This study was to investigate the treatment of paraquat-containing solutions by advanced oxidation processes (denoted by AOPs). The operation parameters conducted in semi-batch reactor were as follows: the effect of ozone dose, pH and H2O2 concentration on conversion of paraquat by adding O3, UV, O3/H2O2, UV/H2O2 and UV/O3/H2O2. Paraquat concentration: 10 ppm and 20 ppm, ozone dose: 45 g/hr and 105 g/hr, and H2O2 concentration: 0,07 g/l, 0.71 g/l and 1.127 g/l were tested. In the first stage of pre-test, the purpose was to observe the decomposition of paraquat under various pH in order to compare the conversions by O3 and by O2, and to select the optimal pH in above AOPs. The performances of AOPs for treating paraquat-containing solutions were found in sequence as follows: O3/H2O2, O3, UV/O3, UV/H2O2/O3, UV/H2O2 and UV. The process of O3/H2O2 not only could remove higher concentration of paraquat but also had to need a shorter residence time. The effect of parameters on the removal of paraquat by each AOPs were discussed. The kinetics of AOPs in treatment of paraquat-containing solutions was confirmed by using half-life test. Except UV and UV/H2O2 processes nearing zero order, the apparent reaction order of O3, UV/O3, UV/O3/H2O2 and O3/H2O2 were obtained to be one. Based on the removal and cost analysis, O3/H2O2 (O3 = 45 g/hr, H2O2 dose = 0.71 g/l) was the best process in treating paraquat solutions for the low energy and economic cost. As for the O3 and UV/O3 processes, we also recommended to be yours truly options.

The Cornwall Water Purification Plant collaborated with the University of Toronto to monitor UV-H2O2 treatment performance. This study includes a review of engineering and operational aspects of UV-H2O2 implementation. A number of operational challenges were experienced with retrofitting UV-H2O2 into the existing treatment plant, and an overview of the challenges and solutions faced at Cornwall is given. The project also includes a thorough water quality analysis. Taste and odour (T&O) events have been monitored for three years and the efficiency of UV-H2O2 on T&O removal is reported. Furthermore, little is known about any potential side effects of the treatment on downstream processes, especially secondary disinfection. The impact of UV-H2O2 on natural organic matter alterations, chlorine stability and disinfection by-product formation is reported using results from full-scale water quality monitoring campaigns at Cornwall, combined with laboratory experiments.

The Cornwall Water Purification Plant collaborated with the University of Toronto to monitor UV-H2O2 treatment performance. This study includes a review of engineering and operational aspects of UV-H2O2 implementation. A number of operational challenges were experienced with retrofitting UV-H2O2 into the existing treatment plant, and an overview of the challenges and solutions faced at Cornwall is given. The project also includes a thorough water quality analysis. Taste and odour (T&O) events have been monitored for three years and the efficiency of UV-H2O2 on T&O removal is reported. Furthermore, little is known about any potential side effects of the treatment on downstream processes, especially secondary disinfection. The impact of UV-H2O2 on natural organic matter alterations, chlorine stability and disinfection by-product formation is reported using results from full-scale water quality monitoring campaigns at Cornwall, combined with laboratory experiments.

The next generation of miniaturized satellites (“nanosats”) feature dramatically reduced thrust and impulse requirements for purposes of spacecraft attitude control and maneuvering. E↵orts at the University of Vermont have concentrated on developing a MEMS-based chemical micropropulsion system based on a rocket grade hydrogen peroxide (HTP) monopropellant fuel. A key component in the micropropulsion system is the catalytic reactor whose role is to chemically decompose the monopropellant, thereby releasing the fuel’s chemical energy for thrust production. The present study is a joint computational and experimental design e↵ort at developing a MEMS-based micro-reactor for incorporation into a monopropellant micropropulsion system. Numerically, 0D and simplified 2D models have been developed to validate the model and characterize heat and mass di↵usion in the channel. This model will then be extended to a 2D model including all geometric complexities of the catalyst bed geometry with the goal of optimization. Experimentally, both meso and micro scale catalyst geometries have been constructed to prove the feasibility of using RuO2 nanostructures as an in situ in a microchannel.

La thyroïde capte et concentre l’iodure afin de produire les hormones thyroïdiennes T3 et T4. L’iodure est capté au pôle basolatéral du thyrocyte par le symporteur Na+/I- (NIS) et transporté jusqu'au pôle apical de la cellule où il est oxydé par la thyroperoxydase (TPO). La forme oxydée de l’iodure se lie à des résidus tyrosyls de la thyroglobuline (Tg), contenue dans la thyroïde, qui couplés donneront naissance à la T3 et la T4. L’iodation et le couplage sont possibles grâce à la thyroperoxydase et à la présence d’un système générateur d’H2O2. Celui-ci est composé des protéines à sept hélices transmembranaires Duox1 et Duox2 présentant 83% de similitude de séquence entre elles et possédant deux motifs EF-hand ainsi qu’un site de liaison au FAD et quatre sites de liaison au NADPH. Dans la thyroïde humaine, l’ARN messager de Duox2 est plus exprimé que celui de Duox1. Jusqu'il y a peu de temps, nous n'avions à notre disposition aucun anticorps spécifique de l’une ou l’autre des Duox. Il n'était donc pas possible de déterminer si cette différence d’expression se retrouve au niveau protéique. Les PCCl3 sont une lignée de thyrocytes de rat possédant un système générateur d’H2O2 fonctionnel. Contrairement aux cultures primaires de thyrocytes humains, ces cellules peuvent être transfectées facilement. L’introduction de siRNAs spécifiques de Duox1 ou Duox2 de rat, via des vecteurs plasmidiques, a permis de démontrer que le peroxyde d’hydrogène produit par les PCCl3 est principalement généré par Duox1. En effet, l’inhibition de l’expression de Duox1 est directement corrélée à la diminution de production d’H2O2. Cette inhibition n’interfère pas avec d’autres fonctions de la cellule thyroïdienne puisque les cellules invalidées pour Duox1 sont toujours capables de capter l’iodure. De plus, la réintroduction de l’expression de Duox1 par transduction lentivirale permet de restaurer la production de peroxyde d’hydrogène. Faute d’une maturation correcte des protéines Duox à la membrane plasmique, il a longtemps été impossible de reconstituer un système générateur d’H2O2 actif par transfection de Duox1 et/ou Duox2 en système hétérologue. En 2006, les protéines activatrices des protéines Duox1 et Duox2, respectivement appelées DuoxA1 et DuoxA2, ont été identifiées. Leur co-expression avec les enzymes Duox permet à ces dernières de migrer à la membrane et d’être actives. La distribution tissulaire des protéines DuoxA est parallèle à celle des Duox. La découverte des protéines activatrices a permis d’étudier spécifiquement la régulation de l’activité de Duox1 et de Duox2. La production d’H2O2 de Duox1 est positivement régulée par la voie de l’AMPc via des phosphorylations par la protéine kinase A (PKA). La génération d’H2O2 de Duox2 est sous le contrôle de la voie des phosphatidylinositols-Ca2+ conduisant à l’activation de la protéine kinase C (PKC). L’activation de Duox2 est également corrélée à une modification de l’état de phosphorylation de la protéine. Dans les thyrocytes humains, le récepteur de la TSH est couplé aux protéines Gs et Gq/11. La TSH liée à son récepteur est donc capable d’activer la voie de l’AMPc et la voie des phosphatidylinositols-Ca2+. Dans les thyrocytes humains en culture primaire, l’activation de la PKA et de la PKC mène également à une augmentation de la phosphorylation des protéines Duox. En conclusion : 1) Duox1 est majoritairement responsable de la production d’H2O2 dans la lignée de thyrocytes de rat PCCl3 ; 2) l’activité de Duox1 humain co-exprimé avec son activateur en cellules Cos-7 est régulée positivement par la voie de l’AMPc via des phosphorylations par la PKA ; 3) l’activité de Duox2 humain co-exprimé avec son activateur en cellules Cos-7 est stimulée par la voie des phosphatidylinositols-Ca2+ via des phosphorylations par la PKC ; 4) les thyrocytes humains expriment les deux protéines Duox. La production d’H2O2 est augmentée suite à l’activation de la voie de l’AMPc et de la voie des phosphatidylinositols-Ca2+. Les protéines Duox sont phosphorylées au niveau basal et cette phosphorylation est augmentée suite à l’activation de la PKA ou de la PKC.

No / Recently two alternative mechanisms have been put forward for the inhibition of tyrosinase by 6R-l-erythro 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin (6BH4). Initially allosteric uncompetitive inhibition was demonstrated due to 1:1 binding of 10¿6 M 6BH4 to a specific domain 28 amino acids away from the CuA active site of the enzyme. Alternatively it was then shown that 10¿3 M 6BH4 inhibit the reaction by the reduction of the product dopaquinone back to l-dopa. In the study presented herein we have used two structural analogues of 6BH4 (i.e., 6,7-(R,S)-dimethyl tetrahydrobiopterin and 6-(R,S)-tetrahydromonapterin) confirming classical uncompetitive inhibition due to specific binding of the pyrimidine ring of the pterin moiety to the regulatory domain on tyrosinase. Under these conditions there was no reduction of l-dopaquinone back to l-dopa by both cofactor analogues. Inhibition of tyrosinase by 6BH4 occurs in the concentration range of 10¿6 M after preactivation with l-tyrosine and this mechanism uncouples the enzyme reaction producing H2O2 from O2. Moreover, a direct oxidation of 6BH4 to 7,8-dihydrobiopterin by tyrosinase in the absence of the substrate l-tyrosine was demonstrated. The enzyme was activated by low concentrations of H2O2 (<0.3 × 10¿3 M), but deactivated at concentrations in the range 0.5¿5.0 × 10¿3 M. In summary, our results confirm a major role for 6BH4 in the regulation of human pigmentation.

Ultraviolet direct photolysis (UV) and the advanced oxidation process UV/H2O2 are new technologies in the water treatment industry. Both treatments can cause the transformation of organic compounds. Nitrosamines and organic chloramines are disinfection by-products (DBPs) formed from the reaction of organic nitrogen compounds during chlorination or chloramination (chlor(am)ination) disinfection. It is therefore possible for UV and UV/H2O2 to affect the organic compound precursors for nitrosamines and organic chloramines and thus their formation from subsequent chlor(am)ination. The precursor compounds, UV and H2O2 doses used for UV or UV/H2O2, and alkalinity were found to have an effect on the formation of nitrosamines and organic chloramines during bench-scale experiments. Full scale studies found UV and UV/H2O2 had different effects on the formation of different nitrosamine species and organic chloramine concentrations, and that a potential correlation existed between the formation of organic chloramines from chlorination and the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine from chloramination.

Ultraviolet direct photolysis (UV) and the advanced oxidation process UV/H2O2 are new technologies in the water treatment industry. Both treatments can cause the transformation of organic compounds. Nitrosamines and organic chloramines are disinfection by-products (DBPs) formed from the reaction of organic nitrogen compounds during chlorination or chloramination (chlor(am)ination) disinfection. It is therefore possible for UV and UV/H2O2 to affect the organic compound precursors for nitrosamines and organic chloramines and thus their formation from subsequent chlor(am)ination. The precursor compounds, UV and H2O2 doses used for UV or UV/H2O2, and alkalinity were found to have an effect on the formation of nitrosamines and organic chloramines during bench-scale experiments. Full scale studies found UV and UV/H2O2 had different effects on the formation of different nitrosamine species and organic chloramine concentrations, and that a potential correlation existed between the formation of organic chloramines from chlorination and the formation of N-nitrosodimethylamine from chloramination.

The oxidation status of a cell plays a crucial role in aging. As cells get aged, their redox state gets increased. Pex5p is a peroxisomal recycling receptor which binds to newly synthesized cargo proteins in the cytosol and imports them across the peroxisomal membrane. During this transport event, Pex5p gets monoubiquitinated at a conserved cysteine (C11) residue. This C11 is very essential for the recycling of Pex5p from the peroxisomal membrane to back into the cytosol. If the cysteine is replaced by serine, Pex5p does not get recycled back to the cytosol and accumulates on the peroxisomal membrane. In the present study, we have investigated whether the C11 in Pex5p could act as a redox switch. We measured the redox state of the cytosol and the peroxisomal matrix as well as the subcellular localization of catalase in aging cells. We found that an increase in the redox state of peroxisomes (in WT) leads to an increase in the redox state of the cytosol, which ultimately results in the impairment of PTS1 import. Interestingly, in the C11K condition, we did not see an impairment of PTS1 import. These observations support our hypothesis that C11 may act as a redox switch. We also performed some challenging experiments with H2O2. The results of these experiments show that a) import of catalase into peroxisomes sensitizes the cytosol and b) catalase overexpression does have a protective effect against oxidative stress caused by H2O2. In summary the results of our experiments support our hypothesis. However, further evaluation is needed to reveal the precise role of C11 in Pex5p function during cellular aging.

Copper-treated soybean ( Glycine max ) seedling shows significant inhibition in soybean root growth, and enhancement in POD activity. Cu is an efficient catalyst in the formation of several reactive oxygen species and free radical. The increase in POD activity induced by Cu might remove excess hydrogen peroxide serving a detoxifying role during Cu-treatment. The increase of cationic ( pI 8.9, pI 8.3 and pI 7.7 ) PODs and anionic ( pI 6.5, pI 5.6 and pI 4.4 ) PODs activities is accompanied by a rise of lignin contents in Cu-treated tissues. We suggest that the increase in cationic ( pI 8.9, pI 8.3 and pI 7.7 ) and anionic ( pI 6.5, pI 5.6 and pI 4.4 ) PODs induced by Cu is responsible for lignin synthesis in soybean roots during Cu treatment.