Isobaric Vapor–liquid equilibrium for the binary system Diisopropylether + Isopropanol at 95 kPa

Isobaric vapor–liquid equilibrium data have been measured for the binary system involved {Di-isopropyl Ether(1) + Isopropanol (2)} at 95 kPa. An all-glass re-circulating still equipped with a Cottrell circulation pump was used. The formation of an azeotrope was characteristic for this system at  0.796 x1 = at the minimum boiling point. Thermodynamically consistent VLE data have been satisfactorily correlated using the NRTL, Wilson and UNIQUAC models for the activity coefficient of the liquid phase. The predictions of bubble point and vapor phase compositions using these models were close to experimental measurements. Root-Mean-Square-Deviation for bubble point and vapor mole fraction predictions were (0.6 K, 0.030), (0.5 K,0.030), and (0.6 K, 0.028) when using NRTL, Wilson and UNIQUAC models, respectively

Incorporating Corpus Linguistics Tools in the Training and Professional Development of Lecturers in Translation Studies

This research explores the impacts and strategies for integrating corpus linguistics tools in training translation lecturers. The focus of the study is to evaluate how the integration of corpus tools in the training of translation lecturers can enhance their efficiency and professional development. Data was collected through the use of questionnaires from 114 lecturers in translation studies and Ph.D. researchers in translation. Analysis was carried out using relevant statistical tools. The research findings indicate that the use of concordance tools, such as AntConc, has a notable positive impact on the effectiveness of translation instructors in demonstrating language patterns to their students. The substantial levels of agreement highlight the potential of these tools in facilitating the integration of theory and practice in the field of translation education. Furthermore, the participants recognized the effectiveness of specialized corpus-based translation tools such as TransTool in providing domain-specific linguistic information for accurate translation decision-making. The use of corpus-based tasks and exercises has developed as a strategic approach that strongly resonates with translation instructors, facilitating a comprehensive comprehension of the integration of corpus linguistics and its significance for educational methodologies. The aforementioned result underscores the need to include experiential learning and practical involvement to improve the effectiveness of translation teaching. However, there was a varied opinion of the influence of web-based corpora, suggesting the need for a more nuanced comprehension of their advantages and difficulties within the framework of translation education. Following the findings, it is thus concluded that the integration of corpus linguistics mechanisms in the training of translation lecturers remains effective as they enhance the use of real-world data in their translation studies and the use of data generated from a wide spectrum of languages in teaching translation

Potential Contributors To The Decreased Vitamin B6 Levels After Transplantation

Vitamin B6 deficiency as measured by plasma concentrations of pyridoxal 5` phosphate (P5P), the active form of vitamin B6, has been reported in several organ transplant recipients. The highest incidence of vitamin B6 deficiency has been observed in small bowel transplant recipients. The current study evaluated the potential mechanisms (increased degradation of P5P due to higher levels of alkaline phosphatases; or decreased formation of P5P due to decreased expression and activity of pyridoxal kinase) that may contribute to such observations. Higher plasma concentrations of alkaline phosphatases, decreased plasma albumin concentrations and higher amount of excretion of 4-pyridoxic acid in the urine of small bowel transplant patients supported the role of increased degradation of P5P. Of the various medications used by transplant patients that were tested using computation approach, pantoprazole, trimethoprim, acyclovir, valganciclovir and mycophenolic acid appeared to be most likely to inhibit pyridoxal kinase. Tacrolimus, the primary immunosuppressive drug used in most transplant recipients had limited impact on pyridoxal kinase expression and activity. A pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, decreased the expression and activity of pyridoxal kinase in primary cultures of human hepatocytes. The higher plasma concentrations of TNF-α observed in small bowel transplant patients is consistent with a decreased activity of pyridoxal kinase in the liver of these patients, and supported decreased formation of P5P also as a contributor to the observed vitamin B6 deficiency. Additional studies in an animal model where an organ that was not directly involved in the absorption, formation or degradation of vitamin B6 (a composite allograft tissue transplantation), showed a significant reduction in the expression of pyridoxal kinase in the liver. This suggested that the process of organ transplantation (immune activation and inflammation) itself led to vitamin B6 deficiency. Our studies indicate that vitamin B6 deficiency is expected in all transplant recipients; however, the magnitude of deficiency is likely to be affected by the immunogenicity of the transplanted organ and the immune status of the patient. Given the potential effect of vitamin B6 deficiency (neurotoxicity), and the low cost of vitamin B6, it is prudent to consider supplementation of all transplant patients with vitamin B6

Sulfur Dynamics and Activities of Sufur-Transforming Enzymes in Prairie Soils Under Different Management Practices

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term management practices on microbial properties and biochemical processes related to sulfur cycling of semiarid prairie soil ecosystems, and to reveal the drivers of nutrients cycling under different management practices. The management systems included undisturbed, set-aside from cultivation, moderately grazed, heavily grazed and cultivated. Surface soil samples taken from nine plots of each system were evaluated based on chemical and microbial properties as well as enzyme activities involved in carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur transformations. Sulfur dynamic in soil is governed more by mineralization of organic S than inorganic S oxidation processes. Of systems evaluated, total sulfur was significantly lower and soluble S was significantly higher in the cultivated ones. Grazing promote or maintained S pools and the capacity of the soils to transform S to a degree similar to the undisturbed soils. Of the five micronutrients tested, B and Mg were most limiting in soils. Of all nutrients and pools evaluated, contents of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were most impacted soil variables by management practices, and are more limiting in the cultivated than the uncultivated soils. Management practices also changed the relative importance and relationships among these enzymes within an ecosystem. The capacity of soil enzymes to release simple sugar and inorganic nutrients appeared to be key factors regulating nutrient cycling, suggesting microbial biomass as the drivers of C, N, P, and S transformation processes of all soil variables evaluated.Department of Plant and Soil Science

Spectroscopy of the heaviest nuclei (theory)

Recent progress in the applications of covariant density functional theory (CDFT) to the description of the spectroscopy of the heaviest nuclei is reviewed. The analysis of quasiparticle spectra in actinides and the heaviest A ~ 250 nuclei provides a measure of the accuracy of the description of single-particle energies in CDFT and an additional constraint for the choice of effective interactions for the description of superheavy nuclei. The response of these nuclei to the rotation is rather well described by cranked relativistic Hartree+Bogoliubov theory and it serves as a supplementary tool in configuration assignment in odd-mass nuclei. A systematic analysis of the fission barriers with allowance for triaxial deformation shows that covariant density functional theory is able to describe fission barriers on a level of accuracy comparable with the best phenomenological macroscopic+microscopic approaches.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, invited talk of A.V. Afanasjev at the International Nuclear Physics Conference (INPC 2010), Vancouver, Canada, July 4-9, 2010, to be published in Journal of Physics G: Conference Series (JPCS

Developing a Geoinformatic-engineering Stability Modeling Method, Using Field Data and GIS Environment: a Case Study From Al Qarara Area in Wadi Musa, Jordan

DOI:10.17014/ijog.2.1.1-21By applying detailed geological field surveys, the spatial factors affecting geo-engineering stability were used to develop a geo-engineering stability modeling method to identify areas under potential threat of landsliding. The factors affecting geo-engineering stability in Al Qarara area in Petra-Jordan were studied and given assumed rates of importance, where optimization process was run by lag iterations; the produced spatial layers of the different factors were gathered and modeled using GIS; a final stability map was produced using an optimized equation. The produced map was validated qualitatively and quantitatively, where a comparison was made between the reality in the field and several maps of different equation. The modeling method which was developed in the context of this study proved to be suitable to produce micro-zonation maps of areas having landslide risk. Further applications on the method in other areas suffering landslides will further improve it

Deformed one-quasiparticle states in covariant density functional theory

Systematic investigation of the accuracy of the description of the energies of deformed one-quasiparticle states has been performed in covariant density functional theory in actinide and rare-earth mass regions. The sources of the discrepancies between theory and experiment are analyzed. Although some improvements in the description of ground state configurations and one-quasiparticle spectra can be achieved by better parametrization of the relativistic mean field Lagrangian, the analysis suggests that spectroscopic quality of their description can be achieved only in theoretical framework which takes into account particle-vibration coupling.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figure

Improved membranes for the extraction of heavy metals

This work presents a series of experimental tests on new practical approaches in membrane design to improve extraction capacity and rate. We chose an extraction system involving Aliquat 336 as the extractant and Cd(II) as the metal ion to be extracted to demonstrate these new approaches. The core element in the new membrane assembly was the extractant loaded sintered glass filter. This membrane assembly provided a large interface area between the extractant and the aqueous solution containing metal ions. By recycling the aqueous solution through the membrane assembly, the extraction rate was significantly improved. The membrane assembly also offered good extraction capacity

Survival implications vs. complications: unraveling the impact of vitamin D adjunctive use in critically ill patients with COVID-19—A multicenter cohort study

BackgroundDespite insufficient evidence, vitamin D has been used as adjunctive therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19. This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of vitamin D as an adjunctive therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients.MethodsA multicenter retrospective cohort study that included all adult COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) between March 2020 and July 2021. Patients were categorized into two groups based on their vitamin D use throughout their ICU stay (control vs. vitamin D). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were the length of stay (LOS), mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, and ICU-acquired complications. Propensity score (PS) matching (1:1) was used based on the predefined criteria. Multivariable logistic, Cox proportional hazards, and negative binomial regression analyses were employed as appropriate.ResultsA total of 1,435 patients were included in the study. Vitamin D was initiated in 177 patients (12.3%), whereas 1,258 patients did not receive it. A total of 288 patients were matched (1:1) using PS. The in-hospital mortality showed no difference between patients who received vitamin D and the control group (HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.87–1.71; p = 0.26). However, MV duration and ICU LOS were longer in the vitamin D group (beta coefficient 0.24 (95% CI 0.00–0.47), p = 0.05 and beta coefficient 0.16 (95% CI −0.01 to 0.33), p = 0.07, respectively). As an exploratory outcome, patients who received vitamin D were more likely to develop major bleeding than those who did not [OR 3.48 (95% CI 1.10, 10.94), p = 0.03].ConclusionThe use of vitamin D as adjunctive therapy in COVID-19 critically ill patients was not associated with survival benefits but was linked with longer MV duration, ICU LOS, and higher odds of major bleeding