Improvement of window thermal performance using aerogel insulation film for building energy saving

In buildings, windows have a major influence on space heating demand and indoor environment both with respect to climate and daylight. To reduce the window coefficient of the overall heat transmission, we use aerogel. Aerogels have a high surface area, low density, open pore structure, and excellent insulation properties. We mixed pressure sensitive adhesive and aerogel (10, 15, and 20 mass%) using a homogenizer. A mixture of the adhesives and silica aerogels attached film can reduce thermal conductivity. Silica aerogels are characterized by a surface area analyzer (BET), a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, a thermogravimetry (TG) analyzer, and probe tack method. Thermal conductivity was measured by a TCi thermal conductivity analyzer.     

Differential regulation of the histone chaperone HIRA during muscle cell differentiation by a phosphorylation switch

Replication-independent incorporation of variant histone H3.3 has a profound impact on chromatin function and numerous cellular processes, including the differentiation of muscle cells. The histone chaperone HIRA and H3.3 have essential roles in MyoD regulation during myoblast differentiation. However, the precise mechanism that determines the onset of H3.3 deposition in response to differentiation signals is unclear. Here we show that HIRA is phosphorylated by Akt kinase, an important signaling modulator in muscle cells. By generating a phosphospecific antibody, we found that a significant amount of HIRA was phosphorylated in myoblasts. The phosphorylation level of HIRA and the occupancy of phosphorylated protein on muscle genes gradually decreased during cellular differentiation. Remarkably, the forced expression of the phosphomimic form of HIRA resulted in reduced H3.3 deposition and suppressed the activation of muscle genes in myotubes. Our data show that HIRA phosphorylation limits the expression of myogenic genes, while the dephosphorylation of HIRA is required for proficient H3.3 deposition and gene activation, demonstrating that the phosphorylation switch is exploited to modulate HIRA/H3.3-mediated muscle gene regulation during myogenesis.     

Thermal and evolved gas analyses of the oxidation of a cellulose/copper(II) oxide mixture

Cellulosic biomass is a promising alternative energy resource from the viewpoint of sustainability. The use of waste materials as cellulosic biomass could additionally contribute to a recycling society. It is thus essential to develop safer processes in order to expand utilization of cellulosic biomass as a useful resource in the future. For example, in some cases, construction wastes contain wood preservatives, including metal oxides that can act as catalysts for the oxidation of organic materials. Copper(II) oxide (CuO) is a major component in wood preservatives and is known to catalyze the oxidation of cellulose. There is, therefore, possibility for spontaneous ignition within large piles of wood chips from construction wastes. In this study, we focused on the thermal behavior of a cellulose/CuO mixture, measured using a Calvet-type heat flux calorimeter. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography were applied to analyze the oxidative decomposition gases of the cellulose/CuO mixture, and a reaction mechanism was proposed. It was revealed that CuO promotes the oxidative decomposition of cellulose and increases the quantity of the gases that evolved from cellulose with a catalytic cycle. The influence of CuO on oxidation of cellulose is greater at lower temperatures and spontaneous ignition, fires, and explosions are likely to increase when wood chips containing CuO are stored for long periods of time.     

Study of flame-retardant finishing of cellulose fibres: Organic–inorganic hybrid versus conventional organophosphonate

The aim of this study was to introduce a non-formaldehyde inorganic–organic hybrid sol–gel flame-retardant precursor (SiOP) containing phosphorous, nitrogen, and silicon and to compare its functional properties with those of the conventional formaldehyde-containing organic flame-retardant agent, organophosphonate (OP). SiOP was used at concentrations of 2%, 4%, and 8%, and OP was used at a concentration of 200 g/dm³. Both agents were applied to 100% cotton (CO) woven fabric by the pad-dry-cure method under the appropriate conditions. The presence of the SiOP and OP coatings on the CO fabric was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results of the vertical tests of flammability and the thermogravimetric analyses showed that the presence of the SiOP coating changed the thermal degradation pathway of the CO fabric and resulted in an increase in the thermo-oxidative stability of the cellulose fibres. The thermo-oxidative stability was enhanced by the addition of higher amount of dry solids. At comparable dry solids contents, OP preserved significantly greater flame retardancy and thermo-oxidative stability than did SiOP. These results indicated that the SiOP precursor could not act as an effective alternative to the OP agent in the flame-retardant protection of CO fabric.     

Malva sylvestris L. extract suppresses desferrioxamine‐induced PGE2 and PGD2 release in differentiated U937 cells: the development and validation of an LC‐MS/MS method for prostaglandin quantification

Malva sylvestris is a species used worldwide as an alternative to anti‐inflammatory therapies; however, its mechanism of action remains unknown. In this paper, the anti‐inflammatory effects of M. sylvestris alcoholic extracts were evaluated by measuring the pro‐inflammatory mediators PGE₂ and PGD₂ in desferrioxamine‐stimulated phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate‐differentiated U937 cells. An HPLC‐DAD fingerprint of the M. sylvestris extract was performed and caffeic acid, ferulic acid and scopoletin were identified and quantified. An HPLC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated to separate and measure the prostaglandins. The lower limits of detection (~0.5 ng/mL for PGE₂ and PGD₂) and quantification (1.0 ng/mL for PGE₂ and PGD₂) indicated that the method is highly sensitive. The calibration curves showed excellent coefficients of correlation (r > 0.99) over the range of 1.0–500.0 ng/mL, and at different levels, the accuracy ranged from 96.4 to 106.4% with an RSD < 10.0% for the precision study. This method was successfully applied using U937‐d cells. A significant dose‐dependent reduction of PGE₂ and PGD₂ levels occurred using 10 µg/mL (10.74 ± 2.86 and 9.60 ± 6.89%) and 50 µg/mL of extract (48.37 ± 3.24 and 53.06 ± 6.15%), suggesting that the anti‐inflammatory mechanisms evoked by M. sylvestris may be related to modulation of these mediators. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface properties of sensors based on aminophenol-polymerized film

In this work, carbon electrodes modified with aminophenols were developed for the production of pesticides biosensors based on acetylcholinesterase. The polymers were potentiodynamically deposited on a graphite electrode surface by the oxidation of monomers, 2-aminophenol, 3-aminophenol and 4-aminophenol. The electrochemical behaviour and surface analysis of the electrodes modified by polyaminophenols non-immobilized and immobilized on acetylcholinesterase were studied by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Roughness values obtained for graphite electrodes modified with poly(4-aminophenol) and poly(4-aminophenol)/acetylcholinesterase were 174 and 86 nm, respectively. The acetylcholinesterase enzyme was immobilized on a graphite and a graphite modified with poly(4-aminophenol), and these electrodes were coupled in the flow system. Potentiometric response due to hydrogen ions generated by an enzymatic system in the presence of acetylcholine chloride substrate was evaluated. The results showed that the graphite/poly(4-aminhophenol) sensor presents high sensitivity to hydrogen ions when compared with other graphite/polyaminophenols sensors. The biosensor coupled in a continuous flow system was employed for the detection of dichlorvos. The detection and quantification limits were 0.8 and 2.4 μmol L⁻¹ dichlorvos, respectively. This sensor reveals an efficient and promising material for biomolecules immobilization.