Electrospun microporous gelatin–polycaprolactone blend tubular scaffold as a potential vascular biomaterial

The work reported involved the fabrication of an electrospun tubular conduit of a gelatin and polycaprolactone (PCL) blend as an adventitia‐equivalent construct. Gelatin was included as the matrix for increased biocompatibility with the addition of PCL for durability. This is contrary to most of the literature available for biomaterials based on blends of gelatin and PCL where PCL is the major matrix. The work includes the assiduous selection of key electrospinning parameters to obtain smooth bead‐free fibres with a narrow distribution of pore size and fibre diameter. Few reports elucidate the optimization of all electrospinning parameters to fabricate tubular conduits with a focus on obtaining homogeneous pores and fibres. This stepwise investigation would be unique for the fabrication of gelatin–PCL electrospun tubular constructs. The fabricated microfibrous gelatin–PCL constructs had pores of size ca 50–100 μm reportedly conducive for cell infiltration. The measured value of surface roughness of 57.99 ± 17.4 nm is reported to be favourable for protein adhesion and cell adhesion. The elastic modulus was observed to be similar to that of the tunica adventitia of the native artery. Preliminary in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility tests suggest safe applicability as a biomaterial. Minimal cytotoxicity was observed using MTT assay. Subcutaneous implantation of the scaffold demonstrated acute inflammation which decreased by day 15. The findings of this study could enable the fabrication of smooth bead‐free microfibrous gelatin–PCL tubular construct as viable biomaterial which can be included in a bilayer or a trilayer scaffold for vascular tissue engineering. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

PETROLEUM POTENTIAL, THERMAL MATURITY AND THE OIL WINDOW OF OIL SHALES AND COALS IN CENOZOIC RIFT BASINS, CENTRAL AND NORTHERN THAILAND

Oil shales and coals occur in Cenozoic rift basins in central and northern Thailand. Thermally immature outcrops of these rocks may constitute analogues for source rocks which have generated oil in several of these rift basins. A total of 56 oil shale and coal samples were collected from eight different basins and analysed in detail in this study. The samples were analysed for their content of total organic carbon (TOC) and elemental composition. Source rock quality was determined by Rock‐Eval pyrolysis. Reflected light microscopy was used to analyse the organic matter (maceral) composition of the rocks, and the thermal maturity was determined by vitrinite reflectance (VR) measurements. In addition to the 56 samples, VR measurements were carried out in three wells from two oil‐producing basins and VR gradients were constructed. Rock‐Eval screening data from one of the wells is also presented. The oil shales were deposited in freshwater (to brackish) lakes with a high preservation potential (TOC contents up to 44.18 wt%). They contain abundant lamalginite and principally algal‐derived fluorescing amorphous organic matter followed by liptodetrinite and telalginite (Botryococcus‐type). Huminite may be present in subordinate amounts. The coals are completely dominated by huminite and were formed in freshwater mires. VR values from 0.38 to 0.47%R_o show that the exposed coals are thermally immature. VR values from the associated oil shales are suppressed by 0.11 to 0.28%R_o. The oil shales have H/C ratios >1.43, and Hydrogen Index (HI) values are generally >400 mg HC/g TOC and may reach 704 mg HC/ gTOC. In general, the coals have H/C ratios between about 0.80 and 0.90, and the HI values vary considerably from approximately 50 to 300 mg HC/gTOC. The HI_max of the coals, which represent the true source rock potential, range from ～160 to 310 mg HC/g TOC indicating a potential for oil/gas and oil generation. The steep VR curves from the oil‐producing basins reflect high geothermal gradients of ～62°C/km and ～92°C/km. The depth to the top oil window for the oil shales at a VR of ～0.70%R_o is determined to be between ～1100 m and 1800 m depending on the geothermal gradient. The kerogen composition of the oil shales and the high geothermal gradients result in narrow oil windows, possibly spanning only ～300 to 400 m in the warmest basins. The effective oil window of the coals is estimated to start from ～0.82 to 0.98%R_o and burial depths of ～1300 to 1400 m (～92°C/km) and ～2100 to 2300 m (～62°C/km) are necessary for efficient oil expulsion to occur.     

Potential of in-field and low temperature drying for reducing chlorophyll contents in canola (Brassica napus L)

The presence of green seeds in canola arises primarily from the common practice of swathing the crop prematurely in order to hasten the harvesting process and reduce the shattering losses. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of plant maturity, swathing and duration of swathing on moisture and chlorophyll contents of canola seeds (Brassica napus L cv Westar), and to determine the effect of canola conditioning with air at 25·C and 90% RH on chlorophyll content. A standing crop of canola with 50% to 10% (w/w) seed moisture content was sampled at regular intervals in two consecutive harvest years (1989 and 1990). Canola was also swathed at three different stages of maturity, and seeds were checked for chlorophyll at 2-3 day intervals and compared with chlorophyll contents of seed from standing crop. Samples were conditioned in a thin layer with air at 25·C and 90% RH for 24 h, and chlorophyll was determined before and after conditioning. The chlorophyll of seeds decreased exponentially with a decrease in moisture content. Conditioning canola seeds decreased chlorophyll content by an average of 16% (SD = ± 12%).     

轻质油中C1—C7轻烃的地球化学特征

作者对5个盆地18个轻质油样品作了C_1—C_7轻烃分析,检测出29种单体轻烃。通过轻烃组成特征研究,认识到石蜡指数(PI_1)和庚烷值(PI_2)作为成熟度的指标,不受沉积盆地类型影响;C_6,C_7烃类族组分受母质类型影响较大。陆相(含煤地层)有机质生成轻质芳烃(苯)的含量比海相有机质要高。新疆塔里木盆地沙参2井原油的轻烃分析资料表明,该井油源岩为海相沉积。     

镜质体反射率与砂岩孔隙度关系的研究与应用

利用有关孔隙度和有机质热成熟度的理论公式研究了二者之间的内在联系 ,建立起Ro与砂岩孔隙度之间的关系模型。用该模型对济阳坳陷沾化凹陷渤南洼陷沙河街组四段上亚段烃源层有机质的成熟度进行了估算 ,指出该烃源层有机质已达到成熟     

库车坳陷煤生物标志物组成随成熟度的变化特征

对塔里木盆地库车坳陷三叠系和侏罗系的11个岩心与露头煤样的地球化学分析表明，煤的生物标志物组成随演化程度的增加而有规律的变化：成熟早期（镜质组反射率Ro／1．0％）煤的生物标志物组成反映了沉积环境和生源的特征；成熟晚期（1．10％＜Ro＜1．30％）煤的生物标志物特征受成熟度的控制作用十分明显，生物标志物参数随Ro的增大而增加或减小；高－过成熟阶段（Ro＞1．30％)所有煤样的生物标志物组成已基本趋于一致，而且和湖相泥岩的生物标志物特征相似，该阶段的生物标志物参数不能用来进行油源对比。     

三塘湖盆地上古生界烃源岩镜质组反射率异常研究

镜质组反射率是评价有机质成熟度的重要指标 ,然而由于地质因素和测试技术的原因 ,镜质组反射率测量值常与预计值有一定的偏差。在三塘湖盆地上古生界烃源岩中 ,可以观察到镜质组反射率的局部增强和镜质组反射率的抑制。局部增强多分布在上二叠统的烃源岩中 ,主要与火山活动有关。这种反射率的增强在平面上分布广泛 ,但纵向上影响范围较小。反射率的抑制是在上古生界烃源岩含有较高含量的腐泥组分背景下产生的。用氢指数模板方法对抑制进行了校正 ,抑制的幅度最大可达 0 .3%     

Mathematical models of the VEGF receptor and its role in cancer therapy

We present an analysis of a stochastic model of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. This analysis addresses the contribution of ligand-binding-induced oligomerization, activation of src-homology 2 domain-carrying kinases and receptor internalization in the overall behaviour of the VEGF/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) system. The analysis is based upon a generalization of a Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) approximation of the solution of the corresponding master equation. We predict that tumour-mediated overexpression of VEGFRs in the endothelial cells (ECs) of tumour-engulfed vessels leads to an increased sensitivity of the ECs to low concentrations of VEGF, thus endowing the tumour with increased resistance to anti-angiogenic treatment.     

The effects of harvest maturity,ripeness and storage on kiwifruit aroma

Quantitative gas chromatographic analysis of the volatile aroma components has been used as an objective measure of the effects of maturity at harvest, ripeness and storage on the aroma volatiles of kiwifruit. Increasing ripeness is associated with a rapid increase in the levels of aroma volatiles, especially esters, while increasing storage time prior to ripening is accompanied by a decrease in the amount of aroma volatiles.