Lectin-based electrophoretic analysis of the expression of the 35 kDa inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 fragment in sera of patients with five different malignancies

A 35 kDa glycoprotein whose abundance was previously demonstrated to be enhanced in sera of patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma (n = 12), was isolated from pooled sera of three of the cancer patients using champedak galactose-binding lectin affinity chromatography in the present study. Subjecting it to 2-DE and MS/MS, the glycoprotein was identified as the O-glycosylated fragment of inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4 (ITIH4). When compared to control sera (n = 17), expression of the 35 kDa ITIH4 cleavage fragment was demonstrated to be significantly enhanced in sera of patients with breast carcinoma (n = 10), epithelial ovarian carcinoma (n = 10), and germ cell ovarian carcinoma (n = 10) but not in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (n = 13) and osteosarcoma (n = 7). The lectin-based electrophoretic bioanalytical method adopted in the present study may be used to assess the physiological relevance of ITIH4 fragmentation and its correlation with different malignancies, their stages and progression.     

Reactive kinetics of carbon dioxide loaded aqueous blend of 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol and piperazine using a pressure drop method

In this study, a new pressure drop method has been used to investigate the kinetics of carbon dioxide reaction with aqueous blend of 2-amino-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol (AEPD) with piperazine (PZ). The blending of a small amount of PZ with AEPD has a significant effect on the observed rate constant, k_obs. It was observed that k_obs values of the blend increased more than twice than the summation of k_obs values of individual alkanolamines. The reaction kinetics in this study were modeled by assuming a termolecular mechanism. The addition of 0.1 mol/L of PZ to 1 mol/L AEPD exhibited an observed rate constant, k_obs of 8824.1 s⁻¹, which is comparable to other alkanolamine mixtures. Hence, PZ/AEPD mixtures can be potentially used for rapid carbon dioxide capture.     

Thermophysical properties of 1-alkylpyridinum bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquids

The thermophysical properties of 1-alkylpyridinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C_npy][Tf₂N] ionic liquids where n = 4, 8, 10, or 12 have been determined. Density ρ, and dynamic viscosity η, were determined at T = (293.15 to 353.15) K and refractive index n_D, was measured at T = (293.15 to 333.15) K. Empirical correlations are proposed to represent the present experimental results. The values of the coefficient of thermal expansion were calculated from the experimental density values. The thermal decomposition temperature, T_d was also determined using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) at a heating rate of (10 and 20) K · min^?1.     

Elucidation of the Roles of Ionic Liquid in CO2 Electrochemical Reduction to Value-Added Chemicals and Fuels

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂ER) is amongst one the most promising technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions since carbon dioxide (CO₂) can be converted to value-added products. Moreover, the possibility of using a renewable source of energy makes this process environmentally compelling. CO₂ER in ionic liquids (ILs) has recently attracted attention due to its unique properties in reducing overpotential and raising faradaic efficiency. The current literature on CO₂ER mainly reports on the effect of structures, physical and chemical interactions, acidity, and the electrode–electrolyte interface region on the reaction mechanism. However, in this work, new insights are presented for the CO₂ER reaction mechanism that are based on the molecular interactions of the ILs and their physicochemical properties. This new insight will open possibilities for the utilization of new types of ionic liquids. Additionally, the roles of anions, cations, and the electrodes in the CO₂ER reactions are also reviewed.     

Physical properties of aqueous solutions of potassium <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-prolinate from 298.15 to 343.15 K at atmospheric pressure

In this paper, experimental physical properties such as density, refractive index, and viscosity of aqueous potassium l-prolinate (KPr) as a solvent for CO₂ capture were investigated. Different concentrations of aqueous KPr in terms of mass fractions (0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, and 0.40) were studied over a temperature range 298.15–343.15 K. The obtained results showed that all physical properties increase with increasing the concentration of the solution (isothermally), and decrease as the solution temperature rises for any given concentration. The experimental data of density, refractive index, and viscosity were correlated using empirical correlations as a function of both, temperature and concentration. Coefficient of thermal expansion and activation energy were calculated from the experimental density and viscosity data, respectively, in the same temperature range. Thermal expansion coefficient slightly increases with increase in the temperature and concentration, while activation energy increases with the rise in concentration of amino acid salt.     

Experimental Investigation on Thermophysical Properties of Ammonium-Based Protic Ionic Liquids and Their Potential Ability towards CO2 Capture

Ionic liquids, which are extensively known as low-melting-point salts, have received significant attention as the promising solvent for CO₂ capture. This work presents the synthesis, thermophysical properties and the CO₂ absorption of a series of ammonium cations coupled with carboxylate anions producing ammonium-based protic ionic liquids (PILs), namely 2-ethylhexylammonium pentanoate ([EHA][C5]), 2-ethylhexylammonium hexanoate ([EHA][C6]), 2-ethylhexylammonium heptanoate ([EHA][C7]), bis-(2-ethylhexyl)ammonium pentanoate ([BEHA][C5]), bis-(2-ethylhexyl)ammonium hexanoate ([BEHA][C6]) and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)ammonium heptanoate ([BEHA][C7]). The chemical structures of the PILs were confirmed by using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy while the density (ρ) and the dynamic viscosity (η) of the PILs were determined and analyzed in a range from 293.15K up to 363.15K. The refractive index (n_D) was also measured at T = (293.15 to 333.15) K. Thermal analyses conducted via a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) indicated that all PILs have the thermal decomposition temperature, T_d of greater than 416K and the presence of glass transition, T_g was detected in each PIL. The CO₂ absorption of the PILs was studied up to 29 bar at 298.15 K and the experimental results showed that [BEHA][C7] had the highest CO₂ absorption with 0.78 mol at 29 bar. The CO₂ absorption values increase in the order of [C5] < [C6] < [C7] anion regardless of the nature of the cation.     

Finite perturbation theory-density functional theory calculation of the spin-dipolar contribution to NMR spin-spin coupling constants

In this work an implementation of the FPT-DFT approach for calculating the spin-dipolar contribution to NMR spin-spin coupling constants is presented. This method was tested in a set of small molecules, giving results in excellent agreement when comparing them with values taken from the literature, which were obtained with state-of-the-art calculations. To obtain an insight into the relative importance of the spin-dipolar contribution in unsaturated compounds, calculations of J(F,C), J(F,F) and J(F,H) couplings in 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-difluorobenzenes were performed. An important spin-dipolar contribution to ³ J(F, F) and ⁵ J(F,F) was found, suggesting that this term might be important in some cases. When performing DFT calculations the non-singlet instabilities usually found in unsaturated compounds are overcome.     

Characterization and microstructural studies of LiFe5O8 synthesized by the self propagating high temperature combustion method

LiFe₅O₈ was synthesized by the self-propagating high temperature combustion synthesis using lithium acetate and iron acetate as starting materials and glycine as reductant. The reaction was rapid when the ignition temperature was reached and the product was a light and porous mass of solid material. Analysis using X-Ray powder diffraction and SEM revealed the amorphous nature of the LiFe₅O₈ precursor material. From particle size analysis, the precursor material was much less than 100 nm, but increased upon annealing at 650 °C and 900 °C. Paper presented at the International Conference on Functional Materials and Devices 2005, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 6 – 8, 2005.     

Optimized LiVOPO4 for cathodes in Li-ion rechargeable batteries

Improvement of the rate properties of orthorhombic LiVOPO₄ by using a milling approach and acetylene black additives as electronic binder is investigated. The average particle size of orthorhombic LiVOPO₄ was reduced from 12.0 μm to 6.1 μm by milling process by which the Li intercalation capacity into LiVOPO₄ increased to 40 mAhg⁻¹ at 0.4 mAcm⁻² (C/5). At an optimized acetylene black amount of 15 wt.%, a better uniformity in particle size distribution and dispersion of the current distribution was obtained. Thus, enhancing the kinetic performance a fairly large reversible intercalation capacity of Li was achieved with values of 100 and 60 mAhg⁻¹ at high rate conditions of C/5 (0.4 mAcm⁻²) and 1C (2 mAcm⁻²), respectively. Paper presented at the International Conference on Functional Materials and Devices 2005, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 6 – 8, 2005.     

Dissolution and Delignification of Bamboo Biomass Using Amino Acid-Based Ionic Liquid

In the present work, the dissolution of bamboo biomass was tested using a number of ionic liquids synthesized in laboratory. It was observed that one of the synthesized amino acid-based ionic liquids, namely 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium glycinate, was capable of dissolving the biomass completely. The dissolved biomass was then regenerated using a reconstitute solvent (acetone/water) and was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The results were compared to preconditioned bamboo biomass. The regenerated biomass was found to have a more homogenous macrostructure, which indicates that the crystalline form and structure of its cellulose has changed from type Ι to type ΙΙ during the dissolution and regeneration process.