SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CONTROLLED SIZES: POLYSTYRENE LATEXES

Several parameters and their limitations to prepare monodisperse polystyrene particles were discussed. Polystyrene latexes B, C and D of diameter 129.8, 142.8 and 264.5 nm, respectively, were synthesized by emulsion polymerization method. The latex D is almost monodisperse with very low polydispersity of 0.005 while B and C are having polydispersity of 0.1837 and 0.1601. The particle size and particle size distribution of the latexes were determined by a TEM and Brookhaven particle size analyzer. It was observed that the particle size of the latexes decreased with increasing initiator (ammonium persulfate) or surfactant (SDS) concentrations. The surface area of the latexes were calculated by using BET equation on the basis of the amount of nitrogen gas adsorbed at the surface of the particles to form a monolayer. It was observed that the surface area of latex D is less than B and C because of the bigger size of the particles. The average molecular weights, zeta potentials and densities of the latexes were also presented.     

A novel mutation of presenilin 1 in familial Alzheimer's disease in Israel detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

Germline mutations in the presenilin 1 (PS1) gene apparently account for the majority of early-onset, familial Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using a mutation-screening strategy (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; DGGE), we analyzed a large family with early onset AD and seizures. The patients in this family showed a novel missense mutation in exon 5 of the PS1 gene (A to T change in codon 120, altering glutamine to aspartic acid). This novel mutation is located within the second hydrophilic domain of the molecule, a region not particularly involved in previously described germline mutations, and is of unknown biological significance. These results also demonstrate that DGGE can be used effectively to screen for mutations within this gene.     

A new binary accelerator system for the sulfur vulcanization of natural rubber latex

Vulcanization of latex products are usually carried out at lower temperatures compared to dry rubber products. It has been suggested that, in latex vulcanization systems where thiourea is used as a secondary accelerator, it acts as a nucleophilic reagent facilitating the cleavage of the sulfur bonds in the primary accelerator like TMTD or CBS at lower temperature. But no conclusive proof is given to such a postulate. In the present study 1-phenyl-2,4-thiobiuret (DTB II) and 1,5-diphenyl-2,4-dithiobiuret (DTB III), which are more nucleophilic than thiourea and which vary in their nucleophilic reactivity, were studied as secondary accelerators along with tetramethyl thiuram disulphide (TMTD) and N-cyclohexylbenzothiazyl sulphenamide (CBS) in the vulcanization of natural rubber latex. These binary systems were found to be very effective in reducing the optimum vulcanization time. Also it was noted that 1-phenyl-2,4-dithiobiuret, which is more nucleophilic, is more reactive (as observed from the reduction in optimum cure time) as a secondary accelerator, indicating a nucleophilic reaction mechanism in the vulcanization reactions under review. The optimum dosages of the secondary accelerators required were derived. Physical properties like tensile strength, 300% modulus, and elongation at break of the latex vulcanizates were also studied. There is a definite advantage with respect to many of these properties for dithiobiuret systems compared to the systems containing TMTD alone or TMTD/thiourea. DTB III gives higher values in many of these physical properties than DTB II. Chemical characterization of the vulcanizates was also carried out to correlate the physical properties with the type of chemical crosslinks formed. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Stress and stability analysis of toroidal shells

A finite element formulation applicable to the general shell of revolution is presented for the stress and stability analysis of toroidal pressure vessels under hydrostatic pressure. Considering the follower force effect of the external pressure, linear bifurcation buckling loads and corresponding mode shapes have been obtained in both axially and equatorially symmetric as well as antisymmetric buckling modes. Calculated critical values are compared with results of other investigations.     

Induction of early atherosclerosis in LDL-receptor-deficient mice immunized with beta2-glycoprotein I

BACKGROUND: Immunization with beta2-glycoprotein I (beta2GPI), the probable target of autoimmune anticardiolipin antibodies, results in experimental antiphospholipid syndrome in different mouse strains. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of beta2GPI immunization on the progression of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the first experiment, 3 groups of LDL receptor-deficient (LDL-RD) mice (n=15 per group) were immunized with either beta2GPI or ovalbumin or were not immunized and were fed a chow diet for 12 weeks. In a second experiment, 3 groups of LDL-RD mice (n=10 per group) were immunized similarly and fed an atherogenic diet for 6 weeks. All beta2GPI-immunized mice developed high titers of anti-beta2GPI antibodies as well as a specific lymph node proliferation to beta2GPI. The average cholesterol levels did not differ between the mice fed similar diets, regardless of the immunization protocol. Atherosclerosis was enhanced in the beta2GPI-immunized mice (mean aortic lesion, 26 000+/-5700 microm2) in comparison with their ovalbumin-immunized (mean, 3000+/-1099 microm2; P<0.01) and nonimmunized (mean, 2250+/-700 microm2; P<0.01) littermates. The average lesion size in the beta2GPI-immunized mice fed an atherogenic diet (mean, 98 000+/-8305 microm2) was larger than the ovalbumin-immunized mice (mean, 81 250+/-12 933 microm2; P=NS) or the nonimmunized controls (mean, 75 625+/-7281 microm2; P=NS). The atherosclerotic plaques in the beta2GPI-immunized mice appeared to be more mature, and denser infiltration of CD4 lymphocytes was present in the subendothelium of the aortic sinuses from this group of mice. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study provide the first direct evidence for the proatherogenic effect of ss2GPI immunization and establish a new model for immune-mediated atherosclerosis.     

Investigation of the sedimentation of FeNi fine grains entrained in ERF slag

Nickel losses in the slag generated at Larco electric reduction furnaces (ERF) during smelting of Greek laterites account for about 20% of the total nickel of the feed. The recovery of the nickel contained in the slag as well as in its magnetic concentrate was studied under different methods. The experimental results have shown that a nickel recovery in the range of 75-90% is possible by allowing the slag to settle. Washing by low carbon steel can be performed during the final stages of the settling process as it improves the finally attained nickel recovery up to 94.4%. The simultaneous carbon reduction and settling process do not favour the Ni- recovery as the produced carbon monoxide and dioxide cause boiling of the bath which promotes the flotation of the metallic grains. In all cases a reoxidation of nickel was observed after 20min approximately. Settling of the ferronickel grains was described by a mathematical model. The model's results are in good agreement to the experimental ones for the initial 20min of the process. A modified model was elaborated combining the settling of the metallic grains with the nickel reoxidation reaction. This model describes with adequate accuracy the whole Ni- recovery process. The developed model can be proven helpful in the design of a slag cleaning step for metal recovery utilizing a slag settling furnace operating on line to the ERF.     

Acknowledgement of Reviewers 2020

Water Resources Management -     

Algorithms for processing the group K nearest-neighbor query on distributed frameworks

Distributed and Parallel Databases - Given two datasets of points (called Query and Training), the Group (K) Nearest-Neighbor (GKNN) query retrieves (K) points of the Training with the smallest sum...     

HEAT TRANSFER IN PARTIALLY MISCIBLE TERNARY SYSTEMS

In the study of mass transfer between partially miscible liquids, temperature perturbations have been found to have an important effect in the generation of interfacial activity. Micro- and macro-generated interfacial convection usually occurs in combination with one another even in fairly simple heat or mass transfer events. These combinations are responsible for the enhancement of mass transfer rates. In an effort to acquire a better understanding of the heat transfer effects in ternary liquid-liquid systems, temperature difference profiles were measured when contacting two partially miscible phases. A vertical and a rotational transfer cell were designed to contact the partially miscible phases without inducing external disturbances. Five thermocouples were immersed in the bottom liquid phase at predetermined positions below the interface. In order to understand the influence of the convection generated, the vertical cell was designed to hinder convection in one phase, while the rotational cell permits convection in both phases. The experimental results showed larger temperature differences in the rotational cell after the contact of the phases. Also, systems which were initially unsaturated presented larger heat effects than those in which the partially miscible solvents were initially saturated. Several parameters indicating the importance of heat effects in the ternary systems studied are reported.