Flux stabilization of silicon nitride microsieves by backpulsing and surface modification with PEG moieties

The influence of the surface properties of chemically modified silicon nitride microsieves on the filtration of protein solutions and defatted milk is described in this research. Prior to membrane filtrations, an antifouling polymer based on poly(ethylene glycol), poly(TMSMA-r-PEGMA) was synthesized and applied on silicon-based surfaces like silicon, silicon nitride, and glass. The ability of such coating to repel proteins like bovine serum albumin (BSA) was confirmed by ellipsometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy. In BSA and skimmed milk filtrations no differences could be seen between unmodified and PEG-coated membranes (decreasing permeability in time). On the other hand, reduced fouling was observed with PEG-modified microsieves in combination with backpulsing and air sparging

Experimental determination of mass-transfer coefficients and area of dumped packing using alkanolamine solvents

AbstractThe absorption process is strongly influenced by the effective contact area. In absorber columns, this is related to the type of the internals used in the columns. Therefore, a good representation of the effective mass-transfer area and mass-transfer coefficients (kL or kg) is also essential for accurately represent and design a process. For CO2 capture process packed columns are usually preferred. The mass transfer area and coefficients for several packing (both structured and random) are correlated elsewhere. In this work mass transfer experiments using concentrated MEA solution in the Procede acid gas treating pilot plant are performed. However, due to the fast reaction between MEA and CO2, both the gas side and liquid side mass transfer resistances are relevant and the mass transfer area cannot be determined experimentally. Nevertheless, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient is calculated and it showed to be relatively constant for all the runs. The results from the pilot plant are compared to simulated results using Procede Process Simulator (PPS). The mass transfer area and mass transfer coefficients were calculated through the default correlations implemented in PPS. Very good agreement is achieved between the experimental and simulated results

Solubility and Diffusivity Data for the Absorption of COS, CO2, and N2O in Amine Solutions

Absorption data for COS and N2O in aqueous solutions of N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), ethylene glycol, and sulfolane (tetrahydrothiophene 1,1-dioxide) at 298 K and solubility data for COS in water at temperatures ranging from 298 to 338 K are presented. Also density, viscosity, N2O solubility, and N2O diffusivity data are reported for a wide range of aqueous alkanolamine solutions, aqueous mixtures of alkanolamines, and solutions of MDEA in water/ethanol. It is shown that an analogy between COS and N2O with respect to gas solubility in aqueous solutions of ethylene glycol and sulfolane holds up to about 25 mass %. This seems to justify, for engineering purposes, the application of this analogy for the estimation of COS solubilities in diluted aqueous amine solutions. Direct verification of a COS-N2O analogy was provided by absorption of N2O and COS into aqueous MDEA solutions in a laminar film reactor

Measles virus-specific murine T cell clones: characterization of fine specificity function.

Measles virus (MV)-specific murine helper T cell clones (Thy-1.2+, CD4+, CD8-) were generated from mice immunized with MV-infected mouse brain homogenate by limiting dilution and in vitro stimulation of spleen cells with UV-inactivated MV Ag. The protein specificity of 7 out of 37 stable T cell clones, which displayed MHC-restricted MV Ag recognition, could be assessed by using purified MV proteins. Two fusion (F) protein-specific, two hemagglutinin-specific, and three nucleoprotein- or matrix protein-specific clones were shown to be established. The F protein-specific T cell clones together with a pane

Facilitation of Employability for Maternity and Parental Leavers in Europe: A Scoping Review

This report presents the findings of an European project concerning facilitation of employability for parental leavers in European countries. The conclusions and recommendations in this report build on comparisons of relevant European policy documents, country nates from five European countries (France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway and Slovakia) and a search in relevant databases. Taken together, these data form an approximate scoping review - to map a wide range of literature. Both the concepts of maternal and parental leave are used in the present report. Research related to leave in connection with young children use the term maternity leave until the last decades where more frequent parental leave is used. We are aware that a distinction between parental and maternity leave does not apply in same countries. A main finding is that parental leave and employability is a complex and context sensitive area. This relates to the fact that parental leave must be seen in connection with both individual, organisational, cultural, historical and political (legislative) issues on both national and European level. In this study, the focus has been mainly descriptive on the political (legislative) level, while a more interpretative analysis is made on how to develop tools and educational programs concerning development of employability skills relevant for parental leavers and employers. Analysis of the situation regarding parental leavers' employment in the partner countries shows that maternal employment in France, Slovakia and Hungary is rather low. Although, in Hungary there are networks which provide special counselling for women and support them when it comes to their (re)integration into the labour market. In Western Europe, such as the Netherlands and Norway, the situation is more favourable, employers are more flexible and part-time job is a frequent option offered. However, the up-to-date level of skills of parental leavers coming back to work may be a challenge in these countries too. The duration and generosity of paid parental leave seems to affect when (after what time) parents return to work. The period of leave cannot be too short, nor too long. The optimal length of the leave varies greatly depending on national conditions and cultural frameworks. In any case, it should not be so long that the parental leavers become uninteresting for the labour market and lose working competence (Kalb, 2018; Whitehouse, Romaniuk, Lucas & Nicholson, 2013).This project has been funded with support from the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission

The interplay between tamoxifen and endoxifen plasma concentrations and coagulation parameters in patients with primary breast cancer

Background: Tamoxifen is an effective treatment for primary breast cancer but increases the risk for venous thromboembolism. Tamoxifen decreases anticoagulant proteins, including antithrombin (AT), protein C (PC) and tissue factor (TF) pathway inhibitor, and enhances thrombin generation (TG). However, the relation between plasma concentrations of both tamoxifen and its active metabolite endoxifen and coagulation remains unknown. Methods: Tamoxifen and endoxifen were measured in 141 patients from the prospective open-label intervention TOTAM-study after 3 months (m) and 6 m of tamoxifen treatment. Levels of AT and PC, the procoagulant TF, and TG parameters were determined at both timepoints if samples were available (n = 53–135 per analysis). Levels of coagulation proteins and TG parameters were correlated and compared between: 1) quartiles of tamoxifen and endoxifen levels, and 2) 3 m and 6 m of treatment. Results: At 3 m, levels of AT, PC, TF and TG parameters were not associated with tamoxifen nor endoxifen levels. At 6 m, median TF levels were lower in patients in the 3rd (56.6 [33] pg/mL), and 4th (50.1 [19] pg/mL) endoxifen quartiles compared to the 1st (lowest) quartile (76 [69] pg/mL) (P=0.027 and P=0.018, respectively), but no differences in anticoagulant proteins or TG parameters were observed. An increase in circulating TF levels (3 m: 46.0 [15] versus 6 m: 54.4 [39] pg/mL, P &lt; 0.001) and TG parameters was observed at the 6 m treatment timepoint, while AT and PC levels remained stable.Conclusions: Our results indicate that higher tamoxifen and endoxifen levels are not correlated with an increased procoagulant state, suggesting tamoxifen dose escalation does not further promote hypercoagulability.</p

Kinetic Study of COS with Tertiary Alkanolamine Solutions. 1. Experiments in an Intensely Stirred Batch Reactor

The reaction between COS and various tertiary alkanolamines in aqueous solutions has been studied in an intensely stirred batch reactor. Experiments for TEA, DMMEA, and DEMEA were carried out at 303 K; the reaction between COS and aqueous MDEA has been studied at temperatures ranging from 293 to 323 K. A two-step reaction mechanism has been proposed which describes all observed phenomena. This mechanism can be regarded as the base-catalyzed analogue of the reaction mechanism for the hydrolysis of COS. The proposed reaction mechanism was confirmed by absorption experiments into nonaqueous solutions of tertiary alkanolamines.