Characterization of water-soluble conjugates of polyacrylic acid and antigenic peptide of FMDV by size exclusion chromatography with quadruple detection

Intermolecular complex by electrostatic interaction and specifically coupled conjugates between polyacrylic acid (PAA) and a synthetic peptide representing 170-188 sequence from the GH loop of VP1 protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) were investigated as an intermolecular model system due to their importance in biotechnology and immunology. In this study, polyacrylic acid (PAA) with a synthetic peptide representing 170-188 sequence from the GH loop of VP1 protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus at a wide range of mixing ratios of components (C_Peptide/C_PAA 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0, respectively) were characterized by size-exclusion high performance liquid chromatography with on-line refractive index, UV, light scattering and viscometer detectors. The results revealed that two molecules are both negatively charged as a result of repulsive forces preventing complex formation at neutral pH. Therefore, these molecules bound covalently to each other by using water-soluble carbodiimide when pH levels are higher than the pI of the peptide. High performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that the amount of protein-polymer complex increased and free peptide amount decreased with the increase in molar ratio of the peptide. Also, this paper presents that number of the bound peptide molecules with one PAA molecule was expressed by a Langmuir-type equation as a function of the amount of excess synthetic peptide existing free in the solution.     

A mass spectrometry method for quantitative and kinetic analysis of gas release from nuclear materials and its application to helium desorption from UO2 and fission gas release from irradiated fuel

A new system has been developed to determine absolute quantities of gas (mainly noble gases) released during thermal desorption in the range from 10^?12 to 10^?5 mol with a precision of few percent. The system is actually designed for simultaneous measurement of gaseous elements like He, Xe, Kr, thermally released from nuclear fuel samples and also allows the determination of the release kinetics as a function of time. This system, called Quantitative GAs MEasurement System (Q-GAMES), is based on the principle of collecting, purifying and spiking the sample gas in a “high-pressure” chamber, and continuous sampling of the gas for mass spectrometric analysis without sample depletion during the experiment. It is equipped with its own spike generator and with different gas purification systems. It is shown that this system fulfills the requirement to work with two existing very high-temperature gas desorption facilities for nuclear materials. This paper describes the Q-GAMES principle, the spiking system, its calibration, its operative mode, the different quantification techniques, as well as its technical data, in combination with some examples of typical application.     

Simultaneous growth of self-patterned carbon nanotube forests with dual height scales

In this study, we report on a unique, one-step fabrication technique enabling the simultaneous synthesis of vertically aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (VA-MWCNTs) with dual height scales through alcohol catalyzed chemical vapor deposition (ACCVD). Regions of VA-MWCNTs with different heights were well separated from each other leading to a self-patterning on the surface. We devised a unique layer-by-layer process for application of catalyst and inhibitor precursors on oxidized Si (100) surfaces before the ACCVD step to achieve a hierarchical arrangement. Patterning could be controlled by adjusting the molarity and application sequence of precursors. Contact angle measurements on these self-patterned surfaces indicated that manipulation of these hierarchical arrays resulted in a wide range of hydrophobic behavior changing from that of a sticky rose petal to a lotus leaf.     

Forming of Protein Bubbles and Porous Films Using Co‐Axial Electrohydrodynamic Flow Processing

Air and 5 wt.‐% BSA solution are used as a model system to generate protein‐coated microbubbles, which are significantly smaller in diameter than the processing needle apertures. The effects of processing parameters (applied voltage and flow rate) on the bubble size distribution and stability are studied. The optimal processing conditions are also explored in terms of heating of the solutions and prepared structures. Both individual microbubbles and porous films were successfully prepared using this method which has significant potential for the preparation of microbubbles for drug delivery systems, porous coatings, thin films, scaffolds and ultrasound contrast agents. The versatile nature of the method implies that many macromolecules and other active agents can be used.

     

Assessment of the Axial Load Response of an H Pile Driven in Multilayered Soil

Most of the current design methods for driven piles were developed for closed-ended pipe piles driven in either pure clay or clean sand. These methods are sometimes used for H piles as well, even though the axial load response of H piles is different from that of pipe piles. Furthermore, in reality, soil profiles often consist of multiple layers of soils that may contain sand, clay, silt or a mixture of these three particle sizes. Therefore, accurate prediction of the ultimate bearing capacity of H piles driven in a mixed soil is very challenging. In addition, although results of well documented load tests on pipe piles are available, the literature contains limited information on the design of H piles. Most of the current design methods for driven piles do not provide specific recommendations for H piles. In order to evaluate the static load response of an H pile, fully instrumented axial load tests were performed on an H pile (HP?310×110) driven into a multilayered soil profile consisting of soils composed of various amounts of clay, silt and sand. The base of the H pile was embedded in a very dense nonplastic silt layer overlying a clay layer. This paper presents the results of the laboratory tests performed to characterize the soil profile and of the pile load tests. It also compares the measured pile resistances with those predicted with soil property- and in situ test-based methods.     

A study of digital image analysis on the acrylamide derivative monomers induced apoptosis in rat cerebrum

Nowadays, apoptosis is mostly evaluated visually in histological studies. By using the quantitative digital image analysis, this study aimed to investigate the effect of acrylamide‐based monomers (acrylamide [AAm], methacrylamide [MAAm], N‐isopropylacrylamide [NIPAm]) on the cerebrum tissues in rats, which are the most common water‐soluble monomers in the production of polymeric hydrogels used as biomaterials. The Wistar albino rats weighing ~220–240 g were divided into control and three test groups. The control group received 1 mL of saline, and the test groups received 1 mL of aqueous 50 mg/kg/day intramuscular injection of AAm, MAAm, and NIPAm, respectively. At the end of the experiments, brain tissues of all rats euthanized by intramuscular injection of sodium pentobarbital were removed. Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP nick and labeling (TUNEL) method was applied to brain tissue sections. The monomers have been shown to cause apoptosis due to oxidative stress in cerebrum tissue. Based on apoptosis by tunneling method, quantitative digital image analysis of cell fragments was performed with Olympus cellSens Dimension 1.15 software, and the number, total count area, selected area, average area, and ROI% values of the fragments were found. In addition, the total area and ROI% values of the fragments increased linearly with increasing the molar mass of monomers from the digital image analysis data. Quantitative digital image analysis can facilitate the monitoring of apoptosis caused by the oxidative stress of monomers used in the production of the biomaterials.     

Production and characterization of carbon-based adsorbents from waste lignocellulosic biomass: their effectiveness in heavy metal removal

Abstract

In this study, hazelnut shell and walnut shell which are the agricultural wastes existent abundantly in many countries were pyrolyzed at different temperatures in the temperature range of 400–700?°C in order to optimize the physicochemical properties of biochars. The biochars with large surface area were used to removal of lead (Pb²⁺) ions, one of the most important heavy metal pollutant, from aqueous solutions. The characterization of raw biomass and also biochars produced by pyrolysis were performed using FT-IR, BET, SEM, partial and elemental analysis techniques. In order to determine the adsorption characteristics of both biochars, batch adsorption experiments were carried out under different experimental conditions. The optimum conditions were determined by investigating the effect of adsorption parameters (initial heavy metal concentration, temperature, adsorbent amount, pH, contact time and mixing speed) for efficient removal of Pb²⁺ ions from aqueous solution. The experimental results were investigated in terms of Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. Together with the calculated thermodynamic parameters, the adsorption mechanism was tried to be explained. In order to determine the kinetic model of the adsorption process, the experimental data were applied to pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order and intra-particle diffusion model, and the model constants were investigated.     

Electron beam penetration of poly (methyl methacrylate)/colemanite composite irradiated at low earth orbit space radiation environment

Poly (methyl methacrylate) modification by colemanite (CMT) addition has ensured beta shielding improvement. This study has connected with space environmental utilization with Kibo Japanese Experiment Module on International Space Station at low earth orbit. Space environment experiment was performed by using Kibo Experiment Handrail Attachment Mechanism–ExHAM. The changes in beta transmission of the composite were examined (by Sr-90 radioisotope) before and after space environmental utilization and details on beta penetration capacity was examined to protect the equipment (used in aviation and aerospace industries) from space radiation. Beta attenuation variations have indicated composite densification with beta attenuation enhancement after CMT addition.