Is Chlorogenic Acid Bitter?

Chlorogenic acid at 5° published threshold concentration (100 mg/ L) in aqueous 0.2% potassium acid tartrate was not significantly more bitter than aqueous 0.2% potassium tartrate alone when evaluated by taste panel.     

Potential genomic biomarkers of obesity and its comorbidities for phthalates and bisphenol A mixture: <i>In silico</i> toxicogenomic approach

This in silico toxicogenomic study aims to explore the relationship between phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) co-exposure and obesity, as well as its comorbid conditions, in order to construct a possible set of genomic biomarkers. The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD; http://ctd.mdibl.org) was used as the main data mining tool, along with GeneMania (https://genemania.org), ToppGene Suite (https://toppgene.cchmc.org) and DisGeNET (http://www.disgenet.org). Among the phthalates, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were chosen as the most frequently curated phthalates in CTD, which also share similar mechanisms of toxicity. DEHP, DBP and BPA interacted with 84, 90 and 194 obesity-related genes/proteins, involved in 67, 65 and 116 pathways, respectively. Among these, 53 genes/proteins and 42 pathways were common to all three substances. 31 genes/proteins had matching interactions for all three investigated substances, while more than half of these genes/proteins (56.49%) were in co-expression. 7 of the common genes/proteins (6 relevant to humans: CCL2, IL6, LPL, PPARG, SERPINE1, and TNF) were identified in all the investigated obesity comorbidities, while PPARG and LPL were most closely linked to obesity. These genes/proteins could serve as a target for further in vitro and in vivo studies of molecular mechanisms of DEHP, DBP and BPA mixture obesogenic properties. Analysis reported here should be applicable to any mixture of environmental chemicals and any disease present in CTD.     

Thermal Grooving of MgO and Al2O3

High-purity polycrystalline MgO and Al₂O₃ were thermally grooved at 1500° and 1600°C. Accurate techniques were developed for following the growth of a single groove. For high-purity samples growth kinetics were essentially similar to those reported in the literature but were determined to be controlled by volume diffusion. Specimens for thermal grooving were prepared from Al₂O₃ to which transition metal oxides (Fe₂O₃₉, MnO, and TiO₂), which are known to accelerate shrinkage and sintering of Al₂O₃ powder compacts, had been added; the rate of groove growth was increased remarkably by minor amounts of these additives. Control of partial pressure indicated that Fe²⁺ and Ti⁴⁺ are the species active in promoting groove growth. Substantial evidence was found for volume diffusion as the mechanism controlling groove formation.     

Strength Properties of Sintered Alumina in Relation to Porosity and Grain Size

The strength properties of sintered alumina rods, as determined by modulus of rupture experiments, were measured for the purpose of finding the influence of grain size on strength. Sintering temperatures below and above the recrystallization temperature region were utilized in the fabrication of sintered alumina rods so that a wide variation of grain sizes could be tested. Porosity, measured as bulk density, had the largest influence on the moduli of rupture. No prominent change in strength could be observed as a result of recrystallization, but a minor decrease in strength could be attributed to an increase in void size or an increase in grain size.     

Reaction of Clay and Carbon to Form and Separate Al2O3 and SiC

Alumina and SiC can be recovered from clay by carbon reduction. Kinetic experiments showed that the solid-solid reaction proceeds through gaseous intermediates of CO and SiO. By mixing part of the carbon with the clay and using the balance to form SiC, Al₂O₃ and SiC were physically separated as products. This separation is represented by
(a)
(b)
Optimum conditions for ease of separation of Al₂O₃ and SiC and the high rate of reaction require pelletization of both the clay-carbon mixture and the carbon of reaction ( b ) and the reaction of these pellets at >1500°C. By examining the effect of transition metal catalysts, SiC formation was determined to be rate-controlling.     

Thermal Decomposition Kinetics of Boehmite

The decomposition of boehmite, or alpha alumina monohydrate, was studied in water vapor and nitrogen atmospheres between 430° and 500°C. Powder samples used consisted of agglomerates of very small boehmite crystallites. The rate of decomposition was determined with a transducer which measured the loss of sample weight due to the liberation of gaseous water. A linear rate law is obeyed by the decomposition of boehmite and, because of the characteristics of the fractional weight loss-time curve, an interface model was suggested as the mechanism of decomposition. The activation energy was 70 kcal/mole. The effect of water vapor on the rate of decomposition was investigated. A simple forward-back reaction mechanism did not satisfactorily explain the data. Two models, either of which could be valid, were proposed to describe the relation between decomposition rate and water vapor pressure: (1) An adsorption-desorption process of water on the boehmite was assumed, and (2) an intermediate species of Al₂O₃ entering into the decomposition reaction was assumed.     

Effects of Oxygen Partial Pressure on the Oxidation of Silicon Carbide

The rate of oxidation of silicon carbide was studied at different partial pressures of oxygen. The diffusion rate constant was found to vary with the logarithm of the partial pressure of oxygen according to the theory of oxidation of thin films as proposed by Engell and Hauffe. An alternative explanation based on the change of free energy with surface coverage was also found to fit the data.     

Role of Structural Defects in the Sintering of Alumina and Magnesia

Alumina and magnesia compositions containing additions of titanium, chromium, manganese, iron, and zirconium oxides were sintered in atmospheres of oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen. Diffusion promoted by lattice defects was observed by measurements of bulk density. Color, atmosphere, and X-ray diffraction indicated the nature of the structural defects resulting in increased rates of material transport.     

Polymorphism and Hydration of Tricalcium Silicate Doped With ZnO

Up to 4.7% ZnO can be incorporated into the crystalline lattice of C₃S. Five allotropic forms (i.e. T_I, T_II, M_I, M_II, and R) can be stabilized at room temperature, depending on the amount of ZnO. When heated to high temperature, the C₃S-ZnO solid solution decomposes and ZnO escapes from the crystalline lattice. The hydration and strength development of C₃S are altered by ZnO doping.