Dynamic proteome in enigmatic preeclampsia: an account of molecular mechanisms and biomarker discovery

The coevolution of genomics and proteomics has led to advancements in the field of diagnosis and molecular mechanisms of disease. Proteomics is now stepping into the field of obstetrics, where early diagnosis of pregnancy complication such as preeclampsia (PE) is imperative. PE is a multifactorial disease characterized by hypertension with proteinuria, which is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality occurring in 5-7% of pregnancies worldwide. This review discusses the probable molecular mechanisms that lead to PE and summarizes the proteomics research carried out in understanding the pathogenicity of PE, and for identifying the candidate biomarker for diagnosis of the disease.     

Electrical conductivity studies of copper-substituted and non-substituted Ni-Zn mixed ferrites

The electrical conductivity of Ni-Zn and copper-substituted Ni-Zn ferrites is investigated in the range 300 to 1000 K. It is seen that the plots of log against 10³/T exhibit a linear relationship. There are four distinct regions exhibited by the Ni-Zn ferrite. However, with the substitution of copper there appears to be gradual disappearance of the fourth region. Also for the samples of Ni-Zn ferrite with more than 80% Zn, there are only three regions in the variation of log with 10³/T. The breaks and discontinuities are attributed to several sources. The electrical conduction in these ferrites is explained on the basis of a hopping mechanism. The activation energy in the paramagnetic region is found to be more than that for the ferri magnetic region. This is attributed to the effect of the magnetic ordering in the conduction process.     

IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS INDUCING IMPELLER DESIGN

Rate of gas induction, static pressure, mixing time and power consumption have been measured in 0.57 m i.d. vessel. Different types of impellers namely shrouded disc turbine, shrouded curved blade turbine and pitched blade turbine were used. The impeller diameter was varied from 0.15-0.25 m and the impeller speed was varied from 3 to 20 r/s.

The pitched blade turbine was found to give 30-60 per cent higher rates of gas induction as compared with the best design reported in the literature. The mixing time was found to be lower by a similar magnitude. Moreover in the case of pitched blade turbine it was found that the gas was getting induced radially as well as axially. This eliminates the necessity of the diffuser and hence reducing the complexities in the mechanical structure.     

Hydrodynamics and liquid phase axial mixing in orifice pipe reactor

Two phase flow in a horizontal pipe, with orifice plates placed at regular intervals as obstructions, was studied for the effect of phase velocities on flow patterns, fractional phase hold-ups, pressure drop and liquid phase axial dispersion. Radioactive technetium-99m (as an aqueous solution of sodium pertechnatate) was used as tracer. A pulse injection technique with two point measurements was employed. Three different orifice diameters were used (8 mm, 16 mm, and 20 mm) in a pipe diameter of 32 mm. The orifice spacing was 500 mm in all cases. Superficial gas (air) velocity was varied over a range from 0.02 m/s to 1.0 m/s and superficial liquid (water) velocity from 0.03 m/s to 0.85 m/s. Different flow patterns under different flow conditions were identified and a generalised flow map is presented. Variations in hold-ups and pressure drop with flow patterns have been explained. Rational correlations have been developed for fractional phase hold-ups and pressure drop. A preliminary comparison of two phase gas-liquid flow in a horizontal pipe with orifice obstructions (to be called orifice pipe reactor), as a gas-liquid contacting device, is made with a conventional bubble column reactor. Recommendations have been made for future work.     

Anionic Clays as Potential Slow-Release Fertilizers: Nitrate Ion Exchange

Several nitrate containing anionic clays were synthesized at different temperatures and the kinetics of NO₃ ^– release were determined to test their suitability as slow-release N fertilizers. A sample (Mg:Al = 2:1) synthesized at 60°C with smaller particle size released 75, 86 and 100% of its NO₃ ^– in 1, 3 and 7 days, respectively when equilibrated with a simulated soil solution. On the other hand, the 175°C/2 hrs sample with larger particle size released 65, 77 and 84% of its nitrate in 1, 3 and 7 days, respectively. Another anionic clay (synthesized at 175°C/24 hrs) of higher charge density (Mg:Al = 2:1) containing NO₃ ^– was equilibrated with a 0.012 N NaCl or Na₂CO₃ to test the role of different anions in releasing the NO₃ ^– anion from the interlayers. The results showed that Cl^– released more NO₃ ^– than did CO₃ ^2– from this anionic clay after all the treatment times probably as a result of the CO₃ ^2– anion blocking the release of NO₃ ^– from the interior of the crystals. When a lower charge density (Mg:Al = 3:1) sample (synthesized at 175°C/48 hrs) was equilibrated with 0.02N solution of anions the release of nitrate was as follows: Cl^– < F^– < SO₄ ⁼ CO₃ ^2–. These results suggest that the divalent SO₄ ⁼ and CO₃ ^2– anions are more effective in the release of NO₃ ^– from this lower charge density anionic clay. Time-resolved structural analysis of NO₃ ^– exchange with CO₃ ^2– in the above anionic clay using synchrotron x-ray diffraction showed that ion exchange is rapid because of small crystal size and lower charge density. Thus the release of NO₃ ^– from anionic clays is an interplay among the type of anions present in soil solution, their concentration, pH of soil solution, the charge density and crystal size of anionic clay etc.