Models for Sorption Isotherms for Foods: A Review

This article presents basic concepts related to the thermodynamics of sorption of water and measurement of sorption isotherm for food materials. A comprehensive review of the widely used sorption models is presented. Various statistical techniques used to ascertain the effectiveness of a model to describe the sorption data are discussed. It is anticipated that this article will provide useful information to researchers pursuing work on sorption behavior of food materials as well as modeling of drying processes.     

Low-Mass WIMP Sensitivity and Statistical Discrimination of Electron and Nuclear Recoils by Varying Luke-Neganov Phonon Gain in Semiconductor Detectors

Amplifying the phonon signal in a semiconductor dark matter detector can be accomplished by operating at high voltage bias and converting the electrostatic potential energy into Luke-Neganov phonons. This amplification method has been validated at up to |E|=40 V/cm without producing leakage in CDMS?II Ge detectors, allowing sensitivity to a benchmark WIMP with mass M _χ =8 GeV/c² and σ=1.8×10^?42 cm² (with significant sensitivity for M _χ >2 GeV/c²) assuming flat electronic recoil backgrounds near threshold. Furthermore, for the first time we show that differences in Luke-Neganov gain for nuclear and electronic recoils can be used to discriminate statistically between low-energy background and a hypothetical WIMP signal by operating at two distinct voltage biases. Specifically, 99% of events have p-value <10^?8 for a simulated 20?kg-day experiment with a benchmark WIMP signal with M _χ =8 GeV/c² and σ=3.3×10^?41 cm².     

Merox and Related Metal Phthalocyanine Catalyzed Oxidation Processes

Alkyl and aromatic mercaptans are among important organic sulfur compounds distributed in petroleum products. The mercaptans cause foul odor and are corrosive toward metals. In addition, mercaptans may cause oxidative deterioration as well as inhibit the performance of various additives (TEL, antioxidants) in finished products. Therefore, it is necessary to remove them, either by extractive processes or by converting them into innocuous disulfides. Such processes are usually referred to as “sweetening.”     

Synthesis, characterization and application of platinum based bi-metallic catalysts for direct glucose alkaline fuel cell

In the context of development of direct glucose fuel cell (DGFC), low metal loading (ca. 15 wt.%) bi-metallic platinum–bismuth (PtBi/C) and platinum–gold (PtAu/C) catalysts are synthesized by immobilizing metal sols on carbon substrate (Vulcan XC 72R). Physical characterization of electro-catalysts, studied using TEM, SEM, EDX and XRD, reveals the formation of nano-sized metal particles on carbon substrate. The cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry of the prepared catalysts point out that PtAu/C is more active and stable than PtBi/C and commercial PtRu/C towards glucose electro-oxidation in alkaline medium. The catalysts are tested as anode in batch DGFC using activated charcoal as cathode in different glucose and electrolyte (KOH solution) concentrations at ambient temperature (30 °C). Open-circuit voltage of ∼0.9 V is obtained for PtAu/C and commercial PtRu/C and 0.8 V for PtBi/C anode in 0.2 M glucose and in 1 M KOH. However, the peak power density per unit metal loading or specific peak power density obtained is 1.6 mW cm⁻² mg⁻¹ for PtAu/C followed by PtBi/C (1.25 mW cm⁻² mg⁻¹) and commercial PtRu/C (1.13 mW cm⁻² mg⁻¹). For PtBi/C and PtRu/C, the cell performance increases up to 0.2 M glucose concentration and then decreases. However, for PtAu/C catalyst the cell performance increases up to 0.3 M glucose concentration and then decreases. A prominent transition zone is observed in which current density sharply decreases with the decrease in voltage (increase in overpotential) for PtBi/C and PtRu/C at 0.3 M glucose concentration, which is not observed in the case of PtAu/C. The transition zone for PtAu/C is insignificant and at higher glucose concentration (0.4 M) pointing out that PtAu/C is much stable catalyst than PtBi/C and commercial PtRu/C.     

Distribution of IgG subclasses in antimonial unresponsive Indian kala-azar patients

BACKGROUND: Interleukin 10 (IL-10) decreases the severity of experimental acute pancreatitis. The role of endogenous IL-10 in modulating the course of pancreatitis is currently unknown. AIMS: To examine the systemic release of IL-10 and its messenger RNA production in the pancrease, liver, and lungs and analyse the effects of IL-10 neutralisation in caerulein induced acute pancreatitis in mice. METHODS: Acute necrotising pancreatitis was induced by intraperitoneal caerulein. Serum levels of IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF), and tissue IL-10 and TNF-alpha gene expression were assessed. After injecting control antibody or after blocking the activity of endogenous IL-10 by a specific monoclonal antibody, the severity of acute pancreatitis was assessed in terms of serum enzyme release, histological changes, and systemic and tissue TNF production. RESULTS: In control conditions, serum IL-10 levels increased and correlated with the course of pancreatitis, with a maximal value eight hours after induction. Both IL-10 and TNF-alpha messengers showed a similar course, and were identified in the pancreas, liver, and lungs. Neutralisation of endogenous IL-10 significantly increased the severity of pancreatitis and associated lung injury as well as serum TNF protein levels (+75%) and pancreatic, pulmonary, and hepatic TNF messenger expression (+33%, +29%, +43%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In this non-lethal model, systemic release of IL-10 correlates with the course of acute pancreatitis. This anti-inflammatory response parallels the release of TNF and both cytokines are produced multisystemically. Endogenous IL-10 controls TNF-alpha production and plays a protective role in the local and systemic consequences of the disease.     

Development and utility of anti-PepT1 anti-peptide polyclonal antibodies

We have considered the access resistance (AR) of a single conducting channel placed in a membrane bathed by an electrolyte. The classical expression for AR is due to Hall, who modeled the electrolyte as an ohmic conducting homogeneous medium. This approach is discussed in the present paper and it is shown that it is not valid in all cases, but depends on the ion concentration in solution and the ratio between solution and channel resistivities. To get a new expression for AR, we have combined the use of one-dimensional Nernst-Planck and Poisson (NPP) equations for the mouth of the channel and three-dimensional NPP equations for the outside solution. The influence of ion gradients and the channel itself on AR tums out to be considerable in diluted solutions (and also in the case of small channels in any solution). This influence is weaker in concentrated solutions, for which AR is well described by Hall's expression.