Investigation of fusion reactions in palladium and titanium tritide using galvanostatic,coulometric, and hydrogen permeation techniques

We describe several electrochemical methods used to investigate the possibility of cold fusion phenomena in palladium and titanium tritide cathodes. We performed long-term (up to 77 days) electrolysis experiments with electrochemical cells of the University of Utah type at current densities as high as 1 A/cm², while monitoring neutron and tritium levels. With some cells, we pulsed the current to determine if neutron bursts would result. In another cell, we used titanium tritide as the cathode to determine if D-T reactions yielding neutrons would occur. In no instance were levels of neutrons or tritium significantly above background except in the titanium tritide cell where isotopic exchange, occcurring between the electrode and the electrolyte, resulted in significant tritium levels. We also combined x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical hydrogen permeation experiments to determine the effectiveness of various Pd surface treatment procedures on the resultant electrochemical hydrogen absorption efficiency. Electroanalytical and thermal desorption/gas analysis techniques indicated the maximum loading of H in Pd was to a ratio of HPd=0.8.     

Multiple Na,K-ATPase Subunits Colocalize in the Brush Border of Mouse Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cells

(1) Background: The unusual accumulation of Na,K-ATPase complexes in the brush border membrane of choroid plexus epithelial cells have intrigued researchers for decades. However, the full range of the expressed Na,K-ATPase subunits and their relation to the microvillus cytoskeleton remains unknown. (2) Methods: RT-PCR analysis, co-immunoprecipitation, native PAGE, mass spectrometry, and differential centrifugation were combined with high-resolution immunofluorescence histochemistry, proximity ligase assays, and stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy on mouse choroid plexus cells or tissues in order to resolve these issues. (3) Results: The choroid plexus epithelium expresses Na,K-ATPase subunits α1, α2, β1, β2, β3, and phospholemman. The α1, α2, β1, and β2, subunits are all localized to the brush border membrane, where they appear to form a complex. The ATPase complexes may stabilize in the brush border membrane via anchoring to microvillar actin indirectly through ankyrin-3 or directly via other co-precipitated proteins. Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) may form part of the proposed multi-protein complexes in contrast to another membrane protein, the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter 1 (NKCC1). NKCC1 expression seems necessary for full brush border membrane accumulation of the Na,K-ATPase in the choroid plexus. (4) Conclusion: A multitude of Na,K-ATPase subunits form molecular complexes in the choroid plexus brush border, which may bind to the cytoskeleton by various alternative actin binding proteins.     

Dehydrogenation of Light Alkanes Over Rhenium Catalysts on Conventional and Mesoporous MFI Supports

Recently, Re/HZSM-5 (Si/Al = 15) was shown to be an efficient catalyst for ethane dehydrogenation and aromatization at 823 K and atmospheric pressure. In this reaction, the major initial products were benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX), but increasing amounts of ethene were produced with time on stream due to deactivation of the catalyst. We show that by use of rhenium impregnated MFI supports with very few or no acidic sites (Si/Al > 500), highly selective ethane dehydrogenation catalysts are obtained with ethene selectivities of 98%. By use of mesoporous MFI supports (Si/Al >500) the lifetime of the catalyst appears to be slightly improved compared to conventional MFI crystals. The beneficial effect of a mesoporous MFI support is convincingly demonstrated in propane dehydrogenation, where both conversion and selectivities on the mesoporous MFI (Si/Al > 500) impregnated with Re are significantly higher than on Re supported on a comparable conventional MFI support.     

Cation Transport at 25°C from Binary Cd2+–Mn+ Mixtures in a H2O-CHCl3–H2O Liquid Membrane System Containing a Series of Macrocyclic Carriers[1]

Macrocycle-mediated fluxes of Cd(NO₃)₂ and of several binary mixtures of Cd(NO₃)₂ with the nitrate salt of either Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺ Cs⁺, Ag⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, or Cu²⁺ have been determined in a H₂O-CHCl₃–H₂O liquid membrane system. Of the macrocycles studied, 2.2 and 2.2DD most successfully transported Cd²⁺ In the Cd²⁺–Mⁿ⁺ mixtures, Cd²⁺ was transported selectively with 2.2 when Mⁿ⁺ was either an alkali or an alkaline earth cation. However, when Mⁿ⁺ was either Ag⁺, Pb²⁺, or Cu²⁺ the Cd²⁺ flux was reduced sharply. Generally, cation flux was greater for 2.2DD than for 2.2 with selectivity for Cd²⁺ being altered also in several cases. Relative fluxes from binary cation mixtures depend on metal cation radius, macrocycle cavity diameter, ligand ring substituent and log K for metal ion-macrocycle interaction.     

Effect of catalyst type on the kinetics of the photoelectrochemical disinfection of water inoculated with E. coli

The rates of the photoelectrochemical disinfection of Escherichia coli at TiO₂ electrodes were measured as a function of concentration and applied potential. Two different TiO₂ photoelectrodes were used: a thermally treated titanium plate and a porous film prepared by a sol–gel hydrolysis technique. The kinetics of the disinfection process were found to depend upon the nature of the electrode material. For the thermal film they were first order, and half order for the sol–gel film. It was also found that the catalytic activity per unit surface area of catalyst is many orders of magnitude greater than that observed using TiO₂ slurries; this was attributed to the reduced rate of electron-hole recombination afforded by the application of a small potential bias (1 V vs Ag/AgCl), and hence the exploitation of the electric field enhancement (EFE) effect.     

Interpretation of the impedance spectroscopy of cement paste via computer modelling

The d.c. conductivity, , and low-frequency relative dielectric constant, k, of Portland cement paste were monitored, using impedance spectroscopy, during cooling from room temperature down to -50 °C. Dramatic decreases in the values of and k, as great as two orders of magnitude, occurred at the initial freezing point of the aqueous phase in the macropores and larger capillary pores. This result provides strong experimental support for the dielectric amplification mechanism, proposed in Part II of this series, to explain the high measured low-frequency relative dielectric constant of hydrating Portland cement paste. Only gradual changes in the electrical properties were observed below this sudden drop, as the temperature continued to decrease. The values of and k of frozen cement paste, at a constant temperature of -40 °C, were dominated by properties of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) and so increased with the degree of hydration of the paste, indicating a C-S-H gel percolation threshold at a volume fraction of approximately 15%–20%, in good agreement with previous predictions. Good agreement was found between experimental results and digital-image-based model computations of at -40 °C. Freeze-thaw cycling caused a drop in the dielectric constant of paste in the unfrozen state, indicating that measurements of k could be useful for monitoring microstructural changes during freeze-thaw cycling and other processes that gradually damage parts of the cement paste microstructure.     

Long‐term effects of angiotensin II blockade with irbesartan on inflammatory markers in hemodialysis patients: A randomized double blind placebo controlled trial (SAFIR study)

Introduction: Low‐grade chronic inflammation is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Previous studies suggest an anti‐inflammatory effect of angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of ARB vs. placebo on plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers in HD patients. Methods: Adult HD patients were randomized for double‐blind treatment with the ARB irbesartan 150–300 mg/day or placebo. At baseline, 1 week, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months plasma high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin (IL)?1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐18, and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) were measured using Luminex and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. Findings: Eighty‐two patients were randomized (placebo/ARB: 41/41). The groups did not differ in initial levels of any of the inflammatory markers (placebo/ARB median(range)): hsCRP 3.3(0.2–23.4)/2.7(0.2–29.6) μg/mL; IL‐1β 1.1(0.0–45.9)/1.1(0.0‐7.2) pg/mL; IL‐6 10(1–90)/12(1–84) pg/mL; IL‐8 31(9–134)/34(5–192) pg/mL; IL‐18 364(188–1343)/377(213–832) pg/mL; TGF‐β 3.2(0.8–13.9)/3.6(1.3–3.8) ng/mL. Overall, there was no significant difference in hsCRP, IL‐6, IL‐8, and TGF‐β between placebo and ARB‐treated patients during the study period, and hsCRP, IL‐6, IL‐8, and TGF‐β were relatively stable during the study period (P ≥ 0.18 in all tests for parallel curves, equal levels, and constant levels). The IL‐1β level was slightly different in the two groups over time, but not significantly (P = 0.09 in test for parallel curves) and it was also relatively stable during the study period (P ≥ 0.49 in tests for equal levels and constant level). IL‐18 was the only inflammatory marker which was not constant during the study period (P = 0.001 in test for constant level), but there was no significant difference between placebo and ARB‐treated (P ≥ 0.51 in tests for parallel curves and equal levels). Discussion: Inflammatory biomarkers were neither acutely, nor in the long‐term significantly affected by the ARB irbesartan. Our findings suggest that ARB treatment in HD patients does not offer protective anti‐inflammatory effects.     

The mitigation hierarchy upside down – a study of nature protection measures in Danish infrastructure projects

This paper presents a Danish study of mitigation directed at nature protection in environmental impact assessment (EIA) of infrastructure projects. The study is based on a document analysis of EIA reports, a workshop held with EIA professionals, and a study of two cases. The paper takes a point of departure in the mitigation hierarchy as a central conceptual framework, identifies which mitigation measures have been suggested in the EIA reports, and compares this to the mitigation hierarchy. Further, the paper explores the dynamics behind which mitigation measures are chosen and later implemented. The findings point to a discrepancy between the prevention principle embedded in the mitigation hierarchy and the actual EIA practice with increased use of nature compensation. Further, the research reveals significant variation in the design of mitigation measures, e.g. in the level of detail used in describing them and the level of clarity as to aims and actions.