Cold preservation of isolated hepatocytes in UW solution: experimental studies on the respiratory activity at 0 degrees C

To date, little attention has been paid to the role of the gas milieu in preservation solutions and its effect on cell viability. Dissolved O2 in the preservation media may be an important parameter to consider. In this study we polarographically measured the O2 concentration in air-equilibrated UW solution at 0 degrees C, as well as the respiratory activity of isolated hepatocytes cold-preserved in this solution up to 72 hours. To perform measurements at 0 degrees C, it was first necessary to characterize the sensor behavior at low temperatures. We verified that the sensor response is still linear at this temperature but the rate of response is significantly slower. The O2 solubility in UW-air solution at 0 degrees C was determined using a modified physical method and it was 410 microM O2, which, as expected, is lower than the solubility in water at the same temperature (453 microM O2). Isolated hepatocytes cold-stored in UW-air solution retained a measurable respiratory activity during a period of 72 hours. The O2 consumption rate was 0.48 +/- 0.13 nmol/O2/min/10(6) cells, which represents 1% of the control value at 36 degrees C (61.46 +/- 14.61 nmol/O2/min/10(6) cells). The respiratory activity and cell viability were well maintained during the preservation period. At present, preservation conditions need to be improved for cells to remain functionally active. Dissolved O2 may be required for energy re-synthesis but it also leads to an increment in reactive oxygen species. The O2 concentration in the preservation solution should be carefully controlled, reaching a compromise between cell requirement and toxicity.     

Kinetics and dynamics of the NH3 + H → NH2 + H2 reaction using transition state methods, quasi-classical trajectories, and quantum-mechanical scattering

On a recent analytical potential energy surface developed by two of the authors, an exhaustive kinetics study, using variational transition state theory with multidimensional tunneling effect, and dynamics study, using both quasi-classical trajectory and full-dimensional quantum scattering methods, was carried out to understand the reactivity of the NH(3) + H → NH(2) + H(2) gas-phase reaction. Initial state-selected time-dependent wave packet calculations using a full-dimensional model were performed, where the total reaction probabilities were calculated for the initial ground vibrational state and for four excited vibrational states of ammonia. Thermal rate constants were calculated for the temperature range 200-2000 K using the three methods and compared with available experimental data. We found that (a) the total reaction probabilities are very small, (b) the symmetric and asymmetric N-H stretch excitations enhance the reactivity, (c) the quantum-mechanical calculated thermal rate constants are about one order of magnitude smaller than the transition state theory results, which reproduce the experimental evidence, and (d) quasi-classical trajectory calculations, which were performed with the main goal of analyzing the influence of the zero-point energy problem on the final dynamics results, reproduce the quantum scattering calculations on the same surface.     

Installation of amine moieties into a polycyclic anodic product derived from 2,4-dimethylphenol

When 2,4-dimethylphenol is anodically treated, a dehydrotetramer with four contiguous stereocentres is readily obtained on a multi-gram scale. The substitution of a 2,4-dimethyl-phenoxy fragment by several amines was demonstrated, and the best results were obtained with primary amines. Optically pure α-chiral aliphatic amines yield diastereomeric mixtures that can be separated in most cases. The basic amine causes a partial hemiketal-opening of the bisbenzofuran moiety leading to an equilibrium within an α,β-unsaturated cyclohexenone. This dynamic behaviour occurs on the time scale of NMR spectroscopy and is also found by X-ray analysis providing a consistent picture.     

A theoretical study of the reactivity of Cu2O(111) surfaces: the case of NO dissociation

We compare the electronic properties of Cu(111) and Cu(2)O(111) surfaces in relation to the dissociation of NO using first principles calculations within density functional theory. We note a well-defined three-fold site on both O- and Cu-terminated Cu(2)O surfaces which is verified as the active site for the adsorption and dissociation of NO. The interaction of Cu with O atoms results in the forward shifting of the local density of states and formation of unoccupied states above the Fermi level, compared to the fully occupied d band of pure Cu. These results give valuable insights in the realization of a catalyst without precious metal for the dissociation of NO.     

On Modeling Flow in Fractal Media form Fractional Continuum Mechanics and Fractal Geometry

In this work we present a model for radial flow in highly heterogenous porous media. Heterogeneity is modeled by means of fractal geometry, a heterogeneous medium is regarded as fractal if its Hausdorff dimension is non-integral. Our purpose is to present a derivation of the model consistent with continuum mechanics, capable to describe anomalous diffusion as observed in some naturally fractured reservoirs. Consequently, we introduce fractional mass and a generalized Gauss theorem to obtain a continuity equation in fractal media. A generalized Darcy law for flux completes the model. Then we develop the basic equation for Well test analysis as is applied in petroleum engineering. Finally, the equation is solved by Laplace transform and inverted numerically to illustrate anomalous diffusion. In this case by showing that the flow rate from fractal systems is smaller than that from the Euclidean system.     

Numerical and experimental investigation of a serpentine inlet duct

This article presents a numerical and experimental investigation of the flow inside an ultra-compact, serpentine inlet duct. The numerical analysis used two flow solvers: FLUENT®, a commercial code, and UNS3D, an in-house code. The flow was modelled using the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The turbulence effects were modelled by using the shear-stress transport k–ω model. The numerical investigation was compared against experimental data obtained in an open-circuit, low-speed wind tunnel in the Fluid Dynamics Laboratory at Texas A&M University. The numerical simulations and experimental testing were performed to reveal the separation points and the strong secondary flow phenomena within the inlet. UNS3D overpredicted the location of the first separation point by 9 mm and the location of the second separation point by 1 mm, while the area-averaged pressure loss coefficient was 5% higher than in the experiment. The numerical results of UNS3D agreed better with the experiment than those of FLUENT.     

On the effect of anisotropy on stellar models

The relevance of anisotropy in compact models is shown by the construction of a stellar model, this can influence the behavior of density, pressure and speed of sound in such grade that if the anisotropy disappear it could produce a regular model of perfect fluid which is not physically acceptable. The present anisotropic model has dependence in two parameters n associated with the anisotropy and w related with the rate of compactness \(u=GM/c^2R\), this is regular and physically acceptable. That is the speed of sound is positive and lower than the light speed, the density as well as radial and tangential pressure are monotonic decrescent functions. The compactness values for which the radial and tangential speed of sound are monotonic decrescent functions and the solution is potentially stable occurs for \(u\le 0.2073450586\), and in particular for the maximum value of u \(n\in [-0.771108398\), \(-0.231572621]\). While if \(n=1\) we get a model of perfect regular fluid but the density and speed of sound can not be both positive at the origin, so the solution is not physically acceptable in the absence of anisotropic pressures.