On radiant energy in high-temperature research

The mechanism of heating solids with radiant energy is reviewed and the need for measuring radiative properties is pointed out. Image furnaces are suitable for such measurement at high temperatures. The limitations of image furnace operations are discussed and methods as well as equipment offered to overcome the limitations. The importance of artificial black bodies in high-flux measurements is described and a new shape for such cavities is proposed. Data comparing this shape with hitherto used shapes are tabulated. Design for a fast-action on-off shutter for image furnaces is presented. In its retracted position the shutter does not cast any shadow on the mirror and it does not require artificial cooling even when exposed to radiation.     

Electrochemical reduction of Eu3+ in aqueous ethylene glycol solutions

The electrochemical behavior of the system Eu³⁺/Eu²⁺ in aqueous ethylene glycol solutions was studied by current reversal chronopotentiometry at a mercury pool electrode in the temperature range 20.0-50.0°C, with 1 M NaClO₄ as supporting electrolyte.Kinetic parameters for the charge transfer reaction and activation energies for diffusion and viscosity are presented.     

Methyl-Donors Can Induce Apoptosis and Attenuate Both the Akt and the Erk1/2 Mediated Proliferation Pathways in Breast and Lung Cancer Cell Lines

Dietary methyl-donors play important roles in physiological processes catalyzed by B vitamins as coenzymes, and are used for complementary support in oncotherapy. Our hypothesis was that methyl-donors can not only assist in tolerating cancer treatment but may also directly interfere with tumor growth and proliferation. Therefore, we investigated the proposed cancer inhibitory effects of methyl-donors (in a mixture of L-methionine, choline chloride, folic acid, and vitamin B12) on MCF7 and T47D breast cancer as well as A549 and H1650 lung cancer cell lines. Indeed, methyl-donor treatment significantly reduced the proliferation in all cell lines, possibly through the downregulation of MAPK/ERK and AKT signaling. These were accompanied by the upregulation of the pro-apoptotic Bak and Bax, both in MCF7 and H1650 cells, at reduced anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 levels in MCF7 and H1650 cells, respectively. The treatment-induced downregulation of p-p53(Thr55) was likely to contribute to protecting the nuclear localization and apoptosis inducing functions of p53. The presented features are known to improve the sensitivity of cancer therapy. Therefore, these data support the hypothesis, i.e., that methyl-donors may promote apoptotic signaling by protecting p53 functions through downregulating both the MAPK/ERK and the AKT pathways both in breast and lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. Our results can emphasize the importance and benefits of the appropriate dietary supports in cancer treatments. However, further studies are required to confirm these effects without any adverse outcome in clinical settings.     

Chronic Oral Selegiline Treatment Mitigates Age-Related Hearing Loss in BALB/c Mice

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL), a sensorineural hearing loss of multifactorial origin, increases its prevalence in aging societies. Besides hearing aids and cochlear implants, there is no FDA approved efficient pharmacotherapy to either cure or prevent ARHL. We hypothesized that selegiline, an antiparkinsonian drug, could be a promising candidate for the treatment due to its complex neuroprotective, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and dopaminergic neurotransmission enhancing effects. We monitored by repeated Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) measurements the effect of chronic per os selegiline administration on the hearing function in BALB/c and DBA/2J mice, which strains exhibit moderate and rapid progressive high frequency hearing loss, respectively. The treatments were started at 1 month of age and lasted until almost a year and 5 months of age, respectively. In BALB/c mice, 4 mg/kg selegiline significantly mitigated the progression of ARHL at higher frequencies. Used in a wide dose range (0.15–45 mg/kg), selegiline had no effect in DBA/2J mice. Our results suggest that selegiline can partially preserve the hearing in certain forms of ARHL by alleviating its development. It might also be otoprotective in other mammals or humans.     

Precious-Metal-Decorated Chromium(IV) Oxide Nanowires as Efficient Catalysts for 2,4-Toluenediamine Synthesis

The catalytic hydrogenation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) to 2,4-toluenediamine (TDA) is a key step in the production of polyurethanes; therefore, the development of efficient hydrogenation catalysts for industrial use is of paramount importance. In the present study, chromium(IV) oxide nanowires were decorated by palladium and platinum nanoparticles in a one-step, simple, and fast preparation method to yield highly efficient hydrogenation catalysts for immediate use. The nanoparticles were deposited onto the surface of CrO₂ nanowires by using ultrasonic cavitation and ethanol as a reduction agent. Beneficially, the catalyst became catalytically active right at the end of the preparation and no further treatment was necessary. The activity of the Pd- and Pt-decorated CrO₂ catalysts were compared in the hydrogenation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT). Both catalysts have shown high activity in the hydrogenation tests. The DNT conversion exceeded 98% in both cases, whereas the 2,4-toluenediamine (TDA) yields were 99.7 n/n% and 98.8 n/n%, with the Pd/CrO₂ and Pt/CrO₂, respectively, at 333 K and 20 bar H₂ pressure. In the case of the Pt/CrO₂ catalyst, 304.08 mol of TDA formed with 1 mol Pt after 1 h hydrogenation. Activation energies were also calculated to be approximately 24 kJ∙mol⁻¹. Besides their immediate applicability, our catalysts were well dispersible in the reaction medium (methanolic solution of DNT). Moreover, because of their magnetic behavior, the catalysts were easy to handle and remove from the reaction media by using a magnetic field.     

Development and Thermal Modeling of a New Construction Biomass Dryer

A new dryer construction has been developed for drying biomass basic materials for energy purposes (straw, sawdust, and other light granular materials). As a result of its simple design, the machine is perfectly suitable for reducing moisture by heat transfer. Compared to the machine types applied thus far, this new construction provides a better ratio of dryer floor space and drying distance and, as a result, a longer drying time. A differential equation system for convection drying was applied for the thermal modeling of the equipment; the mathematical model produced on the basis there of is suitable for examining the heat and mass transfer processes within the dryer. In the course of experimental measurements performed in an industrial size apparatus, the temperature and moisture content of the drying gas were recorded with the initial and final moisture content and surface temperature of the product. The measured values were compared to the results of calculations using the mathematical model.     

Design,Synthesis, and Structure–Activity Relationships of 3,4,5‐Trisubstituted 4,5‐Dihydro‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles as TGR5 Agonists

Given its role in the mediation of energy and glucose homeostasis, the G‐protein‐coupled bile acid receptor 1 (TGR5) is considered a potential target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and other metabolic disorders. By thorough analysis of diverse structures of published TGR5 agonists, a hypothetical ligand‐based pharmacophore model was built, and a new class of potent TGR5 agonists, based on the novel 3,4,5‐trisubstituted 4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐oxadiazole core, was discovered by rational design. Three distinct synthetic methods for constructing 4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles and extensive structure–activity relationship studies are reported herein. Compound (R)‐ 54 n , the structure of which was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and quantum chemical solid‐state TDDFT‐ECD calculations, showed the best potency, with an EC₅₀ value of 1.4 nM toward hTGR5. Its favorable properties in vitro warrant further investigation.     

Characterization of ethylene‐propylene copolymers with high‐temperature gradient adsorption liquid chromatography and CRYSTAF

Blends of linear polyethylene (PE) and isotactic polypropylene (iPP) with different average molar masses and a series of ethylene‐propylene (EP) copolymers with different chemical composition as well as blends of PE, Ipp, and EP copolymers were separated using a carbon‐column packing (Hypercarb®) and gradients of 1‐decanol or 2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol → 1,2,4‐trichlorobenzene (TCB). The separation is based on full adsorption of linear PE on the carbon sorbent at temperature 160°C. However, iPP is not adsorbed and elutes in size exclusion mode. The random EP copolymers have been adsorbed in the column packing and separated according to their average chemical composition after application of the gradient starting with alcohol and ending with pure TCB. The elution volumes of the copolymers depended linearly on the average concentration of ethylene in the copolymers. The HPLC elution profiles were correlated with the CRYSTAF elution profiles. In contrast to CRYSTAF, fully amorphous polyolefin samples were separated with the high‐temperature adsorption liquid chromatography. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

A novel multi−wavelength photoacoustic spectrometer for the measurement of the UV–vis-NIR spectral absorption coefficient of atmospheric aerosols

A multi-wavelength photoacoustic instrument is described, which measures the wavelength dependent optical absorption coefficient (OAC) of soot or soot-containing aerosols in-situ in a range from the ultra-violet to the near-infrared region. The instrument combines a Nd:YAG disc laser (fundamental wavelength 1064 nm, harmonics at 532, 355 and 266 nm) and four photoacoustic detection cells, each purged with the same aerosol sample flow, while being irradiated with one of the four light beams. With the help of a supplementary optical arrangement to illuminate each detection cell with 532 nm light, the system is calibrated against OAC by purging the cells with known concentrations (and hereby known OAC values) of NO₂. This calibration eliminates differences in sensitivity of the detection PA cells and makes the measurement of OAC absolute.The minimum detectable OAC was determined to be 0.2 Mm^?1 at 1064 nm and 35.5 Mm^?1 at 266 nm, corresponding to a minimum detectable black carbon mass concentration of about 0.1–1 μg/m³, depending on the wavelength. Comparison measurements with artificially generated soot aerosols showed good agreement of the device with a reference instrument, based on a long path extinction cell (LOPES).     

Purinergic–Glycinergic Interaction in Neurodegenerative and Neuroinflammatory Disorders of the Retina

Neurodegenerative–neuroinflammatory disorders of the retina seriously hamper human vision. In searching for key factors that contribute to the development of these pathologies, we considered potential interactions among purinergic neuromodulation, glycinergic neurotransmission, and microglia activity in the retina. Energy deprivation at cellular levels is mainly due to impaired blood circulation leading to increased release of ATP and adenosine as well as glutamate and glycine. Interactions between these modulators and neurotransmitters are manifold. First, P2Y purinoceptor agonists facilitate reuptake of glycine by glycine transporter 1, while its inhibitors reduce reverse-mode operation; these events may lower extracellular glycine levels. The consequential changes in extracellular glycine concentration can lead to parallel changes in the activity of NR1/NR2B type NMDA receptors of which glycine is a mandatory agonist, and thereby may reduce neurodegenerative events in the retina. Second, P2Y purinoceptor agonists and glycine transporter 1 inhibitors may indirectly inhibit microglia activity by decreasing neuronal or glial glycine release in energy-compromised retina. These inhibitions may have a role in microglia activation, which is present during development and progression of neurodegenerative disorders such as glaucomatous and diabetic retinopathies and age-related macular degeneration or loss of retinal neurons caused by thromboembolic events. We have hypothesized that glycine transporter 1 inhibitors and P2Y purinoceptor agonists may have therapeutic importance in neurodegenerative–neuroinflammatory disorders of the retina by decreasing NR1/NR2B NMDA receptor activity and production and release of a series of proinflammatory cytokines from microglial cells.