Automatic collector of expired 14CO2 for liquid scintillation counting

A filtration technique was employed to trap 14CO2 continuously for liquid scintillation counting. Devices for delivering scintillator and ethanolamine solutions were combined symmetrically with two fritted-glass aspirators for alternating operation. The collector was regulated by a fraction collector timer. Trial and animal tests indicated that the described method was efficient, reliable, and more convenient for frequent collection over long periods than alternative methods. The automatic collector was used for metabolic studies of [1-14C] arachidonic acid in rats kept in metabolic cages and the results were processed by multicompartmental analysis.     

Measurement of substrate oxidation in man

Human hair analysis is now recognized for evaluating someone exposure to xenobiotics: drugs of abuse, pharmaceuticals and polluants. This paper describes analytical methods than can be used by biologists. For drugs of abuse after decontamination, hydrolysis of hair, selective extraction and derivatization, determinations are performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Calibration uses deuterated standards. The cut-off value is 0.5 ng/mg for 6-monoacetylmorphine (heroin) and amphetamines and a benzoylecgonine/cocaine ratio > 0.05 for cocaine. Measurement of metabolites from endogenous metabolism sign the exposure (6-monoacetylmorphine and morphine for heroin, benzoylecgonine for cocaine, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic by-product for cannabis). For drugs, after selective extraction, determinations are performed by GC/MS or liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector. Main applications concern drug monitoring to complement blood determinations or when blood collection is missing, as evidence of hidden, illicit or criminal drug exposure. Finally it is a powerfull tool for clinical diagnosis especially when late biological investigations are performed.     

Catalytic performance of Zr-doped CuO-CeO_2 oxides for CO selective oxidation in H_2-rich stream

Zr-doped CuO-CeO_2 catalysts for CO selective oxidation were designed and prepared by the hydrothermal method and coprecipitation. The experimental samples were characterized by means of N_2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, powder X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction and Xray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is observed that the catalyst prepared by hydrothermal method exhibits larger specific surface area, smaller crystalline size and higher dispersion of active components compared with those of the catalyst obtained by coprecipitation. Meanwhile, redox properties of copper oxide are improved significantly and highly dispersed copper species providing CO oxidation sites are present on the surface. Furthermore, adsorptive centers of CO and active oxygen species increase on the copper-ceria interfaces. The Zr-doped CuO-CeO_2 catalyst prepared by hydrothermal method possesses superior catalytic activity and selectivity for selective oxidation of CO at low temperature compared with those of the sample prepared by coprecipitation. The temperature corresponding to 50% CO conversion is only 73 ℃ and the temperature span of total CO conversion is expanded from 120 to 160 ℃.     

High temperature oxidation of tungsten wires in CO2-argon mixtures

The oxidation kinetics of tungsten wires in natural convection has been investigated in CO2-argon mixtures in the temperature range between 2450 and 3000K and the CO₂ partial pressure range between 2.13 × 10^-5 to 1.28 × 10^-4 atm at 0.789 atm total pressure. The rate generally decreases with increasing temperature at constant bulk CO₂ pressure with a magnitude ranging between 0.5 to 5 × 10^-6 g/cm² s. The oxidation reaction is gas transport controlled as demonstrated by supplemental measurements at 0.395 atm total pressure. A volatile oxide counter diffusion model, which has been previously proposed to explain the oxidation kinetics of tungsten wires in O₂-argon mixtures, is in reasonable agreement with the data.     

Ganglioside GM2 is substrate for a sialidase in MDCK cells

GM1 ganglioside carrying a fluorescent fatty acid in substitution of the natural one, has been administered to cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells for different pulse times (0.5-24 h), and its metabolic fate was followed. The fluorescent GM2, asialo-GM2, asialo-GM1 and ceramide were the only detectable metabolites. The complete absence of fluorescent GM3 is consistent with the presence in these cells of a sialidase working on GM1 and GM2 gangliosides. After treatment of the cells with chloroquine the fluorescent GM1 remained essentially undegraded, indicating a catabolic processing at lysosomal level.     

Influence of cobalt on performance of Cu-CeO_2 catalysts for preferential oxidation of CO

Copper and cobalt oxides supported on CeO_2 were investigated for preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide(CO-PROX) in the presence of excess hydrogen and CO_2.(Cuo)_(1-x)(Co_3 O_4)_(x/3)-(CeO_2)_(2.5)(x=0,0.25,0.50,0.75,0.85 and 1) catalysts were prepared by coprecipitation method.These mixed oxide catalysts were characterized by several physicochemical techniques,such as BET surface area(S_(BET)),X-ray diffraction(XRD),high resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM),temperature programmed reduction(TPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).XRD studies show the peaks related to CuO and Co_3 O_4 phases in copper and cobalt containing CeO_2 catalysts.The average particle size of the CeO_2 crystallites is in the range of 8-10 nm as evaluated from HRTEM studies.XPS studies demonstrate that Cu,Co and Ce in(cuO)_(1-x)(Co_3O_4)_(x/3)-(CeO_2)_(2.5) catalysts are presented in+2 and +1,+3 and +2 and +4 and +3 oxidation states,respectively.The catalyst with x=0.75 shows better activity and selectivity towards CO-PROX.Though the catalyst with only copper(CuO-CeO_2,x=0) shows good activity but reverse water gas shift(RWGS) reaction is noticed at high temperature.On the other hand,RWGS reaction is suppressed on the cobalt containing CuO-ceO_2 catalyst.Cobalt on CeO_2 with x=1 shows hardly any activity for PRoX reaction at low temperatures.No methanation activity is observed on CuO-CeO_2 or Co_3O_4-CeO_2 catalysts.In contrast,combination of copper and cobalt on CeO_2 shows methanation of CO where enhanced activity is observed with increasing in cobalt content.     

Recovery of 13CO2 and 14CO2 in human bicarbonate studies: a critical review with original data

1. In order to establish biological and/or methodological explanations for the wide variability in recovery (50-100%) of labelled CO2 after administration of [13C]bicarbonate or [14C]bicarbonate, 34 human bicarbonate studies involving 480 subjects were analysed, and potential methodological issues were investigated in the laboratory. 2. Overall, continuous infusion studies reported a higher recovery than bolus studies (84 +/- 11% versus 69 +/- 12%; P < 0.001). No significant differences in recovery were found between 14C and 13C studies, children and adults, obese and lean subjects, or rest and exercise (steady state). Higher recoveries were found during feeding than during fasting (84 +/- 8% versus 74 +/- 7%; P < 0.001). Different methods used to analyse the results (0-10%) and different study protocols, which include differences in the duration of infusions and background drift in 13C enrichment (0-10%), contribute to the variability. 3. The laboratory studies suggest multiple sources of potential error, including loss of CO2 from the scintillation fluid (up to > 30%, but only in 14C studies in which the scintillation fluid is not alkalized), diffusion of CO2 through syringes and tubing (0 to > 10%), non-linearity of CO2 analysers (up to 8%), inaccuracies in the measurement of bicarbonate concentrations (13C studies) or the strength of CO2-trapping agents (14C studies; 0-8%). 4. It is concluded that much of the variability in the recovery of labelled bicarbonate is likely to be attributable to methodological differences, and that attention to these will ensure better interpretation of metabolic studies that involve oxidation of carbon-labelled substrates.     

CeO_2/CuO catalysts using different template agent for preferential CO oxidation in H_2-rich stream

The CeO_2/CuO catalysts using different template agent(F68 L64, F127 and P123) were synthesized by the simple template and impregnation method. They were characterized by FESEM, XRD, N2 physisorption and H2-TPR techniques. It is found that the CeO_2/CuO catalysts are double pore distribution, and CeO_2 can enter into the gap of CuO supports and form the contact interface of copper and cerium. Among the asprepared catalysts, the CeO_2/CuO-F127 catalyst displays better activity at lower temperature and the CeO_2/CuO-P123 catalyst presents higher activity at higher temperature. The CeO_2/CuO-P123 catalyst has the smallest crystallite sizes of CuO and CeO_2 as well as the largest size of cubes, which may improve the interaction of copper and cerium and enhance the performance of CO oxidation.     

Modified-EISA synthesis of mesoporous high surface area CeO_2 and catalytic property for CO oxidation

Mesoporous CeO2 particles with high surface area were synthesized using a modified evaporation-induced self assembly(EISA) method which combined citric acid as complexing agent.As-prepared powder and further thermal treatment samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),selected area electron diffraction(SAED),Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR),thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis(TG-DTA),Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET) and Barrett-Joyner-Ha...     

Synthesis of mesoporous CeO2-MnOx binary oxides and their catalytic performances for CO oxidation

Mesoporous CeO2-MnOx binary oxides with different Mn/Ce molar ratios were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, N2 sorption, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） and H2 temperature-programmed reduction （H2-TPR）. The characterization results indicated that the CeO2-MnOx catalysts exhibited flower-like microspheres with high specific surface areas, and partial Mn cations could be incorporated into CeO2 lattice to form solid solution. The CeO2-MnOx catalysts showed better catalytic activity for CO oxidation than that prepared by the coprecipitation method. Furthermore, the CeO2-MnOx catalyst with Mn/Ce molar ratio of 1 in the synthesis gel （Ce-Mn-1） exhibited the best catalytic activity, over which the conversion of CO could achieve 90% at 135 ℃. This was ascribed to presence of more Mn species with higher oxida- tion state on the surface and the better reducibility over the Ce-Mn-I catalyst than other CeO2-MnOx catalysts.     

Effects of human and experimental cancer on the conversion of 14C tripalmitin to 14CO2

14C Tripalmitin was administered intraperitoneally to control mice and to mice bearing subcutaneous Krebs-2 carcinoma. The rate of excretion of 14CO2 was studied. The presence of a tumor induced a greater than 80% suppression of the formation of 14CO2 within 24 hours from the implantation of the tumor, thus allowing unambiguous identification of the tumor-bearing mice. When cancer patients were studied, along with normal volunteers and patients with non-neoplastic diseases, 14CO2 excretion data could be used to identify the cancer patients with an overall accuracy of 84%.     

Effects of water on CO catalytic oxidation over Pd/CeO_2

The role of water in CO oxidation was investigated on Pd/CeO_2 with different morphologies(rods(R),cubes(C) and octahedrons(O)).Compared with the absence of water,CO oxidation activity increases 2 times in the presence of water on Pd/CeO_2-C;but a decrease is found on Pd/CeO_2-R.Catalyst characterization reveals that Pd is mainly in the form of solid solution(Pd_xCe_(1-x)O_(2-σ)) on Pd/CeO_2-R and a mixture of metal and Pd_xCe_(1-x)O_(2-σ) solid solution on Pd/CeO_2-C.The strong interaction between Pd and CeO_2-R results in the form of stable bidentate carbonates species;while the relatively weak interaction between Pd and CeO_2-C leads to the produce of unstable monodentate carbonates species.The effects of water on CO oxidation activity closely relate with the Pd chemical state and the types of carbonates species.Water restrains CO adsorption on Pd_xCe_(1-x)O_(2-σ) solid solution,but it has negligent effects on metallic Pd species.In the presence of water,bidentate carbonates species remains stable but the decrease in the amount of monodentate carbonates species is observed.     

Impact of LDL carotenoid and alpha-tocopherol content on LDL oxidation by endothelial cells in culture

Carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol are dietary, lipophilic antioxidants that may protect plasma lipoproteins from oxidation, a process believed to contribute to atherogenesis. Previous work demonstrated that after the Cu(II)-initiated oxidation of human low density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro, carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol were destroyed before significant lipid peroxidation took place, and that alpha-tocopherol was destroyed at a much faster rate than were the carotenoids. Additionally, in vitro enrichment of LDL with beta-carotene, but not with lutein or lycopene, inhibited LDL oxidation. In the present studies the impact of LDL carotenoid and alpha-tocopherol content on LDL oxidation by human endothelial cells (EaHy-1) in culture was assessed. LDL isolated from 11 individual donors was incubated at 0.25 mg protein/mL with EaHy-1 cells in Ham's F-10 medium for up to 48 h. Formation of lipid hydroperoxides was assessed by chemical analysis and the contents of lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The extent of lipid peroxidation correlated with the endogenous alpha-tocopherol content of the LDL but not with its content of carotenoids. As in the Cu(II)-initiated system, carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol were destroyed before significant peroxidation took place, but, in the cell-mediated system, alpha-tocopherol and the carotenoids were destroyed at comparable rates. Also, like the Cu(II)-initiated oxidation, enrichment of the LDL with beta-carotene protected it from oxidation by the endothelial cells. However, enrichment with either lutein or lycopene actually enhanced the cell-mediated oxidation of the LDL. Thus, the specific content of carotenoids in low density lipoprotein (LDL) clearly modulates its susceptibility to oxidation, but individual carotenoids may either inhibit or promote LDL oxidation.     

The effect of surfactants on the interfacial rates of reaction of CO2 and CO with liquid iron oxide

The ¹⁴CO₂-CO isotope exchange technique has been used to measure the rates of dissociation of CO₂ on liquid iron oxide containing the surface active components P₂O₅ or Na₂O, principally at 1673 K. The apparent first-order rate constant is found to decrease monotonically with small additions of P₂O₅ up to a factor of about 4 at 3.5 mol pct. Vaporization losses prevented detailed studies of the effect of Na₂O, but it is shown that there is probably a twofold increase in the rate constant at a concentration of about 0.2 wt pct and a fivefold increase at a concentration between 0.5 and 1.6 wt pct. A smoothed surface potential model, based upon the Vol’kenshtein model for catalysis by semiconductors, is developed, and it is shown that the required surface potential changes due to the segregation of P₂O₅ and Na₂O are physically reasonable.     

Determination of 14CO2 in breath and 14C in stool after oral administration of cholyl-1-[14C]glycine: clinical application

Twenty patients with intestinal bacterial overgrowth and 20 control subjects were investigated for bile acid deconjugation, by measuring 14CO2 in the breath after cholyl-1-[14C]glycine administration. 14CO2 output/24h was 11.0 +/- 5.2% (mean +/- SD) in controls and 54.2 +/- 14.0% (mean +/- SD) in bacterial-overgrowth patients (P less than .001). 14CO2 excretion rate in 12h, when normalized to 100% of the dose at the 12th hour, gave an even finer discrimination between the two groups (no false responses). 14C in stool, analyzed in 20 malabsorption patients and 20 controls by two different techniques, was 6.6 +/- 4% and 31.38 +/- 21.7% (mean +/- SD), respectively. Results by the two different techniques described here correlated well (r = .99). Bile acid malabsorption was in reasonable agreement (r = .67) with percentage of "chenoid" (chenodeoxycholic acid plus ursodeoxycholic acid) in the stool by gas-liquid chromatography; a poorer correlation was observed when "chenoid" plus "choloid" (cholic acid plus its epimers) were plotted vs. -4C in stool (r = .57, n = 15).     

Studies of the interfacial kinetics of the reaction of CO2 with liquid iron by the14CO2-CO isotope exchange reaction

The rate of dissociation of CO₂ on liquid iron between about 1540 and 1740 °C and at CO/CO₂ ratios of 6.7 to 100 has been studied by means of the¹⁴CO₂-CO exchange reaction. It is shown that for essentially pure iron the rate constant at low oxygen potential is consistent with that for the decarburization of liquid iron by CO₂, indicating a common rate determining step. The influence of the gas composition on the rate is found to be consistent with surface blockage by adsorbed oxygen which obeys an ideal Langmuir adsorption isotherm over the experimentally accessible conditions. The adsorption coefficient for oxygen with respect to the infinitely dilute solution with 1 wt pct as standard state is deduced to be given by: logK′_o = 11270/T – 4.09 The value of K′_o at 1550 °C is found to be in good accord with the available data for the depression of the surface tension of liquid iron by oxygen. A. W. Cramb, Formerly with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania     

Kinetics of dense magnetite formation during oxidation of wüstite and reduction of hematite in CO/CO2 gas mixtures

Thermogravimetric study of the wüstite oxidation. Influence of the cation diffusion in magnetite and of the oxygen transfer at the phase boundary magnetite/gas on the wüstite oxidation and on the hematite reduction. Linear and parabolic growth of dense magnetite.     

Role of mitochondrial calcium transport in the control of substrate oxidation

This paper reviews the model of the control of mitochondrial substrate oxidation by Ca2+ ions. The mechanism is the activation by Ca2+ of four mitochondrial dehydrogenases, viz. glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (PDH), NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (NAD-IDH) and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH). This results in the increase, or near-maintenance, of mitochondrial NADH/NAD ratios in the activated state, depending upon the tissue and the degree of 'downstream' activation by Ca2+, likely at the level of the F1Fo ATPase. Higher values of the redox span of the respiratory chain allow for greatly increased fluxes through oxidative phosphorylation with a minimal drop in protonmotive force and phosphorylation potential. As PDH, NAD-IDH and OGDH are all located within the inner mitochondrial membrane, it is changes in matrix free Ca2+ [Ca2+]m which act as a signal to these activities. In this article, we review recent work in which [Ca2+]m is measured in cells and tissues, using different techniques, with special emphasis on the question of the degree of damping of [Ca2+]m relative to changes in cytosol free Ca2+ in cells with rapid transients in cytosol Ca2+, e.g. cardiac myocytes. Further, we put forward the point of view that the failure of mitochondrial energy transduction to keep pace with cellular energy needs in some forms of heart failure may involve a failure of [Ca2+]m to be raised adequately to allow the activation of the dehydrogenases. We present new data to show that this is so in cardiac myocytes isolated from animals suffering from chronic, streptozocin-induced diabetes. This raises the possibility of therapy based upon partial inhibition of mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux pathways, thereby raising [Ca2+]m at a given, time-average value of cytosol free Ca+2.