Ethanol Solution Research Articles

Salting-out and Competitive Adsorption of Ethanol into Lipid Bilayer Membranes: Conflicting Effects of Salts on Ethanol-Membrane Interactions Studied by Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Small amphiphilic molecules, such as ethanol, disturb the structure of lipid bilayer membranes to increase the membrane permeability, which is important for applications such as drug delivery, disinfection, and fermentation. To investigate how and the extent to which coexisting salts affect membrane disturbance, we performed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on lipid bilayer membranes composed of zwitterionic lipids in aqueous ethanol solutions containing 0-631 mM NaCl, KCl, and KI salts. The addition of salts at low concentrations induced cationic adsorption on the lipid membrane, which competes with ethanol adsorption, thereby reducing the hydrogen bonds between ethanol and lipid molecules. This competitive adsorption mitigated the membrane disturbance and decreased the permeation of ethanol molecules into the membrane. In contrast, higher salt concentrations enhanced the membrane disturbance and permeability, which was caused by the salting-out of ethanol from the aqueous phase to the lipid bilayer. These conflicting effects appearing at different concentrations were stronger with the chloride salts than with the iodide salt. Among the two chloride salts, NaCl and KCl, the latter showed a greater enhancement in ethanol permeation at high concentrations. This seeming anti-Hofmeister salting-out behavior resulted from greater Na+ adsorption, preventing the ethanol-lipid interactions.

Laser-induced selective metallization directly preparing repairable superhydrophobic copper layer on polymers and single-droplet ethanol detection

Ethanol is widely used in life and ethanol solutions with different concentrations have different uses, so it is important to detect ethanol concentration. Currently, methods for judging ethanol concentration according to the wetting of droplets on the surface of materials are gradually emerging. However, there are still problems, such as the need for measurement equipment, poor accuracy, and cannot be reused. Herein, a novel strategy was proposed to prepare a superhydrophobic (water contact angle = 155.4°) and super-ethanophilic (ethanol contact angle = 5.2°) copper layer on polymer substrate by laser-induced selective metallization (LISM) and atmosphere-induced hydrophobicity, which can be used for single-drop ethanol detection. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Thermogravimetric analysis − Fourier transform infrared − gas chromatography − mass spectrometry showed that when the rough copper layer prepared by LISM was exposed to air, it spontaneously oxidized and adsorbed airborne volatile organic compounds gases to become a superhydrophobic copper layer. The superhydrophobic copper layer obtained by this strategy has good durability. In addition, the superhydrophobic copper layer has excellent repair ability. The ethanol detection array prepared based on this superhydrophobic copper layer can be used to perform single-droplet ethanol detection. The array does not require any equipment and only needs to read the number of droplets in the wetted grid in the 20–70 % ethanol solution concentration range, showing great potential in the field of ethanol detection.

Preparation and application of highly oriented MFI zeolite membranes for efficient pervaporation recovery of organic solvents

Membrane-based pervaporation (PV) is highly efficient and energy-saving, and is poised to emerge as a promising technology for recovering biofuels from aqueous solutions. In this study, we prepared two versions of zeolite membranes, randomly oriented and highly (h0h)-oriented silicalite-1, with similar thicknesses on α-alumina tubes, and performed the first-reported systematic comparison of their PV performances in recovering organic solvents such as methanol, ethanol, acetone, n-propanol, isopropanol, and n-butanol from water. The contribution of the intrinsic properties of these membranes to PV was explored through permeance and selectivity analysis. The highly (h0h)-oriented membrane exhibited a significantly higher level of PV performance. In addition, the permeation behavior of PV and single-gas molecules through the highly (h0h)-oriented membranes was investigated, along with the influence that operating conditions (feed temperature and concentration) exert on PV. The results suggest that the PV permeation mechanism of organic solvent/water systems through the (h0h)-oriented silicalite-1 membranes involves a combination of adsorption-diffusion and molecular sieving. Furthermore, compared with other MFI-based membranes reported in the literature, the highly (h0h)-oriented silicalite-1 membrane demonstrated outstanding comprehensive separation performance due to its highly hydrophobic, preferentially oriented, and uniform silicalite-1 layer. For example, the separation factors for 10 wt% binary aqueous solutions of methanol, ethanol, acetone, and n-propanol were 12 at 50 °C, 32 at 70 °C, 145 at 70 °C, and 37.7 at 50 °C, respectively, with corresponding total flux values of 4.18, 2.63, 2.5, and 0.29 kg/(m2 h), respectively. These unique properties suggest its potential for PV recovery of organic solvents in sustainable chemical engineering.

Capillary Force-Induced Graphene Spontaneous Transfer and Encapsulation of Silver Nanowires for Highly-Stable Transparent Electrodes.

Silver nanowires (NWs) (AgNWs) have emerged as the most promising conductive materials in flexible optoelectronic devices owing to their excellent photoelectric properties and mechanical flexibility. It is widely acknowledged that the practical application of AgNW networks faces challenges, such as high surface roughness, poor substrate adhesion, and limited stability. Encapsulating AgNW networks with graphene has been recognized as a viable strategy to tackle these issues. However, conventional methods like self-assembly reduction-oxidation or chemical vapor deposition often yield graphene protective layers with inherent defects. Here, we propose a novel one-step hot-pressing method containing ethanol solution that combines the spontaneous transfer and encapsulation process of rGO films onto the surface of the AgNWs network, enabling the preparation of flexible rGO/AgNWs/PET (reduced graphene oxide/silver NWs/polyethylene terephthalate) electrodes. The composite electrode exhibits outstanding photoelectric properties (T ≈ 88%, R ≈ 6 Ω sq-1) and possesses a smooth surface, primarily attributed to the capillary force generated by ethanol evaporation, ensuring the integrity of the rGO delamination process on the original substrate. The capillary force simultaneously promotes the tight encapsulation of rGO and AgNWs, as well as the welding of the AgNWs junction, thereby enhancing the mechanical stability (20,000 bending cycles and 100 cycles of taping tests), thermal stability (∼30 °C and ∼25% humidity for 150 days), and environmental adaptability (100 days of chemical attack) of the electrode. The electrode's practical feasibility has been validated by its exceptional flexibility and cycle stability (95 and 98% retention after 5000 bending cycles and 12,000 s long-term cycles) in flexible electrochromic devices.

Characteristics of Umami Taste of Soy Sauce Using Electronic Tongue, Amino Acid Analyzer, and MALDI-TOF MS.

The objective of this study was to investigate the umami characteristics of soy sauce using electronic tongue evaluation and amino acid composition and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis. The soy sauce peptides were isolated from soy sauce using XAD-16 macroporous resin combined with ethanol solution. The results showed that the soy sauce peptide fraction eluted by 60% ethanol (SS-60%) exhibited a prominent umami taste, and the umami scores were highly positively correlated with the amino acid nitrogen contents of soy sauces. The umami scores of SS-60% were significantly positively correlated with the contents of free amino acids. Especially, Phe showed the highest positive correlation with the umami scores. In addition, five characteristic ion peaks with m/z at 499, 561, 643, 649, and 855 were identified in the peptide mass fingerprinting. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the umami characteristics for the taste evaluation and reality identification of soy sauce.

Preparation of carbon materials by vapor deposition with Fe3+-Modified nickel foam from biomass pyrolysis gas

Biomass carbon materials have attracted attention in various fields due to their excellent properties. In this study, CH4 derived from biomass pyrolysis was utilized as a carbon source gas to synthesize carbon materials by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in a two-stage reactor with purification system, with Fe3+-loaded nickel foam as the substrate under an argon atmosphere, using a self-designed experimental platform. The reaction process was optimized by examining the effects of the catalyst type, reaction temperature, reaction time, and gas flow rate on the structure and morphology of the carbon materials. The optimal preparation condition was to use FeCl3 ethanol solution as catalyst, with CH4 flow rate of 50 ml/min at 1000 °C for 25 min. The high quality carbon materials with uniform diameters (250–500 nm) were obtained on nickel foam substrate. The carbon materials obtained under optimal conditions were characterized and analyzed to investigate their excellent properties. Surface morphology and structure of as-formed carbon materials were characterized by SEM. The analysis of the XRD spectra and the Raman spectroscopy showed that the graphite diffraction peak (002) at 26.6°, the calculated intensity ratios for ID/IG and I2D/IG were 0.257 and 0.545, respectively, indicated high degree of graphitization and purity of the carbon materials. Furthermore, the growth mechanism of carbon materials on the nickel foam substrate was discussed.

Studies on the potential risk of amyloidosis from exposure to cultured fibril from silk fibroin

Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is induced by administering amyloid fibrils to animals under inflammatory conditions. Silk fibroin (SF), the main component of silk threads, forms amyloid-like fibrils and has been previously reported to induce AA amyloidosis in mice. In this study, SF was cultured in ethanol solution, and after confirming fibril formation through thioflavin T assay, Congo red assay, and observation under electron microscopy, cultured SF ethanol solutions were administered to mice via various routes to investigate the induction of target organs and amyloidosis. As a result, cultured SF ethanol solutions were confirmed to reach the lungs and spleen, but no amyloid deposition was observed. While SF forms amyloid-like fibril structures through cultivation in ethanol solution, its amyloid-enhancing factor (AEF) activity is considered low in mice.

Can DNA Barcode Study be Done from a Museum Specimen Fixed in a Formaldehyde Solution? A Case of Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758)

DNA barcoding, a molecular taxonomy technique, has been increasingly used by herptile taxonomists in recent years. In DNA barcoding studies with museum specimens, there are difficulties in achieving success in specimens that have been exposed to formaldehyde, which is usually used as a fixative, for a long time and intensively. Here we studied the effect of formaldehyde on the application of the DNA barcode method in Emys orbicularis specimens stored in 4% formaldehyde and 70% ethanol solution since 2008 and 2014. Sanger sequence analysis of tissues taken from samples stored in both ethanol and formaldehyde solution successfully yielded sequences of 623 bp. In conclusion, the use of ethanol solutions should be preferred for mid or long-term sample storage, especially in the context of molecular studies. In cases where the use of formaldehyde is unavoidable, it may be advisable to use extremely low concentrations to increase success in molecular research.

Macroscopic and microscopic morphological characteristics of gelatinous egg masses (egg veils) of yellow goosefish Lophius litulon (Lophiiformes; Lophiidae).

We recorded the morphological characteristics and effect of preservation methods on the structure of the egg veils of Lophius litulon found in field investigations. The egg veils were characterized as translucent sheet-shape with parallel opaque creases spaced approximately 2 cm apart. The egg veils were found to be composed of pentagonal or hexagonal chambers with rounded corners arranged in one layer, and each chamber enveloped one to three embryos. Cryopreservation is recommended to prevent structural changes in the egg veil rather than ethanol solution and neutral buffered formalin solution.

Tailoring the Use of 8-Hydroxyquinolines for the Facile Separation of Iron, Dysprosium and Neodymium.

Permanent magnets (PMs) containing rare earth elements (REEs) can generate energy in a sustainable manner. With an anticipated tenfold increase in REEs demand by 2050, one of the crucial strategies to meet the demand is developing of efficient recycling methods. NdFeB PMs are the most widely employed, however, the similar chemical properties of Nd (20-30 % wt.) and Dy (0-10 % wt.) make their recycling challenging, but possible using appropriate ligands. In this work, we investigated commercially available 8-hydroxyquinolines (HQs) as potential Fe/Nd/Dy complexing agents enabling metal separation by selective precipitation playing on specific structure/property (solubility) relationship. Specifically, test ethanolic solutions of nitrate salts, prepared to mimic the main components of a PM leachate, were treated with functionalized HQs. We demonstrated that Fe3+ can be separated as insoluble [Fe(QCl,I)3] from soluble [REE(QCl,I)4]- complexes (QCl,I -: 5-Cl-7-I-8-hydoxyquinolinate). Following that, QCl - (5-Cl-8-hydroxyquinolinate) formed insoluble [Nd3(QCl)9] and soluble (Bu4N)[Dy(QCl)4]. The process ultimately gave a solution phase containing Dy with only traces of Nd. In a preliminary attempt to assess the potentiality of a low environmental impact process, REEs were recovered as oxalates, while the ligands as well as Bu4N+ ions, were regenerated and internally reused, thus contributing to the sustainability of a possible metal recovery process.

Adhesion promotion and corrosion resistance of mixed phosphonic acid monolayers on AA 2024

Mixed monolayers were used to prepare surfaces of AA 2024 with precisely controlled corrosion protective and adhesive properties. In this study, the corrosion inhibition and adhesion promotion as a function of the composition of mixed phosphonic acid monolayers on AA 2024 was investigated. Mixed monolayers were formed by competitive adsorption of n-dodecylphosphonic acid (DPA) and 12-aminododecylphosphonic acid (ADPA) from ethanolic solution. Their compositions were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy studies and polarization modulation infrared reflection–absorption spectroscopy as well as contact angle studies proved the formation of monolayers with varying surface chemistry. The wet-adhesion strength was tested by 90° peel tests after application of an epoxy-amine adhesive. Linear sweep voltammetry was performed to evaluate the corrosion inhibition of the monolayers, and the corrosion resistance of the metal/adhesive composite was investigated by means of its corrosive delamination behavior. The electrochemical measurements demonstrated that reducing the surface concentration of ADPA improved the corrosion inhibition of the monolayer. However, the corrosive delamination experiments revealed that the improved corrosion inhibition by the self-organized DPA is of minor importance for the corrosion behavior of the metal/adhesive composite, as the adhesive properties dominate.

Angiotensin-converting enzymes 1 and 2 in the feces: presence and catalytic activity in the rat 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced model of colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease is challenging to diagnose. Fecal biomarkers offer noninvasive solutions. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is implicated in intestinal inflammation. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) regulate its activity, but conflicting findings on these enzymes in colitis require further investigation. We aimed to assess ACE and ACE2 presence and activities in the feces, serum, and colon of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rats. Colitis was induced in male rats by rectal instillation of a 21% ethanolic TNBS solution. After rats' sacrifice, colonic portions, serum, and feces were collected. ACE and ACE2 presence in the feces was analyzed by western Blot, and colonic and serum enzymes' concentrations were quantified using ELISA kits. ACE activity was assessed using Hippuryl-His-Leu and Z-Phe-His-Leu as substrates. ACE2 activity was assessed using Mca-APK (Dnp) as a substrate in the presence and absence of DX600 (ACE2 inhibitor). An ACE isoform of ~70kDa was found only in the feces of TNBS-induced rats. ACE concentration was higher than that of ACE2 in the serum and the inflamed colon. ACE N-domain activity was higher than that of the C-domain in all matrices. ACE2 activity was higher in the feces of TNBS-induced animals compared to controls. A 70kDa ACE isoform only detected in the feces of TNBS-induced rats may have translational relevance. ACE N-domain seems to play a significant role in regulating colonic lesions. Further research using human samples is necessary to validate these findings.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles loaded with linalool as a potential control agent of malaria infection

This research aimed to produce and analyze zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) loaded with linalool (LZNPs), and to evaluate their in vitro and in vivo efficacy through targeting the inflammation and oxidative stress. LZNPs were synthesized using an ethanolic solution of polyvinyl alcohol. The Malstat technique was used to evaluate the effectiveness of LZNPs against both sensitive and resistant strains of Plasmosium falciparum. In vivo effects of ZNPs and LZNPs on parasite growth suppression, survival rate, oxidative stress markers, antioxidant genes, and gene and protein levels of inflammatory cytokines were evaluated by Real-time PCR and Western blot techniques. The results indicated that LZNPs demonstrated noteworthy (P < 0.001) antiplasmodial activity against both susceptible and resistant strains of P. falciparum. P. berghei NK65 strain-infected mice treated with the ZNPs and LZNPs at doses of 5–15 mg/kg notably (p < 0.001) increased the survival rates and parasite growth suppression. LZNPs at 5–15 mg/kg demonstrated a significant (p < 0.001) decrease in oxidative stress markers, increased the expression level of antioxidant genes, and reduced the gene and protein expression level of inflammatory cytokines. The current experimental study demonstrated the potent in vitro antiplasmodial activity of LZNPs against chloroquine-resistant and sensitive strains of P. falciparum compared to ZNPs alone. Additionally, the study identified the potential benefits of this nanocomposite in suppressing the parasite and extending the survival rate in mice infected with P. berghei by targeting inflammation and oxidative stress. It also showed minimal toxicity in liver and kidney function in healthy mice. Nevertheless, further research is essential to elucidate the comprehensive mechanisms and practical effectiveness of LZNPs.

Crystal structure of polymeric bis-(3-amino-1H-pyrazole)-cadmium diiodide.

The reaction of cadmium iodide with 3-amino-pyrazole (3-apz) in ethano-lic solution leads to tautomerization of the ligand and the formation of crystals of the title compound, catena-poly[[di-iodido-cadmium(II)]-bis-(μ-3-amino-1H-pyrazole)-κ2 N 2:N 3;κ2 N 3:N 2], [CdI2(C3H5N3)2] n or [CdI2(3-apz)2] n . Its asymmetric unit consists of a half of a Cd2+ cation, an iodide anion and a 3-apz mol-ecule. The Cd2+ cations are coordinated by two iodide anions and two 3-apz ligands, generating trans-CdN4I2 octa-hedra, which are linked into chains by pairs of the bridging ligands. In the crystal, the ligand mol-ecules and iodide anions of neighboring chains are linked through inter-chain hydrogen bonds into a di-periodic network. The inter-molecular contacts were qu-anti-fied using Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots, revealing the relative qu-anti-tative contributions of the weak inter-molecular contacts.

Double tunable Fano resonance based on a metal–insulator–metal waveguide with double coupled cavities and its application

A metal–insulator–metal (MIM) waveguide with a ring cavity (RC) and a half ring cavity (HRC) is proposed to realize the detection of two mediums simultaneously based on independently tunable double Fano resonances. Utilizing numerical simulation of the finite element method, the transmission characteristics and magnetic field distribution are investigated. The simulation findings indicate that the structure is capable of generating double Fano resonances, and the two Fano resonances are tuning independently. The maximum sensitivity and figure of merit (FOM) are 2385 nm/RIU (refractive index unit) and 31886RIU−1, respectively, and these values are achieved by changing the structural parameters and the refractive index of the insulator. Moreover, the sugar content in flavor and the concentration of ethanol solution can be detected at the same time, which indicates the high efficiency of the sensor. Therefore, these performances demonstrate that the tunable double Fano resonance based on a MIM waveguide is a hopeful method for chemical detection.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 Isolated from Infant Feces Ameliorates the Alcoholic Liver Damage by Regulating the Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Barrier in C57BL/6J Mice.

Alcoholic liver damage is caused by long-term or heavy drinking, and it may further progress into alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). Probiotic supplements have been suggested for the prevention or improvement of liver damage. This study was designed to consider the ameliorative effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 isolated from infant feces against alcoholic liver damage. The mice were gavaged with a 50% ethanol solution and treated with 109 CFU of L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 suspension. The factors for liver function, oxidative stress, inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and intestinal barrier integrity were measured. The results showed that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could decrease the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to 61% and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to 50% compared with ethanol given by gavage. It could inhibit the expression level of malondialdehyde (MDA), increase superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) to relieve oxidative stress, and down-regulate the cytokines to decrease hepatic inflammation. After treatment, the level of triglycerides was reduced, and the expression levels of adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) pathway were up-regulated. Additionally, the 16S rRNA sequencing analysis showed that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae, etc. At the same time, L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could significantly reduce lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and enhance intestinal tight junction proteins. These results demonstrated that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 could reduce the level of oxidative stress, fat accumulation, and liver inflammation caused by alcohol in the host. The underlying mechanism could be that L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 inhibits LPS by regulating the gut microbiota and repairing the intestinal barrier. Thereby, these findings support L. rhamnosus NKU FL1-8 as a potential functional food for the relief of ALD.

Preliminary Analysis of Genetic Markers for Functional Ethanol Tolerance in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Using a Free-Flying Paradigm.

Honey bees are a commonly used species for alcohol research due to their genome being fully sequenced, their behavioral changes following consumption, and their preference for alcohol. The purpose of this article is to provide a preliminary examination of the genetic expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and big potassium ion channel protein (BKP) in honey bees following the consumption of either 0%, 2.5%, 5%, or 10% ethanol (EtOH) solutions. The foraging behaviors of the bees were observed and recorded through their return and drinking times. There were significant differences in the return and drinking times between some of the groups. The bees in the 10% condition took significantly longer to return compared to the other groups. Additionally, the bees in the 5% group spent significantly more time drinking compared to the bees in the control (0%) group. There were no significant differences in HSP70 or BKP between the different ethanol groups. Cumulatively, these findings suggest that, while bees may exhibit behavioral differences, the differences in gene expression may not be observed at the transcriptional level.

Exploring protective potential of Vitamin E in mitigating liver steatosis in alcoholic liver injury.

Objective: To investigate and assess the efficacy of Vitamin E in preventing or reducing fatty liver changes associated with alcoholic liver injury. Study Design: Experimental study. Setting: Department of Anatomy and Animal Facility of Peshawar Medical College, Peshawar. Period: February 2018 to April 2020. Methods: The study involved eighteen male domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), organizing them into categories based on the time frames specified for the research. Animals in "Category E8" were subjected to an 8-week time period, while those in "Category E4" underwent a 4-week experimental duration. Each category was further divided into three groups: "Control Group A" received standard laboratory food and daily access to normal saline as drinking water, "Experimental Group B" received standard nutrition, a 30% ethanol solution in distal water (30ml per kg/day) and normal saline for drinking, and "Experimental Group C" was treated with the necessary standard diet, a 30% ethanol solution in distal water (30ml per kg/day), and "Vitamin E" (50mg dissolved in 2ml distal water per kg/day) via nasogastric tube. Liver tissue specimens from all animals were stained with H&amp;E and Masson’s trichrome stain for quantification of fatty change. Results: A significant difference in steatosis development was observed among the E4 groups and among the E8 groups having a respective p-values of 0.001 and 0.003. This underscored the impact of alcohol within the context of alcohol-induced liver injury. However, no appreciable differences were noted between BI &amp; CI and BII &amp; CII (p-values &gt; 0.05) indicating no significant distinction in liver steatosis between subjects treated with vitamin E and those not receiving vitamin E. Conclusion: In the context of alcohol-induced liver injury, the study failed to deliver anticipated protective benefits of vitamin E. There is a possibility of adverse effects, potentially rendering its use counterproductive.

Multidimensional Analysis of the Adult Human Heart in Health and Disease Using Hierarchical Phase-Contrast Tomography.

Background Current clinical imaging modalities such as CT and MRI provide resolution adequate to diagnose cardiovascular diseases but cannot depict detailed structural features in the heart across length scales. Hierarchical phase-contrast tomography (HiP-CT) uses fourth-generation synchrotron sources with improved x-ray brilliance and high energies to provide micron-resolution imaging of intact adult organs with unprecedented detail. Purpose To evaluate the capability of HiP-CT to depict the macro- to microanatomy of structurally normal and abnormal adult human hearts ex vivo. Materials and Methods Between February 2021 and September 2023, two adult human donor hearts were obtained, fixed in formalin, and prepared using a mixture of crushed agar in a 70% ethanol solution. One heart was from a 63-year-old White male without known cardiac disease, and the other was from an 87-year-old White female with a history of multiple known cardiovascular pathologies including ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation. Nondestructive ex vivo imaging of these hearts without exogenous contrast agent was performed using HiP-CT at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. Results HiP-CT demonstrated the capacity for high-spatial-resolution, multiscale cardiac imaging ex vivo, revealing histologic-level detail of the myocardium, valves, coronary arteries, and cardiac conduction system across length scales. Virtual sectioning of the cardiac conduction system provided information on fatty infiltration, vascular supply, and pathways between the cardiac nodes and adjacent structures. HiP-CT achieved resolutions ranging from gross (isotropic voxels of approximately 20 µm) to microscopic (approximately 6.4-µm voxel size) to cellular (approximately 2.3-µm voxel size) in scale. The potential for quantitative assessment of features in health and disease was demonstrated. Conclusion HiP-CT provided high-spatial-resolution, three-dimensional images of structurally normal and diseased ex vivo adult human hearts. Whole-heart image volumes were obtained with isotropic voxels of approximately 20 µm, and local regions of interest were obtained with resolution down to 2.3-6.4 µm without the need for sectioning, destructive techniques, or exogenous contrast agents. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Bluemke and Pourmorteza in this issue.

Ethanol removal by vacuum-assisted gas stripping: Influence of operating conditions

One way to overcome the inhibitory effects caused by ethanol on yeast cell growth is the use of extractive fermentation, whereby ethanol is removed from the fermentation broth as it is produced. The present work investigates ethanol removal from solution by vacuum-assisted gas stripping, which is a promising method for enhancing performance, compared to conventional gas stripping. Evaluation was made of the effects of carbon dioxide flow rate (ϕCO2), temperature (T), and pressure (P) on ethanol removal performance. Bench-scale assays were performed using a 2-L bubble column containing 10 % v/v ethanol solution, with monitoring of the gas and liquid phases by FT-MIR spectroscopy. The ethanol entrainment factor (FE) increased with ϕCO2 and temperature, but decreased at higher pressure. Only ϕCO2 had significant and positive effects on the concentration factor (FC) and selectivity (αE/W), within the operating ranges of the variables studied. An ethanol removal model was obtained that provided an accurate description of the process behavior, with good agreement between the experimental and simulated data. In addition, the energy requirement for ethanol removal by vacuum-assisted gas stripping in the bioreactor was lower than for the conventional stripping process.