Kinetics of the total oxidation of para-xylene and its mixtures with carbon monoxide over supported copper catalysts

The kinetics of the total oxidation of para-xylene and its mixtures with CO over alumina-supported copper catalysts has been investigated at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range from 200 to 270°C. The reactions over the catalysts 10%CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ and (10%CuO + 20%CeO₂)/γ-Al₂O₃ obey the same kinetic equations in fractional rational form. These equations imply that the reactions occur at medium surface coverages of adsorbed substances and differ only in numerical values of constants. The simultaneous oxidation of para-xylene and CO reveals a complicated mutual influence associated with the formation of new intermediates inducing a change in the kinetics of the process.     

S100A9 in adult asthmatic patients: a biomarker for neutrophilic asthma

The biomarkers and therapeutic targets of neutrophilic asthma (NA) are poorly understood. Although S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9) has been shown to correlate with neutrophil activation, its role in asthma pathogenesis has not been clarified. This study investigated the mechanism by which S100A9 is involved in neutrophil activation, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-induced airway inflammation, and macrophage polarization in NA. The S100A9 levels (by ELISA) in sera/culture supernatant of peripheral blood neutrophils (PBNs) and M0 macrophages from asthmatic patients were measured and compared to those of healthy controls (HCs). The function of S100A9 was evaluated using airway epithelial cells (AECs) and PBNs/M0 macrophages from asthmatic patients, as well as a mouse asthma model. The serum levels of S100A9 were higher in NA patients than in non-NA patients, and there was a positive correlation between serum S100A9 levels and sputum neutrophil counts (r = 0.340, P = 0.005). Asthmatic patients with higher S100A9 levels had lower PC₂₀ methacholine values and a higher prevalence of severe asthma (SA) (P < .050). PBNs/M0 macrophages from SA released more S100A9 than those from non-SA patients. PBNs from asthmatic patients induced S100A9 production by AECs, which further activated AECs via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, stimulated NET formation, and induced M1 macrophage polarization. Higher S100A9 levels in sera, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissues were observed in the mouse model of NA but not in the other mouse models. These results suggest that S100A9 is a potential serum biomarker and therapeutic target for NA.Subject terms: Prognostic markers, Adaptive immunity, Immunological disorders, Diagnostic markers     

Kinetics of carbon monoxide methanation on nickel catalysts

The kinetics of CO methanation in excess H₂ on CaO- and CeO₂-doped nickel catalysts supported on Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ was studied at atmospheric pressure in a temperature range of 180–240°C. It was found that the same rational fractional rate equation corresponding to the reaction taking place at high surface coverages, is valid for all of the catalysts. The activity of nickel catalysts in the methanation reaction and their adsorption capacity with respect to reaction mixture components depend on the nature of the support and dopants.     

A one-pot synthesis and functionalization of polyynes

[reaction: see text] A one-pot synthesis and derivatization of diynes and triynes is reported. The polyyne framework is formed from a dibromoolefin precursor based on a carbenoid rearrangement, and the resulting Li-acetylide is then trapped in situ with an electrophile to provide functionalized di- and triynes. Alternatively, transmetalation of the Li-acetylide intermediate provides either the Zn- or Sn-acetylide, which then allows for the divergent preparation of diaryl polyynes or aryl ynones via palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions.     

Extraction of hydrocarbons from seaweed samples using sonication and microwave-assisted extraction: a comparative study

A sonication method is compared with a microwave-assisted extraction method for recovering polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aliphatic hydrocarbons from seaweed and acid humic samples. Different extracting solvents and adsorbents for the purification step are tested. For the sonication extraction, 10 g of the sample are extracted in an ultrasonic bath (60 degrees C for 15 min with 20 mL of hexane). For the microwave-assisted extraction two steps are carried out, each step at 90 degrees C under pressure in closed vessels with 20 mL of hexane for 10 min at 950 W. A clean-up step is performed for both extraction techniques. The results indicate that the recovery of hydrocarbons is dependent on both the extraction technique and the type of matrix. The most suitable technique appears to be sonication employing hexane as the extraction solvent. The recoveries obtained for aliphatic hydrocarbons are higher than those achieved for the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, with values ranging within 81-109% and 40-76%, respectively.     

The quality of pH measurements 100 years after its definition

Analytical chemistry is a scientific discipline based on the search of qualitative and quantitative information embodied in unknown samples which are representative of targeted systems. A. Lavoisier measured masses, S. Arrhenius discovered ions, namely hydrogen ions, S. Sørensen introduced pH and the chemical community has been dealing abundantly with them, first in the frame of classical analysis and later by means of instrumental methods of analysis responsible for large amount of data. Although statistical treatment of measurement results became part of the procedures, it took a few decades of thinking and globalization of the economy to realize that more was needed for the sake of evidence of quality; and this was found in the bases of the science of measurement and on the metrological approach. At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the most measured chemical parameter, pH, set the example of such hierarchical targeting of measurement results fit for a certain purpose, which is worth noticing particularly because 100 years have elapsed since its first definition and initial recommendation of the measurement procedure.     

A dielectrophoresis-based platform of cancerous cell capture using aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles in a microfluidic channel

In this paper, a microfluidic chip for the manipulation and capture of cancer cells was introduced, in which the combination of dielectrophoresis (DEP) and a binding method based on chemical interactions by using cell-specific aptamers was performed to enhance the capture strength and specificity. The device has been simply constructed from a straight-channel PDMS placed on a glass substrate that has patterned electrode structures and a self-assembled monolayer of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The target cells were transported to the manipulation area by flow and attracted down to the region between the electrodes under the influence of positive DEP force. This approach facilitated subsequent selective capture by the modified aptamers on the AuNPs. The distribution of the electric field in the channel has also been simulated to clarify the DEP operation. As a result, the device has been shown to effectively capture target lung cancer cells with a concentration as low as $2\times {10}^4$cells/mL. The capture specificity in a sample of mixed cells is up to 80.4%. This technique has the potential to be applied to detection methods for many types of cancer.     

The superconducting fluctuation optical conductivity of iron-based superconductors

The European Physical Journal B - The physical properties of a quantum many-body system can, in principle, be determined by diagonalizing the respective Hamiltonian, but the dimensions of its...