Rheological behavior of binary and ternary mixtures of polysaccharides in aqueous medium

The rheological behavior of mixtures of xanthan with different galactomannans is examined to evaluate the influence of the structure of galactomannan and that of the mixture composition on the physical properties; the larger synergy is observed for locust bean gum in the presence of xanthan. It is also shown that pH has only a slight influence on the rheology down to pH = 3.59; at lower pH, the G′ modulus decreases significantly.Then, the behavior of xanthan–methylcellulose mixtures is studied, paying particular attention to the storage modulus (G′) of the system, often equated to “gel strength”. The modulus values for direct dissolution of the two polysaccharides in 0.1 M NaCl show that xanthan and methylcellulose are incompatible. The rheological behavior observed is in agreement with DSC results which indicate that no specific interaction between the two polymers exists. However, upon increasing temperature, the modulus of methylcellulose increases substantially between 65 and 70 °C because of physical gelation and dominates the rheology of the mixtures. When temperature is decreased to 37 °C, the clear methylcellulose gel formed remains stable, still giving the main contribution to the overall rheology of the system. Finally, ternary systems are studied when xanthan is mixed with galactomannan and methylcellulose. In this case H-bonds involved in galactomannan–xanthan interaction break when temperature increases causing a decrease in rheological moduli which is then compensated by the gelation of methylcellulose giving an original large increase in moduli for the ternary systems. This can be interpreted as the presence of two independent but interpenetrating networks. The role of pH for these ternary systems is interesting: it is still dominated by methylcellulose and nearly independent of acidic pH (down to pH = 1.8).     

Polyelectrolyte behaviour of acrylonitrile methallylsulphonate copolymers in dimethylformamide

The properties in organic solvent (DMF) of two ionic copolymers are investigated and compared to those of polyelectrolytes in aqueous solutions. First, the viscometric behaviour is disccussed: it is demonstrated that [η] varies linearly with $\text{C}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}{}_{\mathrm{T}}$, where C_T is the ionic concentration of the solution. At infinite salt concentration we obtain data in agreement with unperturbed dimensions. Using isoionic dilution, we deduce ø_p, the osmotic coefficient. From osmometry, the dependence of ø_p on the concentration is obtained and compared to the theoretical value. In the presence of neutral salt, the osmotic pressure is determined as a function of salt and polymer concentrations. The results are interpreted in terms of a Donnan equilibrium.     

Evaluation of the electron transport chain inhibition and uncoupling of mitochondrial bioelectrocatalysis with antibiotics and nitro-based compounds

Mitochondrial bioelectrocatalysis can be useful for sensing applications due to the unique metabolic pathways than can be selectively inhibited and uncoupled in mitochondria. This paper details the comparison of different inhibitors and nitro-containing explosive uncouplers in a mitochondria-catalyzed biofuel cell for self-powered explosive sensing. Previous research has reported inhibition of pyruvate oxidation at a mitochondria-modified electrode followed by nitroaromatic uncoupling of current and power. We have previously used oligomycin as the antibiotic and nitrobenzene as the uncoupler of the membrane in the mitochondria-catalyzed biofuel cell, but no comprehensive comparison of various mitochondria inhibitors or explosives has been performed. Results are discussed here for inhibitors targeting complex I, complex III, ATP synthases, adenine nucleotide transport and monocarboxylic acid transport. Reactivation with nitrobenzene was possible in the presence of these inhibitors: oligomycin, 3,3′-diindolylmethane, atractyloside, rotenone, α-cyano-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid and antimycin A. All eleven explosives studied, including: 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), caused uncoupling of the mitochondria function and could be detected by the biosensor.     

Multielementary (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni) Stable Isotopic Exchange Kinetic (SIEK) method to characterize polymetallic contaminations

A new method is proposed to precisely and simultaneously quantify the exchangeable pool of metals in soils and to describe its reactivity at short- and long-term. It is based on multielementary Stable Isotopic Exchange Kinetics (multi-SIEK), first validated by a comparison between two monoelementary radioactive ((109)Cd*, (65)Zn*) IEK experiments, a mono- ((106)Cd) and multi- ((62)Ni, (65)Cu, (67)Zn, (106)Cd, (204)Pb) SIEK. These experiments were performed on a polluted soil located near the Zn smelter plant of Viviez (Lot watershed, France). The IEK results obtained for Cd and Zn were consistent across the experiments. (109)Cd*, (65)Zn* IEK, and multi-SIEK were then applied on 3 non- and moderate impacted soils that also provided consistent results for Cd and Zn. Within these experimental conditions, it can be concluded that no competition occurs between Cd, Zn, and the other metals during SIEK. Multi-SIEK results indicate that the isotopically exchangeable pool of Ni, Zn, and Cu are small (E(Ni), E(Zn), and E(Cu) values up to 17%) whatever the pollution degree of the soils considered in this study and whatever the duration of the interaction. On the contrary, Cd displays the highest E values (from 35% to 61% after 1 week), and E(Pb) displays a maximum value of 26% after 1 week. The multi-SIEK provides useful information on metal sources and reactivity relationship. Ni would be located in stable pedogenic phases according to its very low enrichment factor. The low E(Zn) and E(Cu) are consistent with location of Zn and Cu in stable phases coming from tailings erosion. Though Pb enrichments in soils may also be attributed to tailings particles, its larger exchangeable pool suggests that the Pb-bearing phases are more labile than those containing Zn and Cu. The high mobility of Cd in upstream soils indicates that it has been mostly emitted as reactive atmospheric particles during high temperature ore-treatment.     

Defining Groundwater Remediation Objectives with Cost-benefit Analysis: Does It Work?

The use of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is increasingly advocated as a tool for supporting water planning decisions, in particular at the local (site) level. This paper questions whether CBA is relevant for evaluating groundwater management options at the scale of large regional aquifers. It highlights the difficulties related to estimating the cost of groundwater protection and remediation measures at the regional (water body) level. It also identifies methodological challenges in estimating the economic value of the benefits of groundwater protection. The paper is based on an original case study carried out on the upper Rhine valley aquifer in eastern France. The methodology deployed combines engineering approaches to assess the cost of remediation and economic methods (contingent valuation) to estimate the benefits associated with groundwater improvement.     

The use of fly ash from the combustion of poultry litter for the adsorption of chromium(III) from aqueous solution

Fly ash, from the combustion of poultry litter, was assessed as an adsorbent for chromium(III) from aqueous solution. The adsorption process was studied as a function of temperature and time. Adsorption was best described by the Langmuir model. The adsorption of chromium(III) on the fly ash was endothermic and kinetic studies suggest that the overall rate of adsorption was pseudo‐second order. At low initial concentrations film diffusion effects contribute to limiting the overall rate of adsorption while at higher initial chromium(III) concentrations pore diffusion becomes more important. An adsorption capacity of 53 mg dm^?3 was reached at 20 °C. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Anderson Localization in Nb/Al Superconducting Bilayers

We have measured the temperature dependence of resistivity in relatively thick Nb/Al bilayers fabricated at room temperature, observing the decrease of for increasing T typical of Anderson localization in disordered systems. We report the experimental conditions which determine this behavior and compare it to theoretical models for localization in 3D systems.     

The structure of mother–child play: Young children with Down syndrome and typically developing children.

This study explored developmental changes and effects of Down syndrome on mothers' structuring of their children's play. Mothers and their young children with Down syndrome (n?=?28) were compared with socioeconomically matched samples of mothers and their mental age-matched (n?=?28) and chronological age-matched (n?=?28) typically developing children. Mothers of typically developing children exhibited more object demonstrations with their developmentally younger children, who exhibited less object play. Mothers of children with Down syndrome were more directive and supportive than were mothers of younger and older typically developing children, who did not differ in their frequencies of these behaviors. More maternal supportive object behavior was associated with more object play and vocalization by children with Down syndrome. Mothers and children in all 3 groups were contingently responsive to their partners' behavioral signals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)