Nitric oxide transport in an axisymmetric stenosis

To test the hypothesis that disturbed flow can impede the transport of nitric oxide (NO) in the artery and hence induce atherogenesis, we used a lumen–wall model of an idealized arterial stenosis with NO produced at the blood vessel–wall interface to study the transport of NO in the stenosis. Blood flows in the lumen and through the arterial wall were simulated by Navier–Stokes equations and Darcy''s Law, respectively. Meanwhile, the transport of NO in the lumen and the transport of NO within the arterial wall were modelled by advection–diffusion reaction equations. Coupling of fluid dynamics at the endothelium was achieved by the Kedem–Katchalsky equations. The results showed that both the hydraulic conductivity of the endothelium and the non-Newtonian viscous behaviour of blood had little effect on the distribution of NO. However, the blood flow rate, stenosis severity, red blood cells (RBCs), RBC-free layer and NO production rate at the blood vessel–wall interface could significantly affect the transport of NO. The theoretical study revealed that the transport of NO was significantly hindered in the disturbed flow region distal to the stenosis. The reduced NO concentration in the disturbed flow region might play an important role in the localized genesis and development of atherosclerosis.     

Emissions of ammonia,nitrous oxide,methane, and carbon dioxide during storage of dairy cow manure as affected by dietary forage-to-concentrate ratio and crust formation

Sixteen 200-L barrels were used to determine the effects of dietary forage-to-concentrate (F:C) ratio on the rate of NH₃-N, N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂ emissions from dairy manure during a 77-d storage period. Manure was obtained from a companion study where cows were assigned to total mixed rations that included the following F:C ratio: 47:53, 54:46, 61:39, and 68:32 (diet dry matter basis) and housed in air-flow-controlled chambers constructed in a modified tiestall barn. On d 0 of this study, deposited manure and bedding from each emission chamber was thoroughly mixed, diluted with water (1.9 to 1 manure-to-water ratio) and loaded in barrels. In addition, on d 0, 7, 14, 28, 35, 49, 56, 63, 70, and 77 of storage, the rate of NH₃-N, N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂ emissions from each barrel were measured with a dynamic chamber and gas concentration measured with a photo-acoustic multi-gas monitor. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block with 4 replications. Dietary F:C ratio had no effect on manure dry matter, total N and total ammoniacal-N (NH₃-N + NH₄⁺-N), or pH at the time of storage (mean ± SD: 10.6 ± 0.6%, 3.0 ± 0.2%, 93.1 ± 18.1 mg/dL, and 7.8 ± 0.5, respectively). No treatment differences were observed in the overall rate of manure NH₃-N, N₂O, CH₄, and CO₂ emissions (mean ± SD over the 77-d storage period; 117 ± 25, 30 ± 7, 299 ± 62, and 15,396 ± 753 mg/hr per m², respectively). The presence of straw bedding in manure promoted the formation of a surface crust that became air dried after about 1 mo of storage, and was associated with an altered pattern in NH₃-N and N₂O emissions in particular. Whereas NH₃-N emission rate was highest on d 0 and gradually decreased until reaching negligible levels on d 35, N₂O emission rate was almost zero the first 2 wk of storage, increased sharply to peak on d 35, and decreased subsequently. The emission rate of CH₄ and CO₂ peaked simultaneously on d 7, but decreased subsequently until the end of the storage period. In this study, C:N ratio of gaseous losses was 32:1, reflecting higher volatile C loss than volatile N loss during storage. On a CO₂-equivalent basis, the most important source of non-CO₂ greenhouse gas emitted was CH₄ until formation of an air-dried crust, but N₂O thereafter. Taken together, these results suggested that the formation of an air-dried crust resulting from the straw bedding present in the manure reduced drastically NH₃-N, and CH₄ emissions, but was conducive of N₂O production and emission.     

Synthesis of acicular α-Bi2O3 microcrystals by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method

ABSTRACT

Materials based on bismuth(III) oxide are candidate to be used in optical and electronic devices because of their properties such as a variable band gap, photoconductivity, photoluminescence, high refractive index, and dielectric permittivity. These properties are dependent of several factors, e.g., present phases and crystal morphology. The microwave-assisted hydrothermal method (MAH) is a fast and efficient approach of synthesis to obtain semiconductor powders. However, the synthesis of monoclinic bismuth oxide (α-Bi₂O₃) with acicular morphology by MAH was not found in literature. In this paper, microcrystals of acicular α-Bi₂O₃ (monophasic) were successfully obtained by MAH using a synthesis temperature of 80°C for 0.5?h. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopies showed the formation of a monoclinic structure (space group P21/c) with acicular morphology that grew along the [001] direction. The temperature and time necessary to synthetize acicular microcrystals were significantly lower than those found for acicular microcrystals obtained by conventional hydrothermal method.     

Cobalt oxide nanopowder synthesis using cellulose assisted combustion technique

Cobalt oxides nanopowders were prepared using novel cellulose assisted combustion synthesis and solution combustion synthesis techniques. The synthesis conditions were optimized to produce high surface area cobalt oxide nanopowders. Effect of precursors ratio on product properties (such as crystalline structure, nanoparticle size, surface area etc.) were studied and compared for the two methods. Thermodynamic calculations along with TGA/DTA studies were used to understand the synthesis mechanism leading to cobalt oxide formation. The synthesized nanopowders were characterized using various materials characterization techniques such as XRD, SEM and TEM.     

Electrochemical performance of reduced graphene oxide in Spiro‐(1, 1')‐bipyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate electrolyte

This paper investigates the relationship between structure and electrochemical performance of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) prepared via heat treatment and chemical reduction method. Structure and morphology of RGO was characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. Electrochemical performance of RGO electrode supercapacitor was investigated in the organic electrolyte by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge and electrochemical impedance. The results show heat treatment RGO has high graphitization degree, less surface oxygen‐containing groups, good charge–discharge efficiency and stable life cycle. The chemical reduced RGO has single‐graphene structure, high specific surface area, high specific capacitance and low internal resistance. The ascorbic acid reduction RGO exhibits good comprehensive electrochemical performance: Its specific capacitance was 220.7 F g^?1, internal resistance was 3.0 Ω and charge–discharge efficiency was 97.0% after 2000 cycles of charging/discharging tests. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical and mechanical properties of a reversible adhesive for automotive applications

In this work, a hot-melt adhesive used by automotive industries for bonding plastic components has been modified with three different percentages of nanofiller (iron oxide) in order to make the adhesive electromagnetically sensitive and to perform adhesive joint separations. Fe₃O₄ particles with a weight concentration of 3%, 5% and 10% were embedded in the adhesive matrix. Single Lap Joint (SLJ) tests showed that a slight increase of the maximum load and a more ductile behaviour are obtained. The sensitivity of these modified adhesive performance to the induction heating process was studied with respect to some relevant parameters: the current (or power), the frequency of the electromagnetic induction field and the shape of the coil. Furthermore, the diameter of the hollow copper coil was modified in order to understand whether the coil temperature has an effect on the separation time. The separation time, that is an index of the time needed to reach the melt of the adhesive and the consequent SLJ separation, together with the temperature profile of the adhesives have been used to evaluate the sensitivity of these adhesives to the process parameters. The analysis on the temperature and separation time showed that the most influencing parameter is the frequency of the electromagnetic induction field. As expected, also the shape of the coil influences the separation time, in particular, the adhesive joint separated with the pancake coil showed lower values of the separation time compared to the solenoidal coils. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) showed that iron oxide particles tend to form small agglomerate that resulted well dispersed in the adhesive matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to verify that the separation procedure do not degrades these modified adhesives.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene tetrasulfide)/graphene oxide nanocomposites by in situ polymerization method

Poly(ethylene tetrasulfide) (PSP) is synthesized via interfacial polycondensation of 1,2 dichloroethane and sodium tetrasulfide, in the presence of graphene oxide (GO). This process resulted in homogeneously dispersed PSP/GO nanocomposites. Nanocomposites of 0.3 and 0.5?wt% of GO are synthesized and their morphology, chemical characteristics behavior are studied employing field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. Thermal characterization of composites is performed by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analysis. Results indicate that the addition of only small amounts (0.5?wt%) of well-dispersed GO can increase the melting point more than 16°C resulting in better thermal properties for the composite. The solubility of nanocomposite is also studied and results show that the solubility depends on solvent concentration in addition to reinforcement (GO) deals.     

Functionalised hybrid Poly(ether ether ketone) containing MnO2: Investigation of operative conditions for hydrogen sorption

A composite material synthesis, based on Manganese oxide (MnO₂) anchored to a functionalized polymeric matrix, was optimized. For this investigation two different MnO₂ loadings were selected (16 and 80 wt%) in order to understand the relation between the oxide content, chemical-physical characteristic and the H₂ sorption properties. SEM, XRD were carried out and the obtained results were correlated to the H₂ sorption/desorption characterizations by Sievert apparatus.From these measurements at 50 °C/40 bar, the sample containing 16 wt% of metal oxide content has revealed a low H₂ sorption capability (0,04 wt%), while the 80 wt% sample showed a very high H₂ storage value (3 wt%). A short sorption/desorption cycles were carried out and a good reversibility was revealed.A modelling study, ab-initio Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, was carried out. The starting unit cell was MnO₂ while Mn₂₄O₄₈ was considered as a supercell. The number of H atoms was gradually increased and desorption energy was calculated. Desorption energy starts from 366 kJ/mol and decreases by increasing the number of H atoms. For the experimental H₂ sorption value (1,7 wt%) it was calculated the number of the respective H atoms (36) and the corresponding desorption energy (150 kJ/mol).     

Identification of Toxin Inhibitors Using a Magnetic Nanosensor‐Based Assay

A magnetic nanosensor‐based method is described to screen a library of drugs for potential binding to toxins. Screening is performed by measuring changes in the magnetic relaxation signal of the nanosensors (bMR nanosensors) in aqueous suspension upon addition of the toxin. The Anthrax lethal factor (ALF) is selected as a model toxin to test the ability of our bMR nanosensor‐based screening method to identify potential inhibitors of the toxin. Out of 30 molecules screened, sulindac, naproxen and fusaric acid are found to bind LF, with dissociation constants in the low micromolar range. Further biological analysis of the free molecules in solution indicate that sulindac and its metabolic products inhibited LF cytotoxicity to macrophages with IC₅₀ values in the micromolar range. Meanwhile, fusaric acid is found to be less effective at inhibiting LF cytotoxicity, while naproxen does not inhibit LF toxicity. Most importantly, when the sulindac and fusaric acid‐bMR nanosensors themselves are tested as LF inhibitors, as opposed to the corresponding free molecules, they are stronger inhibitors of LF with IC₅₀ values in the nanomolar range. Taken together, these studies show that a bMR nanosensors‐based assay can be used to screen known drugs and other small molecules for inhibitor of toxins. The method can be easily modified to screen for inhibitors of other molecular interactions and not only the selected free molecule can be study as potential inhibitors but also the bMR nanosensors themselves achieving greater inhibitory potential.