Some recent thinking on the future carbonate system of the sea

The repercussions of the cumulative industrial influx of CO₂ into the atmosphere on the carbonate system of the sea have been examined. In accordance with earlier workers, an unsaturation state for CaCO₃ seems inevitable in the mixed layer as a whole; however, a sizable part of the continental shelf, the region of maximum productivity of sea life, would still remain suitable for the growth of calcareous bodies. In view of the changing carbonate chemistry of the sea some general implications concerning marine carbonates are discussed.     

Magnetically textured ferrofluid in a non-magnetic matrix: Magnetic properties

Texturing of two different magnetic fluids were carried out in paraffin wax under the influence of an external magnetic field. The textured samples were characterized using magnetization measurement and a.c. susceptibility techniques. The results are discussed in the light of ratio of anisotropic energy to magnetic and thermal energies.     

Tritium and14C counting in tissue samples by using liquid scintillation method

The combustion method has been modified to increase the recovery of tritiated water after combustion of a tritium-labeled tissue sample. This was accomplished by cooling the bottom of the combustion flask in a dry ice-acetone bath while irradiating the top with an infrared lamp. The procedure resulted in at least 92% to 102% recovery of the tritiated water. The NCS solubilizer was found to be superior to hyamine for solubilizing¹⁴C labeled tissue samples. The samples yielded light yellow-colored solutions when incubated for 15 hr at 50–55C. The counting efficiency of this solution was 75% or higher.     

Thermal,FT-IR and dielectric studies of gel grown sodium oxalate single crystals

Oxalic acid metabolism is important in humans, animals and plants. The effect of oxalic acid sodium salt is widely studied in living body. The growth of sodium oxalate single crystals by gel growth is reported, which can be used to mimic the growth of crystals in vivo. The grown single crystals are colourless, transparent and prismatic. The crystals have been characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy and dielectric response at various frequencies of applied field. The crystals become anhydrous at 129·3°C. Coats and Redfern relation is applied to evaluate the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of dehydration. The dielectric study suggests very less variation of dielectric constant with frequency of applied field in the range of 1 kHz-1 MHz. The nature of variation of imaginary part of complex permittivity, dielectric loss and a.c. resistivity with applied frequency has been reported.     

Solar desalination with a humidification-dehumidification technique — a comprehensive technical review

Major desalination processes consume a large amount of energy derived from oil and natural gas as heat and electricity. Solar desalination, although researched for over two decades, has only recently emerged as a promising renewable energy-powered technology for producing fresh water. Solar desalination based on the humidification-dehumidification cycle presents the best method of solar desalination due to overall high-energy efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive technical review of solar desalination with a multi-effect cycle providing a better understanding of the process. Discussion on methods to improve system performance and efficiency paves the way towards possible commercialisation of such units in the future.     

Activation of Kinin B1R Upregulates ADAM17 and Results in ACE2 Shedding in Neurons

Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a critical component of the compensatory axis of the renin angiotensin system. Alterations in ACE2 gene and protein expression, and activity mediated by A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17), a member of the “A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease” (ADAM) family are implicated in several cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. We previously reported that activation of kinin B1 receptor (B1R) in the brain increases neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and sympathoexcitation, leading to the development of neurogenic hypertension. We also showed evidence for ADAM17-mediated ACE2 shedding in neurons. However, whether kinin B1 receptor (B1R) activation has any role in altering ADAM17 activity and its effect on ACE2 shedding in neurons is not known. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that activation of B1R upregulates ADAM17 and results in ACE2 shedding in neurons. To test this hypothesis, we stimulated wild-type and B1R gene-deleted mouse neonatal primary hypothalamic neuronal cultures with a B1R-specific agonist and measured the activities of ADAM17 and ACE2 in neurons. B1R stimulation significantly increased ADAM17 activity and decreased ACE2 activity in wild-type neurons, while pretreatment with a B1R-specific antagonist, R715, reversed these changes. Stimulation with specific B1R agonist Lys-Des-Arg⁹-Bradykinin (LDABK) did not show any effect on ADAM17 or ACE2 activities in neurons with B1R gene deletion. These data suggest that B1R activation results in ADAM17-mediated ACE2 shedding in primary hypothalamic neurons. In addition, stimulation with high concentration of glutamate significantly increased B1R gene and protein expression, along with increased ADAM17 and decreased ACE2 activities in wild-type neurons. Pretreatment with B1R-specific antagonist R715 reversed these glutamate-induced effects suggesting that indeed B1R is involved in glutamate-mediated upregulation of ADAM17 activity and ACE2 shedding.