University of Zagreb

About: University of Zagreb is a education organization based out in Zagreb, Grad Zagreb, Croatia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & European union. The organization has 21769 authors who have published 50267 publications receiving 783239 citations. The organization is also known as: Zagreb University & Sveučilište u Zagrebu.

Precipitation of amorphous SiO2 particles and their properties

Abstract: The experimental conditions were optimized for the synthesis of amorphous SiO2 particles by the reaction of neutralization of sodium silicate solution with H2SO4 solution Amorphous SiO2 particles were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDS and microelectrophoresis The amorphous peak was located at 2θ = 218o in the XRD pattern Primary SiO2 particles were ~ 15 to ~ 30 nm in size and they aggregated into bigger particles Amorphous SiO2 particles showed a specific surface area up to 130 m2g-1, dependent on the parameters of the precipitation process The EDS spectrum of amorphous SiO2 particles did not show contamination with sulfate or other ions, which cannot be excluded in traces pHzpc =17 was obtained by microelectrophoresis

Novel Loci for Adiponectin Levels and Their Influence on Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Traits: A Multi-Ethnic Meta-Analysis of 45,891 Individuals

Abstract: Circulating levels of adiponectin, a hormone produced predominantly by adipocytes, are highly heritable and are inversely associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and other metabolic traits. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies in 39,883 individuals of European ancestry to identify genes associated with metabolic disease. We identified 8 novel loci associated with adiponectin levels and confirmed 2 previously reported loci (P = 4.5×10(-8)-1.2×10(-43)). Using a novel method to combine data across ethnicities (N = 4,232 African Americans, N = 1,776 Asians, and N = 29,347 Europeans), we identified two additional novel loci. Expression analyses of 436 human adipocyte samples revealed that mRNA levels of 18 genes at candidate regions were associated with adiponectin concentrations after accounting for multiple testing (p<3×10(-4)). We next developed a multi-SNP genotypic risk score to test the association of adiponectin decreasing risk alleles on metabolic traits and diseases using consortia-level meta-analytic data. This risk score was associated with increased risk of T2D (p = 4.3×10(-3), n = 22,044), increased triglycerides (p = 2.6×10(-14), n = 93,440), increased waist-to-hip ratio (p = 1.8×10(-5), n = 77,167), increased glucose two hours post oral glucose tolerance testing (p = 4.4×10(-3), n = 15,234), increased fasting insulin (p = 0.015, n = 48,238), but with lower in HDL-cholesterol concentrations (p = 4.5×10(-13), n = 96,748) and decreased BMI (p = 1.4×10(-4), n = 121,335). These findings identify novel genetic determinants of adiponectin levels, which, taken together, influence risk of T2D and markers of insulin resistance.

Dividing wall column—A breakthrough towards sustainable distilling

Abstract: Dividing wall column (DWC) is a single shell, fully thermally coupled distillation column capable of separating mixtures of three or more components into high purity products. Compared to conventional columns-in-series and/or in-parallel configurations a DWC requires much less energy, capital and space. This makes DWC to something that corresponds with the present day idea of sustainable process technology. Based on published papers and patent literature this paper aims to give a complete overview of the work done so far on the research and implementation of DWCs, from early ideas on thermal coupling of distillation columns to practical issues that needed to be solved for their successful implementation. Approaches to short-cut and rigorous simulation, optimization, and control are highlighted, with particular focus on column internals and dimensioning, which is only conceptually considered in academic publications. A survey of relevant patents is included providing information on equipment innovations and application areas of industrial interest. Finally authors look at what is needed on research and engineering side to enable maximization of potential gains by building DWCs for obtaining four or even more products containing two or more partition walls in parallel, which is something not yet attempted in industrial practice.

Real-time and in situ monitoring of mechanochemical milling reactions

Abstract: Chemical and structural transformations have long been carried out by milling. Such mechanochemical steps are now ubiquitous in a number of industries (such as the pharmaceutical, chemical and metallurgical industries), and are emerging as excellent environmentally friendly alternatives to solution-based syntheses. However, mechanochemical transformations are typically difficult to monitor in real time, which leaves a large gap in the mechanistic understanding required for their development. We now report the real-time study of mechanochemical transformations in a ball mill by means of in situ diffraction of high-energy synchrotron X-rays. Focusing on the mechanosynthesis of metal-organic frameworks, we have directly monitored reaction profiles, the formation of intermediates, and interconversions of framework topologies. Our results reveal that mechanochemistry is highly dynamic, with reaction rates comparable to or greater than those in solution. The technique also enabled us to probe directly how catalytic additives recently introduced in the mechanosynthesis of metal-organic frameworks, such as organic liquids or ionic species, change the reactivity pathways and kinetics.