Academic Sisterhood: A Collaborative Autoethnography of Two Asian Mothers, Adult Educators, and Scholars

In a global context where Western models and theories continue to dominate and influence adult educational research, multi-vocal perspectives of meaning making and learning from educators raised and educated in the East and West can contribute to more nuanced dialogue and exchange. Utilizing collaborative autoethnography, a qualitative research method that explores society through the lens of self in relation to other (Chang, Ngunjiri & Hernandez, 2013), we provide a window and a mirror into the complexity of East-West learning dynamics as two multicultural Asian immigrant academics educated and raising our children in the West. Together, as mothers, adult educators and emerging scholars, we share our journey of discovery and unpack the influence of our Chinese and Filipino cultural inheritance and North American education. The implications of these stories, and the unique cultural lenses we see through, provide greater insight into the ways of learning, knowing and being at the intersections of our multiple identities

Extraction of a tricarboxylic acid from a sugar-cane by-product – Study and modeling of the anion-exchange step

Extraction of a tricarboxylic acid from a sugar-cane by-product – Study and modeling of the anion-exchange step . 16. Congrès de la Société Française de Génie des Procédés "Le Génie des Procédés au Service de l'Homme" (SFGP 2017

A Piezoelectric Immunosensor Using Hybrid Self-Assembled Monolayers for Detection of Schistosoma japonicum

BACKGROUND: The parasite Schistosoma japonicum causes schistosomiasis disease, which threatens human life and hampers economic and social development in some Asian countries. An important lesson learned from efforts to reduce the occurrence of schistosomiasis is that the diagnostic approach must be altered as further progress is made towards the control and ultimate elimination of the disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using mixed self-assembled monolayer membrane (mixed SAM) technology, a mixture of mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) and mercaptoethanol (ME) was self-assembled on the surface of quartz crystals by gold-sulphur-bonds. Soluble egg antigens (SEA) of S. japonicum were then cross-linked to the quartz crystal using a special coupling agent. As compared with the traditional single self-assembled monolayer immobilization method, S. japonicum antigen (SjAg) immobilization using mixed self-assembled monolayers exhibits much greater immunoreactivity. Under optimal experimental conditions, the detection range is 1:1500 to 1:60 (infected rabbit serum dilution ratios). We measured several infected rabbit serum samples with varying S. japonicum antibody (SjAb) concentrations using both immunosensor and ELISA techniques and then produced a correlation analysis. The correlation coefficients reached 0.973. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We have developed a new, simple, sensitive, and reusable piezoelectric immunosensor that directly detects SjAb in the serum. This method may represent an alternative to the current diagnostic methods for S. japonicum infection in the clinical laboratory or for analysis outside the laboratory

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Valorisation de la vinasse de canne à sucre: étude d'un procédé d'extraction d'un acide organique multivalent

Cane stillage or vinasse, a byproduct of cane industry, contains from 5 to 7 g/L of aconitic acid, a valuable trivalent carboxylic acid belonging to the second class of building block chemicals. Vinasse also contains a variety of organic compounds (organic acids, amino-acids, colouring matters) and minerals (chlorides, sulphates), which makes purification not straightforward. The objective of this work is to develop the extraction of aconitic acid from stillage, with anion exchange as the heart of the process. In order to improve performances, the main characteristics of the selected anion-exchange resin (Lewatit S4528) are studied. Acid-base dosage and ion-exchange equilibrium experiments allow the total capacity of this support and the ion-exchange coefficients for the major competing anions (aconitate, chloride and sulfate) to be obtained. Separation performances in column are studied for different pH, different solutions (aconitic acid alone, synthetic and industrial stillage) and different resin forms (sulfate, chloride and free- base) in order to elucidate the separation mechanisms.Elution step is also investigated. Best conditions are for stillage at its natural pH (pH 4.5) on the resin under chloride form and HCl 0,5N as the eluant. A 28% DM purity and a 61% global recovery are achieved for aconitic acid in the eluate. Main impurities still remaining are chlorides or sulfates and coloring matter. Homopolar electrodialysis proves successful for removing nearly 100% chlorides from aconitic acid with a limited loss of the acid (< 15%). Adsorption step on a polystyrenic resin (XAD16) of an acidic eluate leads to the retention of 80% of the colorants, with only 12% of the acid lost. At last, the most interesting process combination associates microfiltration, anion-exchange, electrodialysis and adsorption. Purity is 37% MS, namely 3.6 higher than the original vinasse. This work enables aconitic acid purity to be improved by a factor of 2.6 compared with prior studies and to have a better comprehension of the mechanisms involved in its purification on weak anionic resin.La vinasse de distillerie, co-produit de l'industrie canne-sucre-alcool-énergie, contient de 5 à 7 g/L d'un acide d'intérêt, l'acide aconitique, au sein d'un milieu complexe comportant d'autres acides organiques, des acides aminés, mais surtout des sels minéraux (chlorures et sulfates) et des colorants, rendant sa purification complexe. Afin d'améliorer les performances du procédé d'échange d'ions, au coeur de cette purification, la résine anionique faible Lewatit S4528 a été caractérisée. Le dosage de la résine et des mesures d'isothermes d'échange d'ions ont permis de définir : la capacité totale du support, l'ordre d'affinité des principaux anions de la vinasse et les coefficients d'échange d'ions associés, de même que la capacité pour l'acide d'intérêt dans cette matrice complexe. L'effet du pH, de la forme du support (sulfate, chlorure et base libre) et de l'éluant ont été étudiés en colonne pour différentes solutions (acide seul, vinasse « modèle », vinasse réelle), permettant de préciser les mécanismes de la purification. Les meilleures conditions (vinasse à pH 4,5, résine sous forme chlorure et élution par HCl 0,5 N) ont abouti à un éluat d'une pureté de 28 %MS avec un rendement global de 61 %. Pour éliminer les principales impuretés qui persistent dans l'éluat (ions chlorure et sulfate et des colorants), l'électrodialyse s'est avérée un procédé très performant en ce qui concerne l'élimination des ions chlorure (proche de 100 %) tandis qu'une étape d'adsorption sur résine polystyrénique XAD16 permet l'élimination de 80 % de la charge colorante de l'éluat acide. Le couplage le plus intéressant associe microfiltration, échange d'ions, électrodialyse et adsorption. Il permet d'obtenir une pureté estimée à 37 % MS, avec un facteur de purification de 3,6 par rapport à la vinasse initiale. Ces travaux ont permis d'améliorer d'un facteur 2,6 la pureté de l'acide par rapport à des études antérieures et de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de sa purification sur résine anionique faible

L’immigration clandestine à Mayotte : un phénomène révélateur de l'incidence des changements climatiques sur la sécurité humaine?

Mayotte, département français situé au cœur de l’océan Indien subit une importante pression migratoire en provenance de l’archipel des Comores dont elle fait elle-même partie. Sous l’effet des changements climatiques, ce phénomène pourrait se renforcer ce qui peut paraître assez curieux dans la mesure où l’ensemble des îles composant l’archipel est placé dans des conditions géologiques et météorologiques similaires. Face à cette situation, la sécurité humaine constitue une grille d’analyse particulièrement intéressante en termes de vulnérabilité.The French department of Mayotte located in the heart of Indian Ocean undergoes a high level of migrations from the archipelago of the Comoro Islands. Under the influence of climate changes, this phenomenon may be aggravated which is very curious because every island of the archipelago are facing similar geological and meteorological conditions. Considering the level of vulnerability of theses populations, the human security approach may be a good way to look at this situation

Valorization of sugarcane distillery stillage : study of an extractive process of a multivalent carboxylic acid

La vinasse de distillerie, co-produit de l’industrie canne-sucre-alcool-énergie, contient de 5 à 7 g/L d’un acide d’intérêt, l’acide aconitique, au sein d’un milieu complexe comportant d’autres acides organiques, des acides aminés, mais surtout des sels minéraux (chlorures et sulfates) et des colorants, rendant sa purification complexe. Afin d’améliorer les performances du procédé d’échange d’ions, au coeur de cette purification, la résine anionique faible Lewatit S4528 a été caractérisée. Le dosage de la résine et des mesures d’isothermes d’échange d’ions ont permis de définir : la capacité totale du support, l’ordre d’affinité des principaux anions de la vinasse et les coefficients d’échange d’ions associés, de même que la capacité pour l’acide d’intérêt dans cette matrice complexe. L’effet du pH, de la forme du support (sulfate, chlorure et base libre) et de l’éluant ont été étudiés en colonne pour différentes solutions (acide seul, vinasse « modèle », vinasse réelle), permettant de préciser les mécanismes de la purification.Les meilleures conditions (vinasse à pH 4,5, résine sous forme chlorure et élution par HCl 0,5 N) ont abouti à un éluat d’une pureté de 28 %MS avec un rendement global de 61 %. Pour éliminer les principales impuretés qui persistent dans l’éluat (ions chlorure et sulfate et des colorants), l’électrodialyse s’est avérée un procédé très performant en ce qui concerne l’élimination des ions chlorure (proche de 100 %) tandis qu’une étape d’adsorption sur résine polystyrénique XAD16 permet l’élimination de 80 % de la charge colorante de l’éluat acide. Le couplage le plus intéressant associe microfiltration, échange d’ions, électrodialyse et adsorption. Il permet d’obtenir une pureté estimée à 37 % MS, avec un facteur de purification de 3,6 par rapport à la vinasse initiale. Ces travaux ont permis d’améliorer d’un facteur 2,6 la pureté de l’acide par rapport à des études antérieures et de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de sa purification sur résine anionique faible.Cane stillage or vinasse, a byproduct of cane industry, contains from 5 to 7 g/L of aconitic acid, a valuable trivalent carboxylic acid belonging to the second class of building block chemicals. Vinasse also contains a variety of organic compounds (organic acids, amino-acids, colouring matters) and minerals (chlorides, sulphates), which makes purification not straightforward. The objective of this work is to develop the extraction of aconitic acid from stillage, with anion exchange as the heart of the process. In order to improve performances, the main characteristics of the selected anion-exchange resin (Lewatit S4528) are studied. Acid-base dosage and ion-exchange equilibrium experiments allow the total capacity of this support and the ion-exchange coefficients for the major competing anions (aconitate, chloride and sulfate) to be obtained. Separation performances in column are studied for different pH, different solutions (aconitic acid alone, synthetic and industrial stillage) and different resin forms (sulfate, chloride and free- base) in order to elucidate the separation mechanisms.Elution step is also investigated. Best conditions are for stillage at its natural pH (pH 4.5) on the resin under chloride form and HCl 0,5N as the eluant. A 28% DM purity and a 61% global recovery are achieved for aconitic acid in the eluate. Main impurities still remaining are chlorides or sulfates and coloring matter. Homopolar electrodialysis proves successful for removing nearly 100% chlorides from aconitic acid with a limited loss of the acid (< 15%). Adsorption step on a polystyrenic resin (XAD16) of an acidic eluate leads to the retention of 80% of the colorants, with only 12% of the acid lost. At last, the most interesting process combination associates microfiltration, anion-exchange, electrodialysis and adsorption. Purity is 37% MS, namely 3.6 higher than the original vinasse. This work enables aconitic acid purity to be improved by a factor of 2.6 compared with prior studies and to have a better comprehension of the mechanisms involved in its purification on weak anionic resin

L’immigration clandestine à Mayotte : un phénomène révélateur de l'incidence des changements climatiques sur la sécurité humaine?

The French department of Mayotte located in the heart of Indian Ocean undergoes a high level of migrations from the archipelago of the Comoro Islands. Under the influence of climate changes, this phenomenon may be aggravated which is very curious because every island of the archipelago are facing similar geological and meteorological conditions. Considering the level of vulnerability of theses populations, the human security approach may be a good way to look at this situation

Extraction of a tricarboxylic acid from a sugar-cane by-product – Study and modeling of the anion-exchange step

Extraction of a tricarboxylic acid from a sugar-cane by-product – Study and modeling of the anion-exchange step . 16. Congrès de la Société Française de Génie des Procédés "Le Génie des Procédés au Service de l'Homme" (SFGP 2017

Anti-embryonation immunity in Murine Schistosomiasis japonica (Philippines)

The hypothesis that granuloma modulation and disease abatement in chronic infection with Schistosoma japonicum   could be ascribed to antibody-mediated effects on egg maturation and egg viability, arose from studies performed with mice in the Philippines. This novel hypothesis has not yet been integrated into the schistosomiasis literature despite being formulated more than a decade ago. One reason for this is that the phenomenon might be confined to S. japonicum, even S. japonicum (Philippines)