New methods for the determination of hydrogen content of aluminum and its alloys: Part II. Rapid determination by the nitrogen carrier fusion method

A method for determining hydrogen in steel by melting with nitrogen as a carrier gas was adapted for aluminum and its alloys. Dehydrogenationvs temperature was investigated in order to define an optimal sequence of operating conditions. The results obtained by the method were systematically compared to those given by the reference vacuum hot extraction method. The essential characteristics of this new method can be summarized as follows: 1) The detection limit is 0.02 ml/100 g (0.02 ppm H₂). 2) The method is valid for any alloy, even for those with high volatile constituent content such as Zn or Mg. 3) The bulk hydrogen content is not significantly different from that given by the vacuum hot extraction method. 4) “Surface” hydrogen could be eliminated by a thermal treatment at 400°C prior to melting. 5) Correlations appeared between changes in thermal and dehydrogenation curves, the last one representing a characteristic spectrum of the alloy studied. 6) A complete analysis requires 15 min instead of several hours for the hot extraction method. It is thus applicable in routine industrial work.     

Novel TTLL5 Variants Associated with Cone-Rod Dystrophy and Early-Onset Severe Retinal Dystrophy

Variants of the TTLL5 gene, which encodes tubulin tyrosine ligase-like family member five, are a rare cause of cone dystrophy (COD) or cone-rod dystrophy (CORD). To date, only a few TTLL5 patients have been clinically and genetically described. In this study, we report five patients harbouring biallelic variants of TTLL5. Four adult patients presented either COD or CORD with onset in the late teenage years. The youngest patient had a phenotype of early onset severe retinal dystrophy (EOSRD). Genetic analysis was performed by targeted next generation sequencing of gene panels and assessment of copy number variants (CNV). We identified eight variants, of which six were novel, including two large multiexon deletions in patients with COD or CORD, while the EOSRD patient harboured the novel homozygous p.(Trp640*) variant and three distinct USH2A variants, which might explain the observed rod involvement. Our study highlights the role of TTLL5 in COD/CORD and the importance of large deletions. These findings suggest that COD or CORD patients lacking variants in known genes may harbour CNVs to be discovered in TTLL5, previously undetected by classical sequencing methods. In addition, variable phenotypes in TTLL5-associated patients might be due to the presence of additional gene defects.     

Parameter identification and modeling of the biochemical methane potential of waste activated sludge

Anaerobic digestion is widely used in waste activated sludge treatment. In this paper, partial least-squares (PLS) is employed to identify the parameters that are determining the biochemical methane potential (BMP) of waste activated sludge. Moreover, a model is developed for the prediction of the BMP. A strong positive correlation is observed between the BMP and volatile fatty acids and carbohydrate concentrations in the sludge. A somewhat weaker correlation with COD is also present. Soluble organics (sCOD, soluble carbohydrates and soluble proteins) were shown not to influence the BMP in the observed region. This finding could be most-valuable in the context of application of sludge pretreatment methods. The obtained model was able to satisfactory predict the BMP.     

COD and AOX Removal and Biodegradability Assessment for Fenton and O3/UV Oxidation Processes: A Case Study from a Graphical Industry Wastewater

Due to process stability and excellent effluent quality, the use of membrane processes is rapidly expanding. However, a drawback is the production of concentrates and their proper disposal. In this study, reverse osmosis concentrate was treated by Fenton and O₃/UV oxidation processes. The concentrate contains halogenated compounds, recalcitrant COD and low biodegradability. The removal of halogenated compounds and the enhancement of biodegradability were examined. Comparing the investigated processes, Fenton oxidation resulted in a better mineralization of organic matter; however, O₃/UV oxidation achieved a better enhancement of the biodegradability. Furthermore, similar degradation of halogenated compounds were observed for both oxidation processes.     

New methods for the determination of hydrogen content of aluminum and its alloys: Part I. Improvements in the vacuum extraction method

The vacuum hot extraction method, first proposed by Ransley for the determination of hydrogen content of aluminum and its alloys, was systematically investigated to check if it could be considered as a reference procedure for the development of other methods directly applicable in routine work. For that, the use of an improved apparatus involving a mass spectrometer as gas detector and specimens intentionally charged with deuterium —a tracer whose properties are similar to those of hydrogen—permits the following conclusions: 1) The method is correct for any alloy, even for all the alloys with a high magnesium or zinc content, 2) The “getter effect” which could lead to inaccurate results does not occur, provided the pumping speed of the transfer pump exceeds the rate of outgassing from the sample, 3) The extraction from the solid phase seems to be complete, since results obtained in this condition are not significantly different from those obtained from melted samples. 4) The time required for an analytical determination (several hours) due essentially to the preliminary operations, cannot be practically reduced by extraction at higher temperature in the liquid state. The Ransley method can thus be considered as a reference method for checking other more practical methods.     

Janus Magnetic‐Plasmonic Nanoparticles for Magnetically Guided and Thermally Activated Cancer Therapy

Progress of thermal tumor therapies and their translation into clinical practice are limited by insufficient nanoparticle concentration to release therapeutic heating at the tumor site after systemic administration. Herein, the use of Janus magneto‐plasmonic nanoparticles, made of gold nanostars and iron oxide nanospheres, as efficient therapeutic nanoheaters whose on‐site delivery can be improved by magnetic targeting, is proposed. Single and combined magneto‐ and photo‐thermal heating properties of Janus nanoparticles render them as compelling heating elements, depending on the nanoparticle dose, magnetic lobe size, and milieu conditions. In cancer cells, a much more effective effect is observed for photothermia compared to magnetic hyperthermia, while combination of the two modalities into a magneto‐photothermal treatment results in a synergistic cytotoxic effect in vitro. The high potential of the Janus nanoparticles for magnetic guiding confirms them to be excellent nanostructures for in vivo magnetically enhanced photothermal therapy, leading to efficient tumor growth inhibition.     

Rheology of cellulose nanofibrils and silver nanowires for the development of screen-printed antibacterial surfaces

Journal of Materials Science - TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl)-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (T-CNF) and silver nanowires (Ag NWs) were formulated as active inks. Their rheological...     

Comparison of Different Oxidation Methods for Recalcitrance Removal of Landfill Leachate

In this work several oxidation methods, such as conventional ozonation, O₃/UV, O₃/UV/ferrous iron and Fenton oxidation, for the removal of recalcitrant organic matter present in landfill leachates are evaluated. The samples of the leachate are taken after a biological treatment and membrane ultra-filtration (UF). The contribution of the UV radiation and the effect of ferrous iron ions on the ozone process efficiency is discussed. At lower ozone dosages, the partial oxidation efficiency is reduced as compared to conventional ozonation and therefore, a higher degree of mineralization of the organic matter is achieved. Finally, the best results are obtained by the Fenton oxidation, however, based on economic considerations this method is not recommended.