Determination of alcohols and volatile organic acids in anaerobic bioreactors for H2 production by near infrared spectroscopy

In recent years, near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been investigated as a tool for monitoring anaerobic digesters, but several adversities in its application have been reported. This study proposes the application of NIR for the determination of alcohols and volatile organic acids from H₂ production bioreactors and evaluates different approaches to optimize the prediction models. Partial least squad (PLS) models were developed using samples from anaerobic batch reactors fed with crude glycerol for wastewater treatment. The analytes predicted were: methanol, ethanol, 1-butanol, acetic, propanoic, butyric, isocaproic and total volatile organic acids (VFA). The optimization of the predictive capacity of the models was achieved through the orthogonal signal correction (OSC) preprocessing and the selection of variables performed by the genetic algorithm (GA). The application of the proposed models were based on the following figures of merit: accuracy, precision, linearity, limits of detection and quantitation, measurement interval, sensitivity, selectivity, signal-to-noise ratio and bias. Despite the low selectivity (maximum of 0.12%), the models presented high sensitivity [γ^?1 = 0.19 (mg L^?1)^?1], low LOQ (1 mg L^?1) and correlation between reference and predicted values (r) at least 0.93, except for propanoic acid (r_pred = 0.85). The F-test revealed that the selection of variables by GA significantly improved the accuracy and linearity of the prediction models for methanol, acetic acid, isocaproic acid and VFA. NIR spectroscopy has proved to be a powerful tool for monitoring H₂ production bioreactors since provides fast, low cost and multicomponent information.     

Zn(II) Complex Catalyzed Coupling Aquathermolysis of Water-Heavy Oil-Methanol at Low Temperature

A Zn(II) coordination complex was synthesized, characterized, and used for catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil at low temperatures for the first time. The effects of water content and catalyst concentration on aquathermolysis were investigated. And then a tri-component coupling aquathermolysis of waterheavy oil-methanol was designed and the reaction conditions were investigated. With the catalyst and methanol, the reaction occurred at temperatures as low as 180°C. The viscosity of the product was also substantially reduced from around 24 400 to 6420 mPa s by the decomposition of the large hydrocarbon molecules.     

Synthesis of new flow improvers from canola oil and application to waxy crude oil

Several techniques are employed to mitigate the problems associated with the crystallization of paraffin during the production and/or transportation of waxy crude oil. One of these techniques is the addition of chemicals that depress the pour point of the oil and inhibit the formation of paraffin crystals. In this work, the chemicals, polyamine amide (PAA), are prepared by aminolysis and polycondensation from canola oil and polyamine as substrates. Nitrogen atoms are fixed in the main chain of the polymers to modify the polarity. The effectiveness of the PAAs on four crude oil was tested as pour point depressants as well as paraffin inhibiters. The highest pour point reduction depression was achieved as 12.6°C. Differential scanning calorimetry and paraffin crystal morphology studies were conducted on simulated crude oil to elucidate the mechanism of pour point reduction.     

Correlation of MET-Receptor Overexpression with MET Gene Amplification and Patient Outcome in Malignant Mesothelioma

Thanks to clinically newly introduced inhibitors of the mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) receptor tyrosine-kinase, MET-gene copy number gain/amplification (MET-GCNG/GA) and increased expression of the MET protein are considered very promising therapeutic targets in lung cancer and other malignancies. However, to which extent these MET alterations occur in malignant mesothelioma (MM) remains unclear. Thus, we investigated by well-established immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization methods, the frequency of these alterations in specimens from 155 consecutive MMs of different subtypes obtained from pleural or peritoneal biopsies and pleurectomies. Thirty-three benign reactive mesothelial proliferations (RMPs) were used as controls. MET-protein upregulation was observed in 35% of all MM-cases, though restricted to predominantly epithelioid MMs. We detected low-/intermediate-level MET-GCNG/GA in 22.2% of MET-overexpressing MMs (7.8% of whole MM-cohort) and no MET-GCNG/GA in the other 77.8%, suggesting other upregulating mechanisms. In contrast, 100% of RMPs exhibited no MET-upregulation or MET-GCNG/-GA. Neither MET exon 14 skipping mutations nor MET-fusions were detected as mechanisms of MET overexpression in MM using RNA next-generation sequencing. Finally, in two cohorts of 30 MM patients with or without MET overexpression (MET-positive/-negative) that were matched for several variables and received the same standard chemotherapy, the MET-positive cases showed a significantly lower response rate, but no significant difference in progression-free or overall survival. Our results imply that MET overexpression occurs in a substantial fraction of predominantly epithelioid MMs, but correlates poorly with MET-amplification status, and may impact the likelihood of response to mesothelioma standard chemotherapy. The predictive significance of MET-IHC and -FISH for possible MET-targeted therapy of MM remains to be elucidated.     

The effects of EPA and DHA enriched fish oil on nutritional and immunological markers of treatment naïve breast cancer patients: a randomized double-blind controlled trial

Background

We evaluated the effects of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids enriched fish oil (FO) on nutritional and immunological parameters of treatment naïve breast cancer patients.

Methods

In a randomized double blind controlled trial, the FO group (FG) patients were supplemented with 2 g/ day of FO concentrate containing 1.8 g of n-3 fatty acids during 30 days. The placebo group (PG) received 2 g/ day of mineral oil. At baseline and after the intervention, plasma levels of n-3 fatty acids, dietary intake, weight, body composition, biochemical and immunological markers were assessed.

Results

At the end of the intervention period, no between group differences were observed regarding anthropometric parameters. There was a significant increase in the plasma phospholipid EPA (p = 0.004), DHA (p = 0.007) of the FG patients. In FG patients the percentages of peripheral blood CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels were maintained while in PG patients there was a significant increase in hsCRP (p = 0.024). We also observed a significant reduction in the percentage of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood (p = 0.042) of PG patients. No changes in serum proinflammatory cytokine and prostaglandin E₂ levels were observed.

Conclusions

Supplementation of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with EPA and DHA led to a significant change in the composition of plasma fatty acids, maintained the level of CD4⁺ T cells and serum levels of hsCRP, suggestive of a beneficial effect on the immune system and less active inflammatory response.

Trial registration

Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (REBEC): RBR-2b2hqh. Registered 29 April 2013, retrospectively registered.

     

Transient boiling of liquefied cryogens on a water surface: II. Light hydrocarbon mixtures

Mixtures of light hydrocarbons characteristic of liquefied natural gas were boiled on a water surface and the rate of vaporization measured. Heat fluxes were significantly higher than measured for pure liquid methane even when mole fractions ethane, propane, or n-butane were under 0·01. As with pure methane, the rate of vaporization increased during the course of an experiment unless a continuous, thick ice layer formed. Initial liquid water temperatures ranged from 6 to 60°C and spills of LNG from 0·21 to 0·83 g/cm₂ were made. For mixtures of methane and heavier hydrocarbons, where the mole percent of the latter components was greater than 2 per cent, the water surface temperature rapidly dropped to the cryogen temperature, but little change in temperature was noted a few mm below the surface. No significant vapor superheat was noted. Ice formed readily at the interface and the increase in heat flux was explained by postulating a shift from film to nucleate boiling. The boiling mixtures often foamed and photographs taken at the interface revealed that very small vapor bubbles formed early in a run.     

Catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil by coordination complex at relatively low temperature

A series of Mannich base-transition metal coordination complex was synthesized and used for the catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil, among which we found that the Ni(II) complex is the most effective one. After reacted under a relative low temperature, 180°C, for 24 h, the viscosity of the heavy oil was decreased by 75.2% using 0.5 wt % Ni(II) complex. The results showed that the content of resin and asphaltenes was decreased, while the content of saturate and aromatic were increased after aquathermolysis reaction. Besides, the catalytic aquathermolysis could both decrease the viscosity of heavy oil, and reduce the content of heteroatoms, resulting in flow properties enhanced and the quality upgraded.     

Microstructure,Hardness, and Wear Assessment of Spark-Plasma-Sintered Ti-xAl-1Mo Alloy

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Alloys from the Ti-Al-Mo ternary system are of high importance in aerospace applications due to their excellent specific strength-to-density ratio,...