Vascular supply as a discriminating factor for pig preantral follicle selection

This research analyses how somatic and vascular compartments change during preantral follicle growth. To address this aim, theca-granulosa (somatic) proliferation indexes (PIs), proportion of proliferating endothelial cells (PE), vascular area (VA) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression were simultaneously recorded on single healthy preantral follicles, classified into six different stages on the basis of the diameter and the granulosa layers. An autonomous blood vessel network starts to appear only in class 3. Vascular remodelling requires VEGFA expression, and VEGFA mRNA and VA significantly increase between class 3 and classes 4 and 5 and, further, in class 6. In addition, a positive correlation exists between these parameters in classes 3-5. Despite variation in angiogenesis results from classes 3 to 5, the statistical analysis reveals that the vascular parameters are positively and strictly correlated with somatic PIs. Conversely, class 6, also characterized by higher values of somatic PIs, displays a stable proportion of PEs ( congruent with 40%) without showing any correlation among the different parameters analysed. To identify follicular subpopulations within different classes, a multivariate hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. This analysis reveals that the majority of classes 3 and 4 are quiescent follicles or structures that grow very slowly. Class 5 represents a transitory category, where half of the follicles maintain a low activity and the remaining express significantly higher levels of granulosa PI and VA. The follicles with this high activity are probably able to reach class 6 becoming dominant structures where somatic and vascular parameters are constantly on high levels and the VA remains the unique differentiating element.     

Lanthanoid geochemistry of urban atmospheric particulate matter

Relatively little is known about the lanthanoid element (La to Lu) chemistry of inhalable urban atmospheric particulate matter (PM). PM samples collected during an air sampling campaign in the Mexico City area contain lanthanoid concentrations of mostly 1-10 ng m(-3), increasing with mass where resuspension of crustal PM is important (low PM2.5/PM10), but not where fine emissions from traffic and industry dominate (high PM2.5/ PM10). Samples show anthropogenic enrichment of lighter over heavier lanthanoids, and Ce enrichment relative to La and Sm occurs in the city center (especially PM10) possibly due to PM from road vehicle catalytic converters. La is especially enriched, although many samples show low La/V values (< 0.11), suggesting the dominating influence of fuel oil combustion sources rather than refinery emissions. We use La/Sm v La/ Ce, LaCeSm, and LaCeV plots to compare Mexico City aerosols with PM from other cities. Lanthanoid aerosol geochemistry can be used not only to identify refinery pollution events, but also as a marker for different hydrocarbon combustion emissions (e.g., oil or coal power stations) on urban background atmospheric PM.     

Carbon capture and utilization technologies: a literature review and recent advances

This paper presents a comprehensive list of Carbon Capture and Utilization technologies and applications, ranging from lab-scale R&D activities reported in academic papers to commercially established uses of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide, as a source of carbon, has the potential to be used as a solvent, as a raw material in the manufacturing of fuels, carbonates, polymers, and chemicals, or as a recovery agent in techniques such as enhanced oil recovery or enhanced coal bed methane. In this paper, a literature review and recent advances of each technology are explained. To finish, most relevant Life Cycle Assessment studies carried out by experts in this field are included. Among the different alternatives studied for the use of carbon dioxide, the processes of carboxylation, consisting the synthesis of carbonates and carboxylates, have stood out. Both the production of salicylic acid as well as that of dimethyl carbonate and mineral carbonation are presented as the most likely applications of carbon dioxide, at least, in the short term.     

Poly(2‐acrylamido glycolic acid‐co‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid): Synthesis,characterization, and retention properties for environmentally impacting metal ions

Poly(2‐acrylamido glycolic acid‐co‐2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl‐1‐propane sulfonic acid) [P(AGA‐co‐APSA)] was synthesized by radical polymerization in an aqueous solution. The water‐soluble polymer, containing secondary amide, hydroxyl, carboxylic, and sulfonic acid groups, was investigated, in view of their metal‐ion‐binding properties, as a polychelatogen with the liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention technique under different experimental conditions. The investigated metal ions were Ag⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Cr³⁺, and these were studied at pHs 3, 5, and 7. P(AGA‐co‐APSA) showed efficient retention of all metal ions at the pHs studied, with a minimum of 60% for Co(II) at pH 3 and a maximum close to 100% at pH 7 for all metal ions. The maximum retention capacity (n metal ion/n polymer) ranged from 0.22 for Cd²⁺ to 0.34 for Ag⁺. The antibacterial activity of Ag⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Cd²⁺ polymer–metal complexes was studied, and P(AGA‐co‐APSA)–Cd²⁺ presented selective antibacterial activity for Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2 μg/mL. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Removal of arsenate from ionic mixture by anion exchanger water-soluble polymers combined with ultrafiltration membranes

This study shows the influence of Cl^?, SO₄ ^2?, NO₃ ^?, SiO₃ ^2?, Na⁺, and Ca²⁺ on arsenate removal by anion exchanger polymers using the liquid-phase polymer-based retention (LPR) technique. The LPR was carried out in the presence of anion exchanger soluble polymers containing quaternary ammonium salts. These polymers were characterized by NMR. Compared with As(V) removal from deionized water, the results showed that in the presence of ionic mixture, the As(V) removal capacity decreased. However, P(ClVBTA) showed As(V) removal ability of 91?% when the ionic mixture was used. Polymers with chloride exchanger groups showed a higher ability to remove arsenate than the polymer that contains methyl sulfate as anion exchanger group. At higher arsenate concentration (47.6?mg L^?1), arsenate retention by the water-soluble polymers ranged between 58 and 91?%. This removal capacity increased gradually reaching 100?% retention when the arsenate concentration in the cell was minimum (5.5?mg?L^?1). The values of maximum retention capacity were 264?mg?g^?1 for P(ClMPTA), 260?mg?g^?1 for P(ClVBTA), and 200?mg?g^?1 for P(ClAPTA) at the total filtrate volume of 300?mL. The charge–discharge process found to be suitable for saturate the polymer with As(V) and then eluting As(V) for regenerating the extracting capacity of polymer.     

Poly(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and poly(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide-co-acrylamidoglycolic acid): synthesis, characterization, and metal ion removal properties

Macroreticular chelating resins containing carboxylic groups, poly(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) P(HMA-co-AA) and poly(N-hydroxymethyl acrylamide-co-2-acrylamido glycolic acid) P(HMA-co-AGA) were synthesized by solution radical polymerization with ammonium persulfate as initiator and N,N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide as cross-linking reagent. The polymerization yield was 98.9 and 91.9% for P(HMA-co-AA) and P(HMA-co-AGA), respectively. The retention properties were studied under competitive and noncompetitive conditions by batch equilibrium procedure for the following metal ions: Cd(II), Cr(III), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II). The effects of pH, time, temperature, and initial ion concentration on adsorption were investigated. The resins showed a significant ability to retain Pb(II), greater than 79%, at pH 5.     

Metal ion sorption properties of water-insoluble resins based on sodium styrene sulfonate and different comonomers

A set of water-insoluble resins based on sodium styrene sulfonate and different comonomers were synthesized. The resins poly(mono-2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl succinate-co-sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) P(MOES-co-SSNa), poly(2-acrylamido glycolic acid-co-sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) P(AGA-co-SSNa), poly(acrylamide-co-sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) P(AAm-co-SSNa), and poly(2-(dimethylamine)ethyl acrylate-co-sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) P(DMAEA-co-SSNa) were synthesized by solution radical polymerization. The metal ion retention properties were studied by batch procedure for Cd(II), Zn(II), Pb(II), and Hg(II). Resins performance was compared with a poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSSNa) resin in order to evaluate the effect of comonomer on sorption properties. The effect of pH, time, temperature, and maximum retention capacity were studied. In addition, sorption experiments were carried out under competitive ion conditions to study the selectivity of resins. The resins P(AAm-co-SSNa) and P(AGA-co-SSNa), showed the most important differences compared with PSSNa resin, the former present higher sorption and the latter presented selectivity for Hg(II) at pH 2.     

Poly(sodium 4‐styrene sulfonate) and poly(2‐acrylamido glycolic acid) polymer–clay ion exchange resins with enhanced mechanical properties and metal ion retention

This research presents the synthesis of novel nanocomposite ion exchange resins based on poly(sodium 4‐styrene sulfonate) and poly(2‐acrylamido glycolic acid). Nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ radical polymerization using organic modified montmorillonite as filler and different clay contents. Loaded resins showed improvements in mechanical properties compared with unloaded resins: specifically, when the nominal montmorillonite content was 2.5 wt%, poly(sodium 4‐styrene sulfonate) nanocomposite increased its shear modulus from 323 to 910 Pa and doubled its elastic recovery ratio, and the yield point was almost 20 times higher than for unloaded resins. In the case of metal ion retention, the effect of pH and clay content were studied for Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), Cr(III) and Al(III) by a batch procedure. Results showed high efficiency, reaching over 80% after only 1 h of contact. Poly(2‐acrylamido glycolic acid) presented a higher pH dependence than poly(sodium 4‐styrene sulfonate). In addition, it was observed that montmorillonite contributes to retention capacity from the increase in distribution coefficients for loaded resins compared with unloaded resins. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Short‐ and long‐term loss of carvacrol from polymer/clay nanocomposite film – a chemometric approach

A combination of partial least squares (PLS) regression and design of experiments was used to analyse and define the short‐ and long‐term loss mechanisms of carvacrol from polymer/clay nanocomposite films used as an antimicrobial food packaging material. Three formulation x variables were evaluated: type of nanoclay, concentration of nanoclay and concentration of compatibilizer agent. Five experimental y responses were measured: loss of carvacrol from the films stored at room conditions on the third and fifth days (short‐term loss); on the forty‐fifth and sixtieth days (long‐term loss); and the polymer/clay level of intercalation. All variables and responses were simultaneously calibrated by an ANOVA‐validated (P < 0.05) comprehensive PLS interaction model with a satisfactory R² = 0.956 and Q² = 0.505. A differentiation and discrimination of the mechanisms that control the loss of carvacrol over different periods of time was observed. Short‐term loss seems to be controlled mainly by direct molecular interactions in the interlayer space between carvacrol and the nanoclay organomodifier. Long‐term loss seems to be mainly controlled by diffusion within the nanocomposite matrix once carvacrol has left the nanoclay interlayer space, and it is closely related to the levels of intercalation reached in the nanocomposite. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry