Metabolomic Profiling of Plasma from Melioidosis Patients Using UHPLC-QTOF MS Reveals Novel Biomarkers for Diagnosis

To identify potential biomarkers for improving diagnosis of melioidosis, we compared plasma metabolome profiles of melioidosis patients compared to patients with other bacteremia and controls without active infection, using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the metabolomic profiles of melioidosis patients are distinguishable from bacteremia patients and controls. Using multivariate and univariate analysis, 12 significant metabolites from four lipid classes, acylcarnitine (n = 6), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPE) (n = 3), sphingomyelins (SM) (n = 2) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) (n = 1), with significantly higher levels in melioidosis patients than bacteremia patients and controls, were identified. Ten of the 12 metabolites showed area-under-receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) >0.80 when compared both between melioidosis and bacteremia patients, and between melioidosis patients and controls. SM(d18:2/16:0) possessed the largest AUC when compared, both between melioidosis and bacteremia patients (AUC 0.998, sensitivity 100% and specificity 91.7%), and between melioidosis patients and controls (AUC 1.000, sensitivity 96.7% and specificity 100%). Our results indicate that metabolome profiling might serve as a promising approach for diagnosis of melioidosis using patient plasma, with SM(d18:2/16:0) representing a potential biomarker. Since the 12 metabolites were related to various pathways for energy and lipid metabolism, further studies may reveal their possible role in the pathogenesis and host response in melioidosis.     

Optimization of physical and mechanical properties of rubber compounds by a response surface methodological approach

Response surface methodology was used for optimizing the ratio of vegetable oil and carbon black and occluded volume fraction of rubber in the compound. Central composite design for two variables was chosen as the experimental design. The data obtained from measurement of properties was fitted as a two variable second-order equation, and were plotted as contours using software developed from MATLAB v.5.1. From contours it is observed that at the ratio of 0.06 of vegetable oil and carbon black, there is maximum coupling, and a further increment in vegetable oil and carbon black ratio shows less coupling and more plasticizing effect. The ultimate failure properties like tensile and tear strength and elongation decreases with an increase in occluded volume fraction, reaches a minima at the central region, followed by an increase, whereas 300% modulus and hardness decreases throughout.© 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc, J Appl Polym Sci 82: 997-1005, 2001     

Low-Temperature Electrochemical Synthesis of ZrO2 Films on Zirconium Substrates: Deposition of Thick Amorphous Films and in situ Crystallization on Zirconium Anode

The feasibility of synthesizing crystalline ZrO₂ films at low temperatures was evaluated using an electrochemical method. Anodization of zirconium-metal substrates in tetraethyl ammonium hydroxide (TEAOH) solutions under constant applied voltage conditions at ∼25° and ∼100°C was investigated. The chemistry and microstructure of the anodic oxide films deposited on the zirconium-metal substrates under the above conditions were characterized using X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that, with sufficiently high applied voltages (in the range of 300 V) at pH ∼9.5, the initial dissolution of the zirconium anode resulted in the local saturation of the electrolyte solution with Zr⁴⁺, forming Zr(OH)⁻₅, which deposited electrophoretically on the anode as a thick, gelatinous film at 25°C. Similar treatments at 100°C resulted in an in situ crystallization of Zr(OH)₄ gel to monoclinic ZrO₂.     

Oxidative absorption of hydrogen sulfide using an iron‐chelate based process: chelate degradation

BACKGROUND: Oxidative absorption of hydrogen sulfide into a solution of ferric chelates is studied in a stirred cell glass reactor. The experiments were performed to investigate the degradation of chelates sodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) (Merck), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid diadisodium salt (EDTA) and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) at 313 K, pH 6, iron concentration 10 000 g L^?1 and Fe:chelate molar ratio 1:2. RESULTS: Oxidative absorption of hydrogen sulfide into a solution of Fe‐NTA was found to be more successful, therefore, further experiments with 10%, 50% and 100% concentrations of hydrogen sulfide were performed. It was shown that this process is applicable for removal of low and high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. The effect of antioxidants using sodium thiosulfate was also studied in order to minimize degradation of NTA. The kinetics were studied and it was observed that the reaction appeared to be first order in ferric chelate with rate constants for 100, 50 and 10% hydrogen sulfide concentration: 0.035, 0.013 and 0.019 h^?1, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Gas sweetening processes have commercial importance in natural gases, refinery of gases and biogas processing. Desulphurization and cleaning (i.e. removal of H₂S and CO₂) of petroleum gas and biogas is important to make the gas methane rich and to increase the calorific value of fuel. The same techniques of desulphurization and cleaning can be used for treating natural gas or petroleum gas. The desulphurization and cleaning processes can minimize the atmospheric emission of gases like SOx, NOx and CO. As the iron chelate based process is based on the principle of redox reaction of metal chelate with hydrogen sulfide, this method is very useful for desulphurization of petroleum gas and biogas. This work studied the effective use of Fe‐NTA solution for removal of high to low concentrations of H₂S as found in biogas and industrial waste gases. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Enhanced Activation Energy of Crystallization of Pure Zirconia Nanopowders Prepared via an Efficient Way of Synthesis Using NaBH4

An efficient way through borohydride synthesis route using NaBH₄ was performed to prepare pure zirconia nanopowders via three different conditions such as gelation, precipitation, and constant pH. Zirconia powders prepared through constant pH route show highest activation energy of crystallization (E_a = 260 kJ/mol) or higher exothermic peak temperature (717°C), when compared with gelation or precipitation route due to its controlled growth of smaller crystallites. The released huge amount of H₂ gas bubbles during borohydride synthesis via constant pH route play a major role for formation of loose smaller crystallites and thus enhances the activation energy of crystallization of pure zirconia. So, the as‐prepared zirconia powders prepared through constant pH route remain amorphous up to 600°C and pure t‐ZrO₂ (~20 nm) was stable up to 800°C.     

Strombus gigas inspired biomimetic ceramic composites via SHELL—Sequential Hierarchical Engineered Layer Lamination

Nature has produced remarkable structural designs based on many millennia of evolutionary optimization. Biological materials, such as the sea-shell, possess unique microstructures and properties that provide inspiration for the next generation of structural ceramics. Strombus gigas (Queen conch) shells contain a hierarchical, multilayered, crossed-lamellar architecture built with two natural materials (calcium carbonate and protein) with at least three identifiable scales (or orders) of structure. Drawing on Strombus gigas for inspiration, we have developed a new process to realize such complex micro-architectures in macroscopic form. SHELL (Sequential Hierarchical Engineered Layer Lamination) is a thermoplastic forming process that is capable of producing the third order structural complexity over the micron-millimeter length scales. We have fabricated silicon nitride—boron nitride ceramics via SHELL that are endowed with excellent damage tolerance, exhibit graceful failure, and exhibit toughening mechanisms similar to those observed in Strombus gigas.     

Time-varying system identification using modulating functions and spline models with application to bio-processes

Time dependent parameters are frequently encountered in many real processes which need to be monitored for process modeling, control and supervision purposes. Modulating functions methods are especially suitable for this task because they use the original continuous-time differential equations and avoid differentiation of noisy signals. Among the many versions of the method available, Pearson–Lee method offers a computationally efficient alternative. In this paper, Pearson–Lee method is generalized for non-stationary continuous-time systems and the on-line version is developed. The time dependent parameters are modeled as polynomial splines inside a moving data window and recursion formulae using shifting properties of sinusoids are formulated. The simple matrix update relations considerably reduce the number of computations required when compared with repeatedly using FFT. The method is illustrated for estimating the kinetic rates and yield factors as time-varying parameters in a fermentation process. The Monod law along with temperature dependency models were used to simulate the data. The simulation study shows that it is not necessary to assume a growth model in order to estimate the kinetic rate parameters.     

Effect of particle size on cesium exchange kinetics by K-depleted phlogopite

Cation exchange mechanism and rate of Cs⁺ exchange were investigated in < 2 μm and 20–2 μm particle size fractions of K-depleted phlogopite (Na-phlogopite). The K-depleted phlogopite was prepared from a natural phlogopite by a potassium removal method using sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB) at room temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed that interlayer K⁺ ions were completely replaced with sodium ions after the potassium removal treatment. Ion exchange isotherms and kinetics were determined for Na⁺ → Cs⁺ exchange with two particle size fractions. The isotherms indicated that both particle size fractions showed high selectivity for Cs⁺. Based on the isotherm tests, ΔG^o values of < 2 μm and 20–2 μm particle fractions were − 6.83 kJ/mol and − 7.08 kJ/mol, respectively. Kinetics of Cs exchange revealed that the 20–2 μm particle size fraction of the K-depleted phlogopite took up more Cs⁺ ions than the < 2 μm particle size fraction. Various kinetic models were applied to describe Na⁺ → Cs⁺ exchange process. Elovich model described the kinetic data of the < 2 μm particle size fraction well, while the modified first-order model or parabolic diffusion model described the data of the 20–2 μm particle size fraction well.     

Dielectric and dynamic mechanical relaxation behavior of exfoliated nano graphite reinforced flouroelastomer composites

Dynamic mechanical analysis and dielectric relaxation spectra of exfoliated nano graphite reinforced flouroelastomer composites were used to study their relaxation behavior as a function of temperature (−80°C to +40°C) and frequency (0.01 to 10⁵ Hz). The effect of filler loadings on glass transition temperature was marginal for all the composites and T_g value was in the narrow range of 7.8–8.4°C, which has been explained on the basis of relaxation dynamics of polymer chains in the vicinity of fillers. Strain‐dependent dynamical parameters were evaluated at dynamic strain amplitudes of 0.01–10%. The nonlinearity in storage modulus has been explained on the concept of filler‐polymer interaction and filler aggregation of the nano graphite platelets. The variation in real and complex part of impedance with frequency has been studied as a function of filler. The percolation of the nano graphite as studied by conductivity measurements is also reported. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

The interaction of spherical Al2O3 particles with molten Al2O3-CaO-FeOx-SiO2 slags

The present paper investigates the rate of chemical dissolution of Al₂O₃ particles in synthetic Al₂O₃-CaO-FeO_x-SiO₂ slags as a function of time under an atmosphere where Fe²⁺ would be the stable state for iron ions dissolved in the slag. Two aspects of the interaction between the Al₂O₃ spheres and slags were studied, namely (i) the speed at which the particle sinks into the slag and (ii) how rapidly the particles dissolve. The objectives are to elucidate interactions between oxide particulate material, either from the refractory wall or from the mineral constituents in the fuel feedstock, with the slag formed at the wall in entrained-slagging gasifiers.The particle settling was found to proceed first rapidly, but subsequently slowing down and this behavior was in qualitative agreement with model predictions based on a balance between gravity-, drag-, capillary-, and added mass forces. The effect of increasing temperature and FeO_x content are investigated and it is shown that both contribute towards increasing the dissolution rate. The rate appears to be governed by a combination of the driving force for dissolution and transport properties in the slag.