Effect of temperature and pH on the degradation of fructo-oligosaccharides

The degradation process of fructo-oligosaccharides has been studied in buffered solution affected by temperature and pH. The system has been incubated at 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100 oC; pH has been varied between 2.7 and 3.3. The carbohydrate compositions of the solution-samples have been analyzed by an accurate analytical method for oligosaccharide determination (HPLC with differential refractometric detection). Under acidic condition the hydrolysis of fructo-oligosaccharides is insignificant at 60 oC; however, already at 70–80 oC it is so considerable, that the amount of them could be bisected in 1–2 h. Meanwhile, all of the oligomers are degraded in 1–1.5 h at 90–100 oC. The increase of proton concentration of the solution makes degradation faster; however, there is a slighter effect of pH on the rate of hydrolysis than of temperature in the studied range. The rate of the changes in the value of average degree of polymerisation (DP_a) significantly depends on the temperature and pH.     

Discovery and SAR of Novel 2,3‐Dihydroimidazo[1,2‐c]quinazoline PI3K Inhibitors: Identification of Copanlisib (BAY 80‐6946)

The phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) pathway is aberrantly activated in many disease states, including tumor cells, either by growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases or by the genetic mutation and amplification of key pathway components. A variety of PI3K isoforms play differential roles in cancers. As such, the development of PI3K inhibitors from novel compound classes should lead to differential pharmacological and pharmacokinetic profiles and allow exploration in various indications, combinations, and dosing regimens. A screening effort aimed at the identification of PI3Kγ inhibitors for the treatment of inflammatory diseases led to the discovery of the novel 2,3‐dihydroimidazo[1,2‐c]quinazoline class of PI3K inhibitors. A subsequent lead optimization program targeting cancer therapy focused on inhibition of PI3Kα and PI3Kβ. Herein, initial structure–activity relationship findings for this class and the optimization that led to the identification of copanlisib (BAY 80‐6946) as a clinical candidate for the treatment of solid and hematological tumors are described.     

Effect of additives on nickel-phosphorus deposition obtained by electroless plating: Characterization and corrosion resistance in 3%(mass) sodium chloride medium

Nichel-phosphorus (Ni-P) coatings are deposited on mild steel by using an electroless plating process. The effect of three calix[4]arene derivatives, namely tetra methyl ester-P-tertbutyl calix[4]arene (Calix1), tetra acid-P-tert-butyl calix[4]arene (Calix2) and tetra methyl P-tert-butyl-thicalix[4]arene ester (Calix3) on the deposition rate, the deposit composition, and the morphological surface was investigated and the study of growth mechanisms has delivered useful information about the surface properties of deposit. It is found that these additives modify the deposition rate and the nickel crystallization process. In fact, the Calix1 and Calix3 act as an accelerator, while Calix2 acts as an inhibitor for the nickel electroless. Furthermore, it is shown that the chemical bath is more stable with calix[4]arene derivatives addition and the obtained deposits are compact and adherent. It is observed also that the nickel content increases with additives. On the other hand, the X-ray diffraction showed that the orientation peaks are intensified at {1 1 1} in the presence of Calix2, confirming obtained results of EDAX spectrum. The cyclic voltammetry revealed that the tested additives strongly influence the cathodic process and slightly affect the hypophosphite oxidation. Finally, it is found that these compounds improve the anticorrosion efficiency of Ni-P coating on the mild steel substrate in 3% (mass) NaCl, where its polarization resistance increases with Calix2 and Calix3 addition.     

Über die Vorausbestimmung der Wasserstofflöslichkeit in binären Eisenschmelzen

Statistisches Modell der Wasserstofflöslichkeit in Eisenschmelzen. Berechnungsgleichungen. Berechnung der Wasserstofflöslichkeit der Systeme Fe–H–AI, Fe–H–Co, Fe–H–Ge, Fe–H–Ni und Fe–H–Si bei 1600°C und 0,101 MPa. Vergleich des Modells mit dem Experiment.     

The prediction of the nitrogen solubility in binary iron melts

Statistical model of nitrogen solubility in iron melts. Equations. Calculation of nitrogen solubility of the systems Fe–Co–N, Fe–Cr–N, Fe–Mn–N and Fe–Ni–N in the liquid state at 0.101 MPa. Comparison between model and experiments.     

Expression and Functional Studies on the Noncoding RNA,PRINS

PRINS, a noncoding RNA identified earlier by our research group, contributes to psoriasis susceptibility and cellular stress response. We have now studied the cellular and histological distribution of PRINS by using in situ hybridization and demonstrated variable expressions in different human tissues and a consistent staining pattern in epidermal keratinocytes and in vitro cultured keratinocytes. To identify the cellular function(s) of PRINS, we searched for a direct interacting partner(s) of this stress-induced molecule. In HaCaT and NHEK cell lysates, the protein proved to be nucleophosmin (NPM) protein as a potential physical interactor with PRINS. Immunohistochemical experiments revealed an elevated expression of NPM in the dividing cells of the basal layers of psoriatic involved skin samples as compared with healthy and psoriatic uninvolved samples. Others have previously shown that NPM is a ubiquitously expressed nucleolar phosphoprotein which shuttles to the nucleoplasm after UV-B irradiation in fibroblasts and cancer cells. We detected a similar translocation of NPM in UV-B-irradiated cultured keratinocytes. The gene-specific silencing of PRINS resulted in the retention of NPM in the nucleolus of UV-B-irradiated keratinocytes; suggesting that PRINS may play a role in the NPM-mediated cellular stress response in the skin.     

Effect of concentration gradient on the anodic behavior of tungsten

Potentiodynamic and potentiostatic polarization experiments, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, the rotating disk electrode technique, and surface pH measurements were used to study the effect of tungstate ions on the anodic behavior of tungsten (W). Deliberately added tungstate ions, which are also tungsten dissolution products, were found to decrease the anodic currents at around the point of zero charge, increase the anodic currents in the neutral to weakly basic range and have no effect on the anodic currents in the strongly basic conditions. This variable effect was attributed to the competition between the stabilization of the tungsten oxide due to higher concentration of the dissolution products next to the metal surface and the stabilization of the local pH as a result of the enhanced polymerization reactions of the tungstate species. The surface pH measurements showed that the polymerization reactions kept the W surface pH higher (i.e. closer to the bulk pH) in the absence of a pH buffer in the neutral and weakly basic solutions. The tungstate ion was considered as a potentially useful additive in W chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) slurries, since this ion could increase the stability of the oxide phase to be removed by polishing and serve as a pH buffering agent.     

Mean dilatational based finite element formulation for a nearly incompressible nonlinear large deformation analysis

The finite element method (FEM) is one of the most powerful tools that can be used to solve engineering problems. Standard displacement-based isoparametric elements are the most popular in the engineering community for their simple implementation. However, low-order displacement-based elements exhibit locking in the incompressible. Our proposed formulation is a locking removing method that is free from the need to store any extra integration point. We calculate the modified deformation gradient from the mean dilatation of the element and also modify the finite element equations using the mean dilatation. This method is also different from the B-bar method as the B matrix is not modified, but rather the weak form is linearized for the modified deformation gradient. Therefore, this method is a unique implementation of the average dilatation of the element. Here we also present an implementation algorithm of the proposed formulation and compare the results with available methods.

     

Comparison of experimental and numerical results of wood-frame wall assemblies wetted by simulated wind-driven rain infiltration

A large-scale building envelope experiment was conducted to study the effect of three sheathing materials and two vapor retarders on the drying performance of walls exposed to simulated rain infiltration in springtime in Montreal. The moisture source was a pre-wetted component within the wall called the bottom plate insert. Its moisture content was monitored on a daily basis through the course of the 35-day experiment. The experimental set-up was simulated using a two-dimensional hygrothermal model, WUFI-2D, and the moisture content within the bottom plate inserts was used to study the ability of the model to predict the wall response to the initial liquid water load. The differences between the experimental results are mainly attributed to: air convection loops within the insulated space, which are not accounted for in the simulation; estimation of the initial moisture content distribution within the bottom plate inserts in the simulation; isotropic material properties for an orthotropic material like wood material properties that were taken from a variety of sources and did not cover the entire moisture content range and use of a two-dimensional domain to simulate three-dimensional wall systems.     

How would the Rogun Dam affect water and energy scarcity in Central Asia?

The construction of the Rogun Dam in the Amu Darya Basin to increase upstream energy generation creates potential trade-offs with existing downstream irrigation, due to the different timing of energy and irrigation water demands. The present analysis, based on a hydro-economic optimization model, shows that cooperative basin-wide maximization of benefits would lead to large increases in upstream hydropower production and only minor changes in downstream irrigation benefits. However, if upstream stations, including Rogun, are managed unilaterally to maximize energy production, hydropower benefits might more than double while irrigation benefits greatly decrease, thereby substantially reducing overall basin benefits.