Sorption kinetics for the removal of aldehydes from aqueous streams with extractant impregnated resins

The sorption kinetics for the removal aldehydes from aqueous solutions with Amberlite XAD-16 and MPP particles impregnated with Primene JM-T was investigated. A model, accounting for the simultaneous mass transfer and chemical reaction, is developed to describe the process. It is based on the analogy to the diffusion and reaction in a stagnant liquid sphere, but corrected for the porosity and particle properties influencing the diffusion. The developed model describes the kinetic behavior of the process in the low concentration region rather well. However, in the high concentration region, larger discrepancies are observed. Initially, the influence of the flow rate was investigated to eliminate the effect of the external mass transfer. The influence of the particle morphology was investigated for both physical and reactive sorption. Physical sorption experiments were used to determine the factor τ that takes the particle properties influencing the diffusion into account. It was shown that the diffusion is faster in XAD-16 than in MPP impregnated systems. Reaction rate constant kx was determined by fitting the model to the experimental data. Sorption of benzaldehyde appears to be significantly slower (kx ~ 10−4 l/mol s) than the sorption of pentanal (kx ~ 10−3 l/mol s) due to the slower chemical reaction. The influence of the particle size was investigated for the sorption of pentanal with XAD-16. It was observed that the particle size does influence the diffusion term, but does not have an effect on the reaction rate. On the other hand, the extractant loading influences the reaction rate slightly in the low concentration region, whereas the initial concentration of the solute has more pronounced effect

Genetic Drivers of Kidney Defects in the DiGeorge Syndrome

Background The DiGeorge syndrome, the most common of the microdeletion syndromes, affects multiple organs, including the heart, the nervous system, and the kidney. It is caused by deletions on chromosome 22q11.2; the genetic driver of the kidney defects is unknown. Methods We conducted a genomewide search for structural variants in two cohorts: 2080 patients with congenital kidney and urinary tract anomalies and 22,094 controls. We performed exome and targeted resequencing in samples obtained from 586 additional patients with congenital kidney anomalies. We also carried out functional studies using zebrafish and mice. Results We identified heterozygous deletions of 22q11.2 in 1.1% of the patients with congenital kidney anomalies and in 0.01% of population controls (odds ratio, 81.5; P=4.5×10(-14)). We localized the main drivers of renal disease in the DiGeorge syndrome to a 370-kb region containing nine genes. In zebrafish embryos, an induced loss of function in snap29, aifm3, and crkl resulted in renal defects; the loss of crkl alone was sufficient to induce defects. Five of 586 patients with congenital urinary anomalies had newly identified, heterozygous protein-altering variants, including a premature termination codon, in CRKL. The inactivation of Crkl in the mouse model induced developmental defects similar to those observed in patients with congenital urinary anomalies. Conclusions We identified a recurrent 370-kb deletion at the 22q11.2 locus as a driver of kidney defects in the DiGeorge syndrome and in sporadic congenital kidney and urinary tract anomalies. Of the nine genes at this locus, SNAP29, AIFM3, and CRKL appear to be critical to the phenotype, with haploinsufficiency of CRKL emerging as the main genetic driver. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and others.)

Reactive extraction and recovery of levulinic acid, formic acid and furfural from aqueous solutions containing sulphuric acid

Levulinic acid (LA) can be produced from lignocellulosic materials via hydroxylation followed by an acid-catalyzed conversion of hexoses. Inorganic homogeneous catalysts are mostly used, in particular sulphuric acid, yielding a mixture of LA with sulphuric acid, formic acid (FA) and furfural. Significant attention has been paid to optimization of the yield, but purification of the LA is a challenge too. This work focuses on the separation of LA from the complex aqueous mixtures by liquid-liquid extraction. Two aqueous product feeds were considered, reflecting two different processes. One aqueous product stream contains sulphuric acid and LA, while the second product stream also contains formic FA and furfural. Furfural could be removed selectively via liquid-liquid extraction with toluene. For selective extraction of LA and FA without co-extracting sulphuric acid, 30 wt.% of trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) in methylisobutylketone (MIBK) was found most suitable, showing a high selectivity over sulphuric acid, and a high equilibrium partitioning of LA. When instead of MIBK, 1-octanol was applied as diluent, the co-extraction of FA was enhanced, while hexanoic acid suppressed the acid extraction. To obtain the LA pure, eventually a distillation is required, and the potential of temperature swing back extraction (TSBE) at 90 °C to pre-concentrate the acid solutions was evaluated for 30 wt.% TOPO in MIBK. This pre-concentration step increased the concentrations of LA and FA by a factor of 2.45 and 2.45 respectively, reducing the distillation reboiler duty from roughly 31.5 to 11.3 GJ per ton LA, at a cost of roughly 4.5 GJ heating duty per ton produced LA

Involvement of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic factors in the early development of the human pituitary gland

The spatial and temporal pattern of appearance of pro-apoptotic caspase-3 and p53 proteins, and anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein was investigated in the developing pituitary gland of 6 human embryos 5-8- weeks old, using morphological and immunohistochemical techniques. Their dynamic appearance was analyzed in the Rathke's pouch (future adenohypophysis), mesenchyme, and in the developing neurohypophysis. In the 5th and 6th week, caspase-3 positive cells appeared in the Rathke's pouch (5%) and stalk (11%), in the mesenchyme, but not in the neurohypophysis. In the 6th and 7th week, apoptotic cells were more numerous in the caudal part of the Rathke's pouch due to its separation from the oral epithelium. Pro-apoptotic p53 protein was detected in all parts of the pituitary gland throughout the investigated period. Nuclear condensations characterized cells positive to caspase-3 and p53 proteins. Apoptotic cells displayed condensations of nuclear chromatin on an ultrastructural level as well. While caspase-3 dependent pathway of cell death participated in morphogenesis of the adenohypophysis and associated connective tissue, p53-mediated apoptosis most likely participates in morphogenesis of all parts of the gland, including neurohypophysis. The anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein was also detected in all parts of the developing gland. With advancing development, the positivity to bcl-2 protein increased in the cells of the adenohypophysis, while it decreased in the neurohypophysis. Bcl-2 protein probably prevented cell death in all parts of the gland and enhanced cell differentiation. The described pattern of appearance of the investigated pro-apoptotic and antiapoptotic factors might be important for normal morphogenesis and function of the pituitary gland

Chiral separation of amino-alcohols using extractant impregnated resins

The performance of extractant impregnated resin (EIR) technology for chiral separation of amino-alcohols has been investigated. Phenylglycinol was selected as an archetype model enantiomer and azophenolic crown ether was used as a versatile enantioselective extractant. 1-Phenyloctane was selected as a suitable solvent for this application because of its very low solubility in water. The extraction system was first evaluated by liquid–liquid equilibrium experiments. It was shown that crown ether dissolved in 1-phenyloctane has an intrinsic selectivity of 11.5. However, due to very low solubility of phenylglycinol in 1-phenyloctane, the overall capacity of the crown ether solution in 1-phenyloctane is limited. The extractant solution was immobilized in macroporous polypropylene particles. Competitive sorption isotherms were obtained from batch experiments and successfully described with a predictive model based on the complexation constants and partitioning ratios, either obtained from literature or from independent experiments. The equilibrium selectivity of these EIRs approaches the intrinsic selectivity for low phenylglycinol concentrations. The dynamic behaviour and stability of the system were examined in column experiments. Breakthrough profiles as well as the elution curves of the R enantiomer are less sharp than those of the S enantiomer proving that the R enantiomer is strongly retained on the column. Separation of phenylglycinol enantiomers is favoured by using lower feed flow rates. The column was regenerated by water with only atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolved which proved to be sufficient. After several cycles the breakthrough profiles remain unchanged suggesting that these EIRs will be sufficiently stable

CRKL, AIFM3, AIF, BCL2, and UBASH3A during Human Kidney Development

We aimed to investigate the spatio-temporal expression of possible CAKUT candidate genes CRKL, AIFM3, and UBASH3A, as well as AIF and BCL2 during human kidney development. Human fetal kidney tissue was stained with antibodies and analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and RT-PCR. Quantification of positive cells was assessed by calculation of area percentage and counting cells in nephron structures. Results showed statistically significant differences in the temporal expression patterns of the examined markers, depending on the investigated developmental stage. Limited but strong expression of CRKL was seen in developing kidneys, with increasing expression up to the period where the majority of nephrons are formed. Results also lead us to conclude that AIFM3 and AIF are important for promoting cell survival, but only AIFM3 is considered a CAKUT candidate gene due to the lack of AIF in nephron developmental structures. Our findings imply great importance of AIFM3 in energy production in nephrogenesis and tubular maturation. UBASH3A raw scores showed greater immunoreactivity in developing structures than mature ones which would point to a meaningful role in nephrogenesis. The fact that mRNA and proteins of CRKL, UBASH3A, and AIFM3 were detected in all phases of kidney development implies their role as renal development control genes

Changes In QTc Interval Duration Among Heroin Addicts On Methadone Treatment

This paper aimed to collect and unite facts known about the effect of methadone treatment on QTc interval prolongation that could determine precipitating factors in the development of heart arrhythmias and their consequences (Torsade de Pointes and sudden cardiac death), and to raise the methadone treatment safety level