Formation of levoglucosenone and furfural from three different carrageenans via acid-catalyzed pyrolysis in polyethylene glycol

To further develop the potential for carrageenan-use in a seaweed biorefinery, the acid-catalyzed pyrolysis of kappa-, iota- and lambda-carrageenans has been studied in polyethylene glycol (PEG). Using differential scanning calorimetry, it was found that decomposition temperatures for the three polysaccharides were broadened and lowered by 33–60 °C in the presence of H2SO4 and PEG compared to polysaccharide alone. Levoglucosenone (LGO) and furfural were the major products from all polysaccharides with LGO yields of 21.3 mg/gcarr (3.5 mol%), 10.7 mg/gcarr (2.2 mol%) and 3.9 mg/gcarr (1 mol%) and furfural yields of 5.9 mg/gcarr (1.3 mol%), 2.8 mg/gcarr (0.7 mol%) and 1.2 mg/gcarr (0.4 mol%), for kappa-, iota- and lambda-carrageenans, respectively. Total sulfate inversely correlated with the generation of volatile compounds, and the 3,6-anhydro structure may encourage the formation of the major products during the acid-catalyzed pyrolysis of carrageenan in PEG

Insights from in situ and environmental TEM on the oriented attachment of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles during α-Fe₂O₃ nanorod formation

Acicular α-Fe2O3 nanorods (NRs), at an intermediate stage of development, were isolated using a snapshot valve-assisted hydrothermal synthesis (HS) technique, for the purpose of complementary in situ transmission electron microscopy (iTEM) and environmental TEM (ETEM) investigations of the effect of local environment on the oriented attachment (OA) of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) during α-Fe2O3 NR growth. Observations of static snapshot HS samples suggested that α-Fe2O3 NPs undergo reorientation following initial attachment, consistent with an intermediate OA stage, prior to ‘envelopment’ with the developing NR to adopt a perfect single crystal. Conversely, the heating of partially developed α-Fe2O3 NRs up to 250 °C, under vacuum, during iTEM, demonstrated the progressive coalescence of loosely packed α-Fe2O3 NPs and the coarsening of α-Fe2O3 NRs, without any direct evidence for an intermediate OA stage. Direct evidence was obtained for the action of an OA mechanism prior to the consumption of α-Fe2O3 NPs at the tips of developing α-Fe2O3 NRs during ETEM investigation, under an He pressure of 5 mbar at 500 °C. However, α-Fe2O3 NPs more strongly attached to the side-walls of developing α-Fe2O3 NRs were more likely to be consumed through a local NP destabilisation and reordering process, in the absence of an OA mechanism. Hence, the emerging ETEM evidence suggests a competition between OA and diffusion processes at the α-Fe2O3 NP coalescence stage of acicular α-Fe2O3 NR crystal development, depending on whether the localised growth conditions facilitate freedom of NP movement

Little evidence for association between the TGFBR1*6A variant and colorectal cancer: a family-based association study on non-syndromic family members from Australia and Spain

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.Genome-wide linkage studies have identified the 9q22 chromosomal region as linked with colorectal cancer (CRC) predisposition. A candidate gene in this region is transforming growth factor β receptor 1 (TGFBR1). Investigation of TGFBR1 has focused on the common genetic variant rs11466445, a short exonic deletion of nine base pairs which results in truncation of a stretch of nine alanine residues to six alanine residues in the gene product. While the six alanine (*6A) allele has been reported to be associated with increased risk of CRC in some population based study groups this association remains the subject of robust debate. To date, reports have been limited to population-based case–control association studies, or case–control studies of CRC families selecting one affected individual per family. No study has yet taken advantage of all the genetic information provided by multiplex CRC families

Little evidence for association between the TGFBR1*6A variant and colorectal cancer: a family-based association study on non-syndromic family members from Australia and Spain.

Genome-wide linkage studies have identified the 9q22 chromosomal region as linked with colorectal cancer (CRC) predisposition. A candidate gene in this region is transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1). Investigation of TGFBR1 has focused on the common genetic variant rs11466445, a short exonic deletion of nine base pairs which results in truncation of a stretch of nine alanine residues to six alanine residues in the gene product. While the six alanine (*6A) allele has been reported to be associated with increased risk of CRC in some population based study groups this association remains the subject of robust debate. To date, reports have been limited to population-based case-control association studies, or case-control studies of CRC families selecting one affected individual per family. No study has yet taken advantage of all the genetic information provided by multiplex CRC families. Methods: We have tested for an association between rs11466445 and risk of CRC using several family-based statistical tests in a new study group comprising members of non-syndromic high risk CRC families sourced from three familial cancer centres, two in Australia and one in Spain. Results: We report a finding of a nominally significant result using the pedigree-based association test approach (PBAT; p = 0.028), while other family-based tests were non-significant, but with a p-value < 0.10 in each instance. These other tests included the Generalised Disequilibrium Test (GDT; p = 0.085), parent of origin GDT Generalised Disequilibrium Test (GDT-PO; p = 0.081) and empirical Family-Based Association Test (FBAT; p = 0.096, additive model). Related-person case-control testing using the 'More Powerful' Quasi-Likelihood Score Test did not provide any evidence for association (M-QL5; p = 0.41). Conclusions: After conservatively taking into account considerations for multiple hypothesis testing, we find little evidence for an association between the TGFBR1*6A allele and CRC risk in these families. The weak support for an increase in risk in CRC predisposed families is in agreement with recent meta-analyses of case-control studies, which estimate only a modest increase in sporadic CRC risk among 6*A allele carriers

An investigation into E-business service in the UK telecommunication manufacturing industry

Nowadays, suppliers’ product and service quality has risen in importance with a manufacturer’s push to develop core competencies and capitalise on global operations and markets. However, due to the complex features of business service, suppliers are facing significant challenges in providing service effectively and developing business collaboration. This is further complicated by the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs). This paper thus attempts to investigate the factors influencing buyers’ e-service (EBS) requirements and the impact of these requirements on business collaboration. Based on a questionnaire survey with 500 UK telecommunication manufacturers, this research identifies buyers’ different EBS requirements for different types of suppliers and the impact of ICTs on EBS requirements. While for suppliers our findings provide insights into buyers’ EBS requirements, they can help buyers to develop appropriate supplier selection criteria. The findings also contribute to a better understanding of the development of buyer and supplier business collaboration

Visualized Effects of Oxidation and Temperature on Vortex-State Fe3O4 Particles Examined by Environmental TEM and Off-Axis Electron Holography

No abstract available

Galaxy Pairs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey - III: Evidence of Induced Star Formation from Optical Colours

We have assembled a large, high quality catalogue of galaxy colours from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7, and have identified 21,347 galaxies in pairs spanning a range of projected separations (r_p < 80 h_{70}^{-1} kpc), relative velocities (\Delta v < 10,000 km/s, which includes projected pairs that are essential for quality control), and stellar mass ratios (from 1:10 to 10:1). We find that the red fraction of galaxies in pairs is higher than that of a control sample matched in stellar mass and redshift, and demonstrate that this difference is likely due to the fact that galaxy pairs reside in higher density environments than non-paired galaxies. We detect clear signs of interaction-induced star formation within the blue galaxies in pairs, as evidenced by a higher fraction of extremely blue galaxies, along with blueward offsets between the colours of paired versus control galaxies. These signs are strongest in close pairs (r_p < 30 h_{70}^{-1} kpc and \Delta v < 200 km/s), diminish for more widely separated pairs (r_p > 60 h_{70}^{-1} kpc and \Delta v < 200 km/s) and disappear for close projected pairs (r_p < 30 h_{70}^{-1} kpc and \Delta v > 3000 km/s). These effects are also stronger in central (fibre) colours than in global colours, and are found primarily in low- to medium-density environments. Conversely, no such trends are seen in red galaxies, apart from a small reddening at small separations which may result from residual errors with photometry in crowded fields. When interpreted in conjunction with a simple model of induced starbursts, these results are consistent with a scenario in which close peri-centre passages trigger induced star formation in the centres of galaxies which are sufficiently gas rich, after which time the galaxies gradually redden as they separate and their starbursts age.Comment: 17 pages. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Murine Typhus and Febrile Illness, Nepal

Murine typhus was diagnosed by PCR in 50 (7%) of 756 adults with febrile illness seeking treatment at Patan Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Of patients with murine typhus, 64% were women, 86% were residents of Kathmandu, and 90% were unwell during the winter. No characteristics clearly distinguished typhus patients from those with blood culture–positive enteric fever

The discovery of potent, selective, and reversible inhibitors of the house dust mite peptidase allergen Der p 1: an innovative approach to the treatment of allergic asthma.

Blocking the bioactivity of allergens is conceptually attractive as a small-molecule therapy for allergic diseases but has not been attempted previously. Group 1 allergens of house dust mites (HDM) are meaningful targets in this quest because they are globally prevalent and clinically important triggers of allergic asthma. Group 1 HDM allergens are cysteine peptidases whose proteolytic activity triggers essential steps in the allergy cascade. Using the HDM allergen Der p 1 as an archetype for structure-based drug discovery, we have identified a series of novel, reversible inhibitors. Potency and selectivity were manipulated by optimizing drug interactions with enzyme binding pockets, while variation of terminal groups conferred the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic attributes required for inhaled delivery. Studies in animals challenged with the gamut of HDM allergens showed an attenuation of allergic responses by targeting just a single component, namely, Der p 1. Our findings suggest that these inhibitors may be used as novel therapies for allergic asthma

Work-Unit Absenteeism: Effects of Satisfaction, Commitment, Labor Market Conditions, and Time

Prior research is limited in explaining absenteeism at the unit level and over time. We developed and tested a model of unit-level absenteeism using five waves of data collected over six years from 115 work units in a large state agency. Unit-level job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and local unemployment were modeled as time-varying predictors of absenteeism. Shared satisfaction and commitment interacted in predicting absenteeism but were not related to the rate of change in absenteeism over time. Unit-level satisfaction and commitment were more strongly related to absenteeism when units were located in areas with plentiful job alternatives