This study presents the characteristics of fluidized bed gasification of grape pomace, which is a residual biomass from the Chilean wine industry, by means of sensitivity analysis in the Aspen Plus ...process simulator. The model was used to evaluate the hydrogen generation potential and identify optimal conditions to improve hydrogen production. The effects of gasification temperature on syngas composition, syngas exergy and gasification efficiency were examined. Sensitivity analysis revealed that gasification temperatures above 800 °C result in the highest hydrogen yield. In addition, a mapping analysis of vineyards in Chile indicates a regional hydrogen production potential of 17,109.26 tons per year by pomace gasification. The results are accompanied by an economic and environmental assessment based on the model results, ensuring a holistic evaluation of the proposed approach.
•Biomass to Syngas gasification models demonstrate the feasibility of the processes.•One hectare of harvested grapes can contribute 156.6 tons of hydrogen/year.•Optimal biomass gasification temperatures above 800 °C are identified.•The potential H2 of the Chilean wine industry is estimated at 17,109.26 tons/year.•The proposed model confirms its economic viability through a profitability analysis.
In the recent past, a wider spectrum of nanotechnologybased drugs or drug-loaded devices and systems has been engineered and investigated with high interests.
The key objective is to help for an ...enhanced/better quality of patient life in a secure way by avoiding/limiting drug abuse, or severe adverse effects of some in practice traditional therapies.
Various methodological approaches including in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo techniques have been exploited, so far. Among them, nanoparticles-based therapeutic agents are of supreme interests for an enhanced and efficient delivery in the current biomedical sector of the modern world.
The development of new types of novel, effective and highly reliable therapeutic drug delivery system (DDS) for multipurpose applications is essential and a core demand to tackle many human health related diseases. In this context, nanotechnology-based several advanced DDS have been engineered with novel characteristics for biomedical, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical applications that include but not limited to the enhanced/improved bioactivity, bioavailability, drug efficacy, targeted delivery, and therapeutically safer with an extra advantage of overcoming demerits of traditional drug formulations/designs. This review work is focused on recent trends/advances in nanotechnology-based drugs and formulations designed for targeted therapeutic delivery. Moreover, information is also reviewed and given from recent patents and summarized or illustrated diagrammatically to depict a better understanding. Recent patents covering various nanotechnology-based approaches for several applications have also been reviewed.
The drug-loaded nanoparticles are among versatile candidates with multifunctional characteristics for potential applications in biomedical, and tissue engineering sector.
Bimodal cellular poly(methyl methacrylate) with micro‐ and nano‐sized (300–500 nm) cells with up to 5 wt% of sepiolite nanoparticles and porosity from 50% to 75% are produced by solid‐state foaming. ...Uniaxial compression tests are performed to measure the effect of sepiolite concentration on the elastic modulus and the yield strength of the solid and cellular nanocomposites. Single edge notch bend tests are conducted to relate the fracture toughness of the solid and cellular nanocomposites to sepiolite concentration. The relative modulus is independent of sepiolite content to within material scatter when considering the complete porosity range. In contrast, a mild enhancement of the relative modulus is observed by the addition of sepiolite particles for the foamed nanocomposites with a porosity close to 50%. The relative compressive strength of the cellular nanocomposites mildly decreases as a function of sepiolite concentration. A strong enhancement of the relative fracture toughness by the addition of sepiolites is observed. The enhancement of the relative fracture toughness and the relative modulus (at 50% porosity) can be attributed to an improved dispersion of the particles due to foaming and the migration of micro‐sized aggregates from the solid phase to the microcellular pores during foaming.
Bimodal nanocellular polymers based on poly(methyl methacrylate)‐sepiolite nanocomposites are mechanically characterized. Uniaxial compression tests and single edge notch bend tests are conducted. Results show a mild enhancement of the relative modulus at 50% porosity and a strong enhancement of the fracture toughness. These improvements are attributed to the position of the particle aggregates in the cellular materials.
Human beta defensin‐3 damages cell membranes of monocytes, potentially affecting these cellsˈ survival and activity at inflammation sites.
Interactions of AMPs with plasma membranes of primary human ...immune cells are poorly characterized. Analysis of PI exclusion as a measure of membrane integrity indicated that hBD‐3 caused membrane perturbations in monocytes but not T or B cells at concentrations typically used to kill bacteria or to induce activation of APCs. Bleb‐like structures were observed in monocytes exposed to hBD‐3. These cells also increased surface expression of LAMP1, a membrane repair marker after exposure to hBD‐3. Furthermore, cell death was enhanced by adding an inhibitor of membrane repair. Removal of cholesterol from membranes resulted in greater susceptibility of cells to hBD‐3, but cholesterol content was not different between the cell types, as assessed by filipin staining. Freshly isolated monocytes expressed higher levels of the negatively charged phospholipid, PS, on their outer leaflet compared with B or T cells. Preincubation of monocytes with molecules that bind PS protected these cells from hBD‐3‐induced membrane damage, suggesting that outer‐membrane PS expression can at least partially explain monocyte susceptibility to hBD‐3. The potential for membrane disruption caused by AMPs should be evaluated in various cell types when considering these molecules for therapeutic applications in humans.
Nanomaterials possess superior advantages due to their special geometries, higher surface area, and unique mechanical, optical, and physicochemical properties. Their characteristics make them great ...contributors to the development of many technological and industrial sectors. Therefore, novel nanomaterials have an increasing interest in many research areas including biomedicine such as chronic inflammations, disease detection, drug delivery, and infections treatment. Their relevant role is, in many cases, associated with an effective catalytic application, either as a pure catalyst (acting as a nanozyme) or as a support for catalytically active materials (forming nanobiocatalysts). In this review, we analyze the construction of nanozymes and nanobiocatalyst by different existing forms of nanomaterials including carbon-based nanomaterials, metal-based nanomaterials, and polymer-based nanocomposites. Then, we examine successful examples of such nanomaterials employed in biomedical research. The role played by nanomaterials in catalytic applications is analyzed to identify possible research directions toward the development of the field and the achievement of real practicability.
Graphical Abstract
No campo teórico e prático aplicado ao ordenamento do território, o rural tem sido associado a uma conceção genérica de espaço vazio, inútil ou como resíduo dos diferentes processos imobiliários. ...Desta forma, a produção do habitat rural é quase sempre reduzida a medidas parciais, descontínuas e claramente dependentes em termos políticos e económicos da dimensão urbana. Este artigo apresenta alguns resultados de uma pesquisa realizada em três assentamentos de reforma agrária no estado de São Paulo, Brasil, território caracterizado pela intensificação da luta pela terra e suas condições precárias, marcadas pela falta de infraestrutura, serviços, apoio à produção e habitação. Ou seja, camponeses que enfrentam permanentemente duas lutas, em primeiro lugar, lutam para ocupar a terra e depois lutam para permanecer nela. Pretendemos demonstrar a relevância da habitação social na produção do habitat rural nos territórios da reforma agrária brasileira, a partir dos processos e contradições inerentes à sua implementação. Do ponto de vista teórico-metodológico, este trabalho aponta que a construção crítica é realizada a partir do objeto, sustentada por categorias de análise complementares ao estudo de campo. Torna-se fundamental situar a questão da habitação social rural num outro patamar de reflexão, entendida como um ‘fenómeno sócio-espacial’, que integra simultaneamente a produção dos ambientes construídos, a questão da terra, os processos tecnológicos e produtivos, o trabalho e a participação da comunidade.
This article aims to be a contribution to the heuristics on the origins of the notarial institution in the kingdom of Aragon, temporarily locating the study in the period prior to the Foral ...Compilation of 1247; first Aragonese legal document in which ad hoc clauses related to this were specified. The objective of this contribution is to offer a new perspective on the prenotarial period in Alto Aragón through the analysis of a series of essential concepts on which, later, the normative bases of the notarial institution in the ancient kingdom of Aragón will be based.
El presente artículo pretende ser una contribución a la heurística sobre los orígenes de la institución notarial en el reino de Aragón, ubicando temporalmente el estudio en el periodo anterior a la Compilación Foral de 1247; primer documento legal aragonés en el que se especificaron cláusulas ad hoc relativas a ese respecto. El objetivo de esta aportación es el de ofrecer una nueva perspectiva sobre la época prenotarial en el Alto Aragón por medio del análisis de una serie de conceptos esenciales sobre los cuales, posteriormente, se asentarán las bases normativas de la institución notarial en el antiguo reino de Aragón.
In this study, in situ formation of three dimensional graphene-hydroxyapatite using graphene oxide, calcium nitrate tetra hydrate, and diammonium hydrogen phosphate solutions in a chemical synthesis ...system was investigated. First, the solutions were mixed and calcium phosphate was precipitated on graphene oxide sheets followed by performing a hydrothermal method at 180 °C, 2.2 MPa, pH = 11, and 6 h. The latter process resulted in the formation of three dimensional graphene while it was coated on hydroxyapatite nanorods. The synthesized powders were characterized in two steps for calcium phosphate-graphene oxide powders before hydrothermal process and three dimensional graphene-hydroxyapatite powders after hydrothermal process with Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman spectroscopy. The results of XRD and FTIR analysis showed that in the first step, di-calcium phosphate dehydrates were formed on graphene oxide sheets and converted to hydroxyapatite after the hydrothermal process. Raman spectroscopy analysis and FTIR confirmed that graphene oxide has been reduced in the hydrothermal process. Also, microscopic images confirmed the three-dimensional structure of graphene after hydrothermal process. Finally, the results showed that the hydrothermal method leads to the formation of a high crystalline hydroxyapatite nanorods that cover the surface of the three dimensional graphene.
•The hydrothermal process led to the reduction of graphene oxide.•The hydrothermal process resulted in the synthesis of hydroxyapatite nano-rods.•Graphene oxide sheets were assembled together and a 3D rGO structure was formed.•In hydrothermal conditions, the hybrid powder of 3DG coated with hydroxyapatite nano rods was synthesized.
The use of functional nanofillers to improve the properties of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams has caused the need for a better understanding of how these nanofillers modify the reaction kinetic of the ...PU system. In this study, different nanoclays and nanosilicas are used as functional nanofillers. Analysis of the kinetic data obtained by in-situ FTIR spectroscopy monitoring allows to correlate the isocyanate consumption with the type of nanoparticles. The quantification of urethane and urea, obtained by deconvolution of the carbonyl region absorptions, enables to follow the blowing and gelling reactions during the foaming process. These reactions are correlated to the nature of the chemical groups present on the surface of the nanoparticles added. In addition, the effect of the modification of the reaction kinetics on the density, cellular structure, thermal conductivity and mechanical properties is herein discussed.
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•Rigid polyurethane foams reinforced with nanofillers (nanoclays or nanosilicas) are produced and characterized.•The effect of nanofillers on polyurethane reaction kinetics is evaluated by FTIR spectroscopy.•The effect of the reaction kinetics on the microstructure and physical properties is discussed.•Nanoparticles modify both the reaction kinetics and foaming mechanisms affecting the final physical properties.
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