Development of lignin carbon fibers: Evaluation of the carbonization process

The use of lignin as a renewable resource for the production of less‐expensive carbon fibers has in recent years attracted great interest. In order to develop the strength properties, the stabilization and carbonization processes have to be optimized. For this reason, the process parameters during carbonization have here been studied on stabilized lignin fibers in the temperature interval from 300 to 1300 °C. The effects of temperature, heating rate, and straining of fibers during carbonization on the strength properties of carbon fibers were investigated. The heating rate, in the range from 1 to 40 °C/min, was shown to have no effect on the property development of the fibers. During carbonization with no load applied to the fibers, a shrinkage of 20% was noted. Counteracting the shrinkage by imposing a load on the fibers during the carbonization resulted in fibers with a greater stiffness. The tensile strength was not, however, affected by this loading. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43965.     

LCA of second generation bioethanol: A review and some issues to be resolved for good LCA practice

This paper aims at reviewing the life cycle assessment (LCA) literature on second generation bioethanol based on lignocellulosic biomass and at identifying issues to be resolved for good LCA practice. Reviews are carried out on respective LCA studies published over the last six years. We use the classification of lignocellulosic biomass to define system boundaries, so that the comparison among LCA results can be thoroughly assessed based on identified system components. A basis for attributing environmental burden for different biomass feedstocks is also suggested. Despite the non-homogeneous systems, we conclude that second generation bioethanol performs better than fossil fuel at least for the two most studied impact categories, net energy output and global warming. For the latter category, carbon sequestration at the biomass generation stage can even consistently offset the GHG emissions from all parts of the life cycle chains at high ethanol percentage (≥85%). The aspect of biogenic carbon and agrochemical input for energy crops and biomass residues, and the effect of removal of the latter from soil have not been treated consistently. In contrast, the exclusion of upstream chain of biomass waste feedstocks is observed in practice. The bioethanol conversion process is mostly based on simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation, characterized by high yield and low energy input. In this regard, the LCA results tend to under estimate the real impacts of the current technology. The choice of allocation methods strongly influences the final results, particularly when economic value is used as a reference. Substitution of avoided burden seems to be the most popular allocation method in practice, followed by partition based on mass, energy, and economic values.     

Reduced dynamic modeling approach for rectification columns based on compartmentalization and artificial neural networks

The availability of reduced-dimensional, accurate dynamic models is crucial for the optimal operation of chemical processes in fast-changing environments. Herein, we present a reduced modeling approach for rectification columns. The model combines compartmentalization to reduce the number of differential equations with artificial neural networks to express the nonlinear input–output relations within compartments. We apply the model to the optimal control of an air separation unit. We reduce the size of the differential equation system by 90% while limiting the additional error in product purities to below 1 ppm compared to a full-order stage-by-stage model. We demonstrate that the proposed model enables savings in computational times for optimal control problems by ~95% compared to a full order and ~99% to a standard compartment model. The presented model enables a trade-off between accuracy and computational efficiency, which is superior to what has recently been reported for similar applications using collocation-based reduction approaches.     

Phosphatidylethanolamine‐Binding Proteins,Including RKIP,Exhibit Affinity for Phosphodiesterase‐5 Inhibitors

Identifying protein “interactors” of drugs is of great importance to understand their mode of action and possible cross‐reactivity to off‐target protein binders. In this study, we profile proteins that bind to PF‐3717842, a high‐affinity phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE5) inhibitor, by using a refined affinity pulldown approach with PF‐3717842 immobilized beads. By performing these pulldowns in rat testis tissue lysate, we strongly and specifically enriched for PDE5 and a few other PDEs. In addition to these expected affinity‐enriched proteins we also detect rodent‐specific phosphatidylethanolamine‐binding protein 2 (PEBP2), as a putative binder to the PDE5 inhibitor. By using recombinant forms of the related murine mPEBP2, mPEBP1 and human hPEBP1 (also known as Raf kinase inhibitor protein or RKIP) we confirm that they all can bind strongly to immobilized as well as soluble PF‐3717842. As the phosphatidylethanolamine‐binding proteins are involved in various important signal transduction pathways, the synthetic PDE5 inhibitor used here might form a platform to synthesize enhanced binders/inhibitors of the family of PEBP proteins. Our approach shows how chemical proteomics might be used to profile the biochemical space (interactome) of small molecule inhibitors.     

A Photorhabdus Natural Product Inhibits Insect Juvenile Hormone Epoxide Hydrolase

Simple urea compounds (“phurealipids”) have been identified from the entomopathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens, and their biosynthesis was elucidated. Very similar analogues of these compounds have been previously developed as inhibitors of juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH), a key enzyme in insect development and growth. Phurealipids also inhibit JHEH, and therefore phurealipids might contribute to bacterial virulence.     

On Priority and Progress: Forced Residential Relocation and Housing Chances in Haaglanden,the Netherlands

There is a wide interest in the effects of forced relocation in the context of urban restructuring. This interest is also inspired by debates on gentrification and displacement. The prevailing idea is that the lowest income groups particularly suffer from displacement in terms of their housing quality and increased rents. In addition, increasing proportions of forced movers are assumed to harm the housing opportunities of other house seekers, while competing within the social rented sector. Although several studies deal with the consequences of forced relocation, a broader perspective on housing chances is currently lacking. Moreover, most studies are qualitative, whereas a larger-scale quantitative analysis is needed to test assumptions mentioned above. This paper addresses these matters by analysing housing allocation data of the Haaglanden in the Netherlands and two cross-sectional surveys among forced movers in the region's central city, The Hague. Findings indicate that housing chances for both forced and regular house seekers have not declined substantially since 2000. Moreover, most forced movers experienced dwelling progress, partly thanks to the design of the housing allocation model. However, low-educated, as well as middle- and higher-income households less often report dwelling progress. Explanations for these findings are provided.     

Social implications of housing diversification in urban renewal: A review of recent literature

British and Dutch urban policies have advocated housing diversification and social mix in neighbourhoods subject to urban renewal. Question marks have been placed against the evidence base for the assumed social effects of diversification. This paper provides a review of research into the actual consequences of diversification in Great Britain and the Netherlands. After a brief policy discussion, the paper identifies five issues for which evidence is reviewed: housing quality and area reputation, neighbourhood-based social interactions, residential attitudes towards social mix, the role-model effect, and problem dilution. The review shows ambivalent results that necessitate modest expectations, especially with regard to area reputation, cross-tenure social interaction and residential attitudes. This ambivalence is partly due to unclear policy goals and policy terms as well as vagueness about the relevant spatial level. Moreover, the influence of tenure mix is often superseded by other, more important factors in residential satisfaction, such as lifestyle. The paper also argues that positive role-model effects in neighbourhoods have not yet been adequately studied and therefore remain based on conviction.     

GLOBOX: A spatially differentiated global fate, intake and effect model for toxicity assessment in LCA

GLOBOX is a model for the calculation of spatially differentiated LCA toxicity characterisation factors on a global scale. It can also be used for human and environmental risk assessment. The GLOBOX model contains equations for the calculation of fate, intake and effect factors, and equations for the calculation of LCA characterisation factors for human toxicity and ecotoxicity. The model is differentiated on the level of 239 countries/territories and 50 seas/oceans. Each region has its own set of homogeneous compartments, and the regions are interconnected by atmospheric and aquatic flows. Multimedia transport and degradation calculations are largely based on the EUSES 2.0 multimedia model, and are supplemented by specific equations to account for the advective air and water transport between different countries and/or seas. Metal-specific equations are added to account for speciation in fresh and marine surface water. Distribution parameters for multimedia transport equations are differentiated per country or sea with respect to geographic features, hydrology, and climate. The model has been tested with nitrobenzene as a test chemical, for emissions to all countries in the world. Spatially differentiated characterisation factors turn out to show wide ranges of variation between countries, especially for releases to inland water and soil compartments. Geographic position, distribution of lakes and rivers and variations in environmental temperature and rain rate are decisive parameters for a number of different characterisation factors. Population density and dietary intake play central roles in the variation of characterisation factors for human toxicity. Among the countries that show substantial deviations from average values of the characterisation factors are not only small and remote islands, but also countries with a significant economic production rate, as indicated by their GDPs. It is concluded that spatial differentiation between countries is an important step forward with respect to the improvement of LCA toxicity characterisation factors.     

Influence of motivational interviewing on explicit and implicit alcohol-related cognition and alcohol use in at-risk adolescents.

Both implicit and explicit cognitions play an important role in the development of addictive behavior. This study investigated the influence of a single-session motivational interview (MI) on implicit and explicit alcohol-related cognition and whether this intervention was successful in consequently decreasing alcohol use in at-risk adolescents. Implicit and explicit alcohol-related cognitions were assessed at pretest and one month posttest in 125 Dutch at-risk adolescents ranging in age from 15 to 23 (51 males) with adapted versions of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and an expectancy questionnaire. Motivation to change, alcohol use and alcohol-related problems were measured with self-report questionnaires, at pretest, at posttest after one month, and at the six-month follow-up. Although the quality of the intervention was rated positively, the results did not yield support for any differential effects of the intervention on drinking behavior or readiness to change at posttest and six-month follow-up. There were indications of changes in implicit and explicit alcohol-related cognitions between pretest and posttest. Our findings raise questions regarding the use of MI in this particular at-risk adolescent population and the mechanisms through which MI is effective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)