Stretchable strain sensors based on polyaniline/thermoplastic polyurethane blends

Polymer Bulletin - Thermoplastic polyurethane/polyaniline-based stretchable strain sensors were prepared via in situ polymerization of aniline in the TPU solution in the form of thin films. The...     

Performance of Anaerobic Reactors during Pseudo-Steady-State Operation

Four anaerobic reactors were studied for the purposes of this work: two anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBR) using diatomaceous earth and granular activated carbon as immobilization media (R1 and R2, respectively), a packed-bed reactor (R3), and a suspended growth reactor (R4). A nutrient-supplemented wastestream with glucose as the main carbon source was treated. Successful reactor start-up was achieved for all four anaerobic reactors. These reactors were able to handle organic loading rates of more than 12000, 7500, 6000 and 650 mg dm⁻³ day⁻¹ for R1–R4, respectively. Anaerobic fluidized bed reactors were less affected by interruptions and adverse operating conditions than were packed-bed and suspended growth reactors. Immobilized cell reactors and, specifically, AFBRs were clearly superior to conventional high-rate digesters. This enhanced performance is primarily due to the very high cell retention ability of such reactors. High total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiencies were achievable under pseudo-steady state operation. Removal efficiencies above 98% were observed for all reactors. Specific biogas production rates of 1·5–1·7, 1·4–1·7, 1·1–1·5 and 0·9–1·3 dm³ of methane per gram of TOC removed for R1–R4, respectively, were attained. A consistent biogas methane content of 52·5–55·9% was observed. Biomass concentrations of 84, 91, 21 and 1·9 g VS dm⁻³ were measured for R1–R4, respectively. Extremely high biomass concentrations in AFBRs were possible due to the high available specific surface area. © 1997 SCI.     

DnaJC7 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Protein misfolding is a common basis of many neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Misfolded proteins, such as TDP-43, FUS, Matrin3, and SOD1, mislocalize and form the hallmark cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusions in neurons of ALS patients. Cellular protein quality control prevents protein misfolding under normal conditions and, particularly, when cells experience protein folding stress due to the fact of increased levels of reactive oxygen species, genetic mutations, or aging. Molecular chaperones can prevent protein misfolding, refold misfolded proteins, or triage misfolded proteins for degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome system or autophagy. DnaJC7 is an evolutionarily conserved molecular chaperone that contains both a J-domain for the interaction with Hsp70s and tetratricopeptide domains for interaction with Hsp90, thus joining these two major chaperones’ machines. Genetic analyses reveal that pathogenic variants in the gene encoding DnaJC7 cause familial and sporadic ALS. Yet, the underlying ALS-associated molecular pathophysiology and many basic features of DnaJC7 function remain largely unexplored. Here, we review aspects of DnaJC7 expression, interaction, and function to propose a loss-of-function mechanism by which pathogenic variants in DNAJC7 contribute to defects in DnaJC7-mediated chaperoning that might ultimately contribute to neurodegeneration in ALS.     

Reactivity feedbacks of a material test research reactor fueled with various low enriched uranium dispersion fuels

The reactivity feedbacks of a material test research reactor using various low enriched uranium fuels, having same uranium density were calculated. For this purpose, the original aluminide fuel (UAl_x–Al) containing 4.40 gU/cm³ of an MTR was replaced with silicide (U₃Si–Al and U₃Si₂–Al) and oxide (U₃O₈–Al) dispersion fuels having the same uranium density as of the original fuel. Calculations were carried out to find the fuel temperature reactivity feedback, moderator temperature reactivity feedback, moderator density reactivity feedback and moderator void reactivity feedback. Nuclear reactor analysis codes including WIMS-D4 and CITATION were employed to carry out these calculations. It was observed that the magnitudes all the respective reactivity feedbacks from 38 °C to 50 °C and 100 °C, at the beginning of life, of all the fuels were very close to each other. The fuel temperature reactivity feedback of the U₃O₈–Al was about 2% more than the original UAl_x–Al fuel. The magnitudes of the moderator temperature, moderator density and moderator void reactivity feedbacks of all the fuels, showed very minor variations from the original aluminide fuel.     

Exploring the effects of roadway characteristics on the frequency and severity of head-on crashes: Case studies from Malaysian Federal Roads

Head-on crashes are among the most severe collision types and of great concern to road safety authorities. Therefore, it justifies more efforts to reduce both the frequency and severity of this collision type. To this end, it is necessary to first identify factors associating with the crash occurrence. This can be done by developing crash prediction models that relate crash outcomes to a set of contributing factors. This study intends to identify the factors affecting both the frequency and severity of head-on crashes that occurred on 448 segments of five federal roads in Malaysia. Data on road characteristics and crash history were collected on the study segments during a 4-year period between 2007 and 2010. The frequency of head-on crashes were fitted by developing and comparing seven count-data models including Poisson, standard negative binomial (NB), random-effect negative binomial, hurdle Poisson, hurdle negative binomial, zero-inflated Poisson, and zero-inflated negative binomial models. To model crash severity, a random-effect generalized ordered probit model (REGOPM) was used given a head-on crash had occurred. With respect to the crash frequency, the random-effect negative binomial (RENB) model was found to outperform the other models according to goodness of fit measures. Based on the results of the model, the variables horizontal curvature, terrain type, heavy-vehicle traffic, and access points were found to be positively related to the frequency of head-on crashes, while posted speed limit and shoulder width decreased the crash frequency. With regard to the crash severity, the results of REGOPM showed that horizontal curvature, paved shoulder width, terrain type, and side friction were associated with more severe crashes, whereas land use, access points, and presence of median reduced the probability of severe crashes. Based on the results of this study, some potential countermeasures were proposed to minimize the risk of head-on crashes.     

Isolation and Characterization of Buffalo Milk Lysozyme

Lysozyme is a commercially valuable enzyme, and is applied in many fields, concerning products such as foods, drugs, and the like. In this work, lysozyme was isolated and purified from buffalo milk using sephadex G-50 and cation exchanger carboxymethyl cellulose. Lysozyme active fractions from buffalo milk were assayed against Gram positive substrate Micrococcus luteus at 450 nm and a decline in absorbance of 0.001 per min was observed. The optimum activity of lysozyme (158.3 ± 1.7 units/mL) was at 7.5 pH and 37°C temperature. Lysozyme activity at pasteurization temperatures 62.5°C, 30 min and 75°C, 15 s were (156.08 ± 1.03 and 156 ± 2 units/mL) not affected significantly; however, 47% activity of lysozyme was reduced at 100°C for 5 min. Antibacterial susceptibility testing of lysozyme (chicken egg white lysozyme and buffalo milk lysozyme) was performed on Micrococcus luteus (ATCC 4698) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25235). Both lysozymes showed no inhibition effect against Escherichia coli.     

Exponential localization of moving end mirror in optomechanics

We discuss the dynamics of moving end mirror of an optomechanical system that consists of a Fabry-Perot cavity loaded with dilute condensate and driven by a single-mode optical field. It is shown that quantum mechanical phenomenon of dynamical localization occurs both in position and momentum space for moving end mirror in the system. The parametric dependencies of dynamical localization are discussed. We also provide a set of parameters which makes this phenomenon experimentally feasible.     

Determination of benzimidazoles in pharmaceuticals and human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

A liquid chromatographic method is described for the quantification of prednisolone, benzimidazoles, and preservatives using a C₁₈ analytical column as stationary phase. The mobile phase was 30:70 methanol:pH 2.5 phosphate buffer at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1 with absorbance detection at 235 nm. The method was linear for concentrations ranged from 40–10,000 ng mL^?1. Low values of coefficient of variance were obtained when samples were analyzed as replicates. Excellent recovery values were recorded in commercial products and fortified samples. International Conference of Harmonization protocols were employed to perform comprehensive method validation. The reported method has applications for pharmaceutical and serum samples.