575 research outputs found
MHD Simulations of Magnetospheric Accretion, Ejection and Plasma-field Interaction
We review recent axisymmetric and three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic
(MHD) numerical simulations of magnetospheric accretion, plasma-field
interaction and outflows from the disk-magnetosphere boundary.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, conference proceedings: "Physics at the
Magnetospheric Boundary", Geneva, Switzerland, 25-28 June, 201
Biopolymer-based structuring of liquid oil into soft solids and oleogels using water-continuous emulsions as templates
Physical trapping of a hydrophobic liquid oil in a matrix of water-soluble biopolymers was achieved using a facile two-step process by first formulating a surfactant-free oil-in-water emulsion stabilized by biopolymers (a protein and a polysaccharide) followed by complete removal of the water phase (by either high- or low-temperature drying of the emulsion) resulting in structured solid systems containing a high concentration of liquid oil (above 97 wt %). The microstructure of these systems was revealed by confocal and cryo-scanning electron microscopy, and the effect of biopolymer concentrations on the consistency of emulsions as well as the dried product was evaluated using a combination of small-amplitude oscillatory shear rheometry and large deformation fracture studies. The oleogel prepared by shearing the dried product showed a high gel strength as well as a certain degree of thixotropic recovery even at high temperatures. Moreover, the reversibility of the process was demonstrated by shearing the dried product in the presence of water to obtain reconstituted emulsions with rheological properties comparable to those of the fresh emulsion
Solid-State and Gas-Phase Structures and Energetic Properties of the Dangerous Methyl and Fluoromethyl Nitrates
Reichel M, Krumm B, Vishnevskiy Y, et al. Solid-State and Gas-Phase Structures and Energetic Properties of the Dangerous Methyl and Fluoromethyl Nitrates. Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English). 2019;58(51):18557-18561.An improved synthesis of the simplest nitric acid ester, methyl nitrate, and a new synthesis of fluoromethyl nitrate use the metathesis of the corresponding iodomethanes with silver nitrate. Both compounds were identified by spectroscopy and the structures determined for in situ grown crystals by X-ray diffraction as well as in the gas phase by electron diffraction. Fluorination leads to structures with shorter C-O and N-O bonds, has an energetically destabilizing effect and increases friction sensitivity, but decreases detonation performance. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA
Urine protein:creatinine ratio vs 24-hour urine protein for proteinuria management: analysis from the phase 3 REFLECT study of lenvatinib vs sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma
Background:
Proteinuria monitoring is required in patients receiving lenvatinib, however, current methodology involves burdensome overnight urine collection.
Methods:
To determine whether the simpler urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPCR) calculated from spot urine samples could be accurately used for proteinuria monitoring in patients receiving lenvatinib, we evaluated the correlation between UPCR and 24-hour urine protein results from the phase 3 REFLECT study. Paired data (323 tests, 154 patients) were analysed.
Results:
Regression analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between UPCR and 24-hour urine protein (R2: 0.75; P < 2 × 10−16). A UPCR cut-off value of 2.4 had 96.9% sensitivity, 82.5% specificity for delineating between grade 2 and 3 proteinuria. Using this UPCR cut-off value to determine the need for further testing could reduce the need for 24-hour urine collection in ~74% of patients.
Conclusion:
Incorporation of UPCR into the current algorithm for proteinuria management can enable optimisation of lenvatinib treatment, while minimising patient inconvenience
The interlayer cohesive energy of graphite from thermal desorption of polyaromatic hydrocarbons
We have studied the interaction of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with the
basal plane of graphite using thermal desorption spectroscopy. Desorption
kinetics of benzene, naphthalene, coronene and ovalene at sub-monolayer
coverages yield activation energies of 0.50 eV, 0.85 eV, 1.40 eV and 2.1 eV,
respectively. Benzene and naphthalene follow simple first order desorption
kinetics while coronene and ovalene exhibit fractional order kinetics owing to
the stability of 2-D adsorbate islands up to the desorption temperature.
Pre-exponential frequency factors are found to be in the range
- as obtained from both Falconer--Madix (isothermal
desorption) analysis and Antoine's fit to vapour pressure data. The resulting
binding energy per carbon atom of the PAH is 5 meV and can be identified
with the interlayer cohesive energy of graphite. The resulting cleavage energy
of graphite is ~meV/atom which is considerably larger than previously
reported experimental values.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 2 table
Ability of endophytic fungi isolated from Nepenthes ampullaria to degrade polyurethane
Aims: Waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) are among the fastest growing waste products worldwide and
solutions to their remediation are urgently needed. Bioremediation is a green approach that is helpful to minimize environmental pollution associated with Electronic waste (E-waste). The present study aimed at exploring the potential of endophytic fungi from Nepenthes ampullaria for bioremediation purposes of the plastic component in E-waste, polyurethane (PUR) polymers. Methodology and results: Endophytic fungal isolates were assessed for their ability to degrade PUR as well as their ability to utilise PUR as sole carbon source. Nine (9) out of 150 isolates demonstrated the ability to efficiently degrade polyurethane in solid medium and the top three (3) isolates were able to grow on PUR as the only carbon source. These three isolates were identified using ITS1 and ITS4 and found to be closely related to the genus Pestalotiopsis. The top
two of the three isolates were then assessed for their esterase enzyme activity as well as changes in their proteome when grown with and without PUR. The highest enzymatic activity was found to be 1850.4 U/mL when tested using pnitrophenol acetate as the substrate. Analyses of the 2-dimensional electrophoresis profile revealed changes in the abundance of proteins when treated with polyurethane.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study: This study is to our knowledge the first on endophytes isolated from N. ampullaria that can degrade PUR, and also their proteomes. Results obtained from this study can in the future help to reduce polyurethane wastes. Besides degrading PUR polymer, endophytic fungi produce potential valuable proteins that may find broad applications in bioremediation applications
- …