source material as a traditional benchmarked material. The effects of printing temperature, speed, and layer morphology on the layer-by-layer 3D-printed structures and their mechanical properties were considered. Three different characteristic morphologies were identified based on printing temperature; the microscopic surface roughness was dependent on the printing speed and layer height. We demonstrate that the mechanical performances and surface properties of 3D-printed PLA structures could be improved by optimization of printing conditions. Specifically, we evaluate that these PLA-based 3D structures printed exhibited better surface qualities and enhanced mechanical performance than traditional ABS-based structures. Results showed that the PLA-based 3D structures possessed the favorable mechanical performance with 34% higher Young's modulus and 23% higher tensile strength in comparison to the ABS-based 3D structures. This study provides guidelines for achieving high-quality 3D-printed lightweight structures, including smooth surfaces and durable mechanical properties, and serves as a framework to create biodegradable 3D-printed parts for human use.     

Laser nano-manufacturing – State of the art and challenges

This paper provides an overview of advances in laser based nano-manufacturing technologies including surface nano-structure manufacturing, production of nano materials (nanoparticles, nanotubes and nanowires) and 3D nano-structures manufacture through multiple layer additive techniques and nano-joining/forming. Examples of practical applications of laser manufactured nano-structures, materials and components are given. A discussion on the challenges and outlooks in laser nano-manufacturing is presented.     

Methemoglobin Is an Endogenous Toll-Like Receptor 4 Ligand—Relevance to Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Neuroinflammation is a well-recognized consequence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and may be responsible for important complications of SAH. Signaling by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated nuclear factor κB (NFκB) in microglia plays a critical role in neuronal damage after SAH. Three molecules derived from erythrocyte breakdown have been postulated to be endogenous TLR4 ligands: methemoglobin (metHgb), heme and hemin. However, poor water solubility of heme and hemin, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contamination have confounded our understanding of these molecules as endogenous TLR4 ligands. We used a 5-step process to obtain highly purified LPS-free metHgb, as confirmed by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance mass spectrometry and by the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Using this preparation, we show that metHgb is a TLR4 ligand at physiologically relevant concentrations. metHgb caused time- and dose-dependent secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), from microglial and macrophage cell lines, with secretion inhibited by siRNA directed against TLR4, by the TLR4-specific inhibitors, Rs-LPS and TAK-242, and by anti-CD14 antibodies. Injection of purified LPS-free metHgb into the rat subarachnoid space induced microglial activation and TNFα upregulation. Together, our findings support the hypothesis that, following SAH, metHgb in the subarachnoid space can promote widespread TLR4-mediated neuroinflammation.     

前驱体对激光熔覆复合溶胶凝胶制备陶瓷涂层的影响

目的研究不同前驱体配比下,激光熔覆复合溶胶凝胶在3Cr13不锈钢表面制备的陶瓷涂层的性能,并对强化机理进行分析。方法通过溶胶凝胶法制备均匀的前驱体,即Ti O2和C(微米石墨和碳纳米管),利用激光熔覆技术,在3Cr13不锈钢基体表面制备出高性能的涂层。采用光学显微镜、X射线衍射仪、扫描电镜和能谱仪对涂层组织和相成分进行分析,采用维氏硬度计对涂层的硬度进行测试,采用HT-600型高温摩擦磨损试验机测试基体和熔覆层在常温下的磨损性能。结果通过溶胶凝胶法,制备出均匀的Ti O2和C混合粉末。激光熔覆后,在覆层中均匀分布着Ti C和Cr7C3强化相。改变前驱体配比,当C和Ti O2的摩尔比增大时,涂层组织明显细化,且涂层中无气孔,显微硬度也有较大提高。当n(TiO2)∶n(C)=1∶8时,次表面显微硬度达到810HV0.2,涂层硬度从上到下呈现递减的趋势,且涂层的耐磨性最好,为基体的4.5倍。结论增大C和Ti O2两者摩尔比,可以提高熔覆层的显微硬度和耐磨性。在熔池中,Ti C密度较小,涂层中硬质颗粒从上到下依次减少,与之对应,硬度也依次递减。同时,碳纳米管的加入将对涂层起到细晶强化的效果。Ti与碳纳米管和微米石墨结合生成微米级和亚微米级Ti C,提高了形核率,Cr7C3以亚微米级Ti C为非均质核心,形核长大,生成均匀分布的Cr7C3强化相。     

LanGT2 Catalyzes the First Glycosylation Step during landomycin A biosynthesis

The glycosyltransferase LanGT2 is involved in the biosynthesis of the hexasaccharide side chain of the angucyclic antibiotic landomycin A. Its function was elucidated by targeted gene inactivation of lanGT2. The main metabolite of the obtained mutant was identified as tetrangulol (4), the progenitor of the landomycin aglycon (7). The lack of the sugar side chain indicates that LanGT2 catalyzes the priming glycosyl transfer in the hexasaccharide biosynthesis: the attachment of a D-olivose to O-8 of the polyketide backbone. Heterologous expression of urdGT2 from S. fradiae Tü2717 in this mutant resulted in the production of a novel C-glycosylated angucycline (6).     

Microfluidic characterization and continuous separation of cells and particles using conducting poly(dimethyl siloxane) electrode induced alternating current-dielectrophoresis

This paper presents a poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) polymer microfluidic device using alternating current (ac) dielectrophoresis (DEP) for separating live cells from interfering particles of similar sizes by their polarizabilities under continuous flow and for characterizing DEP behaviors of cells in stagnant flow. The ac-DEP force is generated by three-dimensional (3D) conducting PDMS composite electrodes fabricated on a sidewall of the device main channel. Such 3D PDMS composite electrodes are made by dispersing microsized silver (Ag) fillers into PDMS gel. The sidewall AgPDMS electrodes can generate a 3D electric field that uniformly distributes throughout the channel height and varies along the channel lateral direction, thereby producing stronger lateral DEP effects over the entire channel. This allows not only easy observation of cell/particle lateral motion but also using the lateral DEP force for manipulation of cells/particles. The former feature is used to characterize the frequency-dependent DEP behaviors of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) and Escherichia coli (bacteria). The latter is utilized for continuous separation of live yeast and bacterial cells from similar-size latex particles as well as live yeast cells from dead yeast cells. The separation efficiency of 97% is achieved in all cases. The demonstration of these functions shows promising applications of the microfluidic device.     

Recent development and new ideas in the field of dispersive multilayer optics

A dispersive-mirror-based laser permits a dramatic simplification of high-power femtosecond and attosecond systems and affords promise for their further development toward shorter pulse durations, higher peak powers, and higher average powers with user-friendly systems. The result of the continuous development of dispersive mirrors permits pulse compression down to almost single cycle pulses of 3?fs duration. These design approaches together with the existing modern deposition technology pave the way for the manufacture of dielectric multilayer coatings able to compress pulses of tens of picoseconds duration down to a few femtoseconds.