<p>Aviation fuels are complex mixtures that mostly consist of a wide range of different hydrocarbons but also contain small amounts of heteroatom-containing compounds. Different fuels can have very different physical and chemical properties (e.g., storage and thermal stabilities are influenced by the heteroatom-containing compounds), with some performing better as fuels than others. To address this situation, correlations need to be developed between the chemical composition of fuels and their properties. This requires that the chemical compounds in fuels are correctly characterized, which is challenging. Because of the large number and many different types of organic compounds present in fuels, separation of these compounds by using techniques such as one- (GC) and -two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) is necessary before mass spectrometric characterization. Furthermore, analysis using traditional electron ionization (EI) mass spectrometry is hampered by excessive fragmentation that often leads to complete absence of a stable molecular radical cation, thus preventing the determination of the molecular weight (MW) of the analyte. To explore alternative methods, GC coupled with methane chemical ionization (CI) triple quadrupole mass spectrometry and GC×GC coupled with methane CI time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry, both in the positive-ion mode, were tested. While both chromatographic techniques separate volatile organic chemicals via boiling point and intermolecular forces, GC×GC methods incorporate a greater level of separation by taking advantage of secondary column of different polarity. This additional level of separation can help separate overlapping compounds that would be impossible in GC. What comes to mass spectrometry analysis, methane CI was found to be more predictable and “softer” than the traditionally employed EI. Several ions revealing the MW of the analyte, e.g., M+•, [M+H-H2]+, and/or [M+H]+, were generated for almost every compound studied with some associated fragmentation. These fragmentation patterns provided invaluable structural information. When combined with the number of carbon atoms in the diagnostic ions, double bond and ring equivalent (DBRE) values, and elemental compositions, all obtained from highly accurate mass measurements performed using the time-of-flight mass spectrometer (but not the quadrupole), the classification of the compounds was possible. In some instances, even the unambiguous identification of individual compounds in aviation fuels was possible.</p>

Emerging studies revealed that the Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a receptor sensing environmental contaminants, is executing an immunomodulatory function. However, it is an open question to which extent this is achieved by its role as a transcription factor or via non-genomic signaling. We utilized a multi-post-translational modification-omics approach to examine non-genomic AhR-signaling after activation with endogenous (FICZ) or exogenous (BaP) ligand in endotoxin-activated (LPS) monocyte-derived macrophages. While AhR activation affected abundances of few proteins, regulation of ubiquitination and phosphorylation were highly pronounced. Although the number and strength of effects depended on the applied AhR-ligand, both ligands increased ubiquitination of Rac1, which participates in PI3K/AKT-pathway-dependent macrophage activation, resulting in a pro-inflammatory phenotype. In contrast, cotreatment with ligand and LPS revealed a decreased AKT activity mediating an antiinflammatory effect. Thus, our data show an immunomodulatory effect of AhR activation through a Rac1ubiquitination-dependent mechanism that attenuated AKT-signaling, resulting in a mitigated inflammatory response.

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The strength and durability of proton exchange membranes for use in fuel cells has received much attention recently due to the increased push for sustainable alternatives to the internal combustion engine. To be viable, these alternatives must have comparable lifetimes and power outputs to the internal combustion engines they replace. Chemical degradation was once viewed as the most common culprit of early fuel cell failure, but as membranes and catalysts improved, mechanical failure became an important factor. As a result, fundamental research on the mechanically-induced failure mechanisms of fuel cell membranes, coupled with development and processing of less expensive membranes, has become an important topic. The use of the blister test geometry, along with digital image correlation of the deformed shape, creates a self-contained analysis tool useful for measuring the biaxial strength of membranes. In this work, blister tests are used to measure biaxial stress and strain for fuel cell membranes subjected to ramped pressure loading to form stress-strain curves that indicate the onset of yielding under biaxial stress conditions. Stress-life curves are developed experimentally for Gore-Selec? series 57 members using data collected under constant pressure conditions. These results are used to predict blister failure under ramped and fatigue loadings. A newly implemented hydrocarbon membrane system is evaluated with constant-pressure-to-leak blister testing. Improved strength following an isothermal hold at 100°C (pretreatment) is shown to occur. Ramped pressure testing indicates that the material after the pretreatment is stiffer and has a higher yield stress than the material before treatment. Morphological and constitutive characterization indicated differences in the materials that are consistent with the improved performance. / Master of Science

Yes / Here, we report the biochemical characterization of the mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (TIPARP/ARTD14/PARP7), which is known to repress aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-dependent transcription. We found that the nuclear localization of TIPARP was dependent on a short N-terminal sequence and its zinc finger domain. Deletion and in vitro ADP-ribosylation studies identified amino acids 400–657 as the minimum catalytically active region, which retained its ability to mono-ADP-ribosylate AHR. However, the ability of TIPARP to ADP-ribosylate and repress AHR in cells was dependent on both its catalytic activity and zinc finger domain. The catalytic activity of TIPARP was resistant to meta-iodobenzylguanidine but sensitive to iodoacetamide and hydroxylamine, implicating cysteines and acidic side chains as ADP-ribosylated target residues. Mass spectrometry identified multiple ADP-ribosylated peptides in TIPARP and AHR. Electron transfer dissociation analysis of the TIPARP peptide 33ITPLKTCFK41 revealed cysteine 39 as a site for mono-ADP-ribosylation. Mutation of cysteine 39 to alanine resulted in a small, but significant, reduction in TIPARP autoribosylation activity, suggesting that additional amino acid residues are modified, but loss of cysteine 39 did not prevent its ability to repress AHR. Our findings characterize the subcellular localization and mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase activity of TIPARP, identify cysteine as a mono-ADP-ribosylated residue targeted by this enzyme, and confirm the TIPARP-dependent mono-ADP-ribosylation of other protein targets, such as AHR. / This work was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) operating grants [MOP-494265 and MOP-125919]; CIHR New Investigator Award; an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Innovation [ER10-07-028]; the Johan Throne Holst Foundation; Novo Nordic Foundation; and the Norwegian Cancer Society to J.M. This work was also funded by grants from the Johan Throne Holst Foundation; and the Novo Nordic Foundation to H.I.N.

Yes / The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and member of the basic helix-loop-helix-PAS family. AHR is activated by numerous dietary and endogenous compounds that contribute to its regulation of genes in diverse signaling pathways including xenobiotic metabolism, vascular development, immune responses and cell cycle control. However, it is most widely studied for its role in mediating 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) toxicity. The AHR target gene and mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase, TCDD-inducible poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (TIPARP), was recently shown to be part of a novel negative feedback loop regulating AHR activity through mono-ADP-ribosylation. However, the molecular characterization of how AHR regulates TIPARP remains elusive. Here we show that activated AHR is recruited to the TIPARP promoter, through its binding to two genomic regions that each contain multiple AHR response elements (AHREs), AHR regulates the expression of both TIPARP but also TIPARP-AS1, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) which lies upstream of TIPARP exon 1 and is expressed in the opposite orientation. Reporter gene and deletion studies showed that the distal AHRE cluster predominantly regulated TIPARP expression while the proximal cluster regulated TIPARP-AS1. Moreover, time course and promoter activity assays suggest that TIPARP and TIPARP-AS1 work in concert to regulate AHR signaling. Collectively, these data show an added level of complexity in the AHR signaling cascade which involves lncRNAs, whose functions remain poorly understood. / This work was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) operating grants (MOP-494265 and MOP-125919), an unrestricted research grant from the Dow Chemical Company, and the Johan Throne Holst Foundation to J.M. G.G. was supported by European Union Seventh Framework Program (FP7-PEOPLE2013-COFUND) under the Grant Agreement n609020 - Scientia Fellows

Yes / The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates the toxic effects of dioxin (2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin; TCDD), which includes thymic atrophy, steatohepatitis, and a lethal wasting syndrome in laboratory rodents. Although the mechanisms of dioxin toxicity remain unknown, AHR signaling in hepatocytes is necessary for dioxin-induced liver toxicity. We previously reported that loss of TCDD-inducible poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) polymerase (TIPARP/PARP7/ARTD14), an AHR target gene and mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase, increases the sensitivity of mice to dioxin-induced toxicities. To test the hypothesis that TIPARP is a negative regulator of AHR signaling in hepatocytes, we generated Tiparpfl/fl mice in which exon 3 of Tiparp is flanked by loxP sites, followed by Cre-lox technology to create hepatocyte-specific (Tiparpfl/flCreAlb) and whole-body (Tiparpfl/flCreCMV; TiparpEx3−/−) Tiparp null mice. Tiparpfl/flCreAlb and TiparpEx3−/− mice given a single injection of 10 μg/kg dioxin did not survive beyond days 7 and 9, respectively, while all Tiparp+/+ mice survived the 30-day treatment. Dioxin-exposed Tiparpfl/flCreAlb and TiparpEx3−/− mice had increased steatohepatitis and hepatotoxicity as indicated by greater staining of neutral lipids and serum alanine aminotransferase activity than similarly treated wild-type mice. Tiparpfl/flCreAlb and TiparpEx3−/− mice exhibited augmented AHR signaling, denoted by increased dioxin-induced gene expression. Metabolomic studies revealed alterations in lipid and amino acid metabolism in liver extracts from Tiparpfl/flCreAlb mice compared with wild-type mice. Taken together, these data illustrate that TIPARP is an important negative regulator of AHR activity, and that its specific loss in hepatocytes is sufficient to increase sensitivity to dioxin-induced steatohepatitis and lethality. / This work was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) operating grants (MOP-494265 and MOP-125919), CIHR New Investigator Award, an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Innovation (ER10-07-028), an unrestricted research grant from the DOW Chemical Company, the Johan Throne Holst Foundation, Novo Nordic Foundation and the Norwegian Cancer Society to J.M.

The Aurora Soil Capping study, located in northern Alberta, was constructed to evaluate reclamation practices on lean oil sands dumps. The challenges relating to its success includes determining the appropriate soil cover design(s) for the coarse textured reclamation soil, while utilizing available salvaged natural soils, some of which contain residual bitumen in the form of aggregate oil sand material (AOSM). Limited research on this material raises key questions as to the impact it will play on transport and retention processes, along with potential contamination from hydrocarbon leaching. The research conducted sought to answer these questions. This thesis describes laboratory studies conducted on four soils; the upper organic LFH layer, Bm, BC and subsoil material while varying the amount of AOSM and implementing layering schemes. Material characterization through organic carbon and particle size analysis as well as hydrophobicity studies on AOSM through contact angle analysis were performed. A tension table and pressure plates, along with columns equipped with Time Domain Reflectometry probes, were used for water retention studies. Hydraulic conductivity was measured through constant head methods. To address hydrocarbon leaching concerns, chloride tracer studies were performed and the column outflow was analyzed using Gas Chromatography to detect the hydrocarbon type and concentration. Results from water retention and hydraulic conductivity studies indicated that although the AOSM was hydrophobic, its placement at varying concentrations and forms did not create consistent significant differences in the amount of moisture retained or transported. Results from the column studies showed that under steady state and transient conditions AOSM could result in decreasing infiltration rates and increasing chloride retention. The integration of soil layers further slowed the infiltration rate and delayed chloride transport. Under saturated conditions the presence of higher concentrations of AOSM appeared to increase the rate of water movement. Although these differences were minimal, further studies are required to explore this behavior. Overall, it can be concluded that with appropriate material placement, the addition of layering schemes and hydrocarbon material, the potential exists to increase soil water content in the upper layers of the soil, thereby increasing soil water storage for plant use.