Flocculation Properties of Some Cationic Polysaccharides

Flocculation of a clay suspension model using some cationic polysaccharides has been studied by turbidity measurements. The investigated polyelectrolytes contain quaternary ammonium salt groups, N-ethyl-N, N-dimethyl-2-hydroxypropylene ammonium chloride, attached to a dextran backbone. The flocculation efficiency was studied as a function of the polycation charge density and some flocculation parameters (polycation dose, settling time, concentration of both clay suspension and parent solution of polymer). All investigated cationic polysaccharides showed high flocculating efficiency at optimum flocculant doses, which correlated well with the charge density of the polycations: the higher charge density, the lower the amount of dextran derivative was required for reaching the maximum clarity degree (of about 100%). This finding is consistent with the neutralization mechanism for a flocculation process. The residual turbidity values also varied with the settling time and the concentrations of clay suspension and parent solution of polymer. Possible reasons for these dependences are discussed.     

Rheological Behavior of Some Cationic Polyelectrolytes

The rheological behavior of some cationic polyelectrolytes in aqueous solution is presented. The polyelectrolytes under study consist of polycations that have positive charges (N,N-dimethyl-2-hydroxypropylenammonium chloride) located along the main chain with or without nonpolar side chains (PCA₅D₁ and PCA₅, respectively). This investigation mainly considers the influence of oscillation frequency and temperature on their rheological behavior in salt-free aqueous solution at three polymer concentrations (c_p = 2%, 4%, and 6%) as well as in the presence of low molar mass salt (NaCl). The results indicate the main effect of these parameters was to modify the hydrophobic interactions between the side nonpolar groups of the modified polyelectrolyte. The comparison between the complex viscosity values, at the same polymer concentration, c_p = 4%, for PCA₅D₁ and PCA₅ shows higher values in the whole interval of temperatures under study and a pseudoplastic behavior at temperatures greater than 50°C for the former system.     

A minimum principle for a soap film problem in {\mathbb{R}^{2}}

In this note, we investigate the problem of a thin extensible film (a soap film), under the influence of gravity and surface tension, supported by the contour of a given strictly convex smooth domain Ω. Our main result is a minimum principle for an appropriate combination of u(x) and ${\left\vert \nabla u\left( \mathbf{x}\right) \right\vert }$ , that is, a kind of P-function in the sense of Payne (see the book of Sperb in Maximum Principles and Their Applications. Academic Press, New York, 1981), where u(x) is the solution of our problem. As an application of this minimum principle, we obtain some a priori estimates for the surface represented by the thin extensible film, in terms of the curvature of ${\partial \Omega}$ . The proofs make use of Hopf’s maximum principles, some topological arguments regarding the local behavior of analytic functions and some computations in normal coordinates with respect to the boundary ${\partial \Omega }$ .     

Monitoring the Air Influence on Cement–Lime Mortar Hydration Using Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry

In the present study, we investigate the relationship between the nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation rate and the hydration time in two types of masonry cement-lime mortar. The studies are performed with the mortars both in an enclosed and a standard atmosphere to monitor the air influence on cement-lime mortar hydration and setting. The constituents of the investigated mortar samples are: cement, slaked lime, sand and water. They were mixed to achieve a flow spread of 10?cm. These types of mortars are usually suitable for historical masonry maintenance, but they can also be used for modern buildings, or even for concrete structures coatings to prevent concrete carbonation. All nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation experiments were performed at 20?°C using a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance instrument operable at 20?MHz proton resonance frequency. A slowing down of the hydration kinetics is demonstrated for the samples kept in closed atmosphere conditions. The results contribute to the understanding of cement–lime mortar hydration, carbonation and setting under closed atmosphere conditions.     

Time-resolved velocity and concentration measurements in variable-viscosity turbulent jet flow

This paper addresses the ability to reliably measure the fluctuating velocity field in variable-viscosity flows (herein, a propane–air mixture), using hot-wire anemometry. Because the latter is sensitive to both velocity and concentration fluctuations, the instantaneous concentration field also needs to be inferred experimentally. To overcome this difficulty, we show that the hot-wire response becomes insensitive to the concentration of the field, when a small amount of neon is added to the air. In this way, velocity measurements can be made independently of the concentration field. Although not necessary to velocity measurements, Rayleigh light-scattering technique is also used to infer the local (fluctuating) concentration, and, therefore, the viscosity of the fluid. Velocity and concentration measurements are performed in a turbulent propane jet discharging into an air–neon co-flow, for which the density and viscosity ratios are 1.52 and 1/5.5, respectively. The Reynolds number (based on injection diameter and velocity) is 15400. These measurements are first validated: the axial decay of the mean velocity and concentration, as well as the lateral mean and RMS profiles of velocity and concentration, is in full agreement with the existing literature. The variable-viscosity flow along the axis of the round jet is then characterized and compared with a turbulent air jet discharging into still air, for which the Reynolds number (based on injection diameter and velocity) is 5400. Both flows have the same initial jet momentum. As mixing with the viscous co-flow is enhanced with increasing downstream position, the viscosity of the fluid increases rapidly for the case of the propane jet. In comparison with the air jet, the propane jet exhibits: (1) a lower local Reynolds number based on the Taylor microscale (by a factor of four); (2) a reduced range of scales present in the flow; (3) the isotropic form of the mean energy dissipation rate is first more enhanced and then drastically diminishes and (4) a progressively increasing local Schmidt number (from 1.36 to 7.5) for increasing downstream positions. Therefore, the scalar spectra exhibit an increasingly prominent Batchelor regime with a ~ k ^?1 scaling law. The experimental technique developed herein provides a reliable method for the study of variable-viscosity flows.     

New insight in the structural features of haloadaptation in α-amylases from halophilic Archaea following homology modeling strategy: folded and stable conformation maintained through low hydrophobicity and highly negative charged surface

Proteins from halophilic archaea, which live in extreme saline conditions, have evolved to remain folded, active and stable at very high ionic strengths. Understanding the mechanism of haloadaptation is the first step toward engineering of halostable biomolecules. Amylases are one of the main enzymes used in industry. Yet, no three-dimensional structure has been experimentally resolved for α-amylases from halophilic archaea. In this study, homology structure modeling of α-amylases from the halophilic archaea Haloarcula marismortui, Haloarcula hispanica, and Halalkalicoccus jeotgali were performed. The resulting models were subjected to energy minimization, evaluation, and structural analysis. Calculations of the amino acid composition, salt bridges and hydrophobic interactions were also performed and compared to a set of non-halophilic counterparts. It clearly appeared that haloarchaeal α-amylases exhibited lower propensities for helix formation and higher propensities for coil-forming regions. Furthermore, they could maintain a folded and stable conformation in high salt concentration through highly negative charged surface with over representation of acidic residues, especially Asp, and low hydrophobicity with increase of salt bridges and decrease in hydrophobic interactions on the protein surface. This study sheds some light on the stability of α-amylases from halophilic archaea and provides strong basis not only to understand haloadaptation mechanisms of proteins in microorganisms from hypersalines environments but also for biotechnological applications.     

Oligosaccharide characterizations by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Fragmentation study in relation to the substituent at the reducing end

A systematic investigation of oligosaccharides (cello-oligosaccharides, malto-oligosaccharides, their corresponding alditols and methylmaltosides) was undertaken using fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. Experimental conditions were defined in order to obtain characteristic fragmentation in relation to the structure of the oligomers. The role of substituents at the reducing end in the fragmentation process was demonstrated.     

Determination of thermodynamic parameters of Xerocomus chrysenteron lectin interactions with N-acetylgalactosamine and Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen by isothermal titration calorimetry

Background  

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins which potentially bind to cell surface glycoconjugates. They are found in various organisms including fungi. A lectin from the mushroom Xerocomus chrysenteron (XCL) has been isolated recently. It shows insecticidal activity and has antiproliferative properties.