Processing of Yttria-Alumina Coated Silicon Nitride Slips by Slip Casting

Si₃N₄powders coated with 6 wt% Y₂O₃and 4 wt% Al₂O₃were prepared by coprecipitation. The resulting powders were dispersed in water at different pH values and with addition of various amounts of ammonium polyacrylate (NH₄PA) to produce 32 vol% slips. The influence of the amount of NH₄PA solution added and pH on the rheological properties of 32 vol% coated Si₃N₄slips were studied. In addition, the sintered density of cast samples was determined and related to the degree of slip dispersion. The adsorption of the NH₄PA on the coated particle surface was rather high and the surface became saturated near 0.86 mg/m²at pH 9.2. High NH₄PA concentrations (1.7–3 wt%) were necessary to obtain well dispersed 32 vol% coated Si₃N₄slips at pH 9.2. The best stabilization was obtained with the addition of 2.3 wt% NH₄PA; in this condition, the viscosity reached a minimum value of 35 mPa.s at 100 s^–1. The slip viscosity increased with increasing pH from 9.2 to 10.2. Slips with low viscosities gave a more dense packing of cast samples and consequently higher sintered density values.     

To treat or not to treat: comparison of different criteria used to determine whether weight loss is to be recommended

Background  

Excess body fat is a major risk factor for disease primarily due to its endocrine activity. In recent years several criteria have been introduced to evaluate this factor. Nevertheless, treatment need is currently assessed only on the basis of an individual's Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated as body weight (in kg) divided by height in m². The aim of our study was to determine whether application of the BMI, compared to adiposity-based criteria, results in underestimation of the number of subjects needing lifestyle intervention.     

Stereoselective Synthesis and Antiallodynic Activity of 3-Hydroxylated Paroxetines

The design, stereoselective synthesis and in vivo antiallodynic activity of four novel paroxetine analogs, named 3-hydroxy paroxetines (3HPXs), is reported herein. Among the novel synthesized compounds, three showed an antiallodynic effect, while (R,R)-3HPX was found to be 2.5 times more bioactive than (-)-paroxetine itself in neuropathic rats. Consequently, the current investigation not only discloses a novel promising analgesic drug, but also reveals that functionalization at the C3 position of paroxetine could be as effective as the common functionalization at either C4 or within the sesamol group.     

Chronically Elevated Exogenous Glucose Elicits Antipodal Effects on the Proteome Signature of Differentiating Human iPSC-Derived Pancreatic Progenitors

The past decade revealed that cell identity changes, such as dedifferentiation or transdifferentiation, accompany the insulin-producing β-cell decay in most diabetes conditions. Mapping and controlling the mechanisms governing these processes is, thus, extremely valuable for managing the disease progression. Extracellular glucose is known to influence cell identity by impacting the redox balance. Here, we use global proteomics and pathway analysis to map the response of differentiating human pancreatic progenitors to chronically increased in vitro glucose levels. We show that exogenous high glucose levels impact different protein subsets in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, regardless of concentration, glucose elicits an antipodal effect on the proteome landscape, inducing both beneficial and detrimental changes in regard to achieving the desired islet cell fingerprint. Furthermore, we identified that only a subgroup of these effects and pathways are regulated by changes in redox balance. Our study highlights a complex effect of exogenous glucose on differentiating pancreas progenitors characterized by a distinct proteome signature.     

Geochemical implications of trace elements and sulfur in the saturate, aromatic and resin fractions of crude oil from the Mara and Mara Oeste fields, Venezuela

Ten trace elements (Cr, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Co, Ni, Mo, V and Sr) and sulfur were determined in the saturate, aromatic and resin fractions of 15 crude oils from Mara (DM) and Mara Oeste (DMO) fields of the Maracaibo Basin, Venezuela. The oils studied are classified as unaltered or altered by biodegradation. In the altered oil, the depletion of n-alkanes, the absence of isoprenoids and the presence of steranes and hopanes unaltered by biodegradation are indicative of moderate biodegradation. The elements Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, and Sr were detected in the saturated hydrocarbon fraction; Cr and V were detected in the aromatic fraction in addition to the above elements; whereas the elements detected for the resin fraction were Cr, Zn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Mo, V, and Sr. Co was not detected in any fractions of the oils analyzed. Sulfur was found in all fractions of the oils studied. It was proposed that Fe, Zn, Sr, and Mn could have entered the oil during migration or Fe, Zn and Mn as pollutants during oil extraction. Cr and Cu may be of biological origin and Mo could be incorporated into the reservoir through bacteria. Only S, V, and Ni in the resin fractions can be used as indicators of the origin and correlation of Mara and Mara Oeste oils. Based on the results obtained in this work, it can be established that the V/(V+Ni) ratio in the resin fraction can be used as a correlation parameter, for these oils.     

Homogeneous versus heterogeneous catalytic reactions to eliminate organics from waste water using H2O2

Homogeneous (Cu²⁺ ions) and heterogeneous (Cu²⁺-pillared clay) Fenton-like catalysts have been compared in the conversion of p-coumaric acid. The performances of the two classes of catalysts are similar for an analogous amount of copper, but there are some relevant differences in terms of (i) the presence of an induction time, (ii) the turnover frequency, (iii) the efficiency in the use of H₂O₂, (iv) the initial attack of p-coumaric acid (hydroxylation on the aromatic ring or oxidative attack on the double bond of the lateral chain), and (v) the effect of dissolved oxygen on the removal of total organic carbon (TOC). These differences were interpreted in terms of reaction network of generation of radical oxygen species and of organics conversion. The possible formation of a surface peroxo adduct coordinated to a copper binulcear site was also evidenced for the solid heterogeneous catalyst.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Al-MCM-41 and Al-MCM-48 Mesoporous Materials

A novel route in the synthesis of Al-MCM-41 and Al-MCM-48, using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and sodium aluminate (NaAlO₂) as Si and Al source has been obtained. The effect of surfactant nature and the synthesis conditions such as surfactant/Si ratio and hydrothermal treatment time on the formed mesostructure regularity has been studied. Different methods of template removal have also been evaluated. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, FT-IR, and solid-state MAS NMR spectroscopy.     

Catalytic activity of dispersed CuO phases towards nitrogen oxides (N2O, NO, and NO2)

A systematic reactivity study of N₂O, NO, and NO₂ on highly dispersed CuO phases over modified silica supports (SiO₂–Al₂O₃, SiO₂–TiO₂, and SiO₂–ZrO₂) has been performed. Different reaction paths for the nitrogen oxide species abatement were studied: from direct decomposition (N₂O) to selective reductions by hydrocarbons (N₂O, NO, and NO₂) and oxidation (NO to NO₂). The oxygen concentration, temperature, and contact time, were varied within suitable ranges in order to investigate the activity and in particular the selectivity in the different reactions studied. The support deeply influenced the catalytic properties of the active copper phase. The most acidic supports, SiO₂–Al₂O₃ and SiO₂–ZrO₂, led to a better activity and selectivity of CuO for the reactions of N₂O, NO, and NO₂ reductions and N₂O decomposition than SiO₂–TiO₂. The catalytic results are discussed in terms of actual turnover frequencies starting from the knowledge of the copper dispersion values.     

The phase behavior,mechanical, and rheological characteristics of blends containing nitrile polymers and poly(ethylene-co-maleic anhydride)

The phase behavior of binary blends of acrylonitrile/methyl acrylate/butadiene terpolymer (B210) and poly(ethylene-co-maleic anhydride) (PEMA) was examined based on thermal analysis and optical microscopy. Miscibility of these polymer blends was recognized over a wide range of compositions. The appearance of phase separation during subsequent heatings above the glass transition temperature (T_g) of these blends was associated with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior. Rheological characteristics such as shear storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″) and complex viscosity have been shown to depend on the amount of PEMA in the blend. Mechanical properties including the tensile strength and flexural modulus also were found to be related to the composition of the blend. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.