Design and Collection Efficiency of a New Electrostatic Precipitator for Bioaerosol Collection

We have developed and tested a new bioaerosol sampler in which airborne microorganisms are collected by electrostatic means. In this sampler, 2 ionizers charge the incoming particles if they carry insufficient electric charge for efficient collection. The organisms are then subjected to a precipitating electric field and are collected onto 2 square agar plates positioned along the flow axis. Tests with nonbiological NaCl particles versus B. subtilis var. niger (BG) spores and vegetative cells have shown that airborne microorganisms are collected more efficiently than nonbiological particles, even when the microorganisms have first passed through an electric charge neutralizer with no additional charging applied. The difference was attributed to the natural charges contained in cell membranes or spore coats of the microorganisms. Charge-neutralized BG spores and vegetative cells were collected at 4 L/min with efficiencies close to 80%, depending on the precipitation voltage, versus 50-60% for NaCl test particles. When incoming BG spores were charged with positive ions and then collected by a precipitating voltage of + 1,300 V, about 80% of the incoming spores were collected and more than 70% of incoming spores formed colonies. These experiments with BG spores have also indicated that there were no significant particle losses inside the sampler. The collection efficiency of biological and nonbiological particles increased to 90-100% when the particles were externally charged and the precipitating voltage was increased to more than - 4,000 V. It has also been shown that the aerosolized BG spores (used as anthrax simulants for bioaerosol sensors) carry a net negative electric charge. Thus the collection efficiency depends on the polarity of the electric field applied across the agar plates. These findings indicate that the collection of airborne microorganisms is possible by electrostatic precipitation without prior electric charging if the microorganisms already carry electric charges. These are usually high immediately after their release into the air.     

Stabilisation mechanism of various inulins and hydrocolloids: Milk–sour cherry juice mixture

Milk–fruit juice mixtures, such as the mainly acidic nutraceutical soft drinks, usually suffer from phase separation due to aggregation of caseins at low pH. In this study, short‐chain inulin (SCI), native inulin (NI), long‐chain inulin (LCI) and a combination of long‐ and short‐chain inulins (LCI:SCI) (MIX) in different ratios (20:80, 50:50 and 80:20) were added (up to 10% w/v) to a milk–sour cherry juice mixture and their stabilisation mechanisms investigated using rheological, microstructural and zeta potential observations. In addition, gum tragacanth (GT) and Persian gum (PG) as adsorbing and guar gum (GG) as nonadsorbing hydrocolloids were combined with inulin to enhance their stabilising properties. Finally, sensory analyses were carried out on the stabilised samples. According to our findings, LCI fully stabilised the mixture (8% w/v), while LCI: SCI and NI only reduced phase separation at very high concentrations, and SCI had no significant effect on the stabilisation. Moreover, no inulin aggregates and rheological changes were observed with SCI. However, LCI, LCI: SCI and NI formed inulin aggregates and the mixtures became even more viscous and thixotropic (LCI > LCI: SCL > NI). Based on these observations, it can be concluded that chain length and concentration are two important factors that affect the functionality of inulin. On the other hand, the combination of inulin with GT and PG did not have any pertinent effect on the stabilisation. However, the mixture of inulin and GG could stabilise the mixtures at certain ratios and concentrations. Furthermore, in mixtures containing GG and SCI, GG played the main role in the stabilisation by increasing the viscosity and forming gel network.     

Metal binding novel flaxseed peptides (linusorbs)

Linusorbs (LOs; a.k.a. cyclolinopeptides) are naturally occurring orbitides derived from flaxseed. These compounds consist of 8–10 amino acid residues, which are linked via an N ‐ to C‐terminal peptide bond with molecular masses of approximately 1 kDa. The LO circular structure makes them candidates for metal binding studies. Flaxseed extracts are known to suppress Pb and Cd toxicity. Hence, four metal salts surveyed include Zn(CH₃COO)₂, ZnSO₄, Pb(CH₃COO)₂ and Cd(NO₃)₂ with pure LOs 1–5 . Proton NMR spectra indicated interaction of LOs with metal salts in solution and were used to determine impacts of methionine oxidation on interactions with metal ions. The methyl group of methionine S,S ‐ dioxide of related LOs did not show the same shift in the presence of Zn(CH₃COO)₂ and Pb(CH₃COO)₂ observed in their methionine S ‐ oxide analogues. Metal complexes were observed forming at 10^?2 m to 10^?4 m but not at lower concentrations (10^?5 m to 10^?8 m ). Mass spectrometry data confirmed that metal binding strength varied by metal in the order Zn(CH₃COO)₂<Pb(CH₃COO)₂<ZnSO₄<Cd(NO₃)₂.     

Examination of Interpenetrating Polymer Networks of Polyurea in Silicone Molds Arising during Vacuum Casting Processes

We present an in-depth investigation of the aging effects in silicone molds for vacuum casting processes. Their lifetime is limited to a few production cycles due to contamination with the diisocyanate component of polyurethane casting materials. Using thermogravimetric analysis measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and helium-ion-microscopy the chemical and physical mechanisms of the aging process have been identified. It has been shown that a diffusion process of diisocyanate into the cavity surface leads to the formation of interpenetrating polymer networks of polyurea derivatives in silicone rubber. This has been proven by extracting and analyzing polyurea of low molecular weights from the silicone.     

Classification of soil‐ and bedrock‐dominated landslides in British Columbia using segmentation of satellite imagery and DEM data

Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and digital elevation model (DEM) data were used in a segmentation and classification procedure to classify slide scars in the northern Cascade Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. The area was stratified into features that were likely candidates for landsliding and those that were not; shape criteria were applied that were used to identify objects as slides; and finally, rules based on shape, texture and neighbouring features were used to separate soil‐dominated slides from bedrock‐dominated slides, an important distinction in mass movement inventories and for applied and theoretical studies. Approximately 65% classification accuracy was obtained. Slopes experiencing multiple failures, which can create less distinct features on the ground, may have contributed to some of the error in classification.     

Oxidative processes of desulfurization of liquid fuels

Environmental concerns have introduced a need to remove sulfur‐containing compounds from light oil. As oxidative desulfurization is conducted under very mild reaction conditions, much attention has recently been devoted to this process. In this contribution, the developments in selective removal of organosulfur compounds present in liquid fuels via oxidative desulfurization, including both chemical oxidation and biodesulfurization, are reviewed. At the end of each section, a brief account of the research directions needed in this field is also included. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Solid Film Deposition and Non-Sacrificial Boundary Lubrication

This paper reports the results of studying various approaches in non-sacrificial boundary lubrication in which the deposition of a beneficial surface layer is the result of a chemical reaction involving one or more components in the lubricating fluid but not the metal surface itself. This is in contrast to the conventional approach which involves the rubbing surfaces as reactants with the components in the lubricant and usually promotes wear as the result of chemical change of the surfaces. The most interesting findings show that a reaction between a molybdenum complex and a mixture of zinc dialkylphosphorodithioates produced in situ deposition of MoS₂ and some other unidentified crystalline material. Effective reductions in friction and wear were obtained. Electron diffraction patterns of the worn metal surface established the presence of MoS₂.     

Strain-induced internal fibrillation in looped aramid filaments

By mapping the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) from a looped poly-(para-phenylene terephtalamide) (aramid, PPTA) filament using a synchrotron X-ray microbeam, we investigate the effects of axially compressive and tensile strain on internal fibrillar structures. Unique observations of oscillations in the highly anisotropic SAXS patterns indicate a regular internal structure. Upon increase of the applied compressive strain, a significant decrease in oscillation frequency is observed in the scattering pattern. With an increase in imposed tensile strain an increase in oscillation frequency in the scattering pattern is observed. One model capable of describing the intensity is a model of stacked cylinders. These cylinders could be part of the fibrillar structure present in the PPTA fibres, which consist of cylinder- to tape-like objects, the presence of which is supported by SEM images. One hypothetical physical interpretation presented here for the appearance of a regular internal structure is the occurrence of fibrillar separation in regions undergoing axially compressive strain, and the appearance of strain relief/slip planes between packs of fibrils in regions undergoing tensile strain. Compaction of these packs upon increase of tensile strain could increase the repetition distance in the structure as multiple packs combine to form a single pack.     

Minor Role of Mitochondrial Respiration for Fatty-Acid Induced Insulin Secretion

An appropriate insulin secretion by pancreatic beta-cells is necessary to maintain glucose homeostasis. A rise in plasma glucose leads to increased metabolism and an elevated cytoplasmic ATP/ADP ratio that finally triggers insulin granule exocytosis. In addition to this triggering pathway, one or more amplifying pathways—activated by amino acids or fatty acid—enhance secretion by promoting insulin granule recruitment to, and priming at, the plasma membrane. The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of the mitochondrial respiratory activity on fatty acid-induced insulin secretion that was assessed by an extracellular flux analyzer. Treatment of isolated mouse islets with glucose (20 mM) increased insulin secretion 18-fold and correlated with ATP-synthesizing respiration. Furthermore, oxygen consumption rate (OCR) significantly increased by 62% in response to glucose, whereas the addition of palmitate resulted only in a minor increase of OCR at both 2.8 mM (11%) and 20 mM glucose (21%). The addition of palmitate showed a pronounced increase of coupling efficiency (CE) at 2.8 mM glucose but no further insulin secretion. However, treatment with palmitate at 20 mM glucose increased insulin secretion about 32-fold accompanied by a small increase in CE. Thus, fatty acid induced respiration has a minor impact on insulin secretion. Our data clearly demonstrate that fatty acids in contrast to glucose play a minor role for respiration-mediated insulin secretion. In the presence of high glucose, fatty acids contribute partially to amplifying pathways of insulin secretion by further increasing mitochondrial activity in the islets of Langerhans.