Validation of a HRGC–ECNI/LRMS method to monitor short-chain chlorinated paraffins in human plasma

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins(SCCPs) are produced in high volume and have the high potential to pose a threat to human health. However, little information is available for SCCP contamination in human blood/plasma/serum, mainly due to the difficulty of sample preparation and quantitative analysis. A method using high resolution gas chromatography coupled with electron capture negative ionization low resolution mass spectrometry(HRGC–ECNI/LRMS) was developed and validated to measure SCCPs in human plasma. The pretreatment process included protein denaturation and lipid elimination, liquid–liquid extraction with a mixture of n-hexane/dichloromethane(1:1, V/V), and cleanup on a multilayer silica column. The blank controls, including procedural blank, vacuum blood collection tube blank, and instrumental blank, were the most pivotal points for the reliable analysis of SCCPs. The average value of procedural blanks was 9.0 ng/g; and the method detection limit(MDL), calculated as the sum of the average procedural blank value and 3 times of the standard deviation of the procedural blanks, was 12.6 ng/g plasma. The validated method was applied to measure the concentrations of the total SCCPs(∑ SCCPs) in50 plasma samples from a general population. The measured plasma concentrations of ∑SCCPs ranged from <MDL to 203 ng/g wet weight(ww), with an average value of 32.0 ng/g ww.The relative abundance profiles of SCCPs in plasma samples were dominated by C10- and C11-CP congener groups centered on Cl6–7. The developed method can be used for the comprehensive and large-scale investigation of SCCP levels in human plasma.

The thermal transformation mechanism of chlorinated paraffins:An experimental and density functional theory study

The increasing production and usage of chlorinated paraffins(CPs) correspondently increase the amount of CPs that experience thermal processes. Our previous study revealed that a significant amount of medium-chain chlorinated paraffins(MCCPs), short-chain chlorinated paraffins(SCCPs) as well as aromatic and chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(Cl-PAHs) were formed synergistically during the thermal decomposition of CP-52(a class of CP products).However, the transformation mechanisms of CP-52 to these compounds are still not very clear.This article presents a mechanistic analysis on the decomposition of CP-52 experimentally and theoretically. It was found that CP-52 initially undergoes dehydrochlorination and carbon chain cleavage and it transformed into chlorinated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Cyclization and aromatization were the most accessible pathways at low temperatures(200–400°C), both of which produce mostly aromatic hydrocarbons. As the temperature exceeds 400°C, the hydrocarbons could decompose into small molecules, and the subsequent radical-induced reactions become the predominant pathways, leading to the formation of Cl-PAHs. The decomposition of CP-52 was investigated by using density functional theory and calculations demonstrating the feasibility and rationality of PCB and PCN formation from chlorobenzene. The results improve the understanding of the transformation processes from CP-52 to SCCPs and Cl-PAHs as well as provide data for reducing their emissions during thermal-related processes.

Development of matrix solid-phase dispersion method for the extraction of short-chain chlorinated paraffins in human placenta

Chlorinated paraffins（SCCPs） are widely used worldwide, and they can be released into the environment during their production, transport, usage and disposal, which pose potential risks for human health. In this work, an efficient, reliable and rapid pretreatment method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion（MSPD） was developed for the analysis of short-chain CPs（SCCPs） in human placenta by gas chromatograph-electron capture negative ion low-resolution mass spectrometry（GC-ECNI-LRMS） and gas chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry（GC–QTOF-HRMS）. The MSPD-relevant parameters including dispersing sorbent,sample-to-sorbent mass ratio, and elution solvent were optimized using the orthogonal test.Silica gel was found to be the optimal dispersing sorbent among the selected matrices. Under the optimal conditions, 44% acidic silica gel can be used as the co-sorbent to remove lipid and eluted by the mixture of hexane and dichloromethane（7：3, V/V）. The spiked recoveries of the optimized method were 77.4% and 91.4% for analyzing SCCPs in human placenta by GC-ECNI-LRMS and GC–QTOF-HRMS, and the corresponding relative standard deviations were10.2% and 5.6%, respectively. The method detection limit for the total SCCPs was 36.8 ng/g（dry weight, dw） and 19.2 ng/g（dw） as measured by GC-ECNI-LRMS and GC–QTOF-HRMS,respectively. The concentrations of SCCPs in four human placentas were in the range of

Long-range atmospheric transport and alpine condensation of short-chain chlorinated paraffins on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Pristine alpine regions are ideal regions for investigating the long-range atmospheric transport and cold trapping effects of short chain chlorinated paraffins(SCCPs).The concentrations and alpine condensation of SCCPs were investigated in lichen samples collected from the southeastern Tibetan Plateau.The concentrations of SCCPs ranged from 3098 to 6999 ng/g lipid weight(lw)and appeared to have an increasing trend with altitude.For congeners,C10 dominated among all the congener groups.The different environmental behavior for different congener groups was closely related to their octanol-air partition coefficient(Koa).C10 congeners showed an increasing trend with altitude,whereas C13 congeners were negatively correlated with altitude.Volumetric bioconcentration factors(BCF)of SCCPs reached 8.71 in lichens,which were higher than other semivolatile organic compounds(SVOCs)such as organochlorine pesticides(OCPs),polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs),polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs),and hexabromocyclododecane(HBCD).These results suggested that SCCPs were prone to accumulate in the lichen from the air and provided evidence for the role of lichens as a suitable atmospheric indicator in the Tibetan Plateau.

Experimental study on wax deposition of highly paraffinic oil in intermittent gas-oil flow in pipelines

Oil-gas two phase wax deposition is a fairly common and open-ended question in flow assurance of multiphase transportation pipelines.This paper investigated the two main aspects of oil-gas two phase wax deposition layer:apparent thickness and crystal structure characteristics.A typical highly paraffinic oil in Bohai Sea,China,was used as the experimental material to investigate the wax deposition thickness in oil-gas two phase under the influence of different oil temperatures,superficial gas/liquid phase velocities and gas-oil ratios by using multiphase flow loop experimental device.Just as in the classical theory of wax molecular diffusion,it showed that wax deposition thickness of oil-gas two phase increased with increasing oil temperature.Analysis of the impact of different superficial phase velocities found that the actual liquid flow heat transfer and shear stripping was the gas phase dominant mechanisms determining wax deposit thickness.In addition,the crystal structure of the wax deposition layer was characterized with the help of small-angle X-ray scattering(SAXS)for different circumferential positions,flow rates and gas-oil ratios.The bottom deposition layer had a complex crystal structure and high hardness,which were subject to change over flow rate variations.Furthermore,the SAXS results provided evidence that the indirect effect of the actual liquid velocity modified by the gas phase was the main mechanism.Our study of the effect of gas phase on the wax deposition of oil-gas two phase will help shed light onto the mechanism by which this important process occurs.Our findings address a very urgent need in the field of wax deposition of highly paraffinic oil to understand the flow security of oilgas two phase that occurs easily in multiphase field pipelines.

Paraffin–CaCl_(2)·6H_(2)O dosage effects on the strength and heat transfer characteristics of cemented tailings backfill

The challenge of high temperatures in deep mining remains harmful to the health of workers and their production efficiency The addition of phase change materials (PCMs) to filling slurry and the use of the cold storage function of these materials to reduce downhole temperatures is an effective approach to alleviate the aforementioned problem.Paraffin–CaCl_(2)·6H_(2)O composite PCM was prepared in the laboratory.The composition,phase change latent heat,thermal conductivity,and cemented tailing backfill (CTB) compressive strength of the new material were studied.The heat transfer characteristics and endothermic effect of the PCM were simulated using Fluent software.The results showed the following:(1) The new paraffin–CaCl_(2)·6H_(2)O composite PCM improved the thermal conductivity of native paraffin while avoiding the water solubility of CaCl_(2)·6H_(2)O.(2) The calculation formula of the thermal conductivity of CaCl_(2)·6H_(2)O combined with paraffin was deduced,and the reasons were explained in principle.(3) The“enthalpy–mass scale model”was applied to calculate the phase change latent heat of nonreactive composite PCMs.(4)The addition of the paraffin–CaCl_(2)·6H_(2)O composite PCM reduced the CTB strength but increased its heat absorption capacity.This research can give a theoretical foundation for the use of heat storage backfill in green mines.

Conformation preference and related intramolecular noncovalent interaction of selected short chain chlorinated paraffins

Short chain chlorinated paraffins （SCCPs） are not only research focus of environmental issues but also interesting model mol- ecules for organic chemistry which exhibit diverse conformation preference and intramolecular noncovalent interactions （NCIs）. A systematic study was conducted to reveal the conlk）rmation preference and the related intramolecular NCIs in two C^-isomers of SCCPs, 5,5,6,6-tetrachlorodecane and 4,4,6,6-1etrachlorodecane. The overall conformation profile was deter- mined on the basis of relative energies calculated at the MP2/6-311＋＋G（d,p） level with the geometries optimized by B3LYP/6-31 l＋＋G（d,p） method. Then, quantum theory of atoms in molecules （QTAIM） has been adopted to identify the NCls in the selected conformers of the model molecules at both B31~YP/6-31 l＋＋G（d,p） and M06-2X/aug-cc-pvdz level. Different chlorine substitution modes result in varied conformation preference. No obvious gauche effect can be observed tk）r the SCCPs with chlorination on adjacent carbon atoms. The most stable conformer of 5,5,6,6-tetrachlorodecane （tTt） has its three dihedral angles in the T configuration, and there is no intramolecular N（3s found in this molecule. On the contrary, the chlorination on interval carbon atoms favors the adoption of gauche configmation for the H C C CI axis. Not only inlramolecular H-..CI contacts but also H---H interactions have been identified as driving forces to compensate the instability from steric crowding ot the gauche configuration. The gggg and g＇g＇g＇g＇ conformers are the most popular ones, while the populations of tggg and tg＇g＇g＇ conformer are second to those of the gggg and g＇g＇g＇g＇ conformers. Meanwhile, the M06-2X method with large basis sets is preferred for identification of subtle intramolecular NCIs in large molecules like SCCPs.

小鼠整胚石蜡切片制备方法的改进

Objective:The morphology analysis of whole-mount mouse embryos was observed using an improved paraffin section technique.Methods:Mouse embryos of varying embryonic ages were collected and whole-mount embryo paraffin sections were prepared using PFA-intravenously injected fixation,prolonged dehydration,and paraffin embedding.Hematoxylin and eosin(H&E)staining and immunohistochemical staining were employed to evaluate the quality of sections,with different tissues being observed labeled by CD34.Results:Following a series of tissue processing and staining procedures,the structure of the whole-mount mouse embryo was well-preserved,and the staining was clear and easily distinguishable.Embryos of different embryonic ages were treated differently,yet the quality of tissue processing remained highly consistent.Conclusion:Tissue processing and staining have been significantly improved,allowing for the easy acquisition of whole-mount mouse embryos of different ages through simplified methods of tissue fixation and dehydration duration.The staining results are clear and stable,providing technical support for the study of mouse embryo development.

Predicting Chromatographic Retention Time of C10-Chlorinated Paraffins in Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Using Quantitative Structure Retention Relationship

Chlorinated paraffins（CPs） are potential persistent organic pollutants（POPs）, which threat the safety of environment and organisms. However, the analysis of CPs is a difficult task due to their complex composition containing thousands of congeners. In the present work, quantitative structure retention relationship（QSRR） of CPs was studied. A total of 470 molecular descriptors were generated, for describing the structures of 28 CPs and 12 descriptors relevant to retention time of the CPs were selected by stepwise regression. Then, QSRR models between retention time on the one hand and the selected descriptors on the other hand were established by multiple linear regres- sion（MLR）, partial least squares（PLS） and least square support vector regression（LS-SVR）. The result shows that PLS model is better than MLR and LS-SVR, obtaining a squared correlation coefficient（r2） of 0.9996 and a root mean squared error（RMSE） of 0.015. The PLS model was then used to predict the retention time of 49 C10-CPs. Three of them were investigated by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry（GC-MS）. A well-defined correlation was found between the measured retention time and the predicted value.

Short-and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins in imported commercial dry cat and dog food in China:Concentrations,distributions and risk assessment

Chlorinated paraffins(CPs)are produced in large amounts and used worldwide.Dietary intake is the primary pathway for the exposure of pets to CPs,but limited information is available concerning the potential contamination of pet food by CPs.In the present study,the concentrations and congener group profiles of short-chain CPs(SCCPs)and medium-chain CPs(MCCPs)were assessed in 35 imported commercial dry cat and dog foods collected in China,and the estimated daily intakes of SCCPs and MCCPs for cats and dogs through the consumption of such foods was calculated.The concentrations of SCCPs and MCCPs in the cat and dog foods were determined to be in the ranges of 108e45,300 ng/g(median:1340 ng/g)and 3.8e52,700 ng/g(median:11 ng/g),respectively.The predominant congener groups were C10Cl6 for SCCPs and C14Cl7-8 for MCCPs.The high levels of CPs found in certain pet foods suggest the potential for adverse health effects.

Predictive methods for density and refractive index of naphthenic lubricating oils during solvent extraction process

Lubricating oils are usually produced by solvent extraction to separate aromatics in order to achieve the desired specifications and better quality products.Among the different properties of lubricating oils,density and refractive index are some of the most important properties which can both be used for petroleum fluid characterization.Predictions of density and refractive index for naphthenic oils during solvent extraction by DMSO obtained by the pseudo-component approach and the quadratic correlation were both examined.The pseudo-component approach is a method to predict density and refractive index from composition while the latter merely relates density to refractive index.Results indicated that the predictions yielded by the pseudo-component method were in good agreement with experimental data for naphthenic oils.And the use of a function of refractive index(FRI_(20))as a pseudo-component property remarkably improved n_(20)predictions for the naphthenic mixtures.However,the density and refractive index predictions obtained by the quadratic correlation exhibited significantly higher de-viations for naphthenic oils than those for paraffinic oils.Thus a new modified correlation of the same functional form was proposed for naphthenic oils.The modification significantly improved predictions for naphthenic oils,which presented similar accuracy as the pseudo-component approach.And the previous correlation was still used for paraffinic oils.Additionally,effect of temperature on density and refractive index of naphthenic oils was examined.Results showed that the modified quadratic correlation was accurate for describing the relationship between density and refractive index of naphthenic oils at 20-90℃.The temperature dependence of density and refractive index for the raffinates and the extracts could be accurately described by the thermal coefficients for saturates and aromatics,respectively.Regarding the refractive index variation of the extracts with temperature,the empirical equation was proved to be a better option compared with the method using the thermal coefficient for aromatics.

Emerging low-density polyethylene/paraffin wax/aluminum composite as a form-stable phase change thermal interface material

Thermal interface materials(TIMs) play a vital role in the thermal management of electronic devices and can significantly reduce thermal contact resistance(TCR). The TCR between the solid–liquid contact surface is much smaller than that of the solid–solid contact surface, but conventional solid–liquid phase change materials are likely to cause serious leakage. Therefore, this work has prepared a new formstable phase change thermal interface material. Through the melt blending of paraffin wax(PW) and low-density polyethylene(LDPE), the stability is improved and it has an excellent coating effect on PW. The addition of aluminum(Al) powder improves the low thermal conductivity of PW/LDPE, and the addition of 15wt% Al powder improves the thermal conductivity of the internal structure of the matrix by 67%. In addition, the influence of the addition of Al powder on the internal structure, thermal properties, and phase change behavior of the PW/LDPE matrix was systematically studied. The results confirmed that the addition of Al powder improved the thermal conductivity of the material without a significant impact on other properties, and the thermal conductivity increased with the increase of Al addition. Therefore, morphologically stable PW/LDPE/Al is an important development direction for TIMs.

An optimized protocol using Steedman’s wax for high-sensitivity RNA in situ hybridization in shoot apical meristems and flower buds of cucumber

In situ mRNA hybridization(ISH)is a powerful tool for examining the spatiotemporal expression of genes in shoot apical meristems and flower buds of cucumber.The most common ISH protocol uses paraffin wax;however,embedding tissue in paraffin wax can take a long time and might result in RNA degradation and decreased signals.Here,we developed an optimized protocol to simplify the process and improve RNA sensitivity.We combined embedding tissue in low melting-point Steedman’s wax with processing tissue sections in solution,as in the whole-mount ISH method in the optimized protocol.Using the optimized protocol,we examined the expression patterns of the CLAVATA3(CLV3)and WUSCHEL(WUS)genes in shoot apical meristems and floral meristems of Cucumis sativus(cucumber)and Arabidopsis thaliana(Arabidopsis).The optimized protocol saved 4–5 days of experimental period compared with the standard ISH protocol using paraffin wax.Moreover,the optimized protocol achieved high signal sensitivity.The optimized protocol was successful for both cucumber and Arabidopsis,which indicates it might have general applicability to most plants.

Melting and floating processes of inorganic materials in molten steel:Visualization physical simulation and mathematical modelling

It has been demonstrated that heat absorption method by using the inorganic material rod to cool the molten steel can significantly reduce the macrosegregation level of the large steel ingot.However,owing to the opacity of the molten steel,the physical mechanism of the heat absorption method is not clear.In this work,a transparent hydraulic physical model with water and paraffin wax was built to simulate the melting and floating processes of inorganic materials in the molten steel.A mathematical simulation was also carried out to analyze the connection between the actual ingot and the physical model.Results show that it is feasible to simulate the molten steel and inorganic materials with water and paraffin wax.With the help of the physical model,the process of the melting of paraffin wax and its floating to the surface of water were clearly observed,during which the temperature of water at some characteristic positions in the mold was recorded.The visualization findings demonstrate that the melting and floating processes of paraffin wax can help to bring the heat from the center of the mold to the top surface more quickly,which reduces the superheat and significantly accelerates the cooling rate of water.The experimental results show that for the water with a certain superheat,the use of a larger mass of paraffin wax can accelerate the cooling of the water,but there is a risk of incomplete melting of the paraffin wax.A higher superheat of water will lead to a quicker melting rate for a given mass of paraffin wax,while a lower superheat leads to the incomplete melting of paraffin wax as well.

Pediatric thermal burn injury:A retrospective analysis from pediatric care institutes,Eastern India

Objective:Pediatric burns pose difficult healthcare issues in underdeveloped nations.Due to the scarcity of pediatric burn care facilities and qualified burn‑care staff,patients are frequently referred from a rural hospital.This study explores the burn‑treatment approach that could be used in rural hospitals in the absence of a dedicated pediatric burn care facility.Materials and Methods:A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 199 children who received treatment for burn‑injury in an isolated general surgical ward.Wound debridement under anesthesia at the earliest was the cornerstone of the treatment plan for this cohort.Until the wounds healed,the treatment was repeated every alternate day.The patient’s demographic data,number of surgical dressings,length of hospital stay,and outcome were analyzed.Results:The mean age of the patients was 51.68±23.79 months.The male‑female ratio was 1.45:1.The survival rate was 99.00%.The disability rate was 4.52%.Univariate logistic regression identified the age group,total body surface area affected,depth of the wound,and time of intervention as statistically significant variables(P<0.05)predicting the disfigurement.Multivariate logistic regression identified the time intervals between surgical intervention and injury as an important predictor of morbidity.In addition,delayed presentation and delayed intervention led to a longer hospital stay,and more interventions than the early intervention cohort.Conclusions:Early debridement accelerates recovery and lessens the need for future skin grafts or contracture procedures.This approach can be used in rural hospitals as well because pediatric burns can be manageable in an isolated general ward.

新型复合相变储能材料Na/Paraffin的制备与性能分析

为提升广泛应用于相变储能领域的石蜡的导热系数,在手套箱内将导热系数高、熔点低、密度小的金属Na与石蜡复合为Na/paraffin新型相变储能材料,并对其导热系数、相变潜热及储/放热特性进行研究。结果表明:5%Na/95%paraffin复合相变储能材料导热系数较纯石蜡提高了17.6倍,储/放热速率均较纯石蜡提升了1倍;经过200次循环实验后,3%Na/97%paraffin复合相变储能材料相变温度由60.58℃下降到59.65℃,相变潜热由166.7520J·g^(-1)下降到160.5632J·g^(-1),热导率由2.33W·m^(-1)·K^(-1)减少到1.98W·m^(-1)·K^(-1)。

Exploration of Methods for Preparation of Cattle Eyeball Paraffin Sections

[Objective] This study aimed to establish a new method for preparing paraffin sections of cattle eyebal s. [Method] The conventional method was used to prepare paraffin sections for cattle eyebal s in the control and a new method termed＆quot;opening a window on cornea and refixation＆quot; was used to prepare paraffin sections for cattle eyebal s in the treatment group. [Result] After the prepared specimens in the treatment group were fixed, it could be macroscopical y observed that retina and choroid were closely connected, with detachment occurring at a smal portion be-tween the two. According to the paraffin sections, it was microscopical y observed that the continuity of trabecular meshwork was intact, as wel as the continuity be-tween different layers of eyebal wal , without detachment between them, no retinal detachment, no shrinkage of each layer of tissue cells. [Conclusion] This study pro-vides a foundation for the basic research and pathological study of eyebal s.

Formulating Highway Paving Asphalts from the Vacuum Residue of a Paraffinic Crude

Many specifications of paving asphalts are closely related to their colloidal stability, which is, however, determined by their exact chemical compositions. The Yumen vacuum residue (YVR), the bottoms of a paraffinic crude oil is unfit for the production of highway paving asphalts directly, Neither are the de-oiled asphalts of the YVR. In this research a blending method and an optimal process of solvent de-asphalts are adopted to investigate the feasibility of formulating highway-paving asphalts from YVR. Results show that highway paving asphalts are formulated by blending solvent de-oiled asphalts with one or more of the materials including YVR, decanted oil from FCC process, and furfural extracts from lubricating base stocks. Further investigations indicate that adding oil decanted from FCC process to the solvent de-asphalting process can increase the de-asphalted oil production, improve the de-oiled asphalts quality, and thus optimize the refinery processes. The methodology of this research can be extended even to refineries processing non-paraffinic crude oils.

Properties of Compound Systems of Paraffin Wax Emulsion and Copper Azole and Treated Wood

[Objective]Preservation and waterproof treatment are two crucial parts in wood protection, which can not only extend the service time, but also expand the application range of wood products. [Method] This work combined CA with paraffin wax emulsion to treat wood samples, and basic properties of the compound system, such as stability （storage stability and centrifugal stability）, particle size and pH val-ue, and water repel ency （water absorption, shrinkage and swel ing） of treated sam-ples were investigated. [Result and Conclusion] 1） the compound systems of CA and paraffin latex had a favorable miscibility and stability; 2） compared with untreated wood, CA-treated samples showed poor water repel ing properties, whereas samples treated with the compound systems indicated an obvious reduction in water absorp-tion, and the shrinkage and swel ing of them were improved as wel .

Interaction between Mitomycin C and DNA at Paraffined Graphite Electrode

Aim To investigate the electrochemical behaviors of Mitomycin C （MC） and its interaction with calf thymus DNA （ctDNA）. Methods The cyclic vohammetry （CV） was carried out at a paraffined graphite electrode. Results MC showed a well-defined oxidation-reduction peak. As a result of reaction with ctDNA, the peak current of MC decreased apparently. According to corresponding electrochemical equations, the diffusion coefficient of both free and MC-DNA complex have been determined, and the heterogeneous rate constants were also obtained simultaneously. Conclusion The solid paraffined graphite electrode could be used to estimate parameters of the interaction between DNA and MC, and provide the convenient and sensitive analysis.