Anomalously Low Surface Area and Density in the Silica—Alumina Gel System

A range of composition/processing conditions that yield xerogel surface areas 2 orders of magnitude lower than expected along with low skeletal densities has been discovered. For xerogel compositions in the vicinity of 50 wt% Al₂O₃, surface areas are 1 to 5 m²/g and skeletal densities are 2.1 to 2.2 g/cm³, as compared to the expected values of ∼300 m²/g and ∼2.6 g / cm³, respectively. This behavior is observed over a wide range of heat treatment temperatures (373 to 1073 K) and appears to be the result of closed porosity which evolves during gel drying.     

DnaJC7 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Protein misfolding is a common basis of many neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Misfolded proteins, such as TDP-43, FUS, Matrin3, and SOD1, mislocalize and form the hallmark cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusions in neurons of ALS patients. Cellular protein quality control prevents protein misfolding under normal conditions and, particularly, when cells experience protein folding stress due to the fact of increased levels of reactive oxygen species, genetic mutations, or aging. Molecular chaperones can prevent protein misfolding, refold misfolded proteins, or triage misfolded proteins for degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome system or autophagy. DnaJC7 is an evolutionarily conserved molecular chaperone that contains both a J-domain for the interaction with Hsp70s and tetratricopeptide domains for interaction with Hsp90, thus joining these two major chaperones’ machines. Genetic analyses reveal that pathogenic variants in the gene encoding DnaJC7 cause familial and sporadic ALS. Yet, the underlying ALS-associated molecular pathophysiology and many basic features of DnaJC7 function remain largely unexplored. Here, we review aspects of DnaJC7 expression, interaction, and function to propose a loss-of-function mechanism by which pathogenic variants in DNAJC7 contribute to defects in DnaJC7-mediated chaperoning that might ultimately contribute to neurodegeneration in ALS.     

Effects of high density dispersion fuel loading on the kinetic parameters of a low enriched uranium fueled material test research reactor

The effects of using high density low enriched uranium on the neutronic parameters of a material test research reactor were studied. For this purpose, the low density LEU fuel of an MTR was replaced with high density LEU fuels currently being developed under the RERTR program. Since the alloying elements have different cross-sections affecting the reactor in different ways, therefore fuels U–Mo (9 w/o) which contain the same elements in same ratio were selected for analysis. Simulations were carried out to calculate core excess reactivity, neutron flux spectrum, prompt neutron generation time, effective delayed neutron fraction and feedback coefficients including Doppler feedback coefficient, and reactivity coefficients for change of water density and temperature. Nuclear reactor analysis codes including WIMS-D4 and CITATION were employed to carry out these calculations. It is observed that the excess reactivity at the beginning of life does not increase as the uranium density of fuel. Both the prompt neutron generation time and the effective delayed neutron fraction decrease as the uranium density increases. The absolute value of Doppler feedback coefficient increases while the absolute values of reactivity coefficients for change of water density and temperature decrease.     

Non-Newtonian nanofluid characteristics over a melting wedge: A numerical study

A study is conducted to determine the impact of joule heating, thermo-diffusion, and chemical reaction effect on wedge flow with melting. Using similarity transformation, the nonlinear PDEs regulate nanofluid flow is converted to nonlinear ODEs. The MATLAB solver is used to solve the boundary value problem numerically. The interaction of relevant physical entities on nanoparticle concentration, nanofluid temperature, nanofluid velocity, skin friction, rate of heat, and mass transfer is graphically portrayed. This study will aid in the development of cooling devices and various shapes in heat sinks, as well as improving the heat transfer characteristics of Casson flow and strengthening formerly industrial uses. In the limiting situation, current findings are compared to analysis of findings. Flow velocity and concentration compacts in association with enhancing values of chemical reaction factor while temperature increases with enhancing the values of chemical reaction parameter. An upsurge in the temperature of the fluid is seen with the increasing Eckert number. It is found that the melting process increases the thicknesses of Solutal, thermal, and momentum boundary layers while it reduces mass transfer rate, heat transfer rate, and Skin friction. The Casson fluid displays a superior heat transfer mechanism than the Newtonian fluid. This study would be valuable in designing cooling gadgets and heat sinks of various shapes which will enhance the heat transfer properties of Casson nanofluids thereby increasing their applications in industrial perspectives. Moreover, the study reveals the novel applications of Casson nanofluids in cooling devices and heat sinks.     

Extraction and in vitro antioxidant capacity evaluation of phenolic compounds from pigmented aromatic rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryzae sativa</Emphasis> L.) cultivars

The aroma generating volatile components profile and in vitro antioxidant capacities of different aromatic rice cultivars was determined by GC–MS analysis and in terms of DPPH scavenging activity, lipid peroxidation inhibition, phosphomolybdenum reduction and reducing power assay. The total phenolic content including both free and bound forms in the analyzed aromatic rice cultivars, Mushki budgi (1.62 mg GAE/g), Mushki kandi (1.63 mg GAE/g) and Kamad (1.60 mg GAE/g) were found double the amount as compared to non-aromatic Koshkari (0.86 mg GAE/g) cultivar. The aromatic rice cultivars had also shown higher total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity than non-aromatic rice cultivar (Koshkari). The GC–MS results indicated 21-aromatic compounds present in sufficient quantities in aromatic cultivars and some of them were unique to these cultivars. Among the compounds identified, aldehydes were found in higher quantity followed by alkanes, ketones and esters. Among the aromatic rice cultivars, Mushki budgi and Mushki kandi were found possessing higher quantity of flavoring components such as benzaldehyde, a carcinostatic agent. The cultivars Mushki budgi and Mushki kandi indicated positive correlation of TPC, TFC and the in vitro antioxidant components largely, while the less aromatic Kamad, correlate with only two components viz DPPH and lipid peroxidation.     

Isolation and Characterization of Buffalo Milk Lysozyme

Lysozyme is a commercially valuable enzyme, and is applied in many fields, concerning products such as foods, drugs, and the like. In this work, lysozyme was isolated and purified from buffalo milk using sephadex G-50 and cation exchanger carboxymethyl cellulose. Lysozyme active fractions from buffalo milk were assayed against Gram positive substrate Micrococcus luteus at 450 nm and a decline in absorbance of 0.001 per min was observed. The optimum activity of lysozyme (158.3 ± 1.7 units/mL) was at 7.5 pH and 37°C temperature. Lysozyme activity at pasteurization temperatures 62.5°C, 30 min and 75°C, 15 s were (156.08 ± 1.03 and 156 ± 2 units/mL) not affected significantly; however, 47% activity of lysozyme was reduced at 100°C for 5 min. Antibacterial susceptibility testing of lysozyme (chicken egg white lysozyme and buffalo milk lysozyme) was performed on Micrococcus luteus (ATCC 4698) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25235). Both lysozymes showed no inhibition effect against Escherichia coli.     

Area of influence (AOI) development: fast generation of receptor-oriented sensitivity fields for use in regional air quality modeling

An approach is developed and tested to extend discrete, source-based sensitivity results to provide a complete set of information for source-air quality impacts, including inversion of those results to develop receptor-oriented source-impact sensitivities. First, the decoupled direct sensitivity analysis method in 3D (DDM-3D) is used to calculate a finite number of forward sensitivities from discrete points. These results are then interpolated using tessellation to provide complete fields of forward, emissions-based sensitivities, i.e., how emissions in any one grid cell within the domain impact any other cell. Receptor-oriented sensitivities are then found by inverting the set of forward sensitivities and can be used to identify the area of influence (AOI). This economically provides results similar to what would be found using an adjoint model. The present approach is computationally less intensive than adjoint modeling for a large number of receptors, and provides both source-oriented and receptor-oriented pollutant response fields that can be used for air quality management and health impact analyses. The forward sensitivity interpolation procedure, as well as the receptor-oriented sensitivities, is evaluated using data withholding.