High-temperature oxidation of BN-coated sylramic SiC fibers in dry and wet atmosphere

The oxidation behavior of SiC Sylramic fibers coated with chemically vapor deposited Si-doped boron nitride (BN) was investigated at temperatures between 800 and 1200°C in dry and wet O₂ atmospheres. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to study the oxidation kinetics of the fiber and the influence of the BN layer and the environment. The morphology and composition of the thermally grown oxide scale was determined posttest by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. This study gives new insights into the synergistic effects of BN and water vapor on the oxidation behavior SiC Sylramic fibers. The vulnerability of the BN fiber interphase and the behavior of the fiber under conditions relevant to high-temperature turbine applications are discussed.     

Decoupled Roles for the Atypical,Bifurcated Binding Pocket of the ybfF Hydrolase

Serine hydrolases have diverse intracellular substrates, biological functions, and structural plasticity, and are thus important for biocatalyst design. Amongst serine hydrolases, the recently described ybfF enzyme family are promising novel biocatalysts with an unusual bifurcated substrate‐binding cleft and the ability to recognize commercially relevant substrates. We characterized in detail the substrate selectivity of a novel ybfF enzyme from Vibrio cholerae (Vc‐ybfF) by using a 21‐member library of fluorogenic ester substrates. We assigned the roles of the two substrate‐binding clefts in controlling the substrate selectivity and folded stability of Vc‐ybfF by comprehensive substitution analysis. The overall substrate preference of Vc‐ybfF was for short polar chains, but it retained significant activity with a range of cyclic and extended esters. This broad substrate specificity combined with the substitutional analysis demonstrates that the larger binding cleft controls the substrate specificity of Vc‐ybfF. Key selectivity residues (Tyr116, Arg120, Tyr209) are also located at the larger binding pocket and control the substrate specificity profile. In the structure of ybfF the narrower binding cleft contains water molecules prepositioned for hydrolysis, but based on substitution this cleft showed only minimal contribution to catalysis. Instead, the residues surrounding the narrow binding cleft and at the entrance to the binding pocket contributed significantly to the folded stability of Vc‐ybfF. The relative contributions of each cleft of the binding pocket to the catalytic activity and folded stability of Vc‐ybfF provide a valuable map for designing future biocatalysts based on the ybfF scaffold.     

Plasma Processing of B4C–TiB2 Eutectic Composite Powders

The production of a composite powder of eutectic B₄C–TiB₂ is demonstrated via an atmospheric plasma processing method. Feedstock material is prepared for plasma processing by mixing and spray drying monolithic B₄C and TiB₂ to produce a flowable precursor powder. These powders are fed through a plasma torch, where they are melted and actively quenched in flight with argon gas. Plasma processed powders are composed of crystalline B₄C and TiB₂, with some additional B₂O₃ oxide phase. The plasma processing method results in the production of monolithic B₄C and TiB₂ nanoparticles, but some larger particles (generally ≥10 μm in diameter) are shown to contain the traditional lamellar eutectic microstructure. The eutectic interphase spacing ranges from 100 to 650 nm, and the composite microstructure is present through the entire thickness of the eutectic particles. Future work on plasma processing of eutectic powders should focus on methods utilizing passive in‐flight quenching to increase the average particle size.     

Air Quality Profile of Inorganic Ionic Composition of Fine Aerosols at Two Sites in Mumbai City

The levels of PM ₁₀ , PM _2.5 , and NO ₂ were studied at a kerbsite and ambient site in Mumbai. Measurements were also made for eight inorganic ions (F ^? , Cl ^? , NO ₃ ^? , SO ^2? ₄ , Na ⁺ , K ⁺ , NH ₄ ⁺ , Ca ²⁺ , and Mg ²⁺ ) in the PM _2.5 fraction. During the study period, PM _2.5 , PM ₁₀ and NO ₂ levels ranged between 11–91, 18–125, and 8–64 μ g m ^{? 3} at a ambient site whereas at the kerbsite the ranges were 10–176, 21–189, and 4–55 μ g m ^?3 respectively. Average PM _2.5 values were 42 μ g m ^{? 3} at ambient and 69 μ g m ^?3 at the kerbsite. The measured ions accounted for about 50% of the PM _2.5 mass. Non-sea-salt (nss) sulfate contributed 91% and 85% of the ionic mass at the ambient and kerbsite sites respectively. Due to biomass sources of K, only about 5% of K ⁺ was from seas salt. The average equivalent ratio of NH ₄ ⁺ to nss- SO ² ₄ ^? , and NO ₃ ^? was over 1, indicating high source strength of ammonia.     

Copolymers of long-side-chain di-n-alkyl itaconates or methyl n-alkyl itaconates with styrene: synthesis, characterization, and thermal properties

Two series of copolymers of styrene with di-n-alkyl itaconates or methyl n-alkyl itaconates with n-alkyl side chains of 12, 14, 16, 18, and 22, using different compositions in the feed have been prepared in bulk via radical at 60 °C with AIBN as initiator. In most of the cases the copolymers were obtained in goods yields, their composition being close to the feed composition and their physical states depending on the composition and the itaconate structure. The copolymers were characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The ¹H NMR studies indicate that the copolymers have a mainly random distribution of the monomeric units. The thermal degradation process occurs in one step with decomposition temperatures intermediate between those of polyitaconate and polystyrene. Finally, the alkyl side chains of the itaconate moieties are able to crystallize in a paraffinic phase where the melting temperature and enthalpy increase as the itaconate content and the side chain length rise.     

A Nitric Oxide-Responsive Quorum Sensing Circuit in Vibrio harveyi Regulates Flagella Production and Biofilm Formation

Cell signaling plays an important role in the survival of bacterial colonies. They use small molecules to coordinate gene expression in a cell density dependent manner. This process, known as quorum sensing, helps bacteria regulate diverse functions such as bioluminescence, biofilm formation and virulence. In Vibrio harveyi, a bioluminescent marine bacterium, four parallel quorum-sensing systems have been identified to regulate light production. We have previously reported that nitric oxide (NO), through the H-NOX/HqsK quorum sensing pathway contributes to light production in V. harveyi through the LuxU/LuxO/LuxR quorum sensing pathway. In this study, we show that nitric oxide (NO) also regulates flagellar production and enhances biofilm formation. Our data suggest that V. harveyi is capable of switching between lifestyles to be able to adapt to changes in the environment.     

The Characterisation of Pluripotent and Multipotent Stem Cells Using Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy shows potential as a benign, objective and rapid tool to screen pluripotent and multipotent stem cells for clinical use. It offers a new experimental approach that provides a holistic measurement of macromolecular composition such that a signature representing the internal cellular phenotype is obtained. The use of this technique therefore contributes information that is complementary to that acquired by conventional genetic and immunohistochemical methods.     

Gene Expression Analyses Support Fallopian Tube Epithelium as the Cell of Origin of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Folate receptor alpha (FOLR1/FRA) is reported to be overexpressed in epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC), especially the serous histotype. Further, while dysregulation of the folate-dependent 1-carbon cycle has been implicated in tumorogenesis, little is known relative to the potential mechanism of action of FOLR1 expression in these processes. We therefore investigated the expression of FOLR1, other folate receptors, and genes within the 1-carbon cycle in samples of EOC, normal ovary and fallopian tube on a custom TaqMan Low Density Array. Also included on this array were known markers of EOC such as MSLN, MUC16 and HE4. While few differences were observed in the expression profiles of genes in the 1-carbon cycle, genes previously considered to be overexpressed in EOC (e.g., FOLR1, MSLN, MUC16 and HE4) showed significantly increased expression when comparing EOC to normal ovary. However, when the comparator was changed to normal fallopian tube, these differences were abolished, supporting the hypothesis that EOC derives from fallopian fimbriae and, further, that markers previously considered to be upregulated or overexpressed in EOC are most likely not of ovarian origin, but fallopian in derivation. Our findings therefore support the hypothesis that the cell of origin of EOC is tubal epithelium.     

The expanding role of mass spectrometry in metabolite profiling and characterization

Mass spectrometry has a strong history in drug-metabolite analysis and has recently emerged as the foremost technology in endogenous metabolite research. The advantages of mass spectrometry include a wide dynamic range, the ability to observe a diverse number of molecular species, and reproducible quantitative analysis. These attributes are important in addressing the issue of metabolite profiling, as the dynamic range easily exceeds nine orders of magnitude in biofluids, and the diversity of species ranges from simple amino acids to lipids to complex carbohydrates. The goals of the application of mass spectrometry range from basic biochemistry to clinical biomarker discovery with challenges in generating a comprehensive profile, data analysis, and structurally characterizing physiologically important metabolites. The precedent for this work has already been set in neonatal screening, as blood samples from millions of neonates are tested routinely by mass spectrometry as a diagnostic tool for inborn errors of metabolism. In this review, we will discuss the background from which contemporary metabolite research emerged, the techniques involved in this exciting area, and the current and future applications of this field.     

Kinetics of Polyurethane Formation in Polymerization Reactions Using the Organometallic Diol (η5-C5H4CH2CH2OH)2Mo2(CO)6

Summary The kinetics of the dibutyltin diacetate (DBTA) – catalyzed polymerization reactions of (η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂OH)₂Mo₂(CO)₆ with Hypol 2000 (an isocyanate-terminated polyether prepolymer) and with 1,4-butanediol were studied, as were the kinetics of a copolymerization involving (η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂OH)₂Mo₂(CO)₆ and PEG-1000 (a poly(ethylene glycol)) with Hypol 2000. The purpose was to determine if (η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂OH)₂Mo₂(CO)₆ appreciably affected the overall rate of the polymerization reaction and if it changed the mechanism of the reaction. The kinetics were analyzed with a fitting program, which allowed extraction of the rate constants for the individual elementary steps in the mechanism. The results showed that (η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂OH)₂Mo₂(CO)₆ does not significantly alter the timescale of the reaction and that the same reaction mechanism is likely used as with the 1,4-butanediol and PEG-1000. There are some differences in the rate constants of the elementary steps, but these differences can be attributed to the increased steric crowding caused by the bulkier (η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂OH)₂Mo₂(CO)₆ diol. The effect of the (η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂OH)₂Mo₂(CO)₆ on the polymers’ physical properties was also investigated. As is the case with other segmented polyurethanes, the hydrogen bonding index (HBI) and the relative amount of soft segments of the (η⁵-C₅H₄CH₂CH₂OH)₂Mo₂(CO)₆-containing polyurethane correlate in a general way with the physical properties of the polymer.