Hydrogen production by steam reforming of ethanol over mesoporous Ni–Al2O3–ZrO2 xerogel catalysts: Effect of nickel content

Hydrogen production by steam reforming of ethanol over mesoporous Ni–Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ xerogel catalysts (denoted as XNiAZ) with different nickel content (X, wt%) was studied. A single-step epoxide-driven sol–gel method was employed for the preparation of the catalysts. The effect of nickel content of XNiAZ catalysts on their physicochemical properties and catalytic activities was investigated. All the XNiAZ catalysts exhibited a well-developed mesoporous structure and they dominantly showed an amorphous NiO–Al₂O₃–ZrO₂ composite phase, leading to high dispersion of NiO. Nickel surface area and reducibility of XNiAZ catalysts showed volcano-shaped trends with respect to nickel content. Nickel surface area of XNiAZ catalysts played a key role in determining the catalytic performance in the steam reforming of ethanol; an optimal nickel content was required for maximum production of hydrogen. Among the catalysts tested, 15NiAZ catalyst with the highest nickel surface area exhibited the best catalytic performance in the steam reforming of ethanol. In addition, 15NiAZ catalyst showed high and stable hydrogen yields under different total feed rate, demonstrating its potential applicability in large-scale hydrogen production.     

Comparison of body weight and adipose tissue in male C57BI/6J mice fed diets with and withouttrans fatty acids

The effect of a diet containingtrans-fatty acids (tFA) on the fatty acid composition and fat accumulation in adipose tissue was investigated in mice. Male C57BI/6J mice were fed Control or Trans Diets that were similar, except that 50% of the 18∶1, which was allcis in the Control Diet, was replaced bytFA in the Trans Diet. At selected ages, body weight, epididymal fat pad weight, perirenal fat yield, adipose tissue cellularity and fatty acid composition were examined. Over the time period studied (2–24 mon), the proportion of 18∶0 and 16∶0 tended to decrease whilecis-18∶1 levels increased. Compared to the Control Diet, the Trans Diet resulted in adipose tissue lipids with higher percentages of 14∶0 and 18∶2n−6 and lower percentages ofcis-18∶1 and 20∶4n−6. In polar lipids,tFA replaced saturated fatty acids, whereastFA replacedcis-18∶1 in the nonpolar lipids. Body weights at 16 and 24 mon of age and epididymal fat pad weights at 8–24 mon of age were lower in mice fed the Trans Diet as compared to those fed the Control Diet. At the ages studied, the Trans Diet also resulted in lower values for perirenal fat weights, triacylglycerol to polar lipid ratios, and adipose cell size. The data suggest that chronic consumption oftFA affects lipid metabolism and results in decreased fat accumulation in murine adipose tissue.     

Sources of Innovation and Ideas in ICT Firms in Australia

This paper examines a sample of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firms in Australia drawn from a wide range of product and service providers in the Sydney region. It researches the sources of information and ideas that firms utilize to sustain their competitive position through innovation. While the firms in the survey varied in size in terms of turnover, number of employees and level of business activity, most see themselves as innovative. Not all firms utilized the same sources of innovation‐related knowledge and most used research and technology organizations (RTOs) or other publicly funded sources of information for help with ‘technical’ (standards etc) or trade issues. While ICT firms are often regarded as leading‐edge developers of new ideas, this research indicated that ICT firms still see their sales force, customers and suppliers as the most important sources of innovation knowledge and ideas.     

Dietary long-chain PUFA in the form of TAG or phospholipids influence lymph lipoprotein size and composition in piglets

Several sources of long-chain PUFA (LCP) are currently available for infant formula supplementation. These oils differ in their FA composition, the chemical form of the FA esters [TAG or phospholipids (PL)], and presence of other lipid components. These differences may affect LCP absorption, distribution, and metabolic fate after ingestion. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of different chemical forms of dietary LCP on the composition of lymph lipoproteins. Eighteen pigs (5 d old) were bottle-fed different diets for 2 wk: a control diet (C), a diet containing LCP as TAG from tuna and fungal oils (TF-TAG), or a diet containing LCP as PL from egg yolk (E-PL). We measured lipid and FA composition of lymph, main lymph fractions (TAG or PL), and the particle size of lymph lipoproteins. The average diameter of lymph lipoproteins was significantly lower in the E-PL group compared with the control and TF-TAG groups (C: 3902 +/- 384 A; TF-TAG: 3773 +/- 384 A; E-PL: 2370 +/- 185 A). Arachidonic acid and DHA contents in lymph and lymph-TAG were significantly higher in the TF-TAG group compared to the E-PL group (0.50 +/- 0.03 and 0.24 +/- 0.03 g/100 g vs. 0.29 +/- 0.04 and 0.12 +/- 0.03 g/100 g, respectively). The addition to the diet of LCP in the form of TAG or PL affected the size of intestinal lipoproteins and also led to a different distribution of these FA in lymph lipoproteins.     

Hydrogen production by steam reforming of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over nickel catalysts supported on cationic surfactant-templated mesoporous aluminas

Two types of mesoporous γ-aluminas (denoted as A-A and A-S) are prepared by a hydrothermal method under different basic conditions using cationic surfactant (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB) as a templating agent. A-A and A-S are synthesized in a medium of ammonia solution and sodium hydroxide solution, respectively. Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts (Ni/A-A and Ni/A-S) are then prepared by an impregnation method, and are applied to hydrogen production by steam reforming of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The effect of a mesoporous γ-Al₂O₃ support on the catalytic performance of Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ is investigated. The identity of basic solution strongly affects the physical properties of the A-A and A-S supports. The high surface-area of the mesoporous γ-aluminas and the strong metal–support interaction of supported catalysts greatly enhance the dispersion of nickel species on the catalyst surface. The well-developed mesopores of the Ni/A-A and Ni/A-S catalysts prohibit the polymerization of carbon species on the catalyst surface during the reaction. In the steam reforming of LNG, both Ni/A-A and Ni/A-S catalysts give better catalytic performance than the nickel catalyst supported on commercial γ-Al₂O₃ (Ni/A-C). In addition, the Ni/A-A catalyst is superior to the Ni/A-S catalyst. The relatively strong metal–support interaction of Ni/A-A catalyst effectively suppresses the sintering of metallic nickel and the carbon deposition in the steam reforming of LNG. The large pores of the Ni/A-A catalyst also play an important role in enhancing internal mass transfer during the reaction.     

Gallic acid induces G2/M phase cell cycle arrest via regulating 14‐3‐3β release from Cdc25C and Chk2 activation in human bladder transitional carcinoma cells

Scope: Cell cycle regulation is a critical issue in cancer treatment. Previously, gallic acid (GA) has been reported to possess anticancer ability. Here, we have evaluated the molecular mechanism of GA on cell cycle modulation in a human bladder transitional carcinoma cell line (TSGH‐8301 cell). Methods and results: Using flow cytometer analysis, exposure of the cells to 40 μM GA resulted in a statistically significant increase in G2/M phase cells, which was accompanied by a decrease in G0/G1 phase cells. GA‐treated cells resulted in significant growth inhibition in a dose‐dependent manner accompanied by a decrease in cyclin‐dependent kinases (Cdk1), Cyclin B1, and Cdc25C, but significant increases in p‐cdc2 (Tyr‐15) and Cip1/p21 by western blotting. Additional mechanistic studies showed that GA induces phosphorylation of Cdc25C at Ser‐216. This mechanism leads to its translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm resulting in an increased binding with 14‐3‐3β. When treated with GA, phosphorylated Cdc25C can be activated by ataxia telangiectasia‐mutated checkpoint kinase 2 (Chk2). This might be a DNA damage response as indicated by Ser‐139 phosphorylation of histine H2A.X. Furthermore, treatment of the cells with a Chk2 inhibitor significantly attenuated GA‐induced G2/M phase arrest. Conclusion: These results indicate that GA can induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase via Chk2‐mediated phosphorylation of Cdc25C in a bladder transitional carcinoma cell line.     

Stroop-type interference: Congruity effects in color naming with typewritten responses.

Four experiments examined the Stroop effect with typewritten responses. Experiment 1 compared vocal, arbitrary-keypress, and typewritten responses and found the largest Stroop effect for typewritten responses. The effect appeared in the latency to type the first keystroke and not in the duration of the typing response. Experiment 2 compared normal (name the color) and reverse (name the word) Stroop effects with typewritten responses and found that the normal Stroop effect was much larger than the reverse Stroop effect. Experiment 3 compared typing the entire color name with typing its first letter and found equivalent Stroop effects in the 2 conditions. Experiment 4 varied the relative frequency of congruent and incongruent trials and found that the typewritten Stroop effect was larger when congruent trials outnumbered incongruent trials. The results are related to theories of the Stroop effect and theories of language production. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Artificial intelligence and grids: workflow planning and beyond

A key challenge for grid computing is creating large-scale, end-to-end scientific applications that draw from pools of specialized scientific components to derive elaborate new results. We develop Pegasus, an AI planning system which is integrated into the grid environment that takes a user's highly specified desired results, generates valid workflows that take into account available resources, and submits the workflows for execution on the grid. We also begin to extend it as a more distributed and knowledge-rich architecture.