Anti-wear beam effects on gas–solid hydrodynamics in a circulating fluidized bed

Anti-wear beams installed on water walls of circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers are one of the most effective ways to protect against water-wall erosion. Beam effects from, for example, beam size and superficial gas velocity were investigated on gas–solid hydrodynamics in a CFB test rig using CFD simulations and experimental methods. The downward flow of the wall layer solids is observed to be disrupted by the beam but is then restored some distance further downstream. When falling solids from the wall layer hit the anti-wear beam, the velocity of the falling solids decreases rapidly. A fraction of the solids accumulates on the beam. Below the beams, the falling solids have reduced velocities but upward-moving solids were observed on the wall. The effect of the beam increases with width and superficial gas velocity. Wear occurs mainly above the beam and its variation with width is different above to below the beam. There is an optimum width that, when combined with beam height, results in less erosion.     

Mechanism of Insertion Reactions between Silylenoid H2SiLiF and GeH3R (R =F,OH, NH2): a Theoretical Study

Theoretical investigations on the insertion reaction mechanisms of three- membered-ring silylenoid H2 Si Li F with GeH 3R(R = F, OH, NH2) have been systematically carried out by combined density functional theory(DFT) and ab initio quantum chemical calculations. The geometries of all stationary points for these reactions were optimized using the B3 LYP method and then the QCISD method was used to calculate the single-point energies. The calculated results indicate that, there are one precursor complex(Q), one transition state(TS), and one intermediate(IM) which connect the reactants and the products along the potential energy surface. The insertion reactions of three-membered-ring silylenoid with Ge H3 R proceed in a concerted manner, forming H2RSi-Ge H3 and Li F. The calculated potential energy barriers of the three reactions are 29.17, 30.90, and 54.07 k J/mol, and the reaction energies for the three reactions are –127.05, –116.91, and –103.31 k J/mol, respectively. The insertion reactions in solvents are similar to those in vacuum. Under the same situation, the insertion reactions should occur easily in the following order: GeH 3-F GeH 3-OH GeH 3-NH2. The elucidations of the mechanism of these insertion reactions provided a new mode of silicon-germanium bond formation.     

Doxorubicin Encapsulation in Carbon Nanotubes Having Haeckelite or Stone–Wales Defects as Drug Carriers: A Molecular Dynamics Approach

Doxorubicin (DOX), a recognized anticancer drug, forms stable associations with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNTs when properly functionalized have the ability to anchor directly in cancerous tumors where the release of the drug occurs thanks to the tumor slightly acidic pH. Herein, we study the armchair and zigzag CNTs with Stone–Wales (SW) defects to rank their ability to encapsulate DOX by determining the DOX-CNT binding free energies using the MM/PBSA and MM/GBSA methods implemented in AMBER16. We investigate also the chiral CNTs with haeckelite defects. Each haeckelite defect consists of a pair of square and octagonal rings. The armchair and zigzag CNT with SW defects and chiral nanotubes with haeckelite defects predict DOX-CNT interactions that depend on the length of the nanotube, the number of present defects and nitrogen doping. Chiral nanotubes having two haeckelite defects reveal a clear dependence on the nitrogen content with DOX-CNT interaction forces decreasing in the order 0N > 4N > 8N. These results contribute to a further understanding of drug-nanotube interactions and to the design of new drug delivery systems based on CNTs.     

Anti-Cancer Effects of Carnosine—A Dipeptide Molecule

Background: Carnosine is a dipeptide molecule (β-alanyl-l-histidine) with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-glycation, and chelating properties. It is used in exercise physiology as a food supplement to increase performance; however, in vitro evidence suggests that carnosine may exhibit anti-cancer properties. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effect of carnosine on breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation. We further examined U937 promonocytic, human myeloid leukemia cell phenotype, gene expression, and cytokine secretion to determine if these are linked to carnosine’s anti-proliferative properties. Results: Carnosine (1) inhibits breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation; (2) upregulates expression of pro-inflammatory molecules; (3) modulates cytokine secretion; and (4) alters U937 differentiation and phenotype. Conclusion: These effects may have implications for a role for carnosine in anti-cancer therapy.     

Redox- and protonation-state driven substrate-protein dynamics in respiratory complex I

Respiratory complex I is a key enzyme in the electron transport chains of mitochondria and bacteria. It transfers two electrons to quinone and couples this redox reaction to proton pumping to electrically charge the membrane it is embedded in. The charge and pH gradient across the membrane drives the synthesis of ATP. The redox reaction and proton pumping in complex I are separated in space and time, which raises the question of how the two reactions are coupled so efficiently. Here, we focus on the unique ～35 Å long tunnel of complex I, which houses the binding site of quinone reduction. We discuss the redox and protonation reactions that occur in this tunnel and how they influence the dynamics of protein and substrate. On the basis of recent structural data and results from molecular simulations, we review how quinone reduction and dynamics may be coupled to proton pumping in complex I.     

Understanding cathode materials in aqueous zinc–organic batteries

Organic electrode materials (OEMs) are being investigated as promising candidates for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to their environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and structural diversity, and tunability. Understanding the correlation between structural regulation of OEMs and their electrochemical property in AZIBs is vital to rational design of OEMs. Herein, we first discuss the fundamentals of the energy storage mechanism of OEMs. Then, strategies to improve the electrochemical performance, including the specific capacity, voltage, rate capability, and cycling stability, are elaborated from the perspective of molecular engineering. Finally, we share our views on the remaining challenges and prospects of OEMs in AZIBs.     

Stabilization of a viscoelastic rotating Euler‐Bernoulli beam

In this paper, we consider a rotating Euler‐Bernoulli beam. The beam is made of a viscoelastic material, and it is subject to undesirable vibrations. Under a suitable control torque applied at the motor, we prove the arbitrary stabilization of the system for a large class of relaxation functions by using the multiplier method and some ideas introduced by Tatar (J. Math. Phys. 52:013502, 2011).     

A review of bioanalytical methods for chronic lymphocytic leukemia drugs and metabolites in biological matrices

Quantitation of drugs used for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in various biological matrices during both pre-clinical and clinical developments is very important, often in routine therapeutic drug monitoring. The first developed methods for quantitation were traditionally done on LC in combination with either UV or fluorescence detection. However, the emergence of LC with mass spectrometry in tandem in early 1990s has revolutionized the quantitation as it has provided better sensitivity and selectivity within a shorter run time; therefore it has become the choice of method for the analysis of various drugs. In this article, an overview of various bioanalytical methods (HPLC or LC–MS/MS) for the quantification of drugs for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, along with applicability of these methods, is given.