9 research outputs found
The stabilisation of receptor structure in low cross-linked MIPs by an immobilised template
In molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) a high level of cross-linking is
usually important for preserving the receptor structure. We propose here an
alternative approach for stabilising binding sites, which involves the use of an
immobilised template. The idea is based on the assumption that an immobilised
template will ââholdââ polymeric chains and complementary functionalities
together, preventing the collapsing of the binding sites. To test this
postulate, a range of polymers was prepared using polymerisable (2,4-diamino-6-
(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-1,3,5-triazine) and non-polymerisable (or extractable)
(2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine) templates, methacrylic acid as functional
monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker. The level of cross-
linking was varied from 12 to 80%. Polymerisations were performed in
acetonitrile using UV initiation. Binding properties of the synthesised
materials were characterised both by HPLC and equilibrium batch binding
experiments followed by HPLC-MS or UV-visible detection. The adsorption
isotherms of polymers were obtained and fitted to the Langmuir model to
calculate dissociation constant, Kd, and concentration of binding sites for each
material. The results strongly indicate that the presence of an immobilised
template improves the affinity of MIPs containing low percentages of cross-
linker. The low cross-linked MIPs synthesised with a polymerisable template also
retain a reasonable degree of selectivity. Low crosslinked MIPs with such
binding characteristics would be useful for the creation of new types of optical
and electrochemical sensors, where induced fit or the ââgate effectââ could be
used more effectively for generating and enhancin
Integration issues on tritium management of the European DEMO Breeding Blanket and ancillary systems
Integration issues on tritium management of the European DEMO Breeding Blanket and ancillary systems
Design and Integration of the WCLL Tritium Extraction and Removal System into the European DEMO Tokamak Reactor
The latest progress in the design of the water-cooled lithium-lead (WCLL) tritium extraction and removal (TER) system for the European DEMO tokamak reactor is presented. The implementation and optimization of the conceptual design of the TER system are performed in order to manage the tritium concentration in the LiPb and ancillary systems, to control the LiPb chemistry, to remove accumulated corrosion and activated products (in particular, the helium generated in the BB), to store the LiPb, to empty the BB segments, to shield the equipment due to LiPb activation, and to accommodate possible overpressure of the LiPb. The LiPb volumes in the inboard (IB) and outboard (OB) modules of the BB are separately managed due to the different pressure drops and required mass flow rates in the different plasma operational phases. Therefore, the tritium extraction is managed by 6 LiPb loops: 4 loops for the OB segments and 2 loops for the IB segments. Each one is a closed loop with forced circulation of the liquid metal through the TER and the other ancillary systems. The design presents the new CAD drawings and the integration of the TEU into the tokamak building, designed on the basis of an experimental characterization carried out for the permeator against vacuum (PAV) and gas-liquid contactor (GLC) technologies, the two most promising technologies for tritium extraction from liquid metal
Identification of Asthma Subtypes Using Clustering Methodologies
Asthma is a heterogeneous disease comprising a number of subtypes which may be caused by different pathophysiologic mechanisms (sometimes referred to as endotypes) but may share similar observed characteristics (phenotypes). The use of unsupervised clustering in adult and paediatric populations has identified subtypes of asthma based on observable characteristics such as symptoms, lung function, atopy, eosinophilia, obesity, and age of onset. Here we describe different clustering methods and demonstrate their contributions to our understanding of the spectrum of asthma syndrome. Precise identification of asthma subtypes and their pathophysiological mechanisms may lead to stratification of patients, thus enabling more precise therapeutic and prevention approaches