Volatile constituents of palm wine and palm sap

Palm wine and pasteurised palm sap volatiles were collected, concentrated on a Tenax GC and analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eighty-two components were identified: 47 esters, 9 alcohols, 5 acids, 6 carbonyls, 2 acetals, 4 terpenes and 9 hydrocarbons. These had all been found previously in conventional wines. Odour evaluation of the separated palm wine components as they eluted suggested that no one compound is responsible for the characteristic palm wine odour. The acetates of higher alcohols and the ethyl esters of straight-chain aliphatic C₆-C₁₀ acids seemed to be important and may play a big role in imparting the fruity nuances of characteristic palm wine odour. Their association with alcohols seemed also to be necessary for the expression of typical palm wine odour. The qualitative difference between palm sap aroma and palm wine aroma appeared to be due mainly to the presence of these esters and alcohols in palm wine and their apparent absence from palm sap, as well as to the presence of some low-boiling esters and alcohols in palm sap and their apparent absence from palm wine.     

The Pharmacology and Therapeutic Utility of Sodium Hydroselenide

Metabolically active gasotransmitters (nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide) are important signalling molecules that show therapeutic utility in oxidative pathologies. The reduced form of selenium, hydrogen selenide (HSe⁻/H₂Se), shares some characteristics with these molecules. The simple selenide salt, sodium hydroselenide (NaHSe) showed significant metabolic activity, dose-dependently decreasing ex vivo O₂ consumption (rat soleus muscle, liver) and transiently inhibiting mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (liver, heart). Pharmacological manipulation of selenoprotein expression in HepG2 human hepatocytes revealed that the oxidation status of selenium impacts on protein expression; reduced selenide (NaHSe) increased, whereas (oxidized) sodium selenite decreased the abundance of two ubiquitous selenoproteins. An inhibitor of endogenous sulfide production (DL-propargylglycine; PAG) also reduced selenoprotein expression; this was reversed by exogenous NaHSe, but not sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). NaHSe also conferred cytoprotection against an oxidative challenge (H₂O₂), and this was associated with an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential. Anesthetized Wistar rats receiving intravenous NaHSe exhibited significant bradycardia, metabolic acidosis and hyperlactataemia. In summary, NaHSe modulates metabolism by inhibition of cytochrome C oxidase. Modification of selenoprotein expression revealed the importance of oxidation status of selenium therapies, with implications for current clinical practice. The utility of NaHSe as a research tool and putative therapeutic is discussed.     

Toughening epoxy resins with polyepichlorohydrin

Polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) rubbers were found to toughen epoxy resins based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and cured with piperidine. The degree of toughening depends on the molecular weight of the PECH and on the curing temperature. Best toughening was achieved with PECH of the highest nominal molecular weight of 3400 (Hydrin 10 × 2). Hydrin 10 × 1 (nominal molecular weight 1700) did not toughen the epoxy resin unless bisphenol A was also added, whereas Hydrin 10 × 2 toughened it in the absence of bisphenol A. Curing resins containing bisphenol A and Hydrin 10 × 1 at 160°C resulted in a slightly more brittle resin than when cured at 120°C. The effect of PECH rubbers on the T_g, modulus, and hot/wet properties is similar to that of carboxy-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile rubbers (CTBN). Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of fractured surfaces show that the PECH separates as a discrete phase during curing. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Bench-scale continuous hydrogenation of Australian coals — study of iron catalysts and recycle solvent composition

The inter-relations between iron catalysts, recycle solvent composition and product yield and composition have been investigated in bench-scale (1–2 kg h^?1) continuous hydrogenation of Australian coals at process severity of 21–22 MPa at 400–430°C. Products and recycle solvent are recovered in batch distillation (atmospheric and vacuum) and the distillate solvent is returned to slurry feed without further treatment. Successive samples of recycle solvent are analysed by g.c.-m.s., i.r. and titrimetry. The effect of adding iron catalysts in the form of red mud - sulphur mixtures or compounds after a short period of continuous operation without catalyst is demonstrated. Distillate yields from black coals increase from 24–34 wt% daf under non-catalytic conditions to 35–53 wt% daf by adding iron catalysts. The composition of the almost equilibrated recycle solvent also changes and a new equilibrium is approached after the iron catalyst is added. The effect of solvent composition on distillate yield can not be determined from these data. The ratio of hydroaromatic components to hydroaromatic plus aromatic components in the solvent increases from ≈0.2 at non-catalytic equilibrium to ≈0.5–0.6 at catalysed equilibrium after adding iron. Other compositional parameters in the recycle solvent do not show any clear responses to the addition of iron. Equilibrium solvent composition under constant operating conditions is attained at ≈10 passes at 1 kg ^h?1 throughput with total system holdup of ≈20 kg. Paraffins for the Queensland subbituminous coal equilibrated at 18–24% in the solvent, phenolics at 16–21%, basic nitrogen at ≈0.4% (as N), and the balance a mixture of aromatics and hydroaromatics. The total aromatics neglecting phenolics in the equilibrium recycle solvent consists of ≈40–50% each of two-and three-ring and 5–10% four-ring members.     

Behavior, Analysis, and Design of an Instrumented Link Slab Bridge

Presented in this paper are the results of a research project on the monitoring and assessment of the first link slab jointless bridge in the state of North Carolina. The structure was instrumented with a remote data acquisition system and monitored for over a year. In addition, a controlled load test was conducted in an effort to determine the demand on the link slab under known loads. A procedure for the limit-states design of a link slab system is also presented. Results indicate that while the crack size in the link slab exceeded the design level, the link slab fulfilled its function. Furthermore, the rotational demand from the large controlled loads as well as the traffic loads was similar in magnitude to the thermal induced rotations due to the difference in temperature between the top and bottom of the bridge.     

Pseudomonas keratitis. The role of an uncharacterized exoprotein, protease IV, in corneal virulence

PURPOSE: The role of exoproteins in the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis was investigated in three animal models by assessing the relationship between corneal virulence and the activities of exotoxin A, elastase, alkaline protease, and an uncharacterized protease, protease IV. METHODS: The four Pseudomonal strains tested included a prototype strain (ATCC 27853) producing exotoxin A, elastase, and alkaline protease; a parent strain (PA103) producing only exotoxin A and protease IV; a mutant (PA103-29) producing only protease IV; and a mutant (PA103-AP1) producing exotoxin A and having only approximately 5% of the protease IV activity of its parent. Corneal virulence was evaluated in the mouse scratch, rabbit scratch, and rabbit intrastromal models in terms of clinical signs (slit lamp examination, slit lamp examination), and viable bacteria. RESULTS: Protease IV, the only protease produced by PA103 and PA103-29, was found to produce a unique band on zymograms (120 kDa) and to react distinctively with a synthetic substrate. Evidence for the role of protease IV in corneal virulence included two findings: PA103-29,which produced protease IV but not the other exoproteins, caused infections that were as severe as those caused by the prototype strain (ATCC 27853) in all three models (P>0.24); and PA103-AP1, the strain deficient in 95% of the parent protease IV activity, mediated infections characterized by slit lamp examination scores significantly lower than those of infections caused by the parent (PA103) or the prototype strain (ATCC 27853) in the rabbit and mouse scratch models (P<0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Protease IV was found to be a novel Pseudomonas protease contributing to corneal virulence in rabbits and mice when infections were initiated at the corneal surface. Furthermore, production of protease IV in low quantities was sufficient for virulence when the topical stages of keratitis were bypassed by an intrastromal injection of Pseudomonas.     

Effect of Copper on the Carrier Lifetime in Black Silicon

Black silicon is produced by laser annealing of a-Si:H films. During annealing, silicon microstructures are formed on the surface. We use time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy to study the photoconductivity dynamics in black silicon. We find that when a copper film is deposited on top of the a-Si:H layer prior to laser annealing, the carrier lifetime of black silicon is significantly reduced.