Assessment of Extremely Cold Subarctic Climate Environment Destruction of the Basalt Fiber Reinforced Epoxy (BFRE) Rebar Using Its Moisture Uptake Kinetics

A quite simple method is proposed for the assessment of extremely cold subarctic climate environment destruction of the basalt fiber reinforced epoxy (BFRE) rebar. The method involves the comparison of experimentally obtained long-term moisture uptake kinetic curves of unexposed and exposed BFRP rebars. A moisture uptake test was carried out at the temperature of 60 °C and relative humidity of 98 ± 2% for 306 days. The plasticization can be neglected because of low-level moisture saturation (<0.41% wt.); the swelling and structural relaxation of the polymer network can be neglected due to the high fiber content of BFRP rebar; moisture diffusion into the basalt fibers can be neglected since it is a much lesser amount than in the epoxy binder. These assumptions made it possible to build a three-stage diffusion model. It is observed that an increase in the density of defects with an increase in the diameter of the BFRP rebar is the result of the technology of manufacturing a periodic profile. The diffusion coefficient of the BFRP rebar with a 6, 10, or 18 mm diameter increased at an average of 82.7%, 56.7%, and 30%, respectively, after exposure to the climate of Yakutsk during 28 months, whereas it was known that the strength indicators had been increased.

Ammonium nitrate promotes sulfate formation through uptake kinetic regime

Although the anthropogenic emissions of SO2 have decreased significantly in China, the decrease in SO42- in PM2.5 is much smaller than that of SO2. This implies an enhanced formation rate of SO42- in the ambient air, and the mechanism is still under debate. This work investigated the formation mechanism of particulate sulfate based on statistical analysis of long-term observations in Shijiazhuang and Beijing supported with flow tube experiments. Our main finding was that the sulfur oxidation ratio (SOR) was exponentially correlated with ambient RH in Shijiazhuang (SOR = 0.15+0.0032×exp⁡(RH/16.2)) and Beijing (SOR = -0.045+0.12×exp⁡(RH/37.8)). In Shijiazhuang, the SOR is linearly correlated with the ratio of aerosol water content (AWC) in PM2.5 (SOR = 0.15+0.40×AWC/PM2.5). Our results suggest that uptake of SO2 instead of oxidation of S(IV) in the particle phase is the rate-determining step for sulfate formation. NH4NO3 plays an important role in the AWC and the change of particle state, which is a crucial factor determining the uptake kinetics of SO2 and the enhanced SOR during haze days. Our results show that NH3 significantly promoted the uptake of SO2 and subsequently the SOR, while NO2 had little influence on SO2 uptake and SOR in the presence of NH3.

Process Optimization and Modeling of Phenol Adsorption onto Sludge-Based Activated Carbon Intercalated MgAlFe Ternary Layered Double Hydroxide Composite

A sewage sludge-based activated carbon (SBAC) intercalated MgAlFe ternary layered double hydroxide (SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH) composite was synthesized via the coprecipitation method. The adsorptive performance of the composite for phenol uptake from the aqueous phase was evaluated via the response surface methodology (RSM) modeling technique. The SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH phenol uptake capacity data were well-fitted to reduced RSM cubic model (R2 = 0.995, R2-adjusted = 0.993, R2-predicted = 0.959 and p-values < 0.05). The optimum phenol adsorption onto the SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH was achieved at 35 °C, 125 mg/L phenol, and pH 6. Under the optimal phenol uptake conditions, pseudo-first-order and Avrami fractional-order models provided a better representation of the phenol uptake kinetic data, while the equilibrium data models’ fitting follows the order; Liu > Langmuir > Redlich–Peterson > Freundlich > Temkin. The phenol uptake mechanism was endothermic in nature and predominantly via a physisorption process (ΔG° = −5.33.56 to −5.77 kJ/mol) with the involvement of π–π interactions between the phenol molecules and the functionalities on the SBAC-LDH surface. The maximum uptake capacity (216.76 mg/g) of SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH was much higher than many other SBAC-based adsorbents. The improved uptake capacity of SBAC-LDH was attributed to the effective synergetic influence of SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH, which yielded abundant functionalized surface groups that favored higher aqueous phase uptake of phenol molecules. This study showcases the potential of SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH as an effective adsorbent material for remediation of phenolic wastewater.

Screen-printing of microfibrillated cellulose for an improved moisture management, strength and abrasion resistant properties of flame-resistant fabrics

Low moisture absorbency of hydrophobically coated flame-resistant (FR) fabrics do not correlate well with the thermophysiological comfort. In this frame, we were the first to study the effect of screen-printed microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) on fabric’s breathability and moisture build-up and transfer as user-friendly and wear-related comfortable coating. The amount of MFC applied and its patterning was varied using different printing parameters, the density and thickness of FR fabric, and studied by add-on measurement and microscopic imaging. The effect of MFC coating and its durability (attachment) after a post-printing of hydrophobic polyacrylate on the same (layer-by-layer) or other side of the fabrics was considered, thus to maintain one side of the fabric (facing towards the wearer) hydrophilic while keeping the other side (facing outward) hydrophobic. The results showed that MFC provides uniform and repeatable printing, which gave homogeneous patterning with good layering on the fabrics, although, resulting in the MFC concentration, squeegee’ pressure, and fabric’ structure dependent add-on, its imprinting and co-crosslinking within the polyacrylate. This slightly reduced the fabric air-permeability, but increased it surfaces wetting, moisture uptake kinetic and capacity (hydroscopicity), without affecting the water vapour transfer. Besides, the polyacrylate could fix the MFC pre-printed on the other side of the fabric, thus maintaining its hydrophilicity, being more pronounced in the case of less open and thicker fabric, while improving its tensile/tear strengths and abrasion resistance, without deterioration of the fabric`s flammability.

Ammonium nitrate promotes sulfate formation through uptake kinetic regime

Although the anthropogenic emissions of SO2 have decreased significantly in China, the decrease in SO42− in PM2.5 is much smaller than that of SO2. This implies an enhanced formation rate of SO42− in the ambient air, and the mechanism is still under debate. This work investigated the formation mechanism of particulate sulfate based on statistical analysis of long-term observations in Shijiazhuang and Beijing supported with flow tube experiments. Our main finding was that the SOR was exponentially correlated with ambient RH in Shijiazhuang (SOR = 0.15 + 0.0032exp(RH/16.2)) and Beijing (SOR = −0.045 + 0.12exp(RH/37.8)). In Shijiazhuang, the SOR is linearly correlated with the ratio of aerosol water content (AWC) in PM2.5 (SOR = 0.15 + 0.40AWC/PM2.5). Kinetics studies suggest that uptake of SO2 instead of oxidation of S(IV) in particle-phase is the rate determining step for sulfate formation. NH4NO3 plays an important role in the AWC and the transition of particle phase, which is a crucial factor determining the uptake kinetics of SO2 and the enhanced SOR during haze days. Our results show that NH3 significantly promoted the uptake of SO2, subsequently, the SOR, while NO2 had little influence on SO2 uptake and SOR in the presence of NH3.

Screen-printing of microfibrillated cellulose for an improved moisture management, strength and abrasion resistant properties of flame-resistant fabrics

Low moisture absorbency of hydrophobically coated flame-resistant (FR) fabrics do not correlate well with the thermophysiological comfort. In this frame, we were the first to study the effect of screen-printed microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) on fabric’s breathability and moisture build-up and transfer as user-friendly and wear-related comfortable coating. The amount of MFC applied and its patterning was varied using different printing parameters, and the density and thickness of FR fabric, and studied by add-on measurement and microscopic imaging. The effect of MFC coating and its durability (attachment) after a post-printing of hydrophobic polyacrylate on the same (layer-by-layer) or other side of the fabrics was considered, thus to maintain one side of the fabric (facing towards the wearer) hydrophilic while keeping the other side (facing outward) hydrophobic. The results showed that MFC provides uniform and repeatable printing, which gave homogeneous patterning with good layering on the fabrics, although, resulting in the MFC concentration, squeegee’ pressure, and fabric’ structure dependent add-on, its imprinting and co-crosslinking within the polyacrylate. This slightly reduced the fabric air-permeability, but increased it surfaces wetting, moisture uptake kinetic and capacity (hydroscopicity), without affecting the water vapour transfer. Besides, the polyacrylate could fix the MFC pre-printed on the other side of the fabric, thus maintaining its hydrophilicity, being more pronounced in the case of less open and thicker fabric, while improving its tensile /tear strengths and abrasion resistance, without deterioration of the fabric`s flammability.

Targeting Kinases in Fasciola hepatica: Anthelminthic Effects and Tissue Distribution of Selected Kinase Inhibitors

Protein kinases have been discussed as promising druggable targets in various parasitic helminths. New drugs are also needed for control of fascioliasis, a food-borne trematode infection and worldwide spread zoonosis, caused by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica and related species. In this study, we intended to move protein kinases more into the spotlight of Fasciola drug research and characterized the fasciolicidal activity of two small-molecule inhibitors from human cancer research: the Abelson tyrosine kinase (ABL-TK) inhibitor imatinib and the polo-like 1 (PLK1) inhibitor BI2536. BI2536 reduced viability of 4-week-old immature flukes in vitro, while adult worms showed a blockade of egg production. Together with a significantly higher transcriptional expression of PLK1 in adult compared to immature worms, this argues for a role of PLK1 in fluke reproduction. Both fluke stages expressed ABL1-TK transcripts at similar high levels and were affected by imatinib. To study the uptake kinetic and tissue distribution of imatinib in F. hepatica, we applied matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) for the first time in this parasite. Drug imaging revealed the accumulation of imatinib in different fluke tissues from 20 min to 12 h of exposure. Furthermore, we show that imatinib is metabolized to N-desmethyl imatinib by F. hepatica, a bioactive metabolite also found in humans. Besides the vitellarium, gastrodermal tissue showed strong signal intensities. In situ hybridization demonstrated the gastrodermal presence of abl1 transcripts. Finally, we assessed transcriptional changes of physiologically important genes in imatinib-treated flukes. Moderately increased transcript levels of a gene encoding a multidrug resistance protein were detected, which may reflect an attempt to defend against imatinib. Increased expression levels of the cell cycle dependently expressed histone h2b and of two genes encoding superoxide dismutases (SODs) were also observed. In summary, our pilot study demonstrated cross-stage activity of imatinib but not BI2536 against immature and adult F. hepatica in vitro; a fast incorporation of imatinib within minutes, probably via the oral route; and imatinib-induced expression changes of physiologically relevant genes. We conclude that kinases are worth analyzing in more detail to evaluate the potential as therapeutic targets in F. hepatica.

Effect of Cholesterol on the Organic Cation Transporter OCTN1 (SLC22A4)

The effect of cholesterol was investigated on the OCTN1 transport activity measured as [14C]-tetraethylamonium or [3H]-acetylcholine uptake in proteoliposomes reconstituted with native transporter extracted from HeLa cells or the human recombinant OCTN1 over-expressed in E. coli. Removal of cholesterol from the native transporter by MβCD before reconstitution led to impairment of transport activity. A similar activity impairment was observed after treatment of proteoliposomes harboring the recombinant (cholesterol-free) protein by MβCD, suggesting that the lipid mixture used for reconstitution contained some cholesterol. An enzymatic assay revealed the presence of 10 µg cholesterol/mg total lipids corresponding to 1% cholesterol in the phospholipid mixture used for the proteoliposome preparation. On the other way around, the activity of the recombinant OCTN1 was stimulated by adding the cholesterol analogue, CHS to the proteoliposome preparation. Optimal transport activity was detected in the presence of 83 µg CHS/ mg total lipids for both [14C]-tetraethylamonium or [3H]-acetylcholine uptake. Kinetic analysis of transport demonstrated that the stimulation of transport activity by CHS consisted in an increase of the Vmax of transport with no changes of the Km. Altogether, the data suggests a direct interaction of cholesterol with the protein. A further support to this interpretation was given by a docking analysis indicating the interaction of cholesterol with some protein sites corresponding to CARC-CRAC motifs. The observed direct interaction of cholesterol with OCTN1 points to a possible direct influence of cholesterol on tumor cells or on acetylcholine transport in neuronal and non-neuronal cells via OCTN1.