Preparation of Protein-Stabilized β-Carotene Nanodispersions by Emulsification–Evaporation Method

This work was initiated to prepare protein-stabilized β-carotene nanodispersions using emulsification–evaporation. A pre-mix of the aqueous phase composed of a protein and hexane containing β-carotene was subjected to high-pressure homogenization using a microfluidizer. Hexane in the resulting emulsion was evaporated under reduced pressures, causing crystallization and precipitation of β-carotene inside the droplets and formation of β-carotene nanoparticles. Sodium caseinate (SC) was the most effective emulsifier among selected proteins in preparing the nanodispersion, with a monomodal β-carotene particle-size distribution and a 17-nm mean particle size. The results were confirmed by transmission-electron microscopy analysis. SC-stabilized nanodispersion also had considerably high ζ-potential (−27 mV at pH 7), suggesting that the nanodispersion was stable against particle aggregation. Increasing the SC concentration decreased the mean particle size and improved the polydispersity of the nanodispersions. Nanodispersions prepared with higher β-carotene concentrations and higher organic-phase ratios resulted in larger β-carotene particles. Although increased microfluidization pressure did not decrease particle size, it did improve the polydispersity of the nanodispersions. Repeating the microfluidization process at 140 MPa caused the nanodispersions to become polydisperse, indicating the loss of emulsifying capacity of SC due to protein denaturation.     

Informational Entropy: a Failure Tolerance and Reliability Surrogate for Water Distribution Networks

Evolutionary algorithms are used widely in optimization studies on water distribution networks. The optimization algorithms use simulation models that analyse the networks under various operating conditions. The solution process typically involves cost minimization along with reliability constraints that ensure reasonably satisfactory performance under abnormal operating conditions also. Flow entropy has been employed previously as a surrogate reliability measure. While a body of work exists for a single operating condition under steady state conditions, the effectiveness of flow entropy for systems with multiple operating conditions has received very little attention. This paper describes a multi-objective genetic algorithm that maximizes the flow entropy under multiple operating conditions for any given network. The new methodology proposed is consistent with the maximum entropy formalism that requires active consideration of all the relevant information. Furthermore, an alternative but equivalent flow entropy model that emphasizes the relative uniformity of the nodal demands is described. The flow entropy of water distribution networks under multiple operating conditions is discussed with reference to the joint entropy of multiple probability spaces, which provides the theoretical foundation for the optimization methodology proposed. Besides the rationale, results are included that show that the most robust or failure-tolerant solutions are achieved by maximizing the sum of the entropies.     

Use of cascade reduction potential for selective precipitation of Au,Cu, and Pb in hydrochloric acid solution

Optimization of reduction potential for electroseparation was studied for the recovery of gold, copper, and lead from acidic solution. A linear sweep voltammetric method enabled us to determine characteristic reduction potentials for each metal and the kinetics of the metal deposition indicated by current-voltage curves. In order to precipitate the metal species sequentially, reduction potentials were examined for the individual and mixed solutions of Au(III), Cu(II), and Pb(II). The three metals were reasonably well isolated from the mixed solutions such as Cu(II)/ Pb(II) and Au(III)/Cu(II)/Pb(II) in the order of the corresponding reduction potentials, in particular, the mass transfer controlled reduction potentials, obtained from linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) measurement.     

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a FCC regenerator

The hydrodynamic and gas mixing characteristics have been determined in a FCC regenerator (0.48 m I.D.x3.4 m high) with FCC particles. Solids holdup in the dense bed decreases with increasing gas velocity, but it increases in the freeboard region. The bubble/void fraction increases with an increase along the bed height at a given gas velocity and increases with increasing gas velocity at a constant bed height. Backmixed tracer gas at the wall region is higher than that at the center region of the bed. The gas backmixing coefficient decreases with increasing gas velocity.     

Formation of Polymeric Lewis Acid–Lewis Base Complexes with Well-defined Organoboron Polymers

The binding of Lewis bases to organoboron polymeric Lewis acids has been studied and the parameters that determine the complexation equilibrium have been investigated, which include (i) the strength of the individual Lewis acids and Lewis bases, (ii) concentration, and (iii) temperature. While the strongly Lewis acidic borane polymers poly(4-bis(pentafluorophenyl)borylstyrene) (PS-BPf) and poly(4-(di-2-thienylboryl)styrene) (PS-BTh) form isolable complexes with strong Lewis bases such as 4-t-butylpyridine (^tPy), a temperature dependent equilibrium is established with weaker bases such as THF. Similarly, the weakly Lewis acidic boronate polymer poly(4-diethoxyborylstyrene) (PS-BOEt) undergoes a temperature dependent equilibrium with the strong Lewis base 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), while poly(4-pinacolatoborylstyrene) (PS-BPin) does not significantly bind to pyridine bases. Decomplexation of PS-BTh· ^t Py is achieved by treatment with the stronger Lewis acid, B(C₆F₅)₃, thereby confirming the reversible nature of the polymeric Lewis acid–base adducts. This paper is dedicated to Professor Ian Manners in gratitude of his guidance throughout the years and recognition of his scientific accomplishments     

Sterol metabolism in the opportunistic pathogen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pneumocystis</Emphasis>: Advances and new insights

Pneumocystis can transiently colonize healthy individuals without causing adverse symptoms, and most people test positive for exposure to this organism early in life. However, it can cause Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) in people with impaired immune systems and is a major cause of death in HIV/AIDS. Although it has close affinities to the Ascomycetes, Pneumocystis has features unlike those of any single group of fungi. For example, Pneumocystis does not synthesize ergosterol, which is consistent with the inefficacy of amphotericin B and some triazoles in clearing PcP. Pneumocystis sterols include distinct Δ⁷ 24-alkylsterols. Metabolic radiolabeling experiments demonstrated that P. carinii synthesizes sterols de novo. Cholesterol is the most abundant sterol in Pneumocystis; most, if not all, is scavenged from the mammalian host lung by the pathogen. The P. carinii erg7, erg6, and erg11 genes have been cloned, sequenced, and expressed in heterologous systems. The recombinant P. carinii S-adenosyl-l-methionine:C-24 sterol methyl transferase (SAM:SMT) has a preference for lanosterol over zymosterol as substrate, and the enzyme can catalyze the transfer of either one or two methyl groups to the C-24 position of the sterol side chain. Two different sterol compositions were detected among human-derived P. jirovecii; one was dominated by C₂₈ and C₂₉ sterols, and the other had high proportions of higher molecular mass components, notably the C₃₂ sterol pneumocysterol. The latter phenotype apparently represents organisms blocked at 14α-demethylation of the sterol nucleus. These studies suggest that SAM:SMT is an attractive drug target for developing new chemotherapy for PcP.     

Cycling hardening and serration yielding of Fe-Ni-Cr alloy at high temperature under out-phase TMF

Behaviour of hardening and serration yield of a Fe-Ni-Cr alloy under isothermal cycling (ISC) and out-phase TMF was studied on the basis of varied hysteresis loops. Cycling hardening and serrated yielding for ISC depend on the temperature and the total strain range, stronger hardening with serrated yielding at higher strain range under ISC at 600 °C, but no hardening and serrated yielding occurred under ISC at 800 °C. Stronger hardening with stress serration occurred at the thermal path going to the lowest temperature, no stress serration occurred at the highest temperature under the out-phase. The hardening also depends on the total strain range, higher total strain range with lower cycling temperature resulted in a stronger hardening and remarkable serration yielding behavior. Weaker hardening without serrated yielding occurred at near 800 °C may due to an obvious cycling stress drop under out-phase TMF. Change in the shape of the hysteresis loops also expresses the degree of the damage of the tested alloy under out-phase and ISC.     

Fabrication and characterization of nano silver powder prepared by spray pyrolysis

Silver powder was fabricated by spray pyrolysis, using 2%–20% AgNO₃ solution, 336–500 mL/h flux of AgNO₃ solution, 0.28–0.32 MPa flux of carrier gas and in the 620–820 °C temperature range. The effects of furnace set temperature, concentration of AgNO₃ aqueous solution, flux of AgNO₃ aqueous solution as well as carrier gas on the morphology and particle size distribution of silver powder, were investigated. The experimental results showed that with the high concentration of AgNO₃ aqueous solution, the average grain size of silver decreased with the increasing of furnace set temperature. But the gain size distribution was not homogenous, the discontinuous grain growth occurred. With the low concentration of AgNO₃ aqueous solution, the higher furnace set temperature made the nano sliver grains sintered together to grow. Nano silver powder about 100 nm was fabricated by spray pyrolysis, using 2wt% AgNO₃ solutions, 336 mL/h flux of AgNO₃ aqueous solution, 0.32 MPa flux of carrier gas at 720 °C furnace set temperature.     

Research on the friction and wear mechanism of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/hydroxylapatite composite hydrogel

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Hydroxylapatite (PVA/HA) composite hydrogel was prepared with poly(vinyl alcohol) and hydroxylapatite as raw materials, using the method of repeated freezing and thawing. The morphologies of PVA/HA composite hydrogel were observed by means of high-accuracy 3D profiler and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The compressive elastic modulus and the stress relaxation characteristics of PVA/HA composite hydrogel were measured using the flat-head cylinder indenter. The friction and wear tests between PVA/HA composite hydrogel and bovine knee articular cartilage were performed on the micro-tribometer. The worn morphologies of PVA/HA composite hydrogel were observed with environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). The results showed that PVA/HA composite hydrogel has the cross-link network microstructure which is similar to that of the natural bovine knee articular cartilages. With the increase of freezing-thawing cycles and the HA content, the degree of cross-link and the crystallization of PVA/HA composite hydrogel both increase, the elastic modulus increases evidently, the rate of stress relaxation is improved and the value of balance stress decreases. The friction coefficient decreases with the increase of the freezing-thawing cycles and the HA content. The more the freezing-thawing cycles are, the earlier the friction coefficient reaches the stable balance value. The friction deformation depth between PVA/HA composite hydrogel and bovine knee articular cartilage is inversely proportional to freezing-thawing cycles and the HA content. The main wear mechanisms of PVA/HA composite hydrogel are plastic flowing and adhesive flaking. The wear severity degree decreases with the increase of freezing-thawing cycles and the HA content. Supported by Key Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50535050), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (Grant No. NCET-06-0479) and Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (Grant No. BK2005403)