Standard Flow Multiplexed Proteomics (SFloMPro)—An Accessible Alternative to NanoFlow Based Shotgun Proteomics

Multiplexed proteomics using isobaric tagging allows for simultaneously comparing the proteomes of multiple samples. In this technique, digested peptides from each sample are labeled with a chemical tag prior to pooling sample for LC-MS/MS with nanoflow chromatography (NanoLC). The isobaric nature of the tag prevents deconvolution of samples until fragmentation liberates the isotopically labeled reporter ions. To ensure efficient peptide labeling, large concentrations of labeling reagents are included in the reagent kits to allow scientists to use high ratios of chemical label per peptide. The increasing speed and sensitivity of mass spectrometers has reduced the peptide concentration required for analysis, leading to most of the label or labeled sample to be discarded. In conjunction, improvements in the speed of sample loading, reliable pump pressure, and stable gradient construction of analytical flow HPLCs has continued to improve the sample delivery process to the mass spectrometer. In this study we describe a method for performing multiplexed proteomics without the use of NanoLC by using offline fractionation of labeled peptides followed by rapid “standard flow” HPLC gradient LC-MS/MS. Standard Flow Multiplexed Proteomics (SFloMPro) enables high coverage quantitative proteomics of up to 16 mammalian samples in about 24 h. In this study, we compare NanoLC and SFloMPro analysis of fractionated samples. Our results demonstrate that comparable data is obtained by injecting 20 µg of labeled peptides per fraction with SFloMPro, compared to 1 µg per fraction with NanoLC. We conclude that, for experiments where protein concentration is not strictly limited, SFloMPro is a competitive approach to traditional NanoLC workflows with improved up-time, reliability and at a lower relative cost per sample.

DESIGN OF DEEP-FERTILIZATION MECHANISM WITH DEFORMED GEARS AND PERFORMANCE TESTS

Deep-fertilization mechanism is a key part of deep-fertilization liquid fertilizer applicator. To obtain a good-performance deep-fertilization mechanism, this study developed a deep-fertilization mechanism with deformed gears and designed a deformed gear fertilization test bench. Single-factor and central composite design tests were performed with the planet carrier, spray hole size and pump pressure as the test factors, and the fertilizer amount as the test index. The results of the single-factor test showed a linear functional relationship between fertilizer amount and pump pressure, an exponential functional relationship between planet carrier velocity and fertilizer amount, and an exponential relationship between spray hole size and fertilizer amount. The rotating and perpendicular test data were analyzed and optimized using Design-Expert 8.0.5 software. The result of the optimization is: 10.5ml of fertilizer amount with pump pressure 0.36MPa, planet carrier velocity 82 r/min, and spray hole size 2 mm. The test result can meet the agronomic requirements.

Training of simple fire installation for security guard at Samarinda State Polytechnic

The Samarinda State Polytechnic has a hydrant that does not work, because the installation is damaged and is 35 years old. Currently, a simple fire fighting water installation has been made at three points with a length of 257 meters for 16 buildings, which utilizes lake water inside the Samarinda State Polytechnic campus. Therefore, this service activity is intended to provide skills for security guard in the Samarinda State Polytechnic regarding the use of hydrants. The specifications of the equipment used are portable centrifugal pumps with a maximum capacity of 700 liters/minute, a horizontal reach length of 40 meters, a vertical height of 12 meters and a pump pressure of ±5 bar. The results of this activity revealed that all security guard at the Samarinda State Polytechnic were able to operate a simple fire extinguisher installation. In addition, security personnel also have the ability to maintain a fire pump engine.

Study on Deterioration Characteristics and Fracturing Mechanism of Concrete Under Liquid Nitrogen Cold Shock

High-pressure water jet crushing concrete has significant advantages in safety, quality and environmental protection, which has a broad application prospect in the maintenance and reconstruction of concrete building. Nevertheless, it still has some problems such as high threshold pump pressure and large specific energy consumption. Water jet breaking concrete with liquid nitrogen (LN2) cold shock assistance combined with the low-temperature-induced fracturing and hydraulic impact can effectively reduce the working pressure of water jet and improve the energy utilization rate. On account of the unclear cracking characteristics and mechanism of concrete under the LN2 cold shock, this research carried out the following systematic research focusing on the key scientific issues above based on mechanical tests, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Results indicate that the total mass of concrete exfoliated blocks after compression failure increases as the LN2 cold shock time and the number of shock cycles goes up, and the uniaxial compressive strength decreases from 8.27 to 21.96%. Through SEM and NMR analysis, it is found that LN2 cold shock can cause more micro-cracks to develop inside the concrete, and the pore development increases as the cold shock time and the cycle number increase. Additionally, under the condition of water jet pump pressure of 150 MPa, the maximum width and depth of crater for cold shock of 5 min increase by 41.79% and 20.48%, respectively, and those for cold shock of 10 min increase by 76.72% and 40.43%, respectively, compared with the original sample.

Degradation detection for internal gear pumps using pressure reduction time maps

In this paper, a novel approach for detecting degradation in internal gear pumps is proposed. In a data-driven approach, pressure reduction time maps (PRTMs) are identified as a useful indicator for degradation detection. A PRTM measures the time for reducing the internal pump pressure from certain levels to any lower level when the pump engine is stopped and the valves are closed. The PRTM can thus be interpreted as an internal leakage indicator of the pump. For simplified evaluation, PRTMs are compressed to a single scalar indicator by computing their volume (PRTMV). When the internal leakage increases due to wear, the pressure in the pump decreases faster (implying a decreased PRTMV). The proposed approach has been developed and tested with data of real internal gear pumps with different operating times. The PRTMV shows a close relation to the operating time of the pump. Moreover, we compare PRTMV with the commonly used and well known approach of observing pressure holding speed (PHS). Especially for medium degradation, PRTMV shows better sensitivity then PHS.

Treatment of a Neonatal Peripheral Intravenous Infiltration/Extravasation (PIVIE) Injury With Hyaluronidase: A Case Report

Highlights Abstract Introduction: Intravenous therapy-related injury, its prevention, and treatment are ubiquitous topics of interest among neonatal clinicians and practitioners. This is due to the economic costs, reputational censure, and patents’ wellbeing concerns coupled with the possibility of potentially avoidable serious and life-long harm occurring in this vulnerable patient population. Case description: A term infant receiving a hypertonic dextrose infusion for the management of hypoglycemia developed a fulminating extravasation shortly after commencement of the infusion. This complication developed without notification of infusion pump pressure changes pertaining to a change in blood vessel compliance or early warning of infiltration by the optical sensor site monitoring technology (ivWatch®) in use. The injury was extensive and treated with a hyaluronidase/saline mix subcutaneously injected into the extravasation site using established techniques. Over a period of 2 weeks, the initially deep wound healed successfully without further incident, and the infant was discharged home without evident cosmetic scarring or functional effects. Conclusion: This article reports on a case of a term baby who postroutine insertion of a peripherally intravenous catheter showed an extreme reaction to extravasation of the administered intravenous fluids. We discuss the condition, our successful management with hyaluronidase, and the need to remain observationally vigilant of intravenous infusions despite the advances in infusion monitoring technology.

Physical Modelling of Flow and Head along with Dead-end and Looped Manifolds

In this study, physical models were designed and fabricated to investigate the hydraulic behaviour of dead-end and looped PVC manifolds. The physical models consisted of a water supply tank with overflow, PVC manifolds, steel supports, collection tank, pump, pressure sensors and valves to allow flow control. Throughout the study, the water level in the supply tank was kept constant. The hydraulic behaviour of dead-end manifolds was investigated using different spacing, S between outlets (S= 3m, S=2.5m, S=2m, S=1.5m, and S=0.75m). The hydraulic behaviour of looped manifolds was investigated using a single outlet spacing of 1.5m. The comparison between the hydraulic behaviour of looped and dead-end manifolds was carried out using the data of the 1.5m outlet spacing. The value of uniformity, U for dead-end and looped manifolds was 82% and 92%, respectively. The value of friction ratio, fn/f1, was found to be 33 and 0.18 for dead-end and looped manifolds, respectively. The experimental data of this study were used to validate selected formulae for estimation of the friction correction factor (G Factor). The results showed that the equation proposed by Alazba et al. (2012) yielded the most satisfactory estimation. The performance of the selected formulae was tested using two statistical indices.

Processing of Cf/SiC Composites through Two-Channel Temperature-Control CVI: I, Modeling

A two-channel temperature-control CVI scheme was proposed to fabricate thicker and denser composites. The two-channel structure helps to densify a thick preform, and a precise temperature control will guarantee a low and uniform porosity distribution. Validation simulations containing hydrodynamics, mass transfer, heat transfer and pore structure evolution were first carried out. Modeling results confirm that a two-step densification based on the new scheme can work well: At step I, all gases pass through the preform and the high-temperature bottom-preform is densified; At step II, by altering the outlet, temperature and infiltration time, part of gases are sucked into the preform and the remaining coarse preform is densified. The scheme can fabricate tick, uniform and dense composite, it can also avoid huge pump pressure thus protecting fibers from cracking. It is hoped to enlighten the CVI processing of ceramic matrix composites.

Impact of Various Nanoparticles on the Viscous Properties of Water Based Drilling Fluids

Properly designed drilling fluid is a key element in achieving safe and effective drilling operations. Rheological parameters of drilling fluid determine the equivalent circulation density, the pump pressure, and hole cleaning efficiency. Also, they have a significant role in predicting the stability of drilling fluid under static and low shear rates. The chemical composition of the drilling fluid controls the rheological parameters. Recently, studies have shown that a small concentration of nanosized materials in the drilling fluid can substantially impact the rheological parameters of the drilling fluids. In this study, various nanoparticles (NPs) with different shapes, sizes, and surface charges were used to investigate their impact on the viscous properties of water-based drilling fluid. Bentonite and KCl water-based drilling fluids were used as the base fluids. NPs such as Iron oxide, Silica (SiO2), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were added to these base fluids. Also, surface functionalization of the NPs with polymer and functional groups such as -OH and -COOH groups was done to compare the effect of bare NPs with surface functionalized NPs. Hershel-Buckley model with dimensionless shear rates was used to calculate the low and high shear curvature exponents, surplus stress, and yield stress of the samples. Results indicate that NPs alter drilling fluid’s viscous properties based on their sizes, shapes, and surface charges. Moreover, the functionalization of NPs also modifies the properties based on the functional group attached to the NPs surface. This work shows that changing the size, shape, and surface charge of NPs has impact on viscous parameters, and NPs with different properties can fine-tune the fluid’s viscous properties based on the requirement for drilling fluid.