Kinetics measurements and in situ Raman spectroscopy of formation of hydrogen–tetrabutylammonium bromide semi-hydrates

The kinetics of formation of H₂–TBAB semi-clathrate hydrates was studied in this work in order to elucidate their potential for H₂ storage. The influence of pressure (5–16 MPa), TBAB concentration (2.6 mol% and 3.7 mol%) and formation method (T-cycle method and T-constant method) on the hydrate nucleation, hydrate growth and H₂ storage capacity was determined. The results showed that kinetics is favored at higher pressures and solute concentrations. Additionally, the hydrate phase formation and dissociation was study for a solution of 2.6 mol% of TBAB in situ by using the Raman spectroscopy technique. The inclusion of H₂ in the semi-hydrate phase was confirmed. The results showed the importance of H₂ mass transfer on the storage capacity of the H₂–TBAB semi-hydrates.     

Molecular identification and population dynamic of Anisakis pegreffii (Nematoda: Anisakidae Dujardin, 1845) isolated from the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) in the Adriatic Sea

Anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (L.) is a coastal pelagic and euryhaline species that represents the only European species of the family Engraulidae, with a widespread distribution. In Croatia, it is marketed fresh, frozen, salted or marinated and mainly exported to Italy and Spain, however Anisakis sp. larval infection is frequently the reason for border rejection. Since it is known that the prevalence and intensity of Anisakis infection varies with fish species, fishing area and season, the aim of our study was to identify Anisakis sp. parasitizing European anchovy and infer its population dynamic through a 2.5-year period. Larvae were found coiled and encysted on the external wall of intestine (94%) and reproductive organs (6%), rarely in fillets. Prevalence was 76.1% (95% confidence limits 74.51-77.56%), mean abundance 6.59 (bootstrap 95% confidence limits 5.81-7.26) and mean intensity 8.67 (bootstrap 95% confidence limits 7.82-9.35). The partial CO2 mitochondrial DNA sequence of the isolated anisakids confirmed clustering of the anchovy parasite within A. pegreffii sister group. Parasite population structure showed plasticity inferred by fishing ground, sampling year and fish gender and size. Compared to anisakid prevalence/abundance in other fish, the European anchovy in the Adriatic Sea represents a moderately high-infected paratenic host, although in the Mediterranean and Atlantic waters, anchovies have shown strikingly lesser values of prevalence. Since this host represents one of the most attractive Mediterranean fisheries products traditionally consumed without thermal preparation that in any case would not disrupt larval antigenicity and prevent human allergies, and given the high prevalence of the anisakid within the host, it is necessary to include anchovy into more firm risk assessment frames in order to develop measures that will support the safe alimentary production and consumption of seafood.     

Differences in Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Features between Podocytes and Parietal Epithelial Cells (PECs) Are Observed in Developing,Healthy Postnatal,and Pathologically Changed Human Kidneys

During human kidney development, cells of the proximal nephron gradually differentiate into podocytes and parietal epithelial cells (PECs). Podocytes are terminally differentiated cells that play a key role in both normal and pathological kidney function. Therefore, the potential of podocytes to regenerate or be replaced by other cell populations (PECs) is of great interest for the possible treatment of kidney diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the proliferation and differentiation capabilities of podocytes and PECs, changes in the expression pattern of nestin, and several early proteins including WNT4, Notch2, and Snail, as well as Ki-67, in tissues of developing, postnatal, and pathologically changed human kidneys by using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Developing PECs showed a higher proliferation rate than podocytes, whereas nestin expression characterized only podocytes and pathologically changed kidneys. In the developing kidneys, WNT4 and Notch2 expression increased moderately in podocytes and strongly in PECs, whereas Snail increased only in PECs in the later fetal period. During human kidney development, WNT4, Notch2, and Snail are involved in early nephrogenesis control. In kidneys affected by congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), WNT4 decreased in both cell populations, whereas Notch2 decreased in FSGS. In contrast, Snail increased both in CNF and FSGS, whereas Notch2 increased only in CNF. Electron microscopy revealed cytoplasmic processes spanning the urinary space between the podocytes and PECs in developing and healthy postnatal kidneys, whereas the CNF and FSGS kidneys were characterized by numerous cellular bridges containing cells with strong expression of nestin and all analyzed proteins. Our results indicate that the mechanisms of gene control in nephrogenesis are reactivated under pathological conditions. These mechanisms could have a role in restoring glomerular integrity by potentially inducing the regeneration of podocytes from PECs.     

Isothermal Section of the Al-Pd-Co Phase Diagram at 850 °C Delimited by Homogeneity Ranges of Phases Epsilon,U, and F

Eight alloys with metal compositions (at.%) ranging between (68-76)Al, (9-25)Pd and (5-20)Co were investigated after annealing at 850 °C for 500 h. In the investigation, the scanning electron microscopy including energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and the x-ray diffraction were used. In the investigated alloys, various combinations of phases β, U, F, ε₆, ε₁₆, ε₂₈, δ, Al₅Co₂, and Al₉Co₂ were identified. Partial isothermal section at 850 °C of the Al-Pd-Co phase diagram was proposed, containing homogeneity ranges of six phases (ε_n, U, F, β, δ, and Al₅Co₂).     

Porous alumina ceramics prepared with wheat flour

It is shown that wheat flour can be used as a pore-forming and body-forming agent in ceramic technology. In contrast to pure native starch, however, the pores do not result from the swelling starch granules alone but are mainly due to protein-assisted foaming. Therefore the porosity is significantly higher and the pore size larger than that resulting from the starch granules alone, and the wet milling time applied for homogenizing the ceramic suspensions becomes the most critical process parameter. Alumina suspensions with 70 wt.% alumina and 20–30 vol.% wheat flour with different initial particle size (fine grade and semolina, respectively) have been prepared using milling times of up to 8 h. Porosities of up to approx. 60% can be achieved with only 20 vol.% of flour or semolina after 8 h of milling time, with the cell sizes (diameters of pore cavities resulting from foam bubbles) being essentially independent of the milling time (median diameters of 120–240 μm). Effective pore throat sizes (i.e. diameters of cell windows or channels between cells), measured via mercury porosimetry, are 1–2 μm for short milling times (2–3 h), but for long milling times (8 h) they change by more than one order of magnitude to median sizes of 20–30 μm, closely corresponding to the median size of wheat starch granules (approx. 20 μm).     

Overcoming negative reactions of nonbeneficiaries to employment equity: The effect of participation in policy formulation.

In 2 experimental studies, we examined a way to overcome nonbeneficiaries' resistance to employment equity (EE) policies—participation in formulating the policy. We operationalized participation in terms of instrumental versus noninstrumental voice and proposed that nonbeneficiaries would be more likely to support an EE policy when allowed instrumental participation in the policy's development. Further, we proposed psychological ownership as the mediating mechanism underlying the effects of instrumental participation. Study 1 examined participation effects for a gender-based EE policy and Study 2 for a race-based EE policy. As predicted, we found that nonbeneficiaries (men in Study 1; Whites in Study 2) in the instrumental participation condition expressed greater behavioral intentions to promote the policy (Studies 1 and 2) and were more likely to engage in a behavior promoting the policy (Study 2). We also found support for psychological ownership as the underlying mediating mechanism in both studies. Contributions to theory and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of microwave assisted extraction on the isolation of anthocyanins and phenolic acids from sour cherry Marasca (Prunus cerasus var. Marasca)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of microwave assisted extraction on the isolation of anthocyanins and phenolic acids from sour cherry Marasca. A general factorial design was used to study the effect of temperature (from 50 to 70 °C), irradiation time (5–12 min) and microwave power (350–500 W) on individual, total anthocyanins and individual and total phenolic acids. Optimal microwave assisted extraction conditions differed for anthocyanins and phenolic acids, especially in terms of temperature and irradiation time, so lower temperature (60 °C) and shorter time (6–9 min) was more convenient for anthocyanins extraction, while phenolic acids gave higher extraction yield at higher temperatures (70 °C) and longer irradiation time (10 min). The optimal microwave power did not differ significantly for studied compounds, ranging about 400 W. Compared to conventional extraction, microwave assisted one showed higher efficiency for all studied compounds.     

Post-mortem changes in the concentration of lactic acid, phosphates and pH in the muscles of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) according to the perimortal situation

In this study changes in the concentrations of lactate, phosphates, and pH values of water extracts of muscles of transported and hunted rabbits during ripening were determined. Concentrations of lactate were higher in the muscles of hunted rabbits. The highest differences were obtained 24h after kill/hunt. Concentrations of lactate in the muscles of hunted rabbits were decreasing, while in the muscles of transported rabbits we observed it to increase in the 7th day and then decrease in the 14th day. Higher concentrations of phosphates were found in the muscles of transported wild rabbits. During the ripening process concentrations of phosphates were decreasing in muscles of both groups. Muscles of hunted rabbits had lower pH values during the whole ripening process. Our research showed that concentrations of lactate, phosphates and pH value post-mortem depended on the perimortal situations.