Proteomic analysis of secretory proteins and vesicles in vascular research

The release of proteins and membrane vesicles in the bloodstream regulates diverse vascular processes, both physiological, such as angiogenesis and haemostasis, and pathological, such as atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis. Proteomics, beside its canonical application for the expression profiling in cells and organs, can be applied to the study of secreted proteins and microvesicles, which play a significant role in the homeostasis of the vasculature, and the development of the atherosclerotic disease.     

Probabilistic parametric approach for rutting evaluation: application to hot and warm asphalt

This paper deals with a stochastic approach to evaluate the rut depth of hot and warm bituminous mixtures. First, the rutting performance of both mixtures using the French rutting tester device was evaluated. Given the random uncertainties derived from the numerous experimental measurements of the rut depth, statistical information was collected. Accordingly, the entropy maximum principle was used here to define adequate probability density function of the rut. Confidence regions with a high probability of 99% were determined for the estimation of the rut depth. In addition, comparison of mechanical and rheological results is performed with aged bitumen recovered from reclaimed asphalt and virgin bitumen to analyse the effect of ageing on bitumen viscoelastic properties. The experimental characterisation of the different binders based on rheological and conventional tests showed stiffening and hardening effects due to bitumen ageing.     

Experimental study of the miscibility of ABS/PC polymer blends and investigation of the processing effect

In the challenging prospect of developing new materials by mixing different polymers to reach a synergetic performance, the present research focuses on the study of the miscibility of two polymers: The acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composed of a dispersed elastomeric (polybutadiene rubber) polymer embedded in a SAN thermoplastic matrix, and the polycarbonate (PC). It shall be noted that obtaining miscible polymer blends is often a difficult task because of the large size of their molecular chains and the high interfacial tension between the polymer phases. Until now, the most numerous researches developed in this field involve polymer blends obtained by compatibilization techniques in order to improve the interfacial adhesion between initial polymers. The aim of this work is to study the miscibility between ABS and PC. First, two different methods were used to mix the polymers: the twin‐screw extrusion and the dissolution in a common solvent tetrahydrofuran (THF). Then, physicochemical, microscopic observation and rheological characterization were performed on samples of mixtures obtained by both extrusion processing and dissolution method. The measurement of glassy transition temperature (T_g) by differential scanning calorimetry measurements (DSC) and dynamical mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) have shown a partial miscibility between the two polymers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44975.     

Determination of principal component analysis models for sensor fault detection and isolation

In this paper, a new method for determining the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model structure for system diagnosis is proposed. This method, based on the variables reconstruction principle, determines the PCA model optimizing detection and isolation of single or multiple faults affecting redundant or non redundant variables of a system. This new method has been validated by a simulation example.     

Ionic liquids [EMIM][BF4], [EMIM][Otf] and [BMIM][Otf] as corrosion inhibitors for CO2 capture applications

We present the viability of using thermally stable, practically non-volatile ionic liquids as corrosion inhibitors in aqueous monoethanolamine systems. Carbon steel 1020, which is widely used as a construction material in CO₂ capture plants, has been taken as a test material. Corrosion inhibition capabilities of typical room-temperature ionic liquids constituting imidazolium cation in concentration range ≤3% in CO₂ capture applications were investigated. Electrochemical corrosion experiments using the potentiodynamic polarization technique for measuring corrosion current were carried out. Subsequent calculation of corrosion rate via Tafel fit was performed. The experimental findings suggest that the corrosion rate is significantly dependent on the process parameters, such as the CO₂ loading and the presence of oxygen. In addition, the value of the corrosion rate is sensitive to the type of ionic liquid added. Moreover, the results show that ionic liquids possess the ability of suppressing severe operational problems of corrosion in typical CO₂ capture plants to a reasonable extent (≥50%).     

One-step synthesis and characterization of carbon nanospheres via natural gas condensate pyrolysis

Abstract

In the current work, carbon nanospheres (CNSs) were prepared via pyrolysis of gas condensate in N₂ at 1273?K and atmospheric pressure for 2?h using ferric chloride as a catalyst precursor. X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) in scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectrometry (Raman), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) are employed for the structural and morphological characterization of the nanomaterials formed. The conductivity of these films was measured using the four probe method. As results, SEM-EDX and TEM analysis reveal spherical shaped particles, with diameter varying between 100 and 200 nm and graphene interlayer distance of 0.339 nm. The very low I_D/I_G ratio obtained reveals a relatively low amount of disorder in the nanostructures and TGA analysis implies that thermal stability was achieved after 470?°C. Our work provides a simple synthetic strategy in one-step sample preparation of CNSs, which can be used for furfur applications such as high-performance supercapacitors or adsorbents.     

Physico-Chemical Properties,Composition, and Oxidative Stability of Olive and Soybean Oils Under Different Conditions

Commercial olive and soybean oils have been analyzed periodically in order to evaluate the influence of storage conditions on quality. The following parameters were determined every 10 days of storage: peroxide, saponification and acid values, absorption coefficients K₂₇₀ and K₂₃₂, phenols, chlorophylls and carotenoids contents, DPPH scavenging ability, and total antioxidant activity. Edible oils were exposed to daylight and stored at room temperature in different containers with the same surface area of exposure to air either in clear glass or opaque glass bottles. Changes in oils properties were also examined after the addition of Vit-E as an antioxidant in oil samples. The results showed a gradual loss of quality during storage, especially in clear glass bottles. The addition of the antioxidant, however, significantly reduced the deterioration and oxidation rate in the oil. The best containers for commercial packing of oil were opaque glass bottles containing antioxidant products.     

Monoallelically expressed gene related to p53 at 1p36, a region frequently deleted in neuroblastoma and other human cancers

We describe a gene encoding p73, a protein that shares considerable homology with the tumor suppressor p53. p73 maps to 1p36, a region frequently deleted in neuroblastoma and other tumors and thought to contain multiple tumor suppressor genes. Our analysis of neuroblastoma cell lines with 1p and p73 loss of heterozygosity failed to detect coding sequence mutations in remaining p73 alleles. However, the demonstration that p73 is monoallelically expressed supports the notion that it is a candidate gene in neuroblastoma. p73 also has the potential to activate p53 target genes and to interact with p53. We propose that the disregulation of p73 contributes to tumorigenesis and that p53-related proteins operate in a network of developmental and cell cycle controls.     

Image encryption method based on improved ECC and modified AES algorithm

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Currently, embedded systems can be found everywhere in quotidian life. In the development of embedded systems, information security is one of the important...     

The behaviour of Arabian donkey milk during acidification compared to bovine milk

To better understand the fermentation kinetic of Arabian donkey milk, its physicochemical properties, conductivity and viscosity were assessed during acidification, and compared to that of the bovine milk. Donkey milk showed a shorter latency phase and slightly lower acidification rate than bovine milk. Measurement of electric conductivity during acidification showed that maximum demineralisation of casein micelles occurred at around pH_I 5.44 for donkey milk and pH_I 5.16 for bovine milk. Donkey milk was also found to be less viscous. The technological characteristics of donkey milk were different from those of bovine milk due to intrinsic physicochemical properties of both milks.