Study of γ-Valerolactone as a Diesel Blend: Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics

γ-valerolactone (GVL) is a C5-cyclic ester that can be produced from biomass providing a potentially renewable fuel for transportation and feedstock for the chemical industry. Experiments were performed with fossil diesel (D), D + biodiesel (BD) and D + BD + GVL blends. A four cylinder, turbocharged direct injection diesel engine was used for the tests. The engine was coupled to a dynamometer to vary the load. CO, NOx, THC and smoke emissions were measured by using a multi-channel gas analyser. Compared with D, and D + BD blends, addition of GVL had relatively little effect on engine performance and NOx emissions, but reduced the concentration of CO and smoke significantly

Effect of γ-Valerolactone Blending on Engine Performance, Combustion Characteristics and Exhaust Emissions in a Diesel Engine

γ-valerolactone (GVL) is a C5-cyclic ester that can be produced from biomass providing a potentially renewable fuel for transportation and feedstock for the chemical industry. Experiments were performed with fossil diesel (D), D + biodiesel (BD) and D + BD + GVL blends. A four-cylinder, turbocharged direct injection diesel engine was used for the tests. The engine was coupled to a dynamometer to vary the load. CO, NOx, THC and smoke emissions were measured by using a multi-channel gas analyzer. Combustion characteristics were assessed by in-cylinder pressure data with respect to crank angle and the derived heat release rates. Compared with D, and D + BD blends, addition of GVL had relatively little effect on engine performance and NOx emission, but reduced the exhaust concentration of CO, unburned fuel and smoke significantly. The smoke reduction is particularly notable in view of the very recent suggestion that black carbon is the second most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere next to carbon dioxide. No diesel engine study with GVL has been reported so far

Platelet count and mean volume in acute stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Changes of mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet count (PC) could be a marker or a predictor of acute stroke (AS). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature on the reporting of MPV and PC in AS. Studies were included in accordance with Patient Population or Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Setting framework. The PRISMA strategy was used to report findings. Risk of bias was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We included 34 eligible articles retrieved from the literature. PC was significantly lower in AS patients [standardized mean difference (SMD) = - 0.30, (95% CI: - 0.49 to - 0.11), N = 2492, P = .002] compared with controls (N = 3615). The MPV was significantly higher [SMD = 0.52 (95% CI: 0.28-0.76), N = 2739, P < .001] compared with controls (N = 3810). Subgroup analyses showed significantly lower PC in both ischemic stroke (Difference SMD = -0.18, 95% CI: -0.35-0.01) and hemorrhagic stroke (-0.94, -1.62 to -0.25), but only samples by citrate anticoagulant showed significantly lower result for patients compared to controls (-0.36, -0.68 to -0.04). Ischemic stroke patients had higher MPV (0.57, 0.31-0.83), and samples by Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulant showed significantly higher result for patients compared to controls (0.86, 0.55-1.17). PC and MPV appeared to be significantly different between patients with AS and control populations. MPV was significantly higher in ischemic stroke and PC was significantly lower in both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. These characteristics might be related to AS and associated with it. It is advisable to pay attention to elapsed time between phlebotomy and hematology analysis, anticoagulant and hemocytometer types in AS. Systematic review registration: This meta-analysis is registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under registration number CRD42017067864 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=67864)

Platelet count and mean volume in acute stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Genetic diversity among Plasmodium falciparum field isolates in Pakistan measured with PCR genotyping of the merozoite surface protein 1 and 2

Background:The genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum has been extensively studied in various parts of the world. However, limited data are available from Pakistan. This study aimed to establish molecular characterization of P. falciparum field isolates in Pakistan measured with two highly polymorphic genetic markers, i.e. the merozoite surface protein 1 (msp-1) and 2 (msp-2).Methods:Between October 2005 and October 2007, 244 blood samples from Patients with symptomatic blood-slide confirmed P. falciparum mono-infections attending the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, or its collection units located in Sindh and Baluchistan provinces, Pakistan were collected. The genetic diversity of P. falciparum was analysed by length polymorphism following gel electrophoresis of DNA products from nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) targeting block 2 of msp-1 and block 3 of msp-2, including their respective allelic families KI, MAD 20, RO33, and FC27, 3D7/IC.Results:A total of 238/244 (98%) Patients had a positive PCR outcome in at least one genetic marker, the remaining six were excluded from analysis. A majority of Patients had monoclonal infections. Only 56/231 (24%) and 51/236 (22%) carried multiple P. falciparum genotypes in msp-1 and msp-2, respectively. The estimated total number of genotypes was 25 msp-1 (12 KI, 8 MAD20, 5 RO33) and 33 msp-2 (14 FC27, 19 3D7/IC).Conclusion:This is the first report on molecular characterization of P. falciparum field isolates in Pakistan with regards to multiplicity of infection. The genetic diversity and allelic distribution found in this study is similar to previous reports from India and Southeast Asian countries with low malaria endemicity

A combination of strongly associated prothrombotic single nucleotide polymorphisms could efficiently predict venous thrombosis risk

BackgroundVenous thrombosis (VT) is multifactorial trait that contributes to the global burden of cardiovascular diseases. Although abundant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provoke the susceptibility of an individual to VT, research has found that the five most strongly associated SNPs, namely, rs6025 (F5 Leiden), rs2066865 (FGG), rs2036914 (F11), rs8176719 (ABO), and rs1799963 (F2), play the greatest role. Association and risk prediction models are rarely established by using merely the five strongly associated SNPs. This study aims to explore the combined VT risk predictability of the five SNPs and well-known non-genetic VT risk factors such as aging and obesity in the Hungarian population.MethodsSNPs were genotyped in the VT group (n = 298) and control group (n = 400). Associations were established using standard genetic models. Genetic risk scores (GRS) [unweighted GRS (unGRS), weighted GRS (wGRS)] were also computed. Correspondingly, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) for genetic and non-genetic risk factors were estimated to explore their VT risk predictability in the study population.Resultsrs6025 was the most prevalent VT risk allele in the Hungarian population. Its risk allele frequency was 3.52-fold higher in the VT group than that in the control group [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.52, 95% CI: 2.50–4.95]. Using all genetic models, we found that rs6025 and rs2036914 remained significantly associated with VT risk after multiple correction testing was performed. However, rs8176719 remained statistically significant only in the multiplicative (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.07–1.64) and genotypic models (AOR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.14–2.73). In addition, rs2066865 lost its significant association with VT risk after multiple correction testing was performed. Conversely, the prothrombin mutation (rs1799963) did not show any significant association. The AUC of Leiden mutation (rs6025) showed better discriminative accuracy than that of other SNPs (AUC = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.57–0.66). The wGRS was a better predictor for VT than the unGRS (AUC = 0.67 vs. 0.65). Furthermore, combining genetic and non-genetic VT risk factors significantly increased the AUC to 0.89 with statistically significant differences (Z = 3.924, p &lt; 0.0001).ConclusionsOur study revealed that the five strongly associated SNPs combined with non-genetic factors could efficiently predict individual VT risk susceptibility. The combined model was the best predictor of VT risk, so stratifying high-risk individuals based on their genetic profiling and well-known non-modifiable VT risk factors was important for the effective and efficient utilization of VT risk preventive and control measures. Furthermore, we urged further study that compares the VT risk predictability in the Hungarian population using the formerly discovered VT SNPs with the novel strongly associated VT SNPs

Ritka öröklött és szerzett haemorrhagiás diathesisek molekuláris elemzése, a rendellenességek strukturális és funkcionális következményei = Molecular evaluation of rare inherited and acquired bleeding diatheses, structural and functional consequences of the disorders

Ritka trombocita funkciós zavarok és koagulopátiák vizsgálata molekuláris genetikai és fehérje szinten. Az alábbiakban a projekt három legfontosabb eredményét soroljuk fel: 1/Két új mutációnak a felfedezése a trombocita glikoprotein (GP) IIb-ben, melyek II-es típusú Glanzmann thrombastheniát okoztak. A mutáns fehérjék transzfektált sejtekben történő analízise rávilágított: a) a "thigh" domén szerepére a GPIIIa-val való komplex képződésben, b) a "calf-2" domén fontoságára a fehérje érési folyamatában és intracelluláris vándorlásában. 2/ A factor X (FX) génjében bekövetkezett homozigóta c.730G>A/p.Gly204Arg mutáció következtében a FX antigén hiányát észleltük egy súlyos vérzékenységben szenvedő gyermekben. Az aminósav csere destabilizálta a FX két láncát összetartó diszulfid hidat. A mutáns fehérje eltérül a normális szekréciós úttól, megakad a transz Golgi-késő endoszóma szinten, s így nem szekretálódik. 3/ Egy SLE-ben szenvedő betegen életet veszélyeztető vérzés alakult ki. A beteg vizsgálata a szerzett faktor XIII (FXIII) deficiencia egy új, eddig nem leírt formájának a felismeréséhez vezetett. A beteg plazmájában FXIII aktivitás, FXIII komplex, FXIII A és B alegység antigén nem volt kimutatható, míg trombocitákban a FXIII aktivitás és FXIII-A antigén normál volt. A súlyos vérzést egy autoantitest okozta, mely a komplexben lévő és szabad FXIII-B-hez egyaránt kötődött és nagyon kifejezetten meggyorsította eliminációjukat a keringésből. | Rare platelet function disorders and coagulopathies were investigated at molecular genetic and/or protein level. Below the three most important results of the project are described: 1/ Investigation of a patient with type II Glanzmann thrombasthenia led to the discovery of two novel causative mutations in the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb gene. Analysis of the mutant proteins in transfected cells shed light a) on the role of thigh domain in the complex formation with GPIIIa, b) on the involvement of calf-2 domain in the maturation and intracellular trafficking of the protein. 2/ Due to a homozygous novel c.730G>A/p.Gly204Arg mutation in the factor X (FX) gene no FX antigen was found in the plasma of a child with severe bleeding diathesis. The amino acid replacement destabilized the disulfide bond that holds the two FX chains together. The mutant protein could not be secreted; it was diverted from the normal secretory pathway and retained at the trans Golgi-late endosome level. 3/ In an SLE patient with life threatening bleeding a new form of acquired factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency was discovered. The patient had undetectable FXIII activity, FXIII complex, FXIII A and B subunit antigen levels in the plasma, while in platelets FXIII activity and FXIII-A antigen level was normal. It was revealed that the patient developed an autoantibody that bound to FXIII-B both in complex and free form and highly accelerated their elimination from the circulation