Mixed-Metal Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks and their Selective Capture of Wet Carbon Dioxide over Methane

Nguyen, Nhung T. T.,Lo, Tien N. H.,Kim, Jaheon,Nguyen, Huong T. D.,Le, Toan B.,Cordova, Kyle E.,Furukawa, Hiroyasu American Chemical Society 2016 Inorganic Chemistry Vol.55 No.12

<P>A presynthesized, square planar copper imidazole complex, [Cu(imidazole)(4)](NO3)(2), was utilized as a precursor in the synthesis of a new series of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, termed ZIF-202, -203, and -204. The structures of all three members were solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, which revealed ZIF-203 and -204 having successfully integrated square planar units within the backbones of their respective frameworks. As a result of this unit, the structures of both ZIF-203 and -204 were found to adopt unprecedented three-dimensional nets, namely, ntn and thl, respectively. One member of this series, ZIF-204, was demonstrated to be highly porous, exhibit exceptional stability in water, and selectively capture CO2 over CH4 under both dry and wet conditions without any loss in performance over three cycles. Remarkably, the regeneration of ZIF-204 was performed under the mild conditions of flowing a pure N-2 gas through the material at ambient temperature.</P>

Effect of agave fructans on the production of short chain fatty acid in mice

Silvia M. Gonza´lez-Herrera,Luis E. Simental-Mendı´a,Mercedes G. Lo´pez,Nuria E. Rocha-Guzma´n,Olga M. Rutiaga-Quin˜ones,Rau´ l Rodrı´guez-Herrera,Claudia I. Gamboa-Go´mez 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.5

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of agave fructans on short chain fatty acid (SCFA) production in mice (C57BL/6). Animals were randomly divided into three groups (n = 8): control group (CG), fructans from Agave tequilana group (FG) (55 g per day/kg of body weight), and oligrofructose group (OG) (55 g per day/kg of body weight). Treatments were administered oral via for 6 weeks. After 24 days of treatment (phase 1), both treated groups exhibited elevated levels of acetic (12%) and propionic (FG 66% and OG 38%) acids in comparison with the CG. After 42 days of treatment (phase 2), FG had higher concentrations of acetic (33%) and propionic (73%) acids than the CG; while OG exhibited higher levels of butyric (12%) and propionic (35%) acids compared with the CG. Fructans from Agave tequilana improve the production of SCFA in mice, suggesting a prebiotic activity.

Portion Sizes from 24-Hour Dietary Recalls Differed by Sex among Those Who Selected the Same Portion Size Category on a Food Frequency Questionnaire

Kang, Minji,Park, Song-Yi,Boushey, Carol J.,Wilkens, Lynne R.,Monroe, Kristine R.,Le Marchand, Loï,c,Kolonel, Laurence N.,Murphy, Suzanne P.,Paik, Hee-Young Elsevier 2018 Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Vol.118 No.9

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P><B>Background</B></P> <P>Accounting for sex differences in food portions may improve dietary measurement; however, this factor has not been well examined.</P> <P><B>Objective</B></P> <P>The aim of this study was to examine sex differences in reported food portions from 24-hour dietary recalls (24HDRs) among those who selected the same portion size category on a quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ).</P> <P><B>Design</B></P> <P>This study was conducted with a cross-sectional design.</P> <P><B>Participants/setting</B></P> <P>Participants (n=319) were members of the Hawaii–Los Angeles Multiethnic Cohort who completed three 24HDRs and a QFFQ in a calibration study conducted in 2010 and 2011.</P> <P><B>Main outcome measures</B></P> <P>Portions of individual foods reported from 24HDRs served as the outcome measures.</P> <P><B>Statistical analyses performed</B></P> <P>Mean food portions from 24HDRs were compared between men and women who reported the same portion size on the QFFQ, after adjustment for race/ethnicity using a linear regression model. Actual amount and the assigned amount of the selected portion size in the QFFQ were compared using one-sample <I>t</I> test for men and women separately.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>Of 163 food items with portion size options listed in the QFFQ, 32 were reported in 24HDRs by ≥20 men and ≥20 women who selected the same portion size in the QFFQ. Although they chose the same portion size on the QFFQ, mean intake amounts from 24HDRs were significantly higher for men than for women for “beef/lamb/veal,” “white rice,” “brown/wild rice,” “lettuce/tossed salad,” “eggs cooked/raw,” “whole wheat/rye bread,” “buns/rolls,” and “mayonnaise in sandwiches.” For men, mean portions of 14 items from the 24HDRs were significantly different from the assigned amounts for QFFQ items (seven higher and seven lower), whereas for women, mean portions of 14 items were significantly lower from the assigned amounts (with five significantly higher).</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>These sex differences in reported 24HDR food portions—even among participants who selected the same portion size on the QFFQ—suggest that the use of methods that account for differences in the portions consumed by men and women when QFFQs are quantified may provide more accurate absolute dietary intakes.</P>

임상검사실 측정방법의 일치화를 위한 추진방향

W. Greg Miller,Gary L. Myers,Mary Lou Gantzer,Stephen E. Kahn,E. Ralf Schönbrunner,Linda M. Thienpont,David M. Bunk,Robert H. Christenson,John H. Eckfeldt,Stanley F. Lo,C. Micha Nübling,Catharine M. S 대한진단검사의학회 2012 Laboratory Medicine Online Vol.2 No.1

Results between different clinical laboratory measurement procedures (CLMP) should be equivalent, within clinically meaningful limits, to enable optimal use of clinical guidelines for disease diagnosis and patient management. When laboratory test results are neither standardized nor harmonized, a different numeric result may be obtained for the same clinical sample. Unfortunately, some guidelines are based on test results from a specific laboratory measurement procedure without consideration of the possibility or likelihood of differences between various procedures. When this happens, aggregation of data from different clinical research investigations and development of appropriate clinical practice guidelines will be flawed. A lack of recognition that results are neither standardized nor harmonized may lead to erroneous clinical, financial, regulatory, or technical decisions. Standardization of CLMPs has been accomplished for several measurands for which primary (pure substance) reference materials exist and/or reference measurement procedures (RMPs) have been developed. However, the harmonization of clinical laboratory procedures for measurands that do not have RMPs has been problematic owing to inadequate definition of the measurand, inadequate analytical specificity for the measurand,inadequate attention to the commutability of reference materials, and lack of a systematic approach for harmonization. To address these problems,an infrastructure must be developed to enable a systematic approach for identification and prioritization of measurands to be harmonized on the basis of clinical importance and technical feasibility, and for management of the technical implementation of a harmonization process for a specific measurand.

E-beam lithography and electrodeposition fabrication of thick nanostructured devices

Lo, T N,Chen, Y T,Chiu, C W,Liu, C J,Wu, S R,Lin, I K,Su, C I,Chang, W D,Hwu, Y,Shew, B Y,Chiang, C C,Je, J H,Margaritondo, G Institute of Physics [etc.] 2007 Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics Vol.40 No.10

<P>A nanofabrication approach based on advanced e-beam lithography and electrodeposition successfully produced high-resolution (≈40 nm line width) metal structures with high aspect ratio (>12) and high density. The combination of these characteristics is essential for hard-x-ray optical components such as zone plates, for x-ray lithography masks and for other devices.</P>

Parametric sensitivity analysis and ozone mass transfer modeling in a gas–liquid reactor for advanced water treatment

Valentı´n Flores-Paya´n,Enrique J. Herrera-Lo´ pez,Javier Navarro-Laboulais,Alberto Lo´ pez-Lo´ pez 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.21 No.1

A computational model for a reactor used in advanced water treatment was proposed to represent,simulate and predict the mass transfer process of ozone in water (gas–liquid). A graphic interface wasdesigned to simulate the ozone gas transfer into the liquid. In addition, the values of the mass transfercoefficient, and the self-decomposition of ozone, could be determined for different initial conditions. Themodel for ozone mass transfer was represented by two differential equations derived from the massbalances of the system. Finally a sensitivity analysis wasmade to determine the effect of the parametersover the operating variables.

β-Caryophyllene, a Dietary Cannabinoid, Protects Against Metabolic and Immune Dysregulation in a Diet-Induced Obesity Mouse Model

Noel N. Franco-Arroyo,Juan M. Viveros-Paredes,A. Sara M. Zepeda-Morales,Erika Rolda´n,Ana L. Ma´rquez-Aguirre,Jose´ S. Zepeda-Nun˜o,Gilberto Vela´zquez-Jua´rez,Mary Fafutis-Morris,Rocio I. Lo´pez-Roa 한국식품영양과학회 2022 Journal of medicinal food Vol.25 No.10

Obesity is an abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in the body that exacerbates metabolic and inflammatory processes, and impairs the health of afflicted individuals. β-caryophyllene is a natural sesquiterpene that is a dietary cannabinoid with anti-inflammatory properties and potential activity against metabolic diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of β-caryophyllene on C57BL/6 mice using a diet-induced obesity model. Male mice were randomly assigned to the following groups over a 16-week period: (1) standard diet as lean control, (2) high-fat diet (HFD) as obese control, and (3) HFD + β-caryophyllene with β-caryophyllene at 50 mg/kg. Treatment with β-caryophyllene improved various metabolic parameters including increased total body weight, fasting glucose levels, oral-glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, fasting triglycerides, adipocyte hypertrophy, and liver macrovesicular steatosis. β-caryophyllene also modulated the levels and expression of immune response factors including adiponectin, leptin, insulin, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-a, and Toll-like receptor-4. Our data indicate that chronic supplementation with β-caryophyllene can improve relevant metabolic and immunological processes in obese mice. This protocol was approved by the Institutional Committee for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals from the University of Guadalajara with protocol code CUCEI/CINV/CICUAL-01/2022.

Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: The Philippine General Hospital Experience

Tom Edward N. Lo,Abigail T. Uy,Patricia Deanna D. Maningat 대한내분비학회 2016 Endocrinology and metabolism Vol.31 No.1

Background: Well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) is the most common form of thyroid malignancy. While it is typically associated with good prognosis, it may exhibit higher recurrence and mortality rates in selected groups, particularly Filipinos. This paper aims to describe the experience of a Philippine Hospital in managing patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 723 patients with WDTC (649 papillary and 79 follicular), evaluating the clinicopathologic profiles, ultrasound features, management received, tumor recurrence, and eventual outcome over a mean follow-up period of 5 years. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 44± 13 years (range, 18 to 82), with a majority of cases occurring in the younger age group (<45 years). Most tumors were between 2 and 4 cm in size. The majority of papillary thyroid cancers (PTCs, 63.2%) and follicular thyroid cancers (FTCs, 54.4%) initially presented as stage 1, with a greater proportion of FTC cases (12.7% vs. 3.7%) presenting with distant metastases. Nodal metastases at presentation were more frequent among patients with PTC (29.9% vs. 7.6%). A majority of cases were treated by complete thyroidectomy, followed by radioactive iodine therapy and thyroid stimulat ing hormone suppression, resulting in a disease-free state. Excluding patients with distant metastases at presentation, the recur rence rates for papillary and FTC were 30.1% and 18.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Overall, PTC among Filipinos was associated with a more aggressive and recurrent behavior. FTC among Filipinos appeared to behave similarly with other racial groups.

Enzymatic cross-linking of ferulated arabinoxylan: effect of laccase or peroxidase catalysis on the gel characteristics

Ana L. Martı´nez-Lo´pez,Elizabeth Carvajal-Millan,Jorge Marquez-Escalante,Alma C. Campa-Mada,Agustı´n Rasco´n-Chu,Yolanda L. Lo´pez-Franco,Jaime Lizardi-Mendoza 한국식품과학회 2019 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.28 No.2

Arabinoxylans (AX) gels at 4% (w/v) wereprepared using laccase (LAX gels) or peroxidase (PAXgels), and their cross-linking, rheological, structural, andspectroscopic characteristics were investigated. LAX gelspresented lower amount of 5,50-diferulic acid (11%),smaller mesh size (128 nm), and higher hardness (37 N)and elasticity (430 Pa) than the PAX gels (28%, 197 nm,7 N, and 120 Pa, respectively). Microscopy of the LAXgels showed linked strands, while the system was lessconnected in the PAX gels. The Raman band at 2895 cm-1of the LAX and PAX gels was less intense, indicatingenhanced hydrogen bonding compared to that of AX. Thisdecrease was less dramatic for the PAX gels. The greatercontent of 5,50-diferulic acid in PAX gels could favorintrachain bonds, affecting their rheological, structural, andspectroscopic characteristics. Laccase may be a betteroption than peroxidase for AX gelation intended for foodand biotechnological applications.

TREATING UNCERTAINTIES IN A NUCLEAR SEISMIC PROBABILISTIC RISK ASSESSMENT BY MEANS OF THE DEMPSTER-SHAFER THEORY OF EVIDENCE

Lo, Chung-Kung,Pedroni, N.,Zio, E. Korean Nuclear Society 2014 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.46 No.1

The analyses carried out within the Seismic Probabilistic Risk Assessments (SPRAs) of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) are affected by significant aleatory and epistemic uncertainties. These uncertainties have to be represented and quantified coherently with the data, information and knowledge available, to provide reasonable assurance that related decisions can be taken robustly and with confidence. The amount of data, information and knowledge available for seismic risk assessment is typically limited, so that the analysis must strongly rely on expert judgments. In this paper, a Dempster-Shafer Theory (DST) framework for handling uncertainties in NPP SPRAs is proposed and applied to an example case study. The main contributions of this paper are two: (i) applying the complete DST framework to SPRA models, showing how to build the Dempster-Shafer structures of the uncertainty parameters based on industry generic data, and (ii) embedding Bayesian updating based on plant specific data into the framework. The results of the application to a case study show that the approach is feasible and effective in (i) describing and jointly propagating aleatory and epistemic uncertainties in SPRA models and (ii) providing 'conservative' bounds on the safety quantities of interest (i.e. Core Damage Frequency, CDF) that reflect the (limited) state of knowledge of the experts about the system of interest.