21 CFR 164.120 - Shelled nuts in rigid or semirigid containers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION TREE NUT AND PEANUT PRODUCTS Requirements for Specific Standardized Tree Nut and Peanut Products § 164.120 Shelled nuts in rigid or semirigid containers. (a)-(b...

21 CFR 164.120 - Shelled nuts in rigid or semirigid containers.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... SERVICES (CONTINUED) FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION TREE NUT AND PEANUT PRODUCTS Requirements for Specific Standardized Tree Nut and Peanut Products § 164.120 Shelled nuts in rigid or semirigid containers. (a)-(b...

Protein profiles of hatchery egg shell membrane

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: Eggshells, which consist largely of calcareous outer shell and shell membranes, constitute a significant part of poultry hatchery waste. The shell membranes (ESM) not only contain proteins that originate from egg whites but also from the developing embryos and different contaminants of m...

High throughput chemical munitions treatment system

DOEpatents

Haroldsen, Brent L [Manteca, CA; Stofleth, Jerome H [Albuquerque, NM; Didlake, Jr., John E.; Wu, Benjamin C-P [San Ramon, CA

2011-11-01

A new High-Throughput Explosive Destruction System is disclosed. The new system is comprised of two side-by-side detonation containment vessels each comprising first and second halves that feed into a single agent treatment vessel. Both detonation containment vessels further comprise a surrounding ventilation facility. Moreover, the detonation containment vessels are designed to separate into two half-shells, wherein one shell can be moved axially away from the fixed, second half for ease of access and loading. The vessels are closed by means of a surrounding, clam-shell type locking seal mechanisms.

Multilayer nanoparticles with a magnetite core and a polycation inner shell as pH-responsive carriers for drug delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Miao; Yan, Yu; Liu, Xiaozhou; Yan, Husheng; Liu, Keliang; Zhang, Hongkai; Cao, Youjia

2010-03-01

Nanocarriers with multilayer core-shell architecture were prepared by coating a superparamagnetic Fe3O4 core with a triblock copolymer. The first block of the copolymer formed the biocompatible outermost shell of the nanocarrier. The second block that contains amino groups and hydrophobic moiety formed the inner shell. The third block bound tightly onto the Fe3O4 core. Chlorambucil (an anticancer agent) and indomethacin (an anti-inflammation agent), each containing a carboxyl group and a hydrophobic moiety, were loaded into the amino-group-containing inner shell by a combination of ionic and hydrophobic interactions. The release rate of the loaded drugs was slow at pH 7.4, mimicking the blood environment, whereas the release rate increased significantly at acidic pH, mimicking the intracellular conditions in the endosome/lysosome. This can be attributed to the disruption of the ionic bond caused by protonation of the carboxylate anion of the drugs and the swelling of the inner shell caused by protonation of the amino groups.

Bridge-in-a-Backpack(TM). Task 7 : investigation of damage and repairs for concrete filled FRP tubular arches.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-04-01

This report includes fulfillment of Task 7 of a multi-task contract to further enhance concrete filled FRP tubes, or : the Bridge in a Backpack. : Damage due to impact of the FRP shell of the concrete filled FRP tubular arch bridges has been and stil...

Nuclear reactor containment structure with continuous ring tunnel at grade

DOEpatents

Seidensticker, Ralph W.; Knawa, Robert L.; Cerutti, Bernard C.; Snyder, Charles R.; Husen, William C.; Coyer, Robert G.

1977-01-01

A nuclear reactor containment structure which includes a reinforced concrete shell, a hemispherical top dome, a steel liner, and a reinforced-concrete base slab supporting the concrete shell is constructed with a substantial proportion thereof below grade in an excavation made in solid rock with the concrete poured in contact with the rock and also includes a continuous, hollow, reinforced-concrete ring tunnel surrounding the concrete shell with its top at grade level, with one wall integral with the reinforced concrete shell, and with at least the base of the ring tunnel poured in contact with the rock.

Hydrophilic-Core Microcapsules and Their Formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calle, Luz M. (Inventor); Li, Wenyan (Inventor); Buhrow, Jerry W. (Inventor); Jolley, Scott T. (Inventor)

2016-01-01

Hydrophilic-core microcapsules and methods of their formation are provided. A hydrophilic-core microcapsule may include a shell that encapsulates water with the core substance dissolved or dispersed therein. The hydrophilic-core microcapsules may be formed from an emulsion having hydrophilic-phase droplets dispersed in a hydrophobic phase, with shell-forming compound contained in the hydrophilic phase or the hydrophobic phase and the core substance contained in the hydrophilic phase. The shells of the microcapsules may be capable of being broken down in response to being contacted by an alkali, e.g., produced during corrosion, contacting the shell.

Stress concentration in a cylindrical shell containing a circular hole.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Adams, N. J. I.

1971-01-01

The state of stress in a cylindrical shell containing a circular cutout was determined for axial tension, torsion, and internal pressure loading. The solution was obtained for the shallow shell equations by a variational method. The results were expressed in terms of a nondimensional curvature parameter which was a function of shell radius, shell thickness, and hole radius. The function chosen for the solution was such that when the radius of the cylindrical shell approaches infinity, the flat-plate solution was obtained. The results are compared with solutions obtained by more rigorous analytical methods, and with some experimental results. For small values of the curvature parameter, the agreement is good. For higher values of the curvature parameter, the present solutions indicate a limiting value of stress concentration, which is in contrast to previous results.

Neural correlates of Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer in the nucleus accumbens shell are selectively potentiated following cocaine self-administration

PubMed Central

Saddoris, Michael P.; Stamatakis, Alice; Carelli, Regina M.

2013-01-01

During Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT), learned Pavlovian cues significantly modulate ongoing instrumental actions. This phenomenon is suggested as a mechanism under which conditioned stimuli may lead to relapse in addicted populations. Following discriminative Pavlovian learning and instrumental conditioning with sucrose, one group of rats (naive) underwent electrophysiological recordings in the nucleus accumbens core and shell during a single PIT session. Other groups, following Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning, were subsequently trained to self-administer cocaine with nosepoke responses, or received yoked saline infusions and nosepoked for water rewards, and then performed PIT while electrophysiological recordings were taken in the nucleus accumbens. Behaviorally, although both naive and saline-treated groups showed increases in lever pressing during the conditioned stimulus cue, this effect was significantly enhanced in the cocaine-treated group. Neurons in the core and shell tracked these behavioral changes. In control animals, core neurons were significantly more likely to encode general information about cues, rewards and responses than those in the shell, and positively correlated with behavioral PIT performance, whereas PIT-specific encoding in the shell, but not core, tracked PIT performance. In contrast, following cocaine exposure, there was a significant increase in neural encoding of all task-relevant events that was selective to the shell. Given that cocaine exposure enhanced both behavior and shell-specific task encoding, these findings suggest that, whereas the core is important for acquiring the information about cues and response contingencies, the shell is important for using this information to guide and modulate behavior and is specifically affected following a history of cocaine self-administration. PMID:21507084

Lithium sulfide compositions for battery electrolyte and battery electrode coatings

DOEpatents

Liang, Chengdu; Liu, Zengcai; Fu, Wunjun; Lin, Zhan; Dudney, Nancy J; Howe, Jane Y; Rondinone, Adam J

2013-12-03

Methods of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electroytes are composed of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (Li.sub.2S), a first shell of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7, and a second shell including one or .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7 and carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.

Lithium sulfide compositions for battery electrolyte and battery electrode coatings

DOEpatents

Liang, Chengdu; Liu, Zengcai; Fu, Wujun; Lin, Zhan; Dudney, Nancy J; Howe, Jane Y; Rondinone, Adam J

2014-10-28

Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (Li.sub.2S), a first shell of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7, and a second shell including one of .beta.-Li.sub.3PS.sub.4 or Li.sub.4P.sub.2S.sub.7 and carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.

Study of CT Scan Flooding System at High Temperature and Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, X. Y.

2017-12-01

CT scan flooding experiment can scan micro-pore in different flooding stages by the use of CT scan technology, without changing the external morphology and internal structure of the core, and observe the distribution characterization in pore medium of different flooding fluid under different pressure.thus,it can rebuilt the distribution images of oil-water distribution in different flooding stages. However,under extreme high pressure and temperature conditions,the CT scan system can not meet the requirements. Container of low density materials or thin shell can not resist high pressure,while high density materials or thick shell will cause attenuation and scattering of X-ray. The experiment uses a simple Ct scanning systems.X ray from a point light source passing trough a micro beryllium shell on High pressure stainless steal container,continuously irradiates the core holder that can continuously 360° rotate along the core axis. A rare earth intensifying screen behind the core holder emitting light when irradiated with X ray can show the core X ray section image. An optical camera record the core X ray images through a transparency high pressure glazing that placed on the High pressure stainless steal container.Thus,multiple core X ray section images can reconstruct the 3D core reconstruction after a series of data processing.The experiment shows that both the micro beryllium shell and rare earth intensifying screen can work in high temperature and high pressure environment in the stainless steal container. This way that X-ray passes through a thin layer of micro beryllium shell , not high pressure stainless steal shell,avoid the attenuation and scattering of X-ray from the container shell,while improving the high-pressure experiment requirements.

Performance analysis of the node shell on a container door based on ANSYS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qingzhou; Zhou, Yi; Hu, Changqing; Cheng, Jiamin; Zeng, Xiaochen

2018-01-01

The structure of thenode shell on a container door was designed and analyzed in this study. The model of the shell was developed with ANSYS. The grids of the model were divided based on the Hex dominant method, and the stress distribution and the temperature distribution of the shell were calculated based on FEA (Finite Element Analysis) method. The analysis results indicated thatthe location of the concave upward side has the highest stress which also lower than the strength limit of the material. The temperature of the magnet installation location was highest, therefore the glue for fixing the magnet must has high temperature resistance. The results provide the basis for the further optimization of the shell.

Method of forming cavitated objects of controlled dimension

DOEpatents

Anderson, Paul R.; Miller, Wayne J.

1982-01-01

A method of controllably varying the dimensions of cavitated objects such as hollow spherical shells wherein a precursor shell is heated to a temperature above the shell softening temperature in an ambient atmosphere wherein the ratio of gases which are permeable through the shell wall at that temperature to gases which are impermeable through the shell wall is substantially greater than the corresponding ratio for gases contained within the precursor shell. As the shell expands, the partial pressures of permeable gases internally and externally of the shell approach and achieve equilibrium, so that the final shell size depends solely upon the difference in impermeable gas partial pressures and shell surface tension.

Properties of palm oil fuel ash cement sand brick containing pulverized cockle shell as partial sand replacement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mat Aris, S.; Muthusamy, K.; Uzer, A.; Ahmad, S. Wan

2018-04-01

Environmental pollution caused by the disposal of solid wastes generated from both palm oil industry and cockle shell trade has motivated researches to explore the potential of these wastes. Integrating these wastes in production of construction material is one of the ways to reduce amount of waste thrown at dumping area. Thus, the present investigation investigates the performance of palm oil fuel ash (POFA) cement sand brick containing pulverized cockle shell as partial fine aggregate replacement. All mixes used contain 20% of POFA as partial cement replacement. Total of six mixes were prepared by adding a range of pulverized cockle shell that is 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50% as partial sand replacement. The mixes were prepared in form of brick. All the water cured samples were tested for compressive strength and flexural strength until 28 days. Findings show that brick produced using 20% pulverized cockle shell exhibit the highest compressive strength and flexural strength also the lowest water absorption value.

Application of the line-spring model to a cylindrical shell containing a circumferential or axial part-through crack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delale, F.; Erdogan, F.

1981-01-01

An approximate solution was obtained for a cylindrical shell containing a part-through surface crack. It was assumed that the shell contains a circumferential or axial semi-elliptic internal or external surface crack and was subjected to a uniform membrane loading or a uniform bending moment away from the crack region. A Reissner type theory was used to account for the effects of the transverse shear deformations. The stress intensity factor at the deepest penetration point of the crack was tabulated for bending and membrane loading by varying three dimensionless length parameters of the problem formed from the shell radius, the shell thickness, the crack length, and the crack depth. The upper bounds of the stress intensity factors are provided by the results of the elasticity solution obtained from the axisymmetric crack problem for the circumferential crack, and that found from the plane strain problem for a circular ring having a radial crack for the axial crack. The line-spring model gives the expected results in comparison with the elasticity solutions. Results also compare well with the existing finite element solution of the pressurized cylinder containing an internal semi-elliptic surface crack.

7 CFR 56.35 - Authority to use, and approval of official identification.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... INSPECTION ACT (CONTINUED) VOLUNTARY GRADING OF SHELL EGGS Grading of Shell Eggs Identifying and Marking... labeling of each unit container of consumer packaged shell eggs in accordance with the provisions of title...

A cylindrical shell with an arbitrarily oriented crack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yahsi, O. S.; Erdogan, F.

1982-01-01

The general problem of a shallow shell with constant curvatures is considered. It is assumed that the shell contains an arbitrarily oriented through crack and the material is specially orthotropic. The nonsymmetric problem is solved for arbitrary self equilibrating crack surface tractions, which, added to an appropriate solution for an uncracked shell, would give the result for a cracked shell under most general loading conditions. The problem is reduced to a system of five singular integral equations in a set of unknown functions representing relative displacements and rotations on the crack surfaces. The stress state around the crack tip is asymptotically analyzed and it is shown that the results are identical to those obtained from the two dimensional in plane and antiplane elasticity solutions. The numerical results are given for a cylindrical shell containing an arbitrarily oriented through crack. Some sample results showing the effect of the Poisson's ratio and the material orthotropy are also presented.

Capsules made from prefabricated thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amstad, Esther

2018-02-01

Capsules are composed of a core, typically a liquid containing active substances, and a surrounding shell. They are used to delay the degradation of active ingredients, protect them from reacting or interacting with substances contained in the surrounding shell, or to prevent premature consumption of encapsulants (1, 2). The performance of capsules is often determined by their permeability toward encapsulants and stability against rupture; these parameters can be adjusted with the composition, structure, and thickness of the shell (3, 4). Mechanically robust capsules with a minimal permeability even toward low molecular weight substances often have rather thick shells (5). On page 775 of this issue, Kumar et al. (6) report an elegant process to fabricate capsules with very thin, rigid shells that display a low permeability even toward small encapsulants.

Application of the UV laser printing technique to soft gelatin capsules containing titanium dioxide in the shells.

PubMed

Hosokawa, Akihiro; Kato, Yoshiteru

2012-03-01

The purpose of this study was to examine application of ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiation to printing soft gelatin capsules containing titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) in the shells and to study effect of UV laser power on the color strength of printing on the soft gelatin capsules. Size 6 Oval type soft gelatin capsules of which shells contained 0.685% TiO(2) and 0.005% ferric dioxide were used in this study. The capsules were irradiated pulsed UV laser at a wavelength 355 nm. The color strength of the printed capsules was determined by a spectrophotometer as total color difference (dE). The soft gelatin capsules which contained TiO(2) in the shells could be printed gray by the laser. Many black particles, which were associated with the printing, were formed at the colored parts of the shells. It was found that there were two inflection points in relationship between output laser energy of a pulse and dE. Below the lower point, the capsules were not printed. From the lower point to the upper point, the capsules were printed gray and total color difference of the printing increased linearly in proportion with the output laser energy. Beyond the upper point, total color difference showed saturation because of micro-bubbles formation at the laser irradiated spot. Soft gelatin capsules containing TiO(2) in the shells could be performed stable printing using the UV laser printing technique. Color strength of the printing could be controlled by regulating the laser energy between the two inflection points.

Cementing a wellbore using cementing material encapsulated in a shell

DOEpatents

Aines, Roger D.; Bourcier, William L.; Duoss, Eric B.; Spadaccini, Christopher M.; Cowan, Kenneth Michael

2016-08-16

A system for cementing a wellbore penetrating an earth formation into which a pipe extends. A cement material is positioned in the space between the wellbore and the pipe by circulated capsules containing the cement material through the pipe into the space between the wellbore and the pipe. The capsules contain the cementing material encapsulated in a shell. The capsules are added to a fluid and the fluid with capsules is circulated through the pipe into the space between the wellbore and the pipe. The shell is breached once the capsules contain the cementing material are in position in the space between the wellbore and the pipe.

Closure system

DOEpatents

Hertelendy, N.A.

1987-04-22

A pressure resistant seal for a metallic container is formed between a cylindrical portion having one end open and a cap which seals the open end of the shell. The cap is in the form of a frusto-conical flange which is inserted narrow end first into the open end of the shell and the container is sealed by means of a capping tool which pulls the flange against a die, deforming the flange and forcing the edge of the flange into the wall of the shell. 6 figs.

Closure system

DOEpatents

Hertelendy, Nicholas A [Kennewick, WA

1989-01-01

A pressure resistant seal for a metallic container is formed between a cylindrical portion having one end open and a cap which seals the open end of the shell. The cap is in the form of a frusto-conical flange which is inserted narrow end first into the open end of the shell and the container is sealed by means of a capping tool which pulls the flange against a die, deforming the flange and forcing the edge of the flange into the wall of the shell.

Closure system

DOEpatents

Hertelendy, Nicholas A.

1989-04-04

A pressure resistant seal for a metallic container is formed between a cylindrical portion having one end open and a cap which seals the open end of the shell. The cap is in the form of a frusto-conical flange which is inserted narrow end first into the open end of the shell and the container is sealed by means of a capping tool which pulls the flange against a die, deforming the flange and forcing the edge of the flange into the wall of the shell.

MIA - A free and open source software for gray scale medical image analysis

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Gray scale images make the bulk of data in bio-medical image analysis, and hence, the main focus of many image processing tasks lies in the processing of these monochrome images. With ever improving acquisition devices, spatial and temporal image resolution increases, and data sets become very large. Various image processing frameworks exists that make the development of new algorithms easy by using high level programming languages or visual programming. These frameworks are also accessable to researchers that have no background or little in software development because they take care of otherwise complex tasks. Specifically, the management of working memory is taken care of automatically, usually at the price of requiring more it. As a result, processing large data sets with these tools becomes increasingly difficult on work station class computers. One alternative to using these high level processing tools is the development of new algorithms in a languages like C++, that gives the developer full control over how memory is handled, but the resulting workflow for the prototyping of new algorithms is rather time intensive, and also not appropriate for a researcher with little or no knowledge in software development. Another alternative is in using command line tools that run image processing tasks, use the hard disk to store intermediate results, and provide automation by using shell scripts. Although not as convenient as, e.g. visual programming, this approach is still accessable to researchers without a background in computer science. However, only few tools exist that provide this kind of processing interface, they are usually quite task specific, and don’t provide an clear approach when one wants to shape a new command line tool from a prototype shell script. Results The proposed framework, MIA, provides a combination of command line tools, plug-ins, and libraries that make it possible to run image processing tasks interactively in a command shell and to prototype by using the according shell scripting language. Since the hard disk becomes the temporal storage memory management is usually a non-issue in the prototyping phase. By using string-based descriptions for filters, optimizers, and the likes, the transition from shell scripts to full fledged programs implemented in C++ is also made easy. In addition, its design based on atomic plug-ins and single tasks command line tools makes it easy to extend MIA, usually without the requirement to touch or recompile existing code. Conclusion In this article, we describe the general design of MIA, a general purpouse framework for gray scale image processing. We demonstrated the applicability of the software with example applications from three different research scenarios, namely motion compensation in myocardial perfusion imaging, the processing of high resolution image data that arises in virtual anthropology, and retrospective analysis of treatment outcome in orthognathic surgery. With MIA prototyping algorithms by using shell scripts that combine small, single-task command line tools is a viable alternative to the use of high level languages, an approach that is especially useful when large data sets need to be processed. PMID:24119305

MIA - A free and open source software for gray scale medical image analysis.

PubMed

Wollny, Gert; Kellman, Peter; Ledesma-Carbayo, María-Jesus; Skinner, Matthew M; Hublin, Jean-Jaques; Hierl, Thomas

2013-10-11

Gray scale images make the bulk of data in bio-medical image analysis, and hence, the main focus of many image processing tasks lies in the processing of these monochrome images. With ever improving acquisition devices, spatial and temporal image resolution increases, and data sets become very large.Various image processing frameworks exists that make the development of new algorithms easy by using high level programming languages or visual programming. These frameworks are also accessable to researchers that have no background or little in software development because they take care of otherwise complex tasks. Specifically, the management of working memory is taken care of automatically, usually at the price of requiring more it. As a result, processing large data sets with these tools becomes increasingly difficult on work station class computers.One alternative to using these high level processing tools is the development of new algorithms in a languages like C++, that gives the developer full control over how memory is handled, but the resulting workflow for the prototyping of new algorithms is rather time intensive, and also not appropriate for a researcher with little or no knowledge in software development.Another alternative is in using command line tools that run image processing tasks, use the hard disk to store intermediate results, and provide automation by using shell scripts. Although not as convenient as, e.g. visual programming, this approach is still accessable to researchers without a background in computer science. However, only few tools exist that provide this kind of processing interface, they are usually quite task specific, and don't provide an clear approach when one wants to shape a new command line tool from a prototype shell script. The proposed framework, MIA, provides a combination of command line tools, plug-ins, and libraries that make it possible to run image processing tasks interactively in a command shell and to prototype by using the according shell scripting language. Since the hard disk becomes the temporal storage memory management is usually a non-issue in the prototyping phase. By using string-based descriptions for filters, optimizers, and the likes, the transition from shell scripts to full fledged programs implemented in C++ is also made easy. In addition, its design based on atomic plug-ins and single tasks command line tools makes it easy to extend MIA, usually without the requirement to touch or recompile existing code. In this article, we describe the general design of MIA, a general purpouse framework for gray scale image processing. We demonstrated the applicability of the software with example applications from three different research scenarios, namely motion compensation in myocardial perfusion imaging, the processing of high resolution image data that arises in virtual anthropology, and retrospective analysis of treatment outcome in orthognathic surgery. With MIA prototyping algorithms by using shell scripts that combine small, single-task command line tools is a viable alternative to the use of high level languages, an approach that is especially useful when large data sets need to be processed.

49 CFR 179.220 - General specifications applicable to nonpressure tank car tanks consisting of an inner container...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false General specifications applicable to nonpressure tank car tanks consisting of an inner container supported within an outer shell (class DOT-115). 179... within an outer shell (class DOT-115). ...

49 CFR 179.220 - General specifications applicable to nonpressure tank car tanks consisting of an inner container...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 3 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false General specifications applicable to nonpressure tank car tanks consisting of an inner container supported within an outer shell (class DOT-115). 179... within an outer shell (class DOT-115). ...

Temperature/Humidity Conditions in Stacked Flexible Intermediate Bulk Containers for Shelled Peanuts

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Shelled peanuts are loaded into flexible intermediate bulk containers, or totes. After loading, the 1000-kg totes are placed directly into cold storage at 3ºC and 65% relative humidity until shipment to the customer domestically in the United States or internationally requiring transport overseas. ...

7 CFR 51.1440 - Application of standards.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... STANDARDS) United States Standards for Grades of Shelled Pecans Application of Standards § 51.1440 Application of standards. The grade of a lot of shelled pecans shall be determined on the basis of a composite... container or number of containers in which the pecans are obviously of a quality or size materially...

Method of making foam-encapsulated laser targets

DOEpatents

Rinde, James A.; Fulton, Fred J.

1977-01-01

Foam-encapsulated laser fusion targets are fabricated by suspending fusion fuel filled shells in a solution of cellulose acetate, extruding the suspension through a small orifice into a bath of ice water, soaking the thus formed shell containing cellulose acetate gel in the water to extract impurities, freezing the gel, and thereafter freeze-drying wherein water and solvents sublime and the gel structure solidifies into a low-density microcellular foam containing one or more encapsulated fuel-filled shells. The thus formed material is thereafter cut and mounted on a support to provide laser fusion targets containing a fuel-filled shell surrounded by foam having a thickness of 10 to 60 .mu.m, a cell size of less than 2 .mu.m, and density of 0.08 to 0.6.times.10.sup.3 kg/m.sup.3. Various configured foam-encapsulated targets capable of being made by the encapsulation method are illustrated.

Removable inner turbine shell with bucket tip clearance control

DOEpatents

Sexton, Brendan F.; Knuijt, Hans M.; Eldrid, Sacheverel Q.; Myers, Albert; Coneybeer, Kyle E.; Johnson, David Martin; Kellock, Iain R.

2000-01-01

A turbine includes a plurality of inner shell sections mounting first and second stage nozzle and shroud portions. The inner shell sections are pinned to an outer containment shell formed of sections to preclude circumferential movement of the inner shell relative to the outer shell and enable thermal expansion and contraction of the inner shell relative to the outer shell. Positive bucket tip clearance control is afforded by passing a thermal medium about the inner shell in heat transfer relation with the shrouds about the first and second stage bucket tips, the thermal medium being provided from a source of heating/cooling fluid independent of the turbine. Access is provided to the rotor and turbine buckets by removing the outer and inner shell sections.

DOT-105/111/112/114 Tank Cars Shell Cracking and Structural Integrity Assessment: Task Force Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1986-02-01

In August 1985, the FRA Associate Administrator for Safety asked the DOT Transportation Systems Center to make a preliminary technical assessment of the adequacy of the manufacturer's inspection and repair procedures. The Center formed a task force f...

Simple proteomics data analysis in the object-oriented PowerShell.

PubMed

Mohammed, Yassene; Palmblad, Magnus

2013-01-01

Scripting languages such as Perl and Python are appreciated for solving simple, everyday tasks in bioinformatics. A more recent, object-oriented command shell and scripting language, Windows PowerShell, has many attractive features: an object-oriented interactive command line, fluent navigation and manipulation of XML files, ability to consume Web services from the command line, consistent syntax and grammar, rich regular expressions, and advanced output formatting. The key difference between classical command shells and scripting languages, such as bash, and object-oriented ones, such as PowerShell, is that in the latter the result of a command is a structured object with inherited properties and methods rather than a simple stream of characters. Conveniently, PowerShell is included in all new releases of Microsoft Windows and therefore already installed on most computers in classrooms and teaching labs. In this chapter we demonstrate how PowerShell in particular allows easy interaction with mass spectrometry data in XML formats, connection to Web services for tools such as BLAST, and presentation of results as formatted text or graphics. These features make PowerShell much more than "yet another scripting language."

A Bottle-around-a-Ship Method To Generate Hollow Thin-Shelled Particles Containing Encapsulated Iron Species with Application to the Environmental Decontamination of Chlorinated Compounds.

PubMed

Su, Yang; Wang, Yingqing; Owoseni, Olasehinde; Zhang, Yueheng; Gamliel, David Pierce; Valla, Julia A; McPherson, Gary L; John, Vijay T

2018-04-25

Thin-shelled hollow silica particles are synthesized using an aerosol-based process where the concentration of a silica precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) determines the shell thickness. The synthesis involves a novel concept of the salt bridging of an iron salt, FeCl 3 , to a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), which modulates the templating effect of the surfactant on silica porosity. The salt bridging leads to a sequestration of the surfactant in the interior of the droplet with the formation of a dense silica shell around the organic material. Subsequent calcination consistently results in hollow particles with encapsulated iron oxides. Control of the TEOS levels leads to the generation of ultrathin-shelled (∼10 nm) particles which become susceptible to rupture upon exposure to ultrasound. The dense silica shell that is formed is impervious to entry of chemical species. Mesoporosity is restored to the shell through desilication and reassembly, again using CTAB as a template. The mesoporous-shelled hollow particles show good reactivity toward the reductive dichlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE), indicating access of TCE to the particle interior. The ordered mesoporous thin-shelled particles containing active iron species are viable systems for chemical reaction and catalysis.

Sulfur containing nanoporous materials, nanoparticles, methods and applications

DOEpatents

Archer, Lynden A.; Navaneedhakrishnan, Jayaprakash

2018-01-30

Sulfur containing nanoparticles that may be used within cathode electrodes within lithium ion batteries include in a first instance porous carbon shape materials (i.e., either nanoparticle shapes or "bulk" shapes that are subsequently ground to nanoparticle shapes) that are infused with a sulfur material. A synthetic route to these carbon and sulfur containing nanoparticles may use a template nanoparticle to form a hollow carbon shape shell, and subsequent dissolution of the template nanoparticle prior to infusion of the hollow carbon shape shell with a sulfur material. Sulfur infusion into other porous carbon shapes that are not hollow is also contemplated. A second type of sulfur containing nanoparticle includes a metal oxide material core upon which is located a shell layer that includes a vulcanized polymultiene polymer material and ion conducting polymer material. The foregoing sulfur containing nanoparticle materials provide the electrodes and lithium ion batteries with enhanced performance.

Toxic-Waste Disposal by Combustion in Containers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Houseman, J.; Stephens, J. B.; Moynihan, P. I.; Compton, L. E.; Kalvinskas, J. J.

1986-01-01

Chemical wastes burned with minimal handling in storage containers. Technique for disposing of chemical munitions by burning them inside shells applies to disposal of toxic materials stored in drums. Fast, economical procedure overcomes heat-transfer limitations of conventional furnace designs by providing direct contact of oxygenrich combustion gases with toxic agent. No need to handle waste material, and container also decontaminated in process. Oxygen-rich torch flame cuts burster well and causes vaporization and combustion of toxic agent contained in shell.

Cementing a wellbore using cementing material encapsulated in a shell

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aines, Roger D.; Bourcier, William L.; Duoss, Eric B.

A system for cementing a wellbore penetrating an earth formation into which a pipe extends. A cement material is positioned in the space between the wellbore and the pipe by circulated capsules containing the cement material through the pipe into the space between the wellbore and the pipe. The capsules contain the cementing material encapsulated in a shell. The capsules are added to a fluid and the fluid with capsules is circulated through the pipe into the space between the wellbore and the pipe. The shell is breached once the capsules contain the cementing material are in position in themore » space between the wellbore and the pipe.« less

A cylindrical shell with an arbitrarily oriented crack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yahsi, O. S.; Erdogan, F.

1983-01-01

The general problem of a shallow shell with constant curvatures is considered. It is assumed that the shell contains an arbitrarily oriented through crack and the material is specially orthotropic. The nonsymmetric problem is solved for arbitrary self equilibrating crack surface tractions, which, added to an appropriate solution for an uncracked shell, would give the result for a cracked shell under most general loading conditions. The problem is reduced to a system to five singular integral equations in a set of unknown functions representing relative displacements and rotations on the crack surfaces. The stress state around the crack tip is asymptotically analyzed and it is shown that the results are identical to those obtained from the two dimensional in plane and antiplane elasticity solutions. The numerical results are given for a cylindrical shell containing an arbitrarily oriented through crack. Some sample results showing the effect of the Poisson's ratio and the material orthotropy are also presented. Previously annunced in STAR as N83-16783

Aerosol fabrication methods for monodisperse nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Jiang, Xingmao; Brinker, C Jeffrey

2014-10-21

Exemplary embodiments provide materials and methods for forming monodisperse particles. In one embodiment, the monodisperse particles can be formed by first spraying a nanoparticle-containing dispersion into aerosol droplets and then heating the aerosol droplets in the presence of a shell precursor to form core-shell particles. By removing either the shell layer or the nanoparticle core of the core-shell particles, monodisperse nanoparticles can be formed.

Analysis of flexible layered shallow shells on elastic foundation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stupishin, L.; Kolesnikov, A.; Tolmacheva, T.

2017-05-01

This paper contains numerical analysis of a layered geometric nonlinear flexible shallow shell based on an elastic foundation. Rise of arch in the center of the shell, width, length and type of support are given. The design variable is taken to be the thickness of the shallow shell, the form of the middle surface forming and the characteristic of elastic foundations. Critical force coefficient and stress of shells are calculated by Bubnov-Galerkin. Stress, characteristic of elastic foundations - thickness dependence are presented.

Application of the line-spring model to a cylindrical shell containing a circumferential or axial part-through crack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delale, F.; Erdogan, F.

1982-01-01

The line-spring model developed by Rice and Levy (1972) is used to obtain an approximate solution for a cylindrical shell containing a part-through surface crack. A Reissner type theory is used to account for the effects of the transverse shear deformations, and the stress intensity factor at the deepest penetration point of the crack is tabulated for bending and membrane loading by varying three-dimensionless length parameters of the problem formed from the shell radius, the shell thickness, the crack length, and the crack depth. The upper bounds of the stress intensity factors are provided, and qualitatively the line-spring model gives the expected results in comparison with elasticity solutions.

A software architecture for automating operations processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Kevin J.

1994-01-01

The Operations Engineering Lab (OEL) at JPL has developed a software architecture based on an integrated toolkit approach for simplifying and automating mission operations tasks. The toolkit approach is based on building adaptable, reusable graphical tools that are integrated through a combination of libraries, scripts, and system-level user interface shells. The graphical interface shells are designed to integrate and visually guide a user through the complex steps in an operations process. They provide a user with an integrated system-level picture of an overall process, defining the required inputs and possible output through interactive on-screen graphics. The OEL has developed the software for building these process-oriented graphical user interface (GUI) shells. The OEL Shell development system (OEL Shell) is an extension of JPL's Widget Creation Library (WCL). The OEL Shell system can be used to easily build user interfaces for running complex processes, applications with extensive command-line interfaces, and tool-integration tasks. The interface shells display a logical process flow using arrows and box graphics. They also allow a user to select which output products are desired and which input sources are needed, eliminating the need to know which program and its associated command-line parameters must be executed in each case. The shells have also proved valuable for use as operations training tools because of the OEL Shell hypertext help environment. The OEL toolkit approach is guided by several principles, including the use of ASCII text file interfaces with a multimission format, Perl scripts for mission-specific adaptation code, and programs that include a simple command-line interface for batch mode processing. Projects can adapt the interface shells by simple changes to the resources configuration file. This approach has allowed the development of sophisticated, automated software systems that are easy, cheap, and fast to build. This paper will discuss our toolkit approach and the OEL Shell interface builder in the context of a real operations process example. The paper will discuss the design and implementation of a Ulysses toolkit for generating the mission sequence of events. The Sequence of Events Generation (SEG) system provides an adaptable multimission toolkit for producing a time-ordered listing and timeline display of spacecraft commands, state changes, and required ground activities.

Workload Assessment for the Combat Vehicle Command and Control Company- Level Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-04-01

and descriptive statistics are in Appendix F3 . Shell and SITREP Reports. No significant total score workload differences were obtained for these tasks...Cases= 9: missing Cases = 15 OR 16.5 PCT. F2-20 Appendix F3 Prepare/Send CFF Report Variable or term GRP(l) ANOVA factor comparing CVCC with Ml Baseline...subscale score for task CMT4WL5 Effort subscale score for task CMT4WL6 Frustration subscale score for task F3 -1 Deviation Scores: Task 4 - Prepare/Send CFF

9 CFR 590.50 - Temperature and labeling requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... AGRICULTURE EGG PRODUCTS INSPECTION INSPECTION OF EGGS AND EGG PRODUCTS (EGG PRODUCTS INSPECTION ACT) Refrigeration of Shell Eggs § 590.50 Temperature and labeling requirements. (a) No shell egg handler shall possess any shell eggs that are packed into containers destined for the ultimate consumer unless they are...

AF-Shell 1.0 User Guide

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McElroy, Mark W.

2017-01-01

This document serves as a user guide for the AF-Shell 1.0 software, an efficient tool for progressive damage simulation in composite laminates. This guide contains minimal technical material and is meant solely as a guide for a new user to apply AF-Shell 1.0 to laminate damage simulation problems.

New Alloys for Electroformed Replicated X-Ray Optics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Engelhaupt, D.; Ramsey, B. D.; ODell, S. L.; Jones, W. D.; Russell, J. K.

2000-01-01

The process of electroforming x-ray mirror shells off a superpolished mandrel has been widely used. The recently launched XMM mission is a good example of this, containing 174 such mirror shells of diameters ranging from 0.3-0.7 m and thicknesses of 0.47-1.07 mm. To continue to utilize this technique for the next generation of x-ray observatories, where ever-larger collecting areas will be required within the constraints of tight weight budgets, demands that new alloys be developed that can withstand the large stresses imposed on very thin shells by the replication and handling processes. Towards this end, we began a development program in late 1997 to produce a high-strength alloy suitable for electroforming very thin high-resolution x-ray optics. The requirements for this task are quite severe; not only must the electroformed deposit be very strong, it must also have extremely low residual stresses to prevent serious figure distortions in large thin-walled shells. Further, the electroforming must be performed at near room temperature, as large temperature changes will modify the figure of the mandrel, in an environment that is not corrosive for the mandrel. The figure of merit for the strength of the electroformed deposit is its Precision Elastic Limit (PEL). This is a measure of permanent strain, at the few parts per million level, under applied stress. Pure nickel is very ductile and will permanently deform, at the parts-per-million level under loads of a few x 10(exp 7) Pa. These stresses are easily exceeded when thin-walled shells (150 micron thick) are replicated. Our goal was to develop an alloy an order of magnitude stronger than this. We will present the results of our development program, showing the evolution of our plating baths through to our present 'glassy' nickel alloy that satisfies the goals above. For each we will show the electroforming characteristics of the bath and the PEL measurements for the resulting alloys. We estimate the ultimate limit on shell thickness and mass for x-ray mirrors produced in these baths.

The shell-forming proteome of Lottia gigantea reveals both deep conservations and lineage-specific novelties.

PubMed

Marie, Benjamin; Jackson, Daniel J; Ramos-Silva, Paula; Zanella-Cléon, Isabelle; Guichard, Nathalie; Marin, Frédéric

2013-01-01

Proteins that are occluded within the molluscan shell, the so-called shell matrix proteins (SMPs), are an assemblage of biomolecules attractive to study for several reasons. They increase the fracture resistance of the shell by several orders of magnitude, determine the polymorph of CaCO(3) deposited, and regulate crystal nucleation, growth initiation and termination. In addition, they are thought to control the shell microstructures. Understanding how these proteins have evolved is also likely to provide deep insight into events that supported the diversification and expansion of metazoan life during the Cambrian radiation 543 million years ago. Here, we present an analysis of SMPs isolated form the CaCO(3) shell of the limpet Lottia gigantea, a gastropod that constructs an aragonitic cross-lamellar shell. We identified 39 SMPs by combining proteomic analysis with genomic and transcriptomic database interrogations. Among these proteins are various low-complexity domain-containing proteins, enzymes such as peroxidases, carbonic anhydrases and chitinases, acidic calcium-binding proteins and protease inhibitors. This list is likely to contain the most abundant SMPs of the shell matrix. It reveals the presence of both highly conserved and lineage-specific biomineralizing proteins. This mosaic evolutionary pattern suggests that there may be an ancestral molluscan SMP set upon which different conchiferan lineages have elaborated to produce the diversity of shell microstructures we observe nowadays. © 2012 The Authors Journal compilation © 2012 FEBS.

The chemical composition of the egg shells of the potato cyst-nematode, Heterodera rostochiensis Woll

PubMed Central

Clarke, A. J.; Cox, Patricia M.; Shepherd, Audrey M.

1967-01-01

1. Eggs of the potato cyst-nematode (Heterodera rostochiensis Woll.) were isolated by sieving a suspension of crushed cysts. Eggs were broken open by ultrasonic vibration and the egg shells separated from the released larvae by centrifuging in a potassium tartrate density gradient. About 1 mg. of dried egg shells was obtained from 1000 cysts. 2. The major constituent of the egg shells was protein (59%, calculated from nitrogen content). About 80% of the egg shells went into solution on acid hydrolysis. Of the 18 amino acids determined with the Technicon Auto-Analyser, proline was most abundant and, with aspartic acid, glycine and serine, made up about 64% by weight of the total amino acids. The small amounts of aromatic and sulphur-containing amino acids, and the presence of hydroxy-proline, indicate a collagen-like protein. 3. The egg shells gave a positive van Wisselingh colour test for chitin, and glucosamine was detected in their acid hydrolysate by chromatography. The glucosamine content of the egg shells, determined by the Elson–Morgan colorimetric method, was 7%, corresponding to about 9% chitin. 4. Dried egg shells contained about 7% of lipid, 6% of carbohydrate and 3% of ash. Polyphenols (3% by weight of the egg shells) were detected in the acid hydrolysates. 5. Neither the collagen nor the chitin showed evidence of crystallinity when examined by X-ray diffraction. PMID:6069200

Growth response, nutrient and mineral retention, bone mineralisation and walking ability of broiler chickens fed with dietary inclusion of various unconventional mineral sources.

PubMed

Oso, A O; Idowu, A A; Niameh, O T

2011-08-01

Growth response, nutrient and mineral retention, bone mineral content and walking ability of broiler chicken fed dietary inclusion of various unconventional calcium sources were studied using 160-day-old broilers. Four isonitrogenous, isocaloric diets balanced for Ca and P were formulated such that oyster shell, snail shell, wood ash and limestone were used as main non-phytate (Ca from other sources apart from plant) calcium sources. Each dietary treatment consisted of 40 birds replicated four times with 10 birds per replicate. A single diet was fed to the broilers throughout the duration of the study which lasted for 8 weeks. Broilers fed diet containing oyster shell as calcium sources recorded the highest (p < 0.05) feed intake of 5863.30 g, while those fed diet containing limestone consumed the least intake (p < 0.05) of 5432.56 g. Occurrence of lameness and evidences of gaits were highest (p < 0.05) for broilers fed diet containing wood ash. Lowest (p < 0.05) Ca and ash retention were recorded for broiler fed diet containing wood ash as Ca sources. Similar tibia ash values were recorded for broilers fed oyster shell, snail shell and limestone. Wood ash inclusion resulted in a low Ca availability hence its inclusion in feeds for broilers should be discouraged. © 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Fabrication of Hierarchical Layer-by-Layer Assembled Diamond-based Core-Shell Nanocomposites as Highly Efficient Dye Absorbents for Wastewater Treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xinna; Ma, Kai; Jiao, Tifeng; Xing, Ruirui; Ma, Xilong; Hu, Jie; Huang, Hao; Zhang, Lexin; Yan, Xuehai

2017-03-01

The effective chemical modification and self-assembly of diamond-based hierarchical composite materials are of key importance for a broad range of diamond applications. Herein, we report the preparation of novel core-shell diamond-based nanocomposites for dye adsorption toward wastewater treatment through a layer-by-layer (LbL) assembled strategy. The synthesis of the reported composites began with the carboxyl functionalization of microdiamond by the chemical modification of diamond@graphene oxide composite through the oxidation of diamond@graphite. The carboxyl-terminated microdiamond was then alternatively immersed in the aqueous solution of amine-containing polyethylenimine and carboxyl-containing poly acrylic acid, which led to the formation of adsorption layer on diamond surface. Alternating (self-limiting) immersions in the solutions of the amine-containing and carboxyl-containing polymers were continued until the desired number of shell layers were formed around the microdiamond. The obtained core-shell nanocomposites were successfully synthesized and characterized by morphological and spectral techniques, demonstrating higher surface areas and mesoporous structures for good dye adsorption capacities than nonporous solid diamond particles. The LbL-assembled core-shell nanocomposites thus obtained demonstrated great adsorption capacity by using two model dyes as pollutants for wastewater treatment. Therefore, the present work on LbL-assembled diamond-based composites provides new alternatives for developing diamond hybrids as well as nanomaterials towards wastewater treatment applications.

Microstructure and Thermal Reliability of Microcapsules Containing Phase Change Material with Self-Assembled Graphene/Organic Nano-Hybrid Shells.

PubMed

Wang, Xianfeng; Guo, Yandong; Su, Junfeng; Zhang, Xiaolong; Han, Ningxu; Wang, Xinyu

2018-05-24

In recent decades, microcapsules containing phase change materials (microPCMs) have been the center of much attention in the field of latent thermal energy storage. The aim of this work was to prepare and investigate the microstructure and thermal conductivity of microPCMs containing self-assembled graphene/organic hybrid shells. Paraffin was used as a phase change material, which was successfully microencapsulated by graphene and polymer forming hybrid composite shells. The physicochemical characters of microPCM samples were investigated including mean size, shell thickness, and chemical structure. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) results showed that the microPCMs were spherical particles and graphene enhanced the degree of smoothness of the shell surface. The existence of graphene in the shells was proved by using the methods of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was found that graphene hybrid shells were constructed by forces of electric charge absorption and long-molecular entanglement. MicroPCMs with graphene had a higher degradation temperature of 300 °C. Graphene greatly enhanced the thermal stability of microPCMs. The thermal conductivity tests indicated that the phase change temperature of microPCMs was regulated by the graphene additive because of enhancement of the thermal barrier of the hybrid shells. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests proved that the latent thermal energy capability of microPCMs had been improved with a higher heat conduction rate. In addition, infrared thermograph observations implied that the microPCMs had a sensitivity response to heat during the phase change cycling process because of the excellent thermal conductivity of graphene.

Fabrication of sub-micrometer-sized jingle bell-shaped hollow spheres from multilayered core-shell particles.

PubMed

Gu, Shunchao; Kondo, Tomohiro; Mine, Eiichi; Nagao, Daisuke; Kobayashi, Yoshio; Konno, Mikio

2004-11-01

Jingle bell-shaped hollow spheres were fabricated starting from multilayered particles composed of a silica core, a polystyrene inner shell, and a titania outer shell. Composite particles of silica core-polystyrene shell, synthesized by coating a 339-nm-sized silica core with a polystyrene shell of thickness 238 nm in emulsion polymerization, were used as core particles for a succeeding titania-coating. A sol-gel method was employed to form the titania outer shell with a thickness of 37 nm. The inner polystyrene shell in the multilayered particles was removed by immersing them in tetrahydrofuran. These successive procedures could produce jingle bell-shaped hollow spheres that contained a silica core in the titania shell.

Towards the Shell Biorefinery: Sustainable Synthesis of the Anticancer Alkaloid Proximicin A from Chitin.

PubMed

Sadiq, Alejandro D; Chen, Xi; Yan, Ning; Sperry, Jonathan

2018-02-09

A shell biorefinery would involve fractionation of crustacean shells and incorporation of the components into value-added products, particularly those that contain nitrogen. In a proof-of-concept study that validates this concept, the anticancer alkaloid proximicin A has been synthesized from the chitin-derived platform chemical 3-acetamido-5-acetylfuran (3A5AF). This study accentuates the leading role chitin is likely to play in the sustainable production of nitrogen-containing fine chemicals that are not directly attainable from lignocellulose. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Engineering Task Plan for the Ultrasonic Inspection of Hanford Double Shell Tanks (DST) FY2000

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

JENSEN, C.E.

2000-01-10

This document facilitates the ultrasonic examination of Hanford double-shell tanks. Included are a plan for engineering activities (individual responsibilities), plan for performance demonstration testing, and a plan for field activities (tank inspection). Also included are a Statement of Work for contractor performance of the work and a protocol to be followed should tank flaws that exceed the acceptance criteria be discovered.

Parameter identification of material constants in a composite shell structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martinez, David R.; Carne, Thomas G.

1988-01-01

One of the basic requirements in engineering analysis is the development of a mathematical model describing the system. Frequently comparisons with test data are used as a measurement of the adequacy of the model. An attempt is typically made to update or improve the model to provide a test verified analysis tool. System identification provides a systematic procedure for accomplishing this task. The terms system identification, parameter estimation, and model correlation all refer to techniques that use test information to update or verify mathematical models. The goal of system identification is to improve the correlation of model predictions with measured test data, and produce accurate, predictive models. For nonmetallic structures the modeling task is often difficult due to uncertainties in the elastic constants. A finite element model of the shell was created, which included uncertain orthotropic elastic constants. A modal survey test was then performed on the shell. The resulting modal data, along with the finite element model of the shell, were used in a Bayes estimation algorithm. This permitted the use of covariance matrices to weight the confidence in the initial parameter values as well as confidence in the measured test data. The estimation procedure also employed the concept of successive linearization to obtain an approximate solution to the original nonlinear estimation problem.

Polyfibroblast: A Self-Healing and Galvanic Protection Additive

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-25

polyurea shell. The degradation was so slow over the course of one month that it was easier to monitor IPD1 degradation instead. We found first order...dependence of water diffusion through the shell. Note that the polyurea shell in this case contains silica inclusions. -13.6 -14.0 -14.4 -14.8 -15.2

Semipermeable Elastic Microcapsules for Gas Capture and Sensing.

PubMed

Nabavi, Seyed Ali; Vladisavljević, Goran T; Gu, Sai; Manović, Vasilije

2016-09-27

Monodispersed microcapsules for gas capture and sensing were developed consisting of elastic semipermeable polymer shells of tunable size and thickness and pH-sensitive, gas selective liquid cores. The microcapsules were produced using glass capillary microfluidics and continuous on-the-fly photopolymerization. The inner fluid was 5-30 wt % K2CO3 solution with m-cresol purple, the middle fluid was a UV-curable liquid silicon rubber containing 0-2 wt % Dow Corning 749 fluid, and the outer fluid was aqueous solution containing 60-70 wt % glycerol and 0.5-2 wt % stabilizer (poly(vinyl alcohol), Tween 20, or Pluronic F-127). An analytical model was developed and validated for prediction of the morphology of the capsules under osmotic stress based on the shell properties and the osmolarity of the storage and core solutions. The minimum energy density and UV light irradiance needed to achieve complete shell polymerization were 2 J·cm(-2) and 13.8 mW·cm(-2), respectively. After UV exposure, the curing time for capsules containing 0.5 wt % Dow Corning 749 fluid in the middle phase was 30-40 min. The CO2 capture capacity of 30 wt % K2CO3 capsules was 1.6-2 mmol/g depending on the capsule size and shell thickness. A cavitation bubble was observed in the core when the internal water was abruptly removed by capillary suction, whereas a gradual evaporation of internal water led to buckling of the shell. The shell was characterized using TGA, DSC, and FTIR. The shell degradation temperature was 450-460 °C.

Radioactive waste disposal package

DOEpatents

Lampe, Robert F.

1986-11-04

A radioactive waste disposal package comprising a canister for containing vitrified radioactive waste material and a sealed outer shell encapsulating the canister. A solid block of filler material is supported in said shell and convertible into a liquid state for flow into the space between the canister and outer shell and subsequently hardened to form a solid, impervious layer occupying such space.

Radioactive waste disposal package

DOEpatents

Lampe, Robert F.

1986-01-01

A radioactive waste disposal package comprising a canister for containing vitrified radioactive waste material and a sealed outer shell encapsulating the canister. A solid block of filler material is supported in said shell and convertible into a liquid state for flow into the space between the canister and outer shell and subsequently hardened to form a solid, impervious layer occupying such space.

Experimental validation of L-shell x-ray fluorescence computed tomography imaging: phantom study

PubMed Central

Bazalova-Carter, Magdalena; Ahmad, Moiz; Xing, Lei; Fahrig, Rebecca

2015-01-01

Abstract. Thanks to the current advances in nanoscience, molecular biochemistry, and x-ray detector technology, x-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) has been considered for molecular imaging of probes containing high atomic number elements, such as gold nanoparticles. The commonly used XFCT imaging performed with K-shell x rays appears to have insufficient imaging sensitivity to detect the low gold concentrations observed in small animal studies. Low energy fluorescence L-shell x rays have exhibited higher signal-to-background ratio and appeared as a promising XFCT mode with greatly enhanced sensitivity. The aim of this work was to experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of L-shell XFCT imaging and to assess its achievable sensitivity. We built an experimental L-shell XFCT imaging system consisting of a miniature x-ray tube and two spectrometers, a silicon drift detector (SDD), and a CdTe detector placed at ±120  deg with respect to the excitation beam. We imaged a 28-mm-diameter water phantom with 4-mm-diameter Eppendorf tubes containing gold solutions with concentrations of 0.06 to 0.1% Au. While all Au vials were detectable in the SDD L-shell XFCT image, none of the vials were visible in the CdTe L-shell XFCT image. The detectability limit of the presented L-shell XFCT SDD imaging setup was 0.007% Au, a concentration observed in small animal studies. PMID:26839910

Role of Dopamine Receptors Subtypes, D1-Like and D2-Like, within the Nucleus Accumbens Subregions, Core and Shell, on Memory Consolidation in the One-Trial Inhibitory Avoidance Task

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Manago, Francesca; Castellano, Claudio; Oliverio, Alberto; Mele, Andrea; De Leonibus, Elvira

2009-01-01

Recent evidence demonstrated that dopamine within the nucleus accumbens mediates consolidation of both associative and nonassociative memories. However, the specific contribution of the nucleus accumbens subregions, core and shell, and of D1 and D2 receptors subtypes has not been yet clarified. The aim of this study was, therefore, to directly…

Task-Evoked Pupillary Responses and Cognitive Processing.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-02-01

Yingling, C.D., and Skinner, J.E. Gating of thalanic input to cerebral cortex by nucleus reticularis thalami. In J.E. Desmedt (Ed.), Attention, voluntary...innervated. Peripheral control of these muscles originates In the nucleus Edinger-Westphal (located within the third nerve nucleus at the level of the...thalamus is a thin neuronal shell, the reticular nucleus of the thalamus (Carpenter, 1978). Most of the axons from this shell enter the dorsal thalamus

Externally triggered microcapsules

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mosier, Benjamin (Inventor); Morrison, Dennis R. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

Disclosed are microcapsules comprising a polymer shell enclosing one or more immiscible liquid phases in which a drug or drug precursor are contained in a liquid phase. The microparticles also contain magnetic particles that can be heated by application of an external magnetic field and thus heated to a predetermined Curie temperature. Heating of the particles melts the polymer shell and releases the drug without causing heating of surrounding tissues.

GaiaGrid : Its Implications and Implementation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ansari, S. G.; Lammers, U.; Ter Linden, M.

2005-12-01

Gaia is an ESA space mission to determine positions of 1 billion objects in the Galaxy at micro-arcsecond precision. The data analysis and processing requirements of the mission involves about 20 institutes across Europe, each providing specific algorithms for specific tasks, which range from relativistic effects on positional determination, classification, astrometric binary star detection, photometric analysis, spectroscopic analysis etc. In an initial phase, a study has been ongoing over the past three years to determine the complexity of Gaia's data processing. Two processing categories have materialised: core and shell. While core deals with routine data processing, shell tasks are algorithms to carry out data analysis, which involves the Gaia Community at large. For this latter category, we are currently experimenting with use of Grid paradigms to allow access to the core data and to augment processing power to simulate and analyse the data in preparation for the actual mission. We present preliminary results and discuss the sociological impact of distributing the tasks amongst the community.

Press-coated tablets for time-programmed release of drugs.

PubMed

Conte, U; Maggi, L; Torre, M L; Giunchedi, P; La Manna, A

1993-10-01

A new dry-coated device for the release of drug after a programmable period of time is proposed. It is intended to be used mainly in the therapy of those diseases which depend on circadian rhythms. Some core formulations, characterized by different release rates and mechanisms (containing diltiazem hydrochloride or sodium diclofenac as model drugs), were coated by compression with different polymeric barrier layers (press-coated systems). The shell formulations tested contained either gellable or erodible polymers. The dissolution profiles of uncoated cores and press-coated devices were compared. The gellable and/or erodible characteristics (properties) of the barrier formulations were also examined by means of a penetrometer. The coatings prevent drug release from the core until the polymeric shell is completely eroded or swollen. This delay in release start is not influenced by the core composition and depends only on the shell formulation. Except for the time-lag, the release kinetics of the drug contained in the core are not significantly influenced by the presence of the erodible barrier, but can be widely modulated using a swellable polymeric shell.

A pressurized cylindrical shell with a fixed end which contains an axial part-through or through crack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yahsi, O. S.; Erdogan, F.

1983-01-01

A cylindrical shell having a very stiff and plate or a flange is considered. It is assumed that near the end the cylinder contains an axial flaw which may be modeled as a part through surface crack or a through crack. The effect of the end constraining on the stress intensity factor which is the main fracture mechanics parameter is studied. The applied loads acting on the cylinder are assumed to be axisymmetric. Thus the crack problem under consideration is symmetric with respect to the plane of the crack and consequently only the Mode 1 stress intensity factors are nonzero. With this limitation, the general perturbation problem for a cylinder with a built in end containing an axial crack is considered. Reissner's shell theory is used to formulate the problem. The part through crack problem is treated by using a line spring model. In the case of a crack tip terminating at the fixed end it is shown that the integral equations of the shell problem has the same generalized Cauchy kernel as the corresponding plane stress elasticity problem.

Ordered three- and five-ply nanocomposites from ABC block terpolymer microphase separation with niobia and aluminosilicate sols

PubMed Central

Stefik, Morgan; Mahajan, Surbhi; Sai, Hiroaki; Epps, Thomas H.; Bates, Frank S.; Gruner, Sol M; DiSalvo, Francis J.; Wiesner, Ulrich

2009-01-01

We report the first use of a non-frustrated block terpolymer for the synthesis of highly ordered oxide nanocomposites containing multiple plies. The morphological behavior of 15 ISO-oxide nanocomposites was investigated spanning a large range of compositions along the ƒI=ƒS isopleth using aluminosilicate and niobia sols. Morphologies were determined by TEM and SAXS measurements. Four morphologies were identified, including core-shell hexagonal, core-shell double gyroid, three-domain lamellae, and core-shell inverse-hexagonal, in order of increasing O+oxide vol fraction. All of the resulting nanocomposites had three- or five-ply morphologies containing domains that were continuous in one, two, or three dimensions. The five-ply core-shell double gyroid phase was only found to be stable when the O+oxide domain was a minority. Removal of the polymer enabled simple and direct synthesis of mesoporous oxide materials while retaining the ordered network structure. We believe that advances in the synthesis of multi-ply nanocomposites will lead to advanced materials and devices containing multiple plies of functional materials. PMID:20209023

Ordered three- and five-ply nanocomposites from ABC block terpolymer microphase separation with niobia and aluminosilicate sols.

PubMed

Stefik, Morgan; Mahajan, Surbhi; Sai, Hiroaki; Epps, Thomas H; Bates, Frank S; Gruner, Sol M; Disalvo, Francis J; Wiesner, Ulrich

2009-11-24

We report the first use of a non-frustrated block terpolymer for the synthesis of highly ordered oxide nanocomposites containing multiple plies. The morphological behavior of 15 ISO-oxide nanocomposites was investigated spanning a large range of compositions along the ƒ(I)=ƒ(S) isopleth using aluminosilicate and niobia sols. Morphologies were determined by TEM and SAXS measurements. Four morphologies were identified, including core-shell hexagonal, core-shell double gyroid, three-domain lamellae, and core-shell inverse-hexagonal, in order of increasing O+oxide vol fraction. All of the resulting nanocomposites had three- or five-ply morphologies containing domains that were continuous in one, two, or three dimensions. The five-ply core-shell double gyroid phase was only found to be stable when the O+oxide domain was a minority. Removal of the polymer enabled simple and direct synthesis of mesoporous oxide materials while retaining the ordered network structure. We believe that advances in the synthesis of multi-ply nanocomposites will lead to advanced materials and devices containing multiple plies of functional materials.

Cephalopod embryonic shells as a tool to reconstruct reproductive strategies in extinct taxa.

PubMed

Laptikhovsky, Vladimir; Nikolaeva, Svetlana; Rogov, Mikhail

2018-02-01

An exhaustive study of existing data on the relationship between egg size and maximum size of embryonic shells in 42 species of extant cephalopods demonstrated that these values are approximately equal regardless of taxonomy and shell morphology. Egg size is also approximately equal to mantle length of hatchlings in 45 cephalopod species with rudimentary shells. Paired data on the size of the initial chamber versus embryonic shell in 235 species of Ammonoidea, 46 Bactritida, 13 Nautilida, 22 Orthocerida, 8 Tarphycerida, 4 Oncocerida, 1 Belemnoidea, 4 Sepiida and 1 Spirulida demonstrated that, although there is a positive relationship between these parameters in some taxa, initial chamber size cannot be used to predict egg size in extinct cephalopods; the size of the embryonic shell may be more appropriate for this task. The evolution of reproductive strategies in cephalopods in the geological past was marked by an increasing significance of small-egged taxa, as is also seen in simultaneously evolving fish taxa. © 2017 The Authors. Biological Reviews published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Cambridge Philosophical Society.

An expert system shell for inferring vegetation characteristics: Atmospheric techniques (Task G)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrison, P. Ann; Harrison, Patrick R.

1993-01-01

The NASA VEGetation Workbench (VEG) is a knowledge based system that infers vegetation characteristics from reflectance data. The VEG Subgoals have been reorganized into categories. A new subgoal category 'Atmospheric Techniques' containing two new subgoals has been implemented. The subgoal Atmospheric Passes allows the scientist to take reflectance data measured at ground level and predict what the reflectance values would be if the data were measured at a different atmospheric height. The subgoal Atmospheric Corrections allows atmospheric corrections to be made to data collected from an aircraft or by a satellite to determine what the equivalent reflectance values would be if the data were measured at ground level. The report describes the implementation and testing of the basic framework and interface for the Atmospheric Techniques Subgoals.

Coaxial nanofibers containing TiO2 in the shell for water treatment applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kizildag, N.; Geltmeyer, J.; Ucar, N.; De Buysser, K.; De Clerck, K.

2017-10-01

In recent years, the basic electrospinning setup has undergone many modifications carried out to enhance the quality and improve the functionality of the resulting nanofibers. Being one of these modifications, coaxial electrospinning has attracted great attention. It enables to use different materials in nanofiber production and produce multi-layered and functional nanofibers in one step. In this study, TiO2 has been added to the shell layer of coaxial nanofibers to develop functional nanofibers which may be used in water treatment applications. The coaxial nanofibers containing TiO2 in the shell layer are compared to uniaxial nanofibers containing TiO2 in bulk fiber structure, regarding their morphology and photocatalytic activity. Uniform uniaxial and coaxial nanofibers with TiO2 were obtained. The average nanofiber diameter of coaxial nanofibers were higher. Coaxial nanofibers, which contained lower amount of TiO2, displayed similar performance to uniaxial nanofibers with TiO2 in terms of photocatalytic degradation ability against isoproturon.

Multicompartmental Microcapsules from Star Copolymer Micelles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Choi, Ikjun; Malak, Sidney T.; Xu, Weinan

2013-02-26

We present the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of amphiphilic heteroarm pH-sensitive star-shaped polystyrene-poly(2-pyridine) (PSnP2VPn) block copolymers to fabricate porous and multicompartmental microcapsules. Pyridine-containing star molecules forming a hydrophobic core/hydrophilic corona unimolecular micelle in acidic solution (pH 3) were alternately deposited with oppositely charged linear sulfonated polystyrene (PSS), yielding microcapsules with LbL shells containing hydrophobic micelles. The surface morphology and internal nanopore structure of the hollow microcapsules were comparatively investigated for shells formed from star polymers with a different numbers of arms (9 versus 22) and varied shell thickness (5, 8, and 11 bilayers). The successful integration of star unimers into themore » LbL shells was demonstrated by probing their buildup, surface segregation behavior, and porosity. The larger arm star copolymer (22 arms) with stretched conformation showed a higher increment in shell thickness due to the effective ionic complexation whereas a compact, uniform grainy morphology was observed regardless of the number of deposition cycles and arm numbers. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) revealed that microcapsules with hydrophobic domains showed different fractal properties depending upon the number of bilayers with a surface fractal morphology observed for the thinnest shells and a mass fractal morphology for the completed shells formed with the larger number of bilayers. Moreover, SANS provides support for the presence of relatively large pores (about 25 nm across) for the thinnest shells as suggested from permeability experiments. The formation of robust microcapsules with nanoporous shells composed of a hydrophilic polyelectrolyte with a densely packed hydrophobic core based on star amphiphiles represents an intriguing and novel case of compartmentalized microcapsules with an ability to simultaneously store different hydrophilic, charged, and hydrophobic components within shells.« less

Population ecology and shell chemistry of a phytal ostracode species (Loxoconcha matagordensis) in the Chesapeake Bay watershed

USGS Publications Warehouse

Vann, C.D.; Cronin, T. M.; Dwyer, Gary S.

2004-01-01

Population ecology and shell chemistry were studied in the phytal ostracode Loxoconcha matagordensis (Swain 1955) collected from Zostera marina seagrass beds in the Chesapeake Bay to provide seasonal constraints on shell secretion time for paleothermometry. Population density and age structure were defined by two main breeding cycles that occurred between 01 to 15 June and 02 to 16 August 2001. The time interval between breeding cycles was ???2 months and total juvenile standing crop increased almost three-fold between the first and second breeding cycles. Dark brown over-wintered adults comprised the majority of the population between March and April 2001, while newly secreted translucent adults were predominant between June and September. Seasonal shell Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios were positively correlated with water temperature at both sites, with the strongest correlations occurring between June and September from newly secreted shells at Dameron Marsh. Old, dark brown shells contained 10% to 23% and 1% to 6% less Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca, respectively, than new shells. Because a fossil assemblage of L. matagordensis will contain ???30% old shells (dark-brown), these results suggest that fossil Mg/Ca ratios yield an integrated late spring to summer temperature signal. Shell Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios of specimens of L. matagordensis collected from living Zostera were positively correlated, suggesting that temperature may influence both elemental ratios. Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios of fossil shells of the related species Loxoconcha sp. A obtained from four sediment cores were also studied and exhibited a weaker correlation between the two elemental ratios. ?? 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of particle size and shell thickness of core-shell packing materials on optimum experimental conditions in preparative chromatography.

PubMed

Horváth, Krisztián; Felinger, Attila

2015-08-14

The applicability of core-shell phases in preparative separations was studied by a modeling approach. The preparative separations were optimized for two compounds having bi-Langmuir isotherms. The differential mass balance equation of chromatography was solved by the Rouchon algorithm. The results show that as the size of the core increases, larger particles can be used in separations, resulting in higher applicable flow rates, shorter cycle times. Due to the decreasing volume of porous layer, the loadability of the column dropped significantly. As a result, the productivity and economy of the separation decreases. It is shown that if it is possible to optimize the size of stationary phase particles for the given separation task, the use of core-shell phases are not beneficial. The use of core-shell phases proved to be advantageous when the goal is to build preparative column for general purposes (e.g. for purification of different products) in small scale separations. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Properties and potential environmental applications of carbon adsorbents from waste tire rubber

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lehmann, C.M.B.; Rameriz, D.; Rood, M.J.; Rostam-Abadi, M.

2000-01-01

The properties of tire-derived carbon adsorbents (TDCA) produced from select tire chars were compared with those derived from an Illinois coal and pistachio nut shells. Chemical analyses of the TDCA indicated that these materials contain metallic elements not present in coal-and nut shell-derived carbons. These metals, introduced during the production of tire rubber, potentially catalyze steam gasification reactions of tire char. TDCA carbons contained larger meso-and macopore volumes than their counterparts derived from coal and nut shell (on the moisture-and ash-free-basis). Adsorptive properties of the tire-derived adsorbent carbons for air separation, gas storage, and gas clean up were also evaluated and compared with those of the coal-and nut shell derived carbons as well as a commercial activated carbon. The results revealed that TDCA carbons are suitable adsorbents for removing vapor-phase mercury from combustion flue gases and hazardous organic compounds from industrial gas streams.

First-second shell interactions in metal binding sites in proteins: a PDB survey and DFT/CDM calculations.

PubMed

Dudev, Todor; Lin, Yen-lin; Dudev, Minko; Lim, Carmay

2003-03-12

The role of the second shell in the process of metal binding and selectivity in metalloproteins has been elucidated by combining Protein Data Bank (PDB) surveys of Mg, Mn, Ca, and Zn binding sites with density functional theory/continuum dielectric methods (DFT/CDM). Peptide backbone groups were found to be the most common second-shell ligand in Mg, Mn, Ca, and Zn binding sites, followed (in decreasing order) by Asp/Glu, Lys/Arg, Asn/Gln, and Ser/Thr side chains. Aromatic oxygen- or nitrogen-containing side chains (Tyr, His, and Trp) and sulfur-containing side chains (Cys and Met) are seldom found in the second coordination layer. The backbone and Asn/Gln side chain are ubiquitous in the metal second coordination layer as their carbonyl oxygen and amide hydrogen can act as a hydrogen-bond acceptor and donor, respectively, and can therefore partner practically every first-shell ligand. The second most common outer-shell ligand, Asp/Glu, predominantly hydrogen bonds to a metal-bound water or Zn-bound histidine and polarizes the H-O or H-N bond. In certain cases, a second-shell Asp/Glu could affect the protonation state of the metal ligand. It could also energetically stabilize a positively charged metal complex more than a neutral ligand such as the backbone and Asn/Gln side chain. As for the first shell, the second shell is predicted to contribute to the metal selectivity of the binding site by discriminating between metal cations of different ionic radii and coordination geometries. The first-shell-second-shell interaction energies decay rapidly with increasing solvent exposure of the metal binding site. They are less favorable but are of the same order of magnitude as compared to the respective metal-first-shell interaction energies. Altogether, the results indicate that the structure and properties of the second shell are dictated by those of the first layer. The outer shell is apparently designed to stabilize/protect the inner-shell and complement/enhance its properties.

Bioconversion reactor

DOEpatents

McCarty, Perry L.; Bachmann, Andre

1992-01-01

A bioconversion reactor for the anaerobic fermentation of organic material. The bioconversion reactor comprises a shell enclosing a predetermined volume, an inlet port through which a liquid stream containing organic materials enters the shell, and an outlet port through which the stream exits the shell. A series of vertical and spaced-apart baffles are positioned within the shell to force the stream to flow under and over them as it passes from the inlet to the outlet port. The baffles present a barrier to the microorganisms within the shell causing them to rise and fall within the reactor but to move horizontally at a very slow rate. Treatment detention times of one day or less are possible.

Boundary Recovery For Delaunay Tetrahedral Meshes Using Local Topological Transformations

PubMed Central

Ghadyani, Hamid; Sullivan, John; Wu, Ziji

2009-01-01

Numerous high-quality, volume mesh-generation systems exist. However, no strategy can address all geometry situations without some element qualities being compromised. Many 3D mesh generation algorithms are based on Delaunay tetrahedralization which frequently fails to preserve the input boundary surface topology. For biomedical applications, this surface preservation can be critical as they usually contain multiple material regions of interest coherently connected. In this paper we present an algorithm as a post-processing method that optimizes local regions of compromised element quality and recovers the original boundary surface facets (triangles) regardless of the original mesh generation strategy. The algorithm carves out a small sub-volume in the vicinity of the missing boundary facet or compromised element, creating a cavity. If the task is to recover a surface boundary facet, a natural exit hole in the cavity will be present. This hole is patched with the missing boundary surface face first followed by other patches to seal the cavity. If the task was to improve a compromised region, then the cavity is already sealed. Every triangular facet of the cavity shell is classified as an active face and can be connected to another shell node creating a tetrahedron. In the process the base of the tetrahedron is removed from the active face list and potentially 3 new active faces are created. This methodology is the underpinnings of our last resort method. Each active face can be viewed as the trunk of a tree. An exhaustive breath and depth search will identify all possible tetrahedral combinations to uniquely fill the cavity. We have streamlined this recursive process reducing the time complexity by orders of magnitude. The original surfaces boundaries (internal and external) are fully restored and the quality of compromised regions improved. PMID:20305743

Prevalence and concentration of Salmonella on raw shelled peanuts in the United States.

PubMed

Calhoun, Stephen; Post, Laurie; Warren, Benjamin; Thompson, Sterling; Bontempo, Ann Rogers

2013-04-01

Recalls and/or outbreaks associated with Salmonella contamination in peanut-containing products were reported over the past several years. There are very limited data available on the prevalence and concentration of Salmonella on raw shelled peanuts in the United States. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella on raw shelled peanuts in the United States and to estimate that concentration of Salmonella. Samples of Runner- and Virginia-type raw shelled peanuts from the 2008, 2009, and 2010 crop years were proportionately sampled from each growing region, based on 2007 production volume. Of 944 raw shelled peanut samples (375 g each), 22 (2.33%) were positive for Salmonella by the VIDAS Salmonella assay. Salmonella serovars identified in this study included Agona, Anatum, Braenderup, Dessau, Hartford, Meleagridis, Muenchen, Rodepoort, Tennessee, and Tornow. The concentration levels of Salmonella in positive samples, as determined by a most-probable-number assay, were <0.03 to 2.4 MPN/g. These data will be useful when designing and validating processes for the reduction or elimination of Salmonella in peanuts and/or peanut-containing products.

Sonoluminescence in an Acoustically Levitated Water Filled Shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rivera, P. J.; Stephens, R. B.; Jones, J. P.

1998-11-01

The possibility of using shells levitated by acoustic waves to improve the conditions to study sonoluminescence was conducted. Single bubble sonoluminescence (SBSL) was generated using a 2 mm diameter water filled plastic shell, supported in air with 1 MHz sound waves. The bubble was generated and compressed with a separate transducer emitting pulsed 5 MHz acoustic waves which were focussed on the center of the suspended shell. This approach is considerably different from the typical generation technique of SBSL in that the acoustic power is coupled through the air rather than by a solid bond to the container. With this configuration, the water container can be substantially reduced in size and the luminescence pulse rate is probably not connected with cavity resonances. As a result, optical access to the spark is improved, water attenuation is reduced (water thickness ~1 mm), and repetition rate can be considerably higher. This geometry presents problems and opportunities in controlling the gas content and temperature of the water. It might also be sensitive to the perfection of the enclosing plastic shell, so success is erratic. Details will be discussed.

Ray Solutions to Sound Scattering by Complex Bodies: Application to Zooplankton.

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-02-14

marine snail that swims (elastic shelled body), and (c) siphonophore , a gas- bearing animal (fluid-like tissue containing gas). From Ref. 1...1- LU -100 ^/Vyvv -100 EUPHAUSIID GASTROPOD SIPHONOPHORE 400 500 600 700 800 400 500 600 700 800 FREQUENCY (kHz) FIGURE 2 Target...whose bodies consist of an irregular elastic shell with an opening, and a siphonophore whose body is mostly a fluid-like tissue that contains a

rPM6 parameters for phosphorous and sulphur-containing open-shell molecules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saito, Toru; Takano, Yu

2018-03-01

In this article, we have introduced a reparameterisation of PM6 (rPM6) for phosphorus and sulphur to achieve a better description of open-shell species containing the two elements. Two sets of the parameters have been optimised separately using our training sets. The performance of the spin-unrestricted rPM6 (UrPM6) method with the optimised parameters is evaluated against 14 radical species, which contain either phosphorus or sulphur atom, comparing with the original UPM6 and the spin-unrestricted density functional theory (UDFT) methods. The standard UPM6 calculations fail to describe the adiabatic singlet-triplet energy gaps correctly, and may cause significant structural mismatches with UDFT-optimised geometries. Leaving aside three difficult cases, tests on 11 open-shell molecules strongly indicate the superior performance of UrPM6, which provides much better agreement with the results of UDFT methods for geometric and electronic properties.

Design, synthesis and applications of core-shell, hollow core, and nanorattle multifunctional nanostructures.

PubMed

El-Toni, Ahmed Mohamed; Habila, Mohamed A; Labis, Joselito Puzon; ALOthman, Zeid A; Alhoshan, Mansour; Elzatahry, Ahmed A; Zhang, Fan

2016-02-07

With the evolution of nanoscience and nanotechnology, studies have been focused on manipulating nanoparticle properties through the control of their size, composition, and morphology. As nanomaterial research has progressed, the foremost focus has gradually shifted from synthesis, morphology control, and characterization of properties to the investigation of function and the utility of integrating these materials and chemical sciences with the physical, biological, and medical fields, which therefore necessitates the development of novel materials that are capable of performing multiple tasks and functions. The construction of multifunctional nanomaterials that integrate two or more functions into a single geometry has been achieved through the surface-coating technique, which created a new class of substances designated as core-shell nanoparticles. Core-shell materials have growing and expanding applications due to the multifunctionality that is achieved through the formation of multiple shells as well as the manipulation of core/shell materials. Moreover, core removal from core-shell-based structures offers excellent opportunities to construct multifunctional hollow core architectures that possess huge storage capacities, low densities, and tunable optical properties. Furthermore, the fabrication of nanomaterials that have the combined properties of a core-shell structure with that of a hollow one has resulted in the creation of a new and important class of substances, known as the rattle core-shell nanoparticles, or nanorattles. The design strategies of these new multifunctional nanostructures (core-shell, hollow core, and nanorattle) are discussed in the first part of this review. In the second part, different synthesis and fabrication approaches for multifunctional core-shell, hollow core-shell and rattle core-shell architectures are highlighted. Finally, in the last part of the article, the versatile and diverse applications of these nanoarchitectures in catalysis, energy storage, sensing, and biomedicine are presented.

Technology development in support of the TWRS process flowsheet. Revision 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Washenfelder, D.J.

1995-10-11

The Tank Waste Remediation System is to treat and dispose of Hanford`s Single-Shell and Double-Shell Tank Waste. The TWRS Process Flowsheet, (WHC-SD-WM-TI-613 Rev. 1) described a flowsheet based on a large number of assumptions and engineering judgements that require verification or further definition through process and technology development activities. This document takes off from the TWRS Process Flowsheet to identify and prioritize tasks that should be completed to strengthen the technical foundation for the flowsheet.

CENDRILLON CONTAINERS FOR THE TRANSPORT AND DISPENSING OF RADIOACTIVE LIQUIDS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vertut, J.

1963-01-01

Pumpkin-shaped containers were developed for safe transport and dispensing of radioactive liquids. Four different sizes varying in capacity from 3.5 to 50 liters are available, However, liquids with criticality hazards cannot be handled in these containers. The shape was chosen to make the container rest firmly on a flat surface and to prevent it from being turned over and remaining upset. The liquid is held in an inner container of stainless steel. It is surrounded by a protective lead shell made in two halves, so that the upper half can be taken off. The lead itself is cast into steelmore » shells to provide additional strength. Both halves are rendered liquid tight by asbestos packing. (M.C.G.)« less

DOE/JPL advanced thermionic technology program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1979-01-01

Progress made in different tasks of the advanced thermionic technology program is described. The tasks include surface and plasma investigations (surface characterization, spectroscopic plasma experiments, and converter theory); low temperature converter development (tungsten emitter, tungsten oxide collector and tungsten emitter, nickel collector); component hardware development (hot shell development); flame-fired silicon carbide converters; high temperature and advanced converter studies; postoperational diagnostics; and correlation of design interfaces.

Fracture mechanics analyses of partial crack closure in shell structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jun

2007-12-01

This thesis presents the theoretical and finite element analyses of crack-face closure behavior in shells and its effect on the stress intensity factor under a bending load condition. Various shell geometries, such as spherical shell, cylindrical shell containing an axial crack, cylindrical shell containing a circumferential crack and shell with double curvatures, are all studied. In addition, the influence of material orthotropy on the crack closure effect in shells is also considered. The theoretical formulation is developed based on the shallow shell theory of Delale and Erdogan, incorporating the effect of crack-face closure at the compressive edges. The line-contact assumption, simulating the crack-face closure at the compressive edges, is employed so that the contact force at the closure edges is introduced, which can be translated to the mid-plane of the shell, accompanied by an additional distributed bending moment. The unknown contact force is computed by solving a mixed-boundary value problem iteratively, that is, along the crack length, either the normal displacement of the crack face at the compressive edges is equal to zero or the contact pressure is equal to zero. It is found that due to the curvature effects crack closure may not always occur on the entire length of the crack, depending on the direction of the bending load and the geometry of the shell. The crack-face closure influences significantly the magnitude of the stress intensity factors; it increases the membrane component but decreases the bending component. The maximum stress intensity factor is reduced by the crack-face closure. The significant influence of geometry and material orthotropy on rack closure behavior in shells is also predicted based on the analytical solutions. Three-dimensional FEA is performed to validate the theoretical solutions. It demonstrates that the crack face closure occurs actually over an area, not on a line, but the theoretical solutions of the stress intensity factor and the FEA solutions are in good agreement, because the contact area is very small compared with the shell thickness.

Evaluation of damage progression and mechanical behavior under compression of bone cements containing core-shell nanoparticles by using acoustic emission technique.

PubMed

Pacheco-Salazar, O F; Wakayama, Shuichi; Sakai, Takenobu; Cauich-Rodríguez, J V; Ríos-Soberanis, C R; Cervantes-Uc, J M

2015-06-01

In this work, the effect of the incorporation of core-shell particles on the fracture mechanisms of the acrylic bone cements by using acoustic emission (AE) technique during the quasi-static compression mechanical test was investigated. Core-shell particles were composed of a poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) rubbery core and a methyl methacrylate/styrene copolymer (P(MMA-co-St)) outer glassy shell. Nanoparticles were prepared with different core-shell ratio (20/80, 30/70, 40/60 and 50/50) and were incorporated into the solid phase of bone cement at several percentages (5, 10 and 15 wt%). It was observed that the particles exhibited a spherical morphology averaging ca. 125 nm in diameter, and the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) thermograms revealed the desired structuring pattern of phases associated with core-shell structures. A fracture mechanism was proposed taking into account the detected AE signals and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs. In this regard, core-shell nanoparticles can act as both additional nucleation sites for microcracks (and crazes) and to hinder the microcrack propagation acting as a barrier to its growth; this behavior was presented by all formulations. Cement samples containing 15 wt% of core-shell nanoparticles, either 40/60 or 50/50, were fractured at 40% deformation. This fact seems related to the coalescence of microcracks after they surround the agglomerates of core-shell nanoparticles to continue growing up. This work also demonstrated the potential of the AE technique to be used as an accurate and reliable detection tool for quasi-static compression test in acrylic bone cements. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Equatorial and Apical Solvent Shells of the UO₂²⁺ Ion.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nichols, Pat; Bylaska, Eric J.; Schenter, Gregory K.

2008-03-08

First principles molecular dynamics simulations of the hydration shells surrounding UO₂²⁺ ions are reported for temperatures near 300 K. Most of the simulations were done with 64 solvating water molecules (22 ps). Simulations with 122 water molecules (9 ps) were also carried out. The hydration structure predicted from the simulations was found to agree very well known results from X-ray data. The average U=O bond length was found to be 1.77Å . The first hydration shell contained five trigonally coordinated water molecules that were equatorially oriented about the O-U-O axis with the hydrogen atoms oriented away from the uranium atom.more » The five waters in the first shell were located at an average distance of 2.44Å (2.46Å - 122 water simulation). The second hydration shell was composed of distinct equatorial and apical regions resulting in a peak in the U-O radial distribution function at 4.59Å. The equatorial second shell contained 10 water molecules hydrogen-bonded to the five first shell molecules. Above and below the UO₂²⁺ ion, the water molecules were found to be significantly less structured. In these apical regions, water molecules were found to sporadically hydrogen bond to the oxygen atoms of the UO₂²⁺; oriented in such way as to have their protons pointed towards the cation. While the number of apical waters varied greatly, an average of 5-6 waters was found in this region. Many water transfers into and out of the equatorial and apical second solvation shells were observed to occur on a picosecond (ps) time scale via dissociative mechanisms. Beyond these shells, the bonding pattern substantially returned to the tetrahedral structure of bulk water.« less

Thin fused silica shells for high-resolution and large collecting area x-ray telescopes (like Lynx/XRS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Civitani, M. M.; Hołyszko, J.; Vecchi, G.; Basso, S.; Citterio, O.; Ghigo, M.; Pareschi, G.; Parodi, G.; Incorvaia, S.

2017-09-01

The implementation of an X-ray mission with high imaging capabilities, similar to those achieved with Chandra (< 1 arc second Half Energy Width, HEW), but with a much larger throughput (2.5 m2 effective area @1 keV), represents a compelling request by the scientific community. To this end the Lynx/XRS mission is being studied in USA, with the participation of international partners. In order to figure out the challenging technological task of the mirror fabrication, different approaches are considered, based on monolithic and segmented shells. Starting from the experience done on the glass prototypal shell realized in the past years, the direct polishing of thin (2 mm thick) fused silica monolithic shells is being investigated as a possible solution. A temporary stiffening structure is designed to support the shell during the figuring and polishing operations and to manage the handling up to its integration in the telescope structure. After the grinding and the polishing phases, in order to achieve the required surface accuracy, a final ion beam figuring correction is foreseen. In this paper, we present the technological process and the results achieved so far on a prototypal shell under development.

Radiocarbon dating loess deposits in the Mississippi Valley using terrestrial gastropod shells (Polygyridae, Helicinidae, and Discidae)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pigati, Jeffery S.; McGeehin, John P.; Muhs, Daniel; Grimley, David A.; Nekola, Jeffery C.

2014-01-01

Small terrestrial gastropod shells (mainly Succineidae) have been used successfully to date late Quaternary loess deposits in Alaska and the Great Plains. However, Succineidae shells are less common in loess deposits in the Mississippi Valley compared to those of the Polygyridae, Helicinidae, and Discidae families. In this study, we conducted several tests to determine whether shells of these gastropods could provide reliable ages for loess deposits in the Mississippi Valley. Our results show that most of the taxa that we investigated incorporate small amounts (1–5%) of old carbon from limestone in their shells, meaning that they should yield ages that are accurate to within a few hundred years. In contrast, shells of the genus Mesodon(Mesodon elevatus and Mesodon zaletus) contain significant and variable amounts of old carbon, yielding ages that are up to a couple thousand 14C years too old. Although terrestrial gastropod shells have tremendous potential for 14C dating loess deposits throughout North America, we acknowledge that accuracy to within a few hundred years may not be sufficient for those interested in developing high-resolution loess chronologies. Even with this limitation, however, 14C dating of terrestrial gastropod shells present in Mississippi Valley loess deposits may prove useful for researchers interested in processes that took place over multi-millennial timescales or in differentiating stratigraphic units that have significantly different ages but similar physical and geochemical properties. The results presented here may also be useful to researchers studying loess deposits outside North America that contain similar gastropod taxa..

GABA(A) and dopamine receptors in the nucleus accumbens shell differentially influence performance of a water-reinforced progressive ratio task.

PubMed

Covelo, Ignacio R; Wirtshafter, David; Stratford, Thomas R

2012-03-01

Several authors have shown that injections of the GABA(A) agonist muscimol into the medial shell region of the nucleus accumbens (AcbSh) result in large increases in food, but not water, intake. In previous studies we demonstrated that intra-AcbSh injections of either muscimol or of the indirect dopamine agonist amphetamine increase response output on a food-reinforced progressive ratio schedule. In the current experiment we extended these observations by examining the effects of muscimol and amphetamine injections on the performance of a water-reinforced progressive ratio task in mildly deprived animals. We found that muscimol did not affect the number of responses made in the water-reinforced task, even though a marked increase in responding was observed after amphetamine. Muscimol did, however, significantly increase food intake in the same animals. The results suggest that the enhancing effects of intra-AcbSh muscimol differ from those of amphetamine in that they are selective for food-reinforced behaviors. Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Krieg, R.

For future pressurized-water reactors, which should be designed against core-meltdown accidents, missiles generated inside the containment present a severe problem for its integrity. The masses and geometries of the missiles, as well as their velocities, may vary to a great extent. Therefore a reliable proof of the containment integrity is very difficult. In this article the potential sources of missiles are discussed, and the conclusion was reached that the generation of heavy missiles must be prevented. Steam explosions must not damage the reactor vessel head. Thus fragments of the head cannot become missiles that endanger the containment shell. Furthermore, duringmore » a melt-through failure of the reactor vessel under high pressure, the resulting forces must not catapult the whole vessel against the containment shell. Only missiles caused by hydrogen explosions may be tolerable, but shielding structures that protect the containment shell may be required. Further investigations are necessary. Finally, measures are described showing that the generation of heavy missiles can indeed be prevented. Investigations are currently being carried out that will confirm the strength of the reactor vessel head. In addition, a device for retaining the fragments of a failing reactor vessel is discussed.« less

Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell Differentially Encode Reward-Associated Cues after Reinforcer Devaluation

PubMed Central

West, Elizabeth A.

2016-01-01

Nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons encode features of stimulus learning and action selection associated with rewards. The NAc is necessary for using information about expected outcome values to guide behavior after reinforcer devaluation. Evidence suggests that core and shell subregions may play dissociable roles in guiding motivated behavior. Here, we recorded neural activity in the NAc core and shell during training and performance of a reinforcer devaluation task. Long–Evans male rats were trained that presses on a lever under an illuminated cue light delivered a flavored sucrose reward. On subsequent test days, each rat was given free access to one of two distinctly flavored foods to consume to satiation and were then immediately tested on the lever pressing task under extinction conditions. Rats decreased pressing on the test day when the reinforcer earned during training was the sated flavor (devalued) compared with the test day when the reinforcer was not the sated flavor (nondevalued), demonstrating evidence of outcome-selective devaluation. Cue-selective encoding during training by NAc core (but not shell) neurons reliably predicted subsequent behavioral performance; that is, the greater the percentage of neurons that responded to the cue, the better the rats suppressed responding after devaluation. In contrast, NAc shell (but not core) neurons significantly decreased cue-selective encoding in the devalued condition compared with the nondevalued condition. These data reveal that NAc core and shell neurons encode information differentially about outcome-specific cues after reinforcer devaluation that are related to behavioral performance and outcome value, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Many neuropsychiatric disorders are marked by impairments in behavioral flexibility. Although the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is required for behavioral flexibility, it is not known how NAc neurons encode this information. Here, we recorded NAc neurons during a training session in which rats learned that a cue predicted a specific reward and during a test session when that reward value was changed. Although encoding in the core during training predicted the ability of rats to change behavior after the reward value was altered, the NAc shell encoded information about the change in reward value during the test session. These findings suggest differential roles of the core and shell in behavioral flexibility. PMID:26818502

Imprinting on empty hard gelatin capsule shells containing titanium dioxide by application of the UV laser printing technique.

PubMed

Hosokawa, Akihiro; Kato, Yoshiteru; Terada, Katsuhide

2014-08-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the application of ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiation to printing hard gelatin capsule shells containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) and to clarify how the color strength of the printing by the laser could be controlled by the power of the irradiated laser. Hard gelatin capsule shells containing 3.5% TiO2 were used in this study. The capsules were irradiated with pulsed UV laser at a wavelength of 355 nm. The color strength of the printed capsule was determined by a spectrophotometer as total color difference (dE). The capsules could be printed gray by the UV laser. The formation of many black particles which were agglomerates of oxygen-defected TiO2 was associated with the printing. In the relationship between laser peak power of a pulse and dE, there were two inflection points. The lower point was the minimal laser peak power to form the black particles and was constant regardless of the dosage forms, for example film-coated tablets, soft gelatin capsules and hard gelatin capsules. The upper point was the minimal laser peak power to form micro-bubbles in the shells and was variable with the formulation. From the lower point to the upper point, the capsules were printed gray and the dE of the printing increased linearly with the laser peak power. Hard gelatin capsule shells containing TiO2 could be printed gray using the UV laser printing technique. The color strength of the printing could be controlled by regulating the laser energy between the two inflection points.

49 CFR 179.221 - Individual specification requirements applicable to tank car tanks consisting of an inner...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Individual specification requirements applicable to tank car tanks consisting of an inner container supported within an outer shell. 179.221 Section... within an outer shell. ...

Epoxy-resin patterns speed shell-molding of aluminum parts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1965-01-01

Half patterns cast from commercial epoxy resin containing aluminum powder are used for shell-molding of aluminum parts. The half patterns are cast in plastic molds of the original wooden pattern. Ten serviceable sand resin molds are made from each epoxy pattern.

Nonlinear theory for laminated and thick plates and shells including the effects of transverse shearing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stein, M.

1985-01-01

Nonlinear strain displacement relations for three-dimensional elasticity are determined in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. To develop a two-dimensional theory, the displacements are expressed by trigonometric series representation through-the-thickness. The nonlinear strain-displacement relations are expanded into series which contain all first and second degree terms. In the series for the displacements only the first few terms are retained. Insertion of the expansions into the three-dimensional virtual work expression leads to nonlinear equations of equilibrium for laminated and thick plates and shells that include the effects of transverse shearing. Equations of equilibrium and buckling equations are derived for flat plates and cylindrical shells. The shell equations reduce to conventional transverse shearing shell equations when the effects of the trigonometric terms are omitted and to classical shell equations when the trigonometric terms are omitted and the shell is assumed to be thin.

Renyi Entropies of a Black Hole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bialas, A.; Czyz, W.

2008-08-01

The Renyi entropies, Hl, of Hawking radiation contained in a thin shell surrounding the black hole are evaluated. When the width of the shell is adjusted to the energy content corresponding to the mass defect, the Bekenstein-Hawking formula for the Shannon (S=H1) entropy of a black hole is reproduced. This result does not depend on the distance of the shell from the horizon. The Renyi entropies of higher order, however, are sensitive to it.

Hydrophobic-Core Microcapsules and Their Formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Buhrow, Jerry W. (Inventor); Li, Wenyan (Inventor); Jolley, Scott T. (Inventor); Calle, Luz M. (Inventor)

2016-01-01

Hydrophobic-core microcapsules and methods of their formation are provided. A hydrophobic-core microcapsule may include a shell that encapsulates a hydrophobic substance with a core substance, such as dye, corrosion indicator, corrosion inhibitor, and/or healing agent, dissolved or dispersed therein. The hydrophobic-core microcapsules may be formed from an emulsion having hydrophobic-phase droplets, e.g., containing the core substance and shell-forming compound, dispersed in a hydrophilic phase. The shells of the microcapsules may be capable of being broken down in response to being contacted by an alkali, e.g., produced during corrosion, contacting the shell.

76 FR 81513 - Guidance for Industry: Prevention of Salmonella

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-28

...] Guidance for Industry: Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and... ``Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs During Production, Storage, and Transportation.'' The document provides guidance to egg producers on how to comply with certain provisions contained in FDA's...

Material, process, and product design of thermoplastic composite materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Heming

Thermoplastic composites made of polypropylene (PP) and E-glass fibers were investigated experimentally as well as theoretically for two new classes of product designs. The first application was for reinforcement of wood. Commingled PP/glass yarn was consolidated and bonded on wood panel using a tie layer. The processing parameters, including temperature, pressure, heating time, cooling time, bonding strength, and bending strength were tested experimentally and evaluated analytically. The thermoplastic adhesive interface was investigated with environmental scanning electron microscopy. The wood/composite structural design was optimized and evaluated using a Graphic Method. In the second application, we evaluated use of thermoplastic composites for explosion containment in an arrester. PP/glass yarn was fabricated in a sleeve form and wrapped around the arrester. After consolidation, the flexible composite sleeve forms a solid composite shell. The composite shell acts as a protection layer in a surge test to contain the fragments of the arrester. The manufacturing process for forming the composite shell was designed. Woven, knitted, and braided textile composite shells made of commingled PP/glass yarn were tested and evaluated. Mechanical performance of the woven, knitted, and braided composite shells was examined analytically. The theoretical predictions were used to verify the experimental results.

Accident resistant transport container

DOEpatents

Andersen, John A.; Cole, James K.

1980-01-01

The invention relates to a container for the safe air transport of plutonium having several intermediate wood layers and a load spreader intermediate an inner container and an outer shell for mitigation of shock during a hypothetical accident.

Accident resistant transport container

DOEpatents

Anderson, J.A.; Cole, K.K.

The invention relates to a container for the safe air transport of plutonium having several intermediate wood layers and a load spreader intermediate an inner container and an outer shell for mitigation of shock during a hypothetical accident.

Deposition of conductive TiN shells on SiO2 nanoparticles with a fluidized bed ALD reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Didden, Arjen; Hillebrand, Philipp; Wollgarten, Markus; Dam, Bernard; van de Krol, Roel

2016-02-01

Conductive TiN shells have been deposited on SiO2 nanoparticles (10-20 nm primary particle size) with fluidized bed atomic layer deposition using TDMAT and NH3 as precursors. Analysis of the powders confirms that shell growth saturates at approximately 0.4 nm/cycle at TDMAT doses of >1.2 mmol/g of powder. TEM and XPS analysis showed that all particles were coated with homogeneous shells containing titanium. Due to the large specific surface area of the nanoparticles, the TiN shells rapidly oxidize upon exposure to air. Electrical measurements show that the partially oxidized shells are conducting, with apparent resistivity of approximately 11 kΩ cm. The resistivity of the powders is strongly influenced by the NH3 dose, with a smaller dose giving an order-of-magnitude higher resistivity.

Method and apparatus for generating microshells of refractory materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lee, Mark C. (Inventor); Schilling, Christopher (Inventor); Ladner, Jr., George O. (Inventor); Wang, Taylor G. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

A system is described for forming accurately spherical and centered fluid-filled shells, especially of high melting temperature material. Material which is to form the shells is placed in a solid form in a container, and the material is rapidly heated to a molten temperature to avoid recrystallization and the possible generation of unwanted microbubbles in the melt. Immediately after the molten shells are formed, they drop through a drop tower whose upper end is heated along a distance of at least one foot to provide time for dissipation of surface waves on the shells while they cool to a highly viscous, or just above melting temperature so that the bubble within the shell will not rise and become off centered. The rest of the tower is cryogenically cooled to cool the shell to a solid state.

21 CFR 164.110 - Mixed nuts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... CONSUMPTION TREE NUT AND PEANUT PRODUCTS Requirements for Specific Standardized Tree Nut and Peanut Products... shelled tree nut ingredients, with or without one or more of the optional shelled peanut ingredients, of... is packed in transparent containers, three or more of the optional tree nut ingredients shall be...

RELATIONSHIP OF AMEBOCYTES AND TERRESTRIAL ELEMENTS TO ADULT SHELL DEPOSITION IN EASTERN OYSTERS

EPA Science Inventory

Fisher, William S. Submitted. Relationship of Amebocytes and Terrestrial Elements to Adult Shell Deposition in Eastern Oysters. J. Shellfish Res. 30 p. (ERL,GB 1197).

Freshwater runoff contains terrestrial elements from geological deposits that may be vital to eastern oys...

MICROBIAL COMETABOLISM OF RECALCITRANT CHEMICALS IN CONTAMINATED AIR STREAMS

EPA Science Inventory

Chlorinated Solvents: The treatment system consists of a laboratory-scale hollow fiber membrane (HFM) module containing a center baffle and a radial cross-flow pattern on the shell side of the fibers. The shell and lumen fluids are contacting in a counter-current f...

49 CFR 178.345-7 - Circumferential reinforcements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... stiffeners which prevent visual inspection of the cargo tank shell are prohibited on cargo tank motor... PACKAGINGS Specifications for Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-7 Circumferential reinforcements. (a) A cargo tank with a shell thickness of less than 3/8 inch must be circumferentially...

49 CFR 178.345-7 - Circumferential reinforcements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... stiffeners which prevent visual inspection of the cargo tank shell are prohibited on cargo tank motor... PACKAGINGS Specifications for Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-7 Circumferential reinforcements. (a) A cargo tank with a shell thickness of less than 3/8 inch must be circumferentially...

49 CFR 178.345-7 - Circumferential reinforcements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... stiffeners which prevent visual inspection of the cargo tank shell are prohibited on cargo tank motor... PACKAGINGS Specifications for Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-7 Circumferential reinforcements. (a) A cargo tank with a shell thickness of less than 3/8 inch must be circumferentially...

49 CFR 178.345-7 - Circumferential reinforcements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... stiffeners which prevent visual inspection of the cargo tank shell are prohibited on cargo tank motor... PACKAGINGS Specifications for Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-7 Circumferential reinforcements. (a) A cargo tank with a shell thickness of less than 3/8 inch must be circumferentially...

49 CFR 178.345-7 - Circumferential reinforcements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... stiffeners which prevent visual inspection of the cargo tank shell are prohibited on cargo tank motor... PACKAGINGS Specifications for Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-7 Circumferential reinforcements. (a) A cargo tank with a shell thickness of less than 3/8 inch must be circumferentially...

Off-shell supergravity in five dimensions and supersymmetric brane world scenarios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zucker, M.

2003-09-01

We review the construction of off-shell Poincaré supergravity in five dimensions. We describe in detail the minimal multiplet, which is the basic building block, containing the propagating fields of supergravity. All matter multiplets containing (8 + 8) components, being the smallest matter multiplets in five dimensions, are constructed. Using these multiplets the complete tensor calculus for supergravity is developed. As expected it turns out, that there exist three distinct minimal (i.e. containing (48 + 48) field components) off-shell supergravities. The lagrangians for these theories and their gauged variants are given explicitly. These results are used in the second part to develop a tensor calculus on the orbifold . Gauged supergravity on the orbifold with additional cosmological constants at the fixpoints, is constructed. This generalizes the work of Randall-Sundrum to local supersymmetry. The developed tensor calculus is used to extend this model to include matter located at the fixpoints. Chiral and super Yang-Mills multiplets at the fixpoints are considered.

A Comparative study of microwave-induced pyrolysis of lignocellulosic and algal biomass.

PubMed

Wang, Nan; Tahmasebi, Arash; Yu, Jianglong; Xu, Jing; Huang, Feng; Mamaeva, Alisa

2015-08-01

Microwave (MW) pyrolysis of algal and lignocellulosic biomass samples were studied using a modified domestic oven. The pyrolysis temperature was recorded continuously by inserting a thermocouple into the samples. Temperatures as high as 1170 and 1015°C were achieved for peanut shell and Chlorella vulgaris. The activation energy for MW pyrolysis was calculated by Coats-Redfern method and the values were 221.96 and 214.27kJ/mol for peanut shell and C. vulgaris, respectively. Bio-oil yields reached to 27.7wt.% and 11.0wt.% during pyrolysis of C. vulgaris and peanut shell, respectively. The bio-oil samples from pyrolysis were analyzed by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Bio-oil from lignocellulosic biomass pyrolysis contained more phenolic compounds while that from microalgae pyrolysis contained more nitrogen-containing species. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis results showed that concentration of OH, CH, CO, OCH3, and CO functional groups in char samples decreased significantly after pyrolysis. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

THERMALLY SHIELDED MOISTURE REMOVAL DEVICE

DOEpatents

Miller, O.E.

1958-08-26

An apparatus is presented for removing moisture from the air within tanks by condensation upon a cartridge containing liquid air. An insulating shell made in two halves covers the cartridge within the evacuated system. The shell halves are hinged together and are operated by a system of levers from outside the tank with the motion translated through a sylphon bellows to cover and uncover the cartridge. When the condensation of moisture is in process, the insulative shell is moved away from the liquid air cartridge, and during that part of the process when there is no freezing out of moisture, the shell halves are closed on the cell so thnt the accumulated frost is not evaporated. This insulating shell greatly reduces the consumption of liquid air in this condensation process.

META-GLARE: a shell for CIG systems.

PubMed

Bottrighi, Alessio; Rubrichi, Stefania; Terenziani, Paolo

2015-01-01

In the last twenty years, many different approaches to deal with Computer-Interpretable clinical Guidelines (CIGs) have been developed, each one proposing its own representation formalism (mostly based on the Task-Network Model) execution engine. We propose META-GLARE a shell for easily defining new CIG systems. Using META-GLARE, CIG system designers can easily define their own systems (basically by defining their representation language), with a minimal programming effort. META-GLARE is thus a flexible and powerful vehicle for research about CIGs, since it supports easy and fast prototyping of new CIG systems.

Contamination Assessment Report Chemical Sewers - North Plants and South Plants Version 3.2, Task 10

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-09-01

co coo coo U.A 0 0 0.0 L Vc 04 a 0. C -. C r 0 48 w c 0j ft 1-4 0~ W UU 4e & 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0- 1 I I C 1 W; V; W ; ’A C 209 0 0 U u et M SC A 04 4124 ...David Shelton, CDB Lt. Col. Scott P. Isaacson Chris Hahn, Shell Oil Company R. D. Lundahl, Shell Oil Company Thomas Sick, Department of Justice David

Development of Lipid-Based Nanoparticles for In Vivo Targeted Delivery of Imaging Agents into Breast Cancer Cells

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-01

nanoparticles size of 8 nm; found out that shell loaded image is much more effective than core loaded one. We have prepared a number of lipid nanoparticles ...strategies: lipid - conjugated fluorochrome was introduced into either core or shell lipids of the nanoparticles . Pyro- CE-OA that contains cholesterol... lipids either in the core or in the shell . We have conjugated the nanoparticles with the integrin ligands. We have showed

Structural Color Palettes of Core-Shell Photonic Ink Capsules Containing Cholesteric Liquid Crystals.

PubMed

Lee, Sang Seok; Seo, Hyeon Jin; Kim, Yun Ho; Kim, Shin-Hyun

2017-06-01

Photonic microcapsules with onion-like topology are microfluidically designed to have cholesteric liquid crystals with opposite handedness in their core and shell. The microcapsules exhibit structural colors caused by dual photonic bandgaps, resulting in a rich variety of color on the optical palette. Moreover, the microcapsules can switch the colors from either core or shell depending on the selection of light-handedness. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Dietary calcium deficiency in laying ducks impairs eggshell quality by suppressing shell biomineralization.

PubMed

Chen, Wei; Zhao, Fei; Tian, Zhi Mei; Zhang, Han Xing; Ruan, Dong; Li, Yan; Wang, Shuang; Zheng, Chun Tian; Lin, Ying Cai

2015-10-01

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary calcium deficiency on the process of shell formation. Four hundred and fifty female ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) at 22 weeks were randomly assigned to three groups. Ducks were fed one of two calcium-deficient diets (containing 1.8% or 0.38% calcium, respectively) or a calcium-adequate control diet (containing 3.6% calcium) for 67 days (depletion period) and then all ducks were fed a calcium-adequate diet for an additional 67 days (repletion period). Compared with the calcium-adequate control, the average shell thickness, egg shell weight, breaking strength, mammillae density and mammillary knob thickness of shell from ducks that consumed the diet with 0.38% calcium were significantly decreased (P<0.05) during the depletion period, accompanied by reduced tibia quality. The mRNA expression of both secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) and carbonic anhydrase 2 (CA2) in the uterus was decreased after feeding calcium-deficient diets (1.8% or 0.38% calcium). mRNA transcripts of calbindin 1 (CALB1), an important protein responsible for calcium transport, and the matrix protein genes ovocalyxin-32 (OCX-32) and ovocleidin-116 (OC-116) were reduced in ducks fed 0.38% calcium but not 1.8% calcium. Plasma estradiol concentration was decreased by both of the calcium-deficient diets (P<0.05). The impaired shell quality and suppressed functional proteins involved in shell formation could be reversed by repletion of dietary calcium. The results of the present study suggest that dietary calcium deficiency negatively affects eggshell quality and microarchitecture, probably by suppressing shell biomineralization. © 2015. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Protein corona as a proteome fingerprint: The example of hidden biomarkers for cow mastitis.

PubMed

Miotto, Giovanni; Magro, Massimiliano; Terzo, Milo; Zaccarin, Mattia; Da Dalt, Laura; Bonaiuto, Emanuela; Baratella, Davide; Gabai, Gianfranco; Vianello, Fabio

2016-04-01

Proteome modifications in a biological fluid can potentially indicate the occurrence of pathologies, even if the identification of a proteome fingerprint correlated to a specific disease represents a very difficult task. When a nanomaterial is introduced into a biological fluid, macromolecules compete to form a protein corona on the nanoparticle surface, and depending on the specific proteome, different patterns of proteins will form the final protein corona shell depending on their affinity for the nanoparticle surface. Novel surface active maghemite nanoparticles (SAMNs) display a remarkable selectivity toward protein corona formation, and they are able to concentrate proteins and peptides presenting high affinities for their surface even if they are present in very low amounts. Thus, SAMNs may confer visibility to hidden biomarkers correlated to the occurrence of a pathology. In the present report, SAMNs were introduced into milk samples from healthy cows and from animals affected by mastitis, and the selectively bound protein corona shell was easily analyzed and quantified by gel electrophoresis and characterized by mass spectrometry. Upon incubation in mastitic milk, SAMNs were able to selectively bind αs2-casein fragments containing the FALPQYLK sequence, as part of the larger casocidin-1 peptide with strong antibacterial activity, which were not present in healthy samples. Thus, SAMNs can be used as a future candidate for the rapid diagnosis of mastitis in bovine milk. The present report proposes protein competition for SAMN protein corona formation as a means of mirroring proteome modifications. Thus, the selected protein shell on the nanoparticles results in a fingerprint of the specific pathology. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Numerical Procedures for Analysis of Structural Shells.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-03-01

40 freedoms. The basic freedom pattern contains two freedoms at each of 16 shell surface nodes and one freedom at each of 8 midsurface nodes, again for...schene it is possible to make the midsurface strain vanish at all integration points if the inplane displacemnts are represented by cubic shape

7 CFR 999.400 - Regulation governing the importation of filberts.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...) Definitions. (1) Filberts means filberts or hazelnuts. (2) Inshell filberts means filberts, the kernels or edible portions of which are contained in the shell. (3) Shelled filberts means the kernels of filberts... Filbert kernels or portions of filbert kernels shall meet the following requirements: (1) Well dried and...

Lifetime of inner-shell hole states of Ar (2p) and Kr (3d) using equation-of-motion coupled cluster method

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ghosh, Aryya; Vaval, Nayana, E-mail: np.vaval@ncl.res.in; Pal, Sourav

2015-07-14

Auger decay is an efficient ultrafast relaxation process of core-shell or inner-shell excited atom or molecule. Generally, it occurs in femto-second or even atto-second time domain. Direct measurement of lifetimes of Auger process of single ionized and double ionized inner-shell state of an atom or molecule is an extremely difficult task. In this paper, we have applied the highly correlated complex absorbing potential-equation-of-motion coupled cluster (CAP-EOMCC) approach which is a combination of CAP and EOMCC approach to calculate the lifetime of the states arising from 2p inner-shell ionization of an Ar atom and 3d inner-shell ionization of Kr atom. Wemore » have also calculated the lifetime of Ar{sup 2+}(2p{sup −1}3p{sup −1}) {sup 1}D, Ar{sup 2+}(2p{sup −1}3p{sup −1}) {sup 1}S, and Ar{sup 2+}(2p{sup −1}3s{sup −1}) {sup 1}P double ionized states. The predicted results are compared with the other theoretical results as well as experimental results available in the literature.« less

Minimum stiffness criteria for ring frame stiffeners of space launch vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedrich, Linus; Schröder, Kai-Uwe

2016-12-01

Frame stringer-stiffened shell structures show high load carrying capacity in conjunction with low structural mass and are for this reason frequently used as primary structures of aerospace applications. Due to the great number of design variables, deriving suitable stiffening configurations is a demanding task and needs to be realized using efficient analysis methods. The structural design of ring frame stringer-stiffened shells can be subdivided into two steps. One, the design of a shell section between two ring frames. Two, the structural design of the ring frames such that a general instability mode is avoided. For sizing stringer-stiffened shell sections, several methods were recently developed, but existing ring frame sizing methods are mainly based on empirical relations or on smeared models. These methods do not mandatorily lead to reliable designs and in some cases the lightweight design potential of stiffened shell structures can thus not be exploited. In this paper, the explicit physical behaviour of ring frame stiffeners of space launch vehicles at the onset of panel instability is described using mechanical substitute models. Ring frame stiffeners of a stiffened shell structure are sized applying existing methods and the method suggested in this paper. To verify the suggested method and to demonstrate its potential, geometrically non-linear finite element analyses are performed using detailed finite element models.

Cooperative effects in spherical spasers: Ab initio analytical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bordo, V. G.

2017-06-01

A fully analytical semiclassical theory of cooperative optical processes which occur in an ensemble of molecules embedded in a spherical core-shell nanoparticle is developed from first principles. Both the plasmonic Dicke effect and spaser generation are investigated for the designs in which a shell/core contains an arbitrarily large number of active molecules in the vicinity of a metallic core/shell. An essential aspect of the theory is an ab initio account of the feedback from the core/shell boundaries which significantly modifies the molecular dynamics. The theory provides rigorous, albeit simple and physically transparent, criteria for both plasmonic superradiance and surface plasmon generation.

Performance of an anisotropic Allman/DKT 3-node thin triangular flat shell element

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ertas, A.; Krafcik, J. T.; Ekwaro-Osire, S.

1992-05-01

A simple, explicit formulation of the stiffness matrix for an anisotropic, 3-node, thin triangular flat shell element in global coordinates is presented. An Allman triangle (AT) is used for membrane stiffness. The membrane stiffness matrix is explicitly derived by applying an Allman transformation to a Felippa 6-node linear strain triangle (LST). Bending stiffness is incorporated by the use of a discrete Kirchhoff triangle (DKT) bending element. Stiffness terms resulting from anisotropic membrane-bending coupling are included by integrating, in area coordinates, the membrane and bending strain-displacement matrices. Using the aforementioned approach, the objective of this study is to develop and test the performance of a practical 3-node flat shell element that could be used in plate problems with unsymmetrically stacked composite laminates. The performance of the latter element is tested on plates of varying aspect ratios. The developed 3-node shell element should simplify the programming task and have the potential of reducing the computational time.

Diffusion bonded boron/aluminum spar-shell fan blade

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carlson, C. E. K.; Cutler, J. L.; Fisher, W. J.; Memmott, J. V. W.

1980-01-01

Design and process development tasks intended to demonstrate composite blade application in large high by-pass ratio turbofan engines are described. Studies on a 3.0 aspect radio space and shell construction fan blade indicate a potential weight savings for a first stage fan rotor of 39% when a hollow titanium spar is employed. An alternate design which featured substantial blade internal volume filled with titanium honeycomb inserts achieved a 14% potential weight savings over the B/M rotor system. This second configuration requires a smaller development effort and entails less risk to translate a design into a successful product. The feasibility of metal joining large subsonic spar and shell fan blades was demonstrated. Initial aluminum alloy screening indicates a distinct preference for AA6061 aluminum alloy for use as a joint material. The simulated airfoil pressings established the necessity of rigid air surfaces when joining materials of different compressive rigidities. The two aluminum alloy matrix choices both were successfully formed into blade shells.

Comparison of performance of shell-and-tube heat exchangers with conventional segmental baffles and continuous helical baffle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmed, Asif; Ferdous, Imam Ul.; Saha, Sumon

2017-06-01

In the present study, three-dimensional numerical simulation of two shell-and-tube heat exchangers (STHXs) with conventional segmental baffles (STHXsSB) and continuous helical baffle (STHXsHB) is carried out and a comparative study is performed based on the simulation results. Both of the STHXs contain 37 tubes inside a 500 mm long and 200 mm diameter shell and mass flow rate of shell-side fluid is varied from 0.5 kg/s to 2 kg/s. At first, physical and mathematical models are developed and numerically simulated using finite element method (FEM). For the validation of the computational model, shell-side average nusselt number (Nus) is calculated from the simulation results and compared with the available experimental results. The comparative study shows that STHXsHB has 72-127% higher heat transfer coefficient per unit pressure drop compared to the conventional STHXsSB for the same shell-side mass flow rate. Moreover, STHXsHB has 59-63% lower shell-side pressure drop than STHXsSB.

Factors affecting the yield of bio-oil from the pyrolysis of coconut shell.

PubMed

Gao, Yun; Yang, Yi; Qin, Zhanbin; Sun, Yi

2016-01-01

Coconut is a high-quality agricultural product of the Asia-Pacific region. In this paper, coconut shell which mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin was used as a raw material for coconut shell oil from coconut shell pyrolysis. The influence of the pyrolysis temperature, heating rate and particle size on coconut oil yield was investigated, and the effect of heating rate on coconut oil components was discussed. Experimental results show that the maximum oil yield of 75.74 wt% (including water) were obtained under the conditions that the final pyrolysis temperature 575 °C, heating rate 20 °C/min, coconut shell diameter about 5 mm. Thermal gravimetric analysis was used and it can be seen that coconut shell pyrolysis process can be divided into three stages: water loss, pyrolysis and pyrocondensation. The main components of coconut-shell oil are water (about 50 wt%), aromatic, phenolic, acid, ketone and ether containing compounds.

Acid–base bifunctional shell cross-linked micelle nanoreactor for one-pot tandem reaction

DOE PAGES

Lee, Li -Chen; Lu, Jie; Weck, Marcus; ...

2015-12-29

In shell cross-linked micelles (SCMs) containing acid sites in the shell and base sites in the core are prepared from amphiphilic poly(2-oxazoline) triblock copolymers. These materials are utilized as two-chamber nanoreactors for a prototypical acid-base bifunctional tandem deacetalization-nitroaldol reaction. Furthermore, the acid and base sites are localized in different regions of the micelle, allowing the two steps in the reaction sequence to largely proceed in separate compartments, akin to the compartmentalization that occurs in biological systems.

Development of Modified Titanium Nitride Nanoparticles as Potential Contrast Material for Photoacoustic Imaging

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-10

based on modified fullerenes , carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles (including nanocages and nanorods) were very recently reported.4 Nevertheless, this...ratios of 1:1.6 and 1:16, in order to form an onion- like core-shell structure, containing TiN core and shells of TPP (inner shell) and chitosan (outer...These results nicely correlate with the cells viability results and the formation of the ROS is most likely the cause of the cells death (Figure 24

Development of a gas-liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of fatty acid tryptamides in cocoa products.

PubMed

Hug, Bernadette; Golay, Pierre-Alain; Giuffrida, Francesca; Dionisi, Fabiola; Destaillats, Frédéric

2006-05-03

The determination of the occurrence and level of cocoa shells in cocoa products and chocolate is an important analytical issue. The recent European Union directive on cocoa and chocolate products (2000/36/EC) has not retained the former limit of a maximum amount of 5% of cocoa shells in cocoa nibs (based on fat-free dry matter), previously authorized for the elaboration of cocoa products such as cocoa mass. In the present study, we report a reliable gas-liquid chromatography procedure suitable for the determination of the occurrence of cocoa shells in cocoa products by detection of fatty acid tryptamides (FATs). The precision of the method was evaluated by analyzing nine different samples (cocoa liquors with different ranges of shells) six times (replicate repeatability). The variations of the robust coefficient of variation of the repeatability demonstrated that FAT(C22), FAT(C24), and total FATs are good markers for the detection of shells in cocoa products. The trueness of the method was evaluated by determining the FAT content in two spiked matrices (cocoa liquors and cocoa shells) at different levels (from 1 to 50 mg/100 g). A good relation was found between the results obtained and the spiking (recovery varied between 90 and 130%), and the linearity range was established between 1 and 50 mg/100 g in cocoa products. For total FAT contents of cocoa liquor containing 5% shells, the measurement uncertainty allows us to conclude that FAT is equal to 4.01 +/- 0.8 mg/100 g. This validated method is perfectly suitable to determine shell contents in cocoa products using FAT(C22), FAT(C24), and total FATs as markers. The results also confirmed that cocoa shells contain FAT(C24) and FAT(C22) in a constant ratio of nearly 2:1.

In-depth proteomic analysis of a mollusc shell: acid-soluble and acid-insoluble matrix of the limpet Lottia gigantea

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Invertebrate biominerals are characterized by their extraordinary functionality and physical properties, such as strength, stiffness and toughness that by far exceed those of the pure mineral component of such composites. This is attributed to the organic matrix, secreted by specialized cells, which pervades and envelops the mineral crystals. Despite the obvious importance of the protein fraction of the organic matrix, only few in-depth proteomic studies have been performed due to the lack of comprehensive protein sequence databases. The recent public release of the gastropod Lottia gigantea genome sequence and the associated protein sequence database provides for the first time the opportunity to do a state-of-the-art proteomic in-depth analysis of the organic matrix of a mollusc shell. Results Using three different sodium hypochlorite washing protocols before shell demineralization, a total of 569 proteins were identified in Lottia gigantea shell matrix. Of these, 311 were assembled in a consensus proteome comprising identifications contained in all proteomes irrespective of shell cleaning procedure. Some of these proteins were similar in amino acid sequence, amino acid composition, or domain structure to proteins identified previously in different bivalve or gastropod shells, such as BMSP, dermatopontin, nacrein, perlustrin, perlucin, or Pif. In addition there were dozens of previously uncharacterized proteins, many containing repeated short linear motifs or homorepeats. Such proteins may play a role in shell matrix construction or control of mineralization processes. Conclusions The organic matrix of Lottia gigantea shells is a complex mixture of proteins comprising possible homologs of some previously characterized mollusc shell proteins, but also many novel proteins with a possible function in biomineralization as framework building blocks or as regulatory components. We hope that this data set, the most comprehensive available at present, will provide a platform for the further exploration of biomineralization processes in molluscs. PMID:22540284

Emission Behavior of Fluorescently Labeled Silver Nanoshell: Enhanced Self-Quenching by Metal Nanostructure.

PubMed

Zhang, Jian; Fu, Yi; Lakowicz, Joseph R

2007-02-08

Labeled silica beads with an average diameter of 100 nm were synthesized by incorporating with 20-600 μM Ru(bpy)(3) (2+) complexes. Silver shells were deposited on the beads layer-by-layer with the shell thickness of 5-50 nm. The emission band became narrower and the intensity was enhanced depending on the shell thickness. Self-quenching of the probe was observed at high concentration. Poisson statistics were employed to analyze self-quenching of the fluorophores. The estimated quenching distance was extended from 6 to 16 nm with shell growth from 0 to 50 nm. Moreover, the silver shells were also labeled with Rhodamine 6G. Fluorescence enhancement and reduced lifetime were also observed for silver-silica shell containing R6G. We found that by adjustment of probe concentration and silver shell thickness, a Ru(bpy)(3) (2+)-labeled particle could be 600 times brighter than an isolated Ru(bpy)(3) (2+) molecule. We expect labeled metal core-shell structures can become useful probes for high sensitivity and/or single particle assay.

Utilization of waste crab shell (Scylla serrata) as a catalyst in palm olein transesterification.

PubMed

Boey, Peng-Lim; Maniam, Gaanty Pragas; Hamid, Shafida Abd

2009-01-01

Aquaculture activity has increased the population of crab, hence increasing the generation of related wastes, particularly the shell. In addition, the number of molting process in crabs compounds further the amount of waste shell generated. As such, in the present work, the application of the waste crab shell as a source of CaO in transesterification of palm olein to biodiesel (methyl ester) was investigated. Preliminary XRD results revealed that thermally activated crab shell contains mainly CaO. Parametric study has been investigated and optimal conditions were found to be methanol/oil mass ratio, 0.5:1; catalyst amount, 4 wt. %; and reaction temperature, 338 K. As compared to laboratory CaO, the catalyst from waste crab shell performs well, thus creating another low-cost catalyst source for producing biodiesel as well as adding value to the waste crab shell. Reusability of crab shell CaO has also been studied and the outcome confirmed that the catalyst is capable to be reutilized up to 11 times, without any major deterioration.

Method and apparatus for capturing carbon dioxide during combustion of carbon containing fuel

DOEpatents

Axelbaum, Richard L.; Kumfer, Benjamin M.; Xia, Fei; Gopan, Akshay; Dhungel, Bhupesh

2018-04-10

A boiler system having a series of boilers. Each boiler includes a shell having an upstream end, a downstream end, and a hollow interior. The boilers also have an oxidizer inlet entering the hollow interior adjacent the upstream end of the shell and a fuel nozzle positioned adjacent the upstream end of the shell for introducing fuel into the hollow interior of the shell. Each boiler includes a flue duct connected to the shell adjacent the downstream end for transporting flue gas from the hollow interior. Oxygen is delivered to the oxidizer inlet of the first boiler in the series. Flue gas from the immediately preceding boiler in the series is delivered through the oxidizer inlet of each boiler subsequent to the first boiler in the series.

Coupled mixed-field laminate theory and finite element for smart piezoelectric composite shell structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Saravanos, Dimitris A.

1996-01-01

Mechanics for the analysis of laminated composite shells with piezoelectric actuators and sensors are presented. A new mixed-field laminate theory for piezoelectric shells is formulated in curvilinear coordinates which combines single-layer assumptions for the displacements and a layerwise representation for the electric potential. The resultant coupled governing equations for curvilinear piezoelectric laminates are described. Structural mechanics are subsequently developed and an 8-node finite-element is formulated for the static and dynamic analysis of adaptive composite structures of general laminations containing piezoelectric layers. Evaluations of the method and comparisons with reported results are presented for laminated piezoelectric-composite plates, a closed cylindrical shell with a continuous piezoceramic layer and a laminated composite semi-circular cantilever shell with discrete cylindrical piezoelectric actuators and/or sensors.

Differential Dopamine Release Dynamics in the Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell Reveal Complementary Signals for Error Prediction and Incentive Motivation

PubMed Central

Cacciapaglia, Fabio; Wightman, R. Mark; Carelli, Regina M.

2015-01-01

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) is phasically released during appetitive behaviors, though there is substantive disagreement about the specific purpose of these DA signals. For example, prediction error (PE) models suggest a role of learning, while incentive salience (IS) models argue that the DA signal imbues stimuli with value and thereby stimulates motivated behavior. However, within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) patterns of DA release can strikingly differ between subregions, and as such, it is possible that these patterns differentially contribute to aspects of PE and IS. To assess this, we measured DA release in subregions of the NAc during a behavioral task that spatiotemporally separated sequential goal-directed stimuli. Electrochemical methods were used to measure subsecond NAc dopamine release in the core and shell during a well learned instrumental chain schedule in which rats were trained to press one lever (seeking; SL) to gain access to a second lever (taking; TL) linked with food delivery, and again during extinction. In the core, phasic DA release was greatest following initial SL presentation, but minimal for the subsequent TL and reward events. In contrast, phasic shell DA showed robust release at all task events. Signaling decreased between the beginning and end of sessions in the shell, but not core. During extinction, peak DA release in the core showed a graded decrease for the SL and pauses in release during omitted expected rewards, whereas shell DA release decreased predominantly during the TL. These release dynamics suggest parallel DA signals capable of supporting distinct theories of appetitive behavior. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dopamine signaling in the brain is important for a variety of cognitive functions, such as learning and motivation. Typically, it is assumed that a single dopamine signal is sufficient to support these cognitive functions, though competing theories disagree on how dopamine contributes to reward-based behaviors. Here, we have found that real-time dopamine release within the nucleus accumbens (a primary target of midbrain dopamine neurons) strikingly varies between core and shell subregions. In the core, dopamine dynamics are consistent with learning-based theories (such as reward prediction error) whereas in the shell, dopamine is consistent with motivation-based theories (e.g., incentive salience). These findings demonstrate that dopamine plays multiple and complementary roles based on discrete circuits that help animals optimize rewarding behaviors. PMID:26290234

Hybrid indirect-drive/direct-drive target for inertial confinement fusion

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Perkins, Lindsay John

A hybrid indirect-drive/direct drive for inertial confinement fusion utilizing laser beams from a first direction and laser beams from a second direction including a central fusion fuel component; a first portion of a shell surrounding said central fusion fuel component, said first portion of a shell having a first thickness; a second portion of a shell surrounding said fusion fuel component, said second portion of a shell having a second thickness that is greater than said thickness of said first portion of a shell; and a hohlraum containing at least a portion of said fusion fuel component and at leastmore » a portion of said first portion of a shell; wherein said hohlraum is in a position relative to said first laser beam and to receive said first laser beam and produce X-rays that are directed to said first portion of a shell and said fusion fuel component; and wherein said fusion fuel component and said second portion of a shell are in a position relative to said second laser beam such that said second portion of a shell and said fusion fuel component receive said second laser beam.« less

The effects of GABAA and NMDA receptors in the shell-accumbens on spatial memory of METH-treated rats.

PubMed

Heysieattalab, Soomaayeh; Naghdi, Nasser; Zarrindast, Mohammad-Reza; Haghparast, Abbas; Mehr, Shahram Ejtemaei; Khoshbouei, Habibeh

2016-03-01

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive and neurotoxic psychostimulant. Its use in humans is often associated with neurocognitive impairment and deficits in hippocampal plasticity. Striatal dopamine system is one of the main targets of METH. The dopamine neurons in the striatum directly or indirectly regulate the GABA and glutamatergic signaling in this region and thus their outputs. This is consistent with previous reports showing modification of neuronal activity in the striatum modulates the expression of hippocampal LTP and hippocampal-dependent memory tasks such as Morris water maze (MWM). Therefore, reversing or preventing METH-induced synaptic modifications via pharmacological manipulations of the shell-nucleus accumbens (shell-NAc) may introduce a viable therapeutic target to attenuate the METH-induced memory deficits. This study is designed to investigate the role of intra-shell NAc manipulation of GABAA and NMDA receptors and their interaction with METH on memory performance in MWM task. Pharmacological manipulations were performed in rats received METH or saline. We found systemic saline plus intra-shell NAc infusions of muscimol dose-dependently impaired performance, while bicuculline had no effect. Surprisingly, the intra-NAc infusions of 0.005μg/rat muscimol that has no effect on memory performance (ineffective dose) prevented METH-induced memory impairment. In the contrary, the intra-NAc infusions of bicuculline (0.2μg/rat) increased METH-induced memory impairment. However, pre-training intra-NAc infusions of D-AP5 dose-dependently impaired performance, while NMDA had no effect in rats received systemic saline (control group). The intra-NAc infusions with an ineffective dose of NMDA (0.1μg/rat) increased METH-induced memory impairment. Furthermore, intra-NAc infusions of D-AP5 with an ineffective dose (0.1μg/rat) prevented METH-induced memory impairment. Our result is consistent with the interpretation that METH-mediated learning deficit might be due to modification of hippocampus-VTA loop and that augmentation of GABAA receptor function in the shell-NAc may provide a new therapeutic target for alleviating METH-induced memory deficits. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Tuning of shell thickness of solid lipid particles impacts the chemical stability of encapsulated ω-3 fish oil.

PubMed

Salminen, Hanna; Helgason, Thrandur; Kristinsson, Bjarki; Kristbergsson, Kristberg; Weiss, Jochen

2017-03-15

This study demonstrates that tuning the shell thickness of lipid particles can modulate their oxidative stability. We hypothesized that a thick crystallized shell around the incorporated fish oil would improve the oxidative stability due to the reduced diffusion of prooxidants and oxygen. We prepared solid lipid nanoparticles (5%w/w lipid phase, 1.5%w/w surfactant, pH 7) by using different ratios of tristearin as carrier lipid and ω-3 fish oil as incorporated liquid lipid stabilized by high- or low-melting lecithin. The physical, polymorphic and oxidative stability of the lipid particles was assessed. The high-melting lecithin was the key in inducing the formation of a solidified tristearin shell around the lipid particles by interfacial heterogeneous nucleation. Lipid particles containing a higher ratio of tristearin showed a better oxidative stability. The results revealed that a crystallized tristearin layer above 10nm was required to inhibit oxidation of the incorporated fish oil. This cut-off was shown for lipid particles containing 50-60% fish oil. This research gives important insights into understanding the relation between the thickness of the crystallized shell around the lipid particles and their chemical stability. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Novel Intervention Technologies to Ensure the Safety of Produce, Shell Eggs and Liquid Foods

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Fruit juices, shell eggs and produce are all part of a healthy diet, but they can contain harmful bacteria. Fruit juices are typically pasteurized in a heat exchanger. This processing can degrade the quality of the juice. Thus, alternative nonthermal interventions are being developed including ra...

Workshop on Europa's Icy Shell: Past, Present, and Future

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2004-01-01

This volume contains abstracts that have been accepted for presentation at the workshop on Europa's Icy Shell: Past, Present, and Future, February 6-8,2004, Houston, Texas. Administration and publications support for this meeting were provided by the staff of the Publications and Program Services Department at the Lunar and Planetary Institute.

ShellFit: Reconstruction in the MiniCLEAN Detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seibert, Stanley

2010-02-01

The MiniCLEAN dark matter experiment is an ultra-low background liquid cryogen detector with a fiducial volume of approximately 150 kg. Dark matter candidate events produce ultraviolet scintillation light in argon at 128 nm and in neon at 80 nm. In order to detect this scintillation light, the target volume is enclosed by acrylic plates forming a spherical shell upon which an organic fluor, tetraphenyl butadiene (TPB), has been applied. TPB absorbs UV light and reemits visible light isotropically which can be detected by photomultiplier tubes. Two significant sources of background events in MiniCLEAN are decays of radon daughters embedded in the acrylic surface and external sources of neutrons, such as the photomultiplier tubes themselves. Both of these backgrounds can be mitigated by reconstructing the origin of the scintillation light and cutting events beyond a particular radius. The scrambling of photon trajectories at the TPB surface makes this task very challenging. The ``ShellFit'' algorithm for reconstructing event position and energy in a detector with a spherical wavelength-shifting shell will be described. The performance of ShellFit will be demonstrated using Monte Carlo simulation of several event types in the MiniCLEAN detector. )

Comparative study of the shell development of hard- and soft-shelled turtles

PubMed Central

Nagashima, Hiroshi; Shibata, Masahiro; Taniguchi, Mari; Ueno, Shintaro; Kamezaki, Naoki; Sato, Noboru

2014-01-01

The turtle shell provides a fascinating model for the investigation of the evolutionary modifications of developmental mechanisms. Different conclusions have been put forth for its development, and it is suggested that one of the causes of the disagreement could be the differences in the species of the turtles used – the differences between hard-shelled turtles and soft-shelled turtles. To elucidate the cause of the difference, we compared the turtle shell development in the two groups of turtle. In the dorsal shell development, these two turtle groups shared the gene expression profile that is required for formation, and shared similar spatial organization of the anatomical elements during development. Thus, both turtles formed the dorsal shell through a folding of the lateral body wall, and the Wnt signaling pathway appears to have been involved in the development. The ventral portion of the shell, on the other hand, contains massive dermal bones. Although expression of HNK-1 epitope has suggested that the trunk neural crest contributed to the dermal bones in the hard-shelled turtles, it was not expressed in the initial anlage of the skeletons in either of the types of turtle. Hence, no evidence was found that would support a neural crest origin. PMID:24754673

Molecular modularity and asymmetry of the molluscan mantle revealed by a gene expression atlas.

PubMed

Herlitze, Ines; Marie, Benjamin; Marin, Frédéric; Jackson, Daniel J

2018-06-01

Conchiferan molluscs construct a biocalcified shell that likely supported much of their evolutionary success. However, beyond broad proteomic and transcriptomic surveys of molluscan shells and the shell-forming mantle tissue, little is known of the spatial and ontogenetic regulation of shell fabrication. In addition, most efforts have been focused on species that deposit nacre, which is at odds with the majority of conchiferan species that fabricate shells using a crossed-lamellar microstructure, sensu lato. By combining proteomic and transcriptomic sequencing with in situ hybridization we have identified a suite of gene products associated with the production of the crossed-lamellar shell in Lymnaea stagnalis. With this spatial expression data we are able to generate novel hypotheses of how the adult mantle tissue coordinates the deposition of the calcified shell. These hypotheses include functional roles for unusual and otherwise difficult-to-study proteins such as those containing repetitive low-complexity domains. The spatial expression readouts of shell-forming genes also reveal cryptic patterns of asymmetry and modularity in the shell-forming cells of larvae and adult mantle tissue. This molecular modularity of the shell-forming mantle tissue hints at intimate associations between structure, function, and evolvability and may provide an elegant explanation for the evolutionary success of the second largest phylum among the Metazoa.

Comparative study of the shell development of hard- and soft-shelled turtles.

PubMed

Nagashima, Hiroshi; Shibata, Masahiro; Taniguchi, Mari; Ueno, Shintaro; Kamezaki, Naoki; Sato, Noboru

2014-07-01

The turtle shell provides a fascinating model for the investigation of the evolutionary modifications of developmental mechanisms. Different conclusions have been put forth for its development, and it is suggested that one of the causes of the disagreement could be the differences in the species of the turtles used - the differences between hard-shelled turtles and soft-shelled turtles. To elucidate the cause of the difference, we compared the turtle shell development in the two groups of turtle. In the dorsal shell development, these two turtle groups shared the gene expression profile that is required for formation, and shared similar spatial organization of the anatomical elements during development. Thus, both turtles formed the dorsal shell through a folding of the lateral body wall, and the Wnt signaling pathway appears to have been involved in the development. The ventral portion of the shell, on the other hand, contains massive dermal bones. Although expression of HNK-1 epitope has suggested that the trunk neural crest contributed to the dermal bones in the hard-shelled turtles, it was not expressed in the initial anlage of the skeletons in either of the types of turtle. Hence, no evidence was found that would support a neural crest origin. © 2014 Anatomical Society.

Nucleus Accumbens Shell Dopamine Preferentially Tracks Information Related to Outcome Value of Reward.

PubMed

Sackett, Deirdre A; Saddoris, Michael P; Carelli, Regina M

2017-01-01

Effective decision-making requires organisms to predict reward values and bias behavior toward the best available option. The mesolimbic dopamine system, including the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell and core, is involved in this process. Although studies support a role of the shell and core in specific aspects of decision-making (e.g., risk, effort, delay), no studies have directly compared dopamine release dynamics in these subregions to cues exclusively signaling the availability of different reward magnitudes. Here, fast-scan cyclic voltammetry was used to compare rapid dopamine release dynamics in the NAc subregions during a magnitude-based decision-making task. Rats learned that distinct cues signaled the availability of either a small or large reward (one or two sugar pellets), and then were given an opportunity to choose their preferred option. We found that peak dopamine release tracked the more preferred (higher-magnitude) option in both core and shell subregions. Critically, however, overall (i.e., global) dopamine release was significantly higher and longer lasting in the shell and tracked the preferred magnitude during the entire cue period. Further, in the shell (not core), dopamine signaling significantly declined immediately at the lever press for reward but increased during the period of reward consumption. Collectively, the results indicate that although dopamine release in both the core and shell are activated by cues signaling the opportunity to respond for rewards of different magnitudes, dopamine release in the shell plays a differential and unique role in tracking information related to the outcome value of reward.

Novel Architecture for a Long-Life, Lightweight Venus Lander

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bugby, D.; Seghi, S.; Kroliczek, E.

2009-03-16

This paper describes a novel concept for an extended lifetime, lightweight Venus lander. Historically, to operate in the 480 deg. C, 90 atm, corrosive, mostly CO{sub 2} Venus surface environment, previous landers have relied on thick Ti spherical outer shells and thick layers of internal insulation. But even the most resilient of these landers operated for only about 2 hours before succumbing to the environment. The goal on this project is to develop an architecture that extends lander lifetime to 20-25 hours and also reduces mass compared to the Pioneer Venus mission architecture. The idea for reducing mass is to:more » (a) contain the science instruments within a spherical high strength lightweight polymer matrix composite (PMC) tank; (b) surround the PMC tank with an annular shell of high performance insulation pre-pressurized to a level that (after landing) will exceed the external Venus surface pressure; and (c) surround the insulation with a thin Ti outer shell that contains only a net internal pressure, eliminating buckling overdesign mass. The combination of the PMC inner tank and thin Ti outer shell is lighter than a single thick Ti outer shell. The idea for extending lifetime is to add the following three features: (i) an expendable water supply that is placed within the insulation or is contained in an additional vessel within the PMC tank; (ii) a thin spherical evaporator shell placed within the insulation a short radial distance from the outer shell; and (iii) a thin heat-intercepting liquid cooled shield placed inboard of the evaporator shell. These features lower the temperature of the insulation below what it would have been with the insulation alone, reducing the internal heat leak and lengthening lifetime. The use of phase change materials (PCMs) inside the PMC tank is also analyzed as a lifetime-extending design option. The paper describes: (1) analytical modeling to demonstrate reduced mass and extended life; (2) thermal conductivity testing of high performance insulation as a function of temperature and pressure; (3) a bench-top ambient pressure thermal test of the evaporation system; and (4) a higher fidelity test, to be conducted in a high pressure, high temperature inert gas test chamber, of a small-scale Venus lander prototype (made from two hemispherical interconnecting halves) that includes all of the aforesaid features.22 CFR 125.4(b)(13) applicable.« less

Internal combustion engine having a reactor for afterburning of unburned exhaust gas constituents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maurhoff, G.; Steinwart, J.

1974-08-07

An internal combustion engine is described which has an engine housing and a reactor for afterburning of unburned constituents in the exhaust gas. The reactor has a shell with a periphery and contains a heat-insulated, reactor chamber which is freely movable beyond the point of connection to the shell. The reactor has an inlet nozzle extending freely through the shell and connected to an outlet passage of the engine and has an outlet for escape of the exhaust gases from the reactor chamber. The inlet nozzle protrudes freely into the outlet passage, and the shell has a portion around themore » inlet nozzle in contact with the engine housing.« less

Very Facile Polarity Umpolung and Noncovalent Functionalization of Inorganic Nanoparticles: A Tool Kit for Supramolecular Materials Chemistry.

PubMed

Zeininger, Lukas; Petzi, Stefanie; Schönamsgruber, Jörg; Portilla, Luis; Halik, Marcus; Hirsch, Andreas

2015-09-28

The facile assembly of shell-by-shell (SbS)-coated nanoparticles [TiO2-PAC16]@shell 1-7 (PAC16 = hexadecylphosphonic acid), which are soluble in water and can be isolated as stable solids, is reported. In these functional architectures, an umpolung of dispersibility (organic apolar versus water) was accomplished by the noncovalent binding of ligands 1-7 to titania nanoparticles [TiO2-PAC16] containing a first covalent coating with PAC16. Ligands 1-7 are amphiphilic and form the outer second shell of [TiO2-PAC16]@shell 1-7. The tailor-designed dendritic building blocks 3-5 contain negative and positive charges in the same molecule, and ligands 6 and 7 contain a perylenetetracarboxylic acid dimide (PDI) core (6/7) as a photoactive reporter component. In the redox and photoactive system [TiO2-PAC16]@shell 7, electronic communication between the inorganic core to the PDI ligands was observed. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Ventral striatal D2/3 receptor availability is associated with impulsive choice behavior as well aslimbic corticostriatal connectivity.

PubMed

Barlow, Rebecca L; Gorges, Martin; Wearn, Alfie; Niessen, Heiko G; Kassubek, Jan; Dalley, Jeffrey W; Pekcec, Anton

2018-03-15

Low dopamine D2/3 receptor availability in the nucleus accumbens (NAcb) shell is associated with highly-impulsive behavior in rats, as measured by premature responses in a cued attentional task. However, it is unclear whether dopamine D2/3 receptor availability in the NAcb is equally linked to intolerance for delayed rewards, a related form of impulsivity. We investigated the relationship between D2/3 receptor availability in the NAcb and impulsivity in a delay-discounting task (DDT) where animals must choose between immediate small-magnitude rewards and delayed larger-magnitude rewards. Corticostriatal D2/3 receptor availability was measured in rats stratified for high-, and low-impulsivity using in-vivo [18F]fallypride positron emission tomography (PET) and ex-vivo [3H]raclopride autoradiography. Resting-state functional connectivity in limbic corticostriatal networks was also assessed using fMRI. DDT impulsivity was inversely related to D2/3 receptor availability in the NAcb core but not the dorsal striatum with higher D2/3 binding in the NAcb shell of high-impulsive rats compared with low-impulsive rats. D2/3 receptor availability was associated with stronger connectivity between the cingulate cortex and hippocampus of high versus low impulsive rats. We conclude that DDT impulsivity is associated with low D2/3 receptor binding in the NAcb core. Thus two related forms of waiting impulsivity - premature responding and delay intolerance in a delay-of-reward task - implicate an involvement of D2/3 receptor availability in the NAcb shell and core, respectively. This dissociation may be causal or consequential to enhanced functional connectivity of limbic brain circuitry and hold relevance for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, drug addiction and other psychiatric disorders.

Architected Lattices with High Stiffness and Toughness via Multicore-Shell 3D Printing.

PubMed

Mueller, Jochen; Raney, Jordan R; Shea, Kristina; Lewis, Jennifer A

2018-03-01

The ability to create architected materials that possess both high stiffness and toughness remains an elusive goal, since these properties are often mutually exclusive. Natural materials, such as bone, overcome such limitations by combining different toughening mechanisms across multiple length scales. Here, a new method for creating architected lattices composed of core-shell struts that are both stiff and tough is reported. Specifically, these lattices contain orthotropic struts with flexible epoxy core-brittle epoxy shell motifs in the absence and presence of an elastomeric silicone interfacial layer, which are fabricated by a multicore-shell, 3D printing technique. It is found that architected lattices produced with a flexible core-elastomeric interface-brittle shell motif exhibit both high stiffness and toughness. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Elemental compositions of crab and snail shells from the Kueishantao hydrothermal field in the southwestern Okinawa Trough

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Zhigang; Ma, Yao; Wang, Xiaoyuan; Chen, Chen-Tung Arthur; Yin, Xuebo; Zhang, Suping; Zhang, Junlong; Jiang, Wei

2018-04-01

To reveal differences in the behavior of benthic vent animals, and the sources and sinks of biogeochemical and fluid circulations, it is necessary to constrain the chemical characteristics of benthic animals from seafloor hydrothermal fields. We measured the abundances of 27 elements in shells of the crab Xenograpsus testudinatus and the snail Anachis sp., collected from the Kueishantao hydrothermal field (KHF) in the southwestern Okinawa Trough, with the aim of improving our understanding of the compositional variations between individual vent organisms, and the sources of the rare earth elements (REEs) in their shells. The Mn, Hg, and K concentrations in the male X. testudinatus shells are found to be higher than those in female crab shells, whereas the reverse is true for the accumulation of B, implying that the accumulation of K, Mn, Hg, and B in the crab shells is influenced by sex. This is inferred to be a result of the asynchronous molting of the male and female crab shells. Snail shells are found to have higher Ca, Al, Fe, Ni, and Co concentrations than crab shells. This may be attributed to different metal accumulation times. The majority of the light rare earth element (LREE) distribution patterns in the crab and snail shells are similar to those of Kueishantao vent fluids, with the crab and snail shells also exhibiting LREE enrichment, implying that the LREEs contained in crab and snail shells in the KHF are derived from vent fluids.

Application of a Meso-scale Based Ballistic Fabric Model to the Development of Advanced Lightweight Engine Fan Blade-Out Containment Structure

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

composed of a basic metallic shell structure with a dry Kevlar wrap around it is considered. The fan blade is made of titanium alloy modeled by a Johnson...material. A multilayered Kevlar woven dry fabric structure is wrapped around the thin aluminum shell to form a soft hybrid fan case. A woven fabric material...debris protection fan case composed of a basic metallic shell structure with a dry Kevlar wrap around it is considered. The fan blade is made of titanium

Process for manufacture of inertial confinement fusion targets and resulting product

DOEpatents

Masnari, Nino A.; Rensel, Walter B.; Robinson, Merrill G.; Solomon, David E.; Wise, Kensall D.; Wuttke, Gilbert H.

1982-01-01

An ICF target comprising a spherical pellet of fusion fuel surrounded by a concentric shell; and a process for manufacturing the same which includes the steps of forming hemispheric shells of a silicon or other substrate material, adhering the shell segments to each other with a fuel pellet contained concentrically therein, then separating the individual targets from the parent substrate. Formation of hemispheric cavities by deposition or coating of a mold substrate is also described. Coatings or membranes may also be applied to the interior of the hemispheric segments prior to joining.

Egg Shell and Oyster Shell Powder as Alternatives for Synthetic Phosphate: Effects on the Quality of Cooked Ground Pork Products

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

This study aimed to determine the optimal ratio of natural calcium powders (oyster shell and egg shell calcium) as synthetic phosphate replacers in pork products. Ground pork samples were subjected to six treatments, as follows: control (−) (no phosphate added), control (+) (0.3% phosphate blend added), treatment 1 (0.5% oyster shell calcium powder added), treatment 2 (0.3% oyster shell calcium powder and 0.2% egg shell calcium powder added), treatment 3 (0.2% oyster shell calcium powder and 0.3% egg shell calcium powder added), and treatment 4 (0.5% egg shell calcium powder added). The addition of natural calcium powders resulted in an increase in the pH values of meat products, regardless of whether they were used individually or mixed. The highest cooking loss was observed (p<0.05) in the negative control samples, whereas the cooking loss in samples with natural calcium powder added was similar (p>0.05) to that in the positive control samples. CIE L* values decreased as the amount of added egg shell calcium powder increased. CIE a* values were higher (p<0.05) in samples containing natural calcium powder (treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4) than in the positive control. The combination of oyster shell calcium powder and egg shell powder (treatment 2 or 3) was effective for the improvement of textural properties of the pork products. The findings show that the combined use of 0.2% oyster shell calcium and 0.3% egg shell calcium should enable the replacement of synthetic phosphate in the production of cooked pork products with desirable qualities. PMID:28943770

Egg Shell and Oyster Shell Powder as Alternatives for Synthetic Phosphate: Effects on the Quality of Cooked Ground Pork Products.

PubMed

Cho, Min Guk; Bae, Su Min; Jeong, Jong Youn

2017-01-01

This study aimed to determine the optimal ratio of natural calcium powders (oyster shell and egg shell calcium) as synthetic phosphate replacers in pork products. Ground pork samples were subjected to six treatments, as follows: control (-) (no phosphate added), control (+) (0.3% phosphate blend added), treatment 1 (0.5% oyster shell calcium powder added), treatment 2 (0.3% oyster shell calcium powder and 0.2% egg shell calcium powder added), treatment 3 (0.2% oyster shell calcium powder and 0.3% egg shell calcium powder added), and treatment 4 (0.5% egg shell calcium powder added). The addition of natural calcium powders resulted in an increase in the pH values of meat products, regardless of whether they were used individually or mixed. The highest cooking loss was observed ( p <0.05) in the negative control samples, whereas the cooking loss in samples with natural calcium powder added was similar ( p >0.05) to that in the positive control samples. CIE L* values decreased as the amount of added egg shell calcium powder increased. CIE a* values were higher ( p <0.05) in samples containing natural calcium powder (treatments 1, 2, 3, and 4) than in the positive control. The combination of oyster shell calcium powder and egg shell powder (treatment 2 or 3) was effective for the improvement of textural properties of the pork products. The findings show that the combined use of 0.2% oyster shell calcium and 0.3% egg shell calcium should enable the replacement of synthetic phosphate in the production of cooked pork products with desirable qualities.

Enhanced Adsorption of Trivalent Arsenic from Water by Functionalized Diatom Silica Shells

PubMed Central

Zhang, Zhijian; Xu, Liping; Zhang, Chunlong

2015-01-01

The potential of porous diatom silica shells as a naturally abundant low-cost sorbent for the removal of arsenic in aqueous solutions was investigated in a batch study. The objective of this work was to chemically modify the silica shells of a diatom Melosira sp. with bifunctional (thiol and amino) groups to effectively remove arsenic in its toxic As(III) form (arsenite) predominant in the aquatic environment. Sorption experiments with this novel sorbent were conducted under varying conditions of pH, time, dosage, and As(III) concentration. A maximum adsorption capacity of 10.99 mg g-1 was achieved within 26 h for a solution containing 12 mg L-1 As(III) at pH 4 and sorbent dosage of 2 g L-1. The functionalized diatom silica shells had a surface morphological change which was accompanied by increased pore size at the expense of reduced specific surface area and total pore volume. As(III) adsorption was best fitted with the Langmuir-Freundlich model, and the adsorption kinetic data using pore surface diffusion model showed that both the external (film) and internal (intraparticle) diffusion can be rate-determining for As(III) adsorption. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated that the thiol and amino groups potentially responsible for As(III) adsorption were grafted on the surface of diatom silica shells. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) further verified that this unique sorbent proceeded via a chemisorption mechanism through the exchange between oxygen-containing groups of neutral As(III) and thiol groups, and through the surface complexation between As(III) and protonated nitrogen and hydroxyl groups. Results indicate that this functionalized bioadsorbent with a high As(III) adsorption capacity holds promise for the treatment of As(III) containing wastewater. PMID:25837498

Interactions between Brainstem Noradrenergic Neurons and the Nucleus Accumbens Shell in Modulating Memory for Emotionally Arousing Events

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kerfoot, Erin C.; Williams, Cedric L.

2011-01-01

The nucleus accumbens shell (NAC) receives axons containing dopamine-[beta]-hydroxylase that originate from brainstem neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS). Recent findings show that memory enhancement produced by stimulating NTS neurons after learning may involve interactions with the NAC. However, it is unclear whether these…

Estimation of kernels mass ratio to total in-shell peanuts using low-cost RF impedance meter

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

In this study estimation of percentage of total kernel mass within a given mass of in-shell peanuts was determined nondestructively using a low-cost RF impedance meter. Peanut samples were divided into two groups one the calibration and the other the validation group. Each group contained 25 samples...

Geometrically controlled snapping transitions in shells with curved creases.

PubMed

Bende, Nakul Prabhakar; Evans, Arthur A; Innes-Gold, Sarah; Marin, Luis A; Cohen, Itai; Hayward, Ryan C; Santangelo, Christian D

2015-09-08

Curvature and mechanics are intimately connected for thin materials, and this coupling between geometry and physical properties is readily seen in folded structures from intestinal villi and pollen grains to wrinkled membranes and programmable metamaterials. While the well-known rules and mechanisms behind folding a flat surface have been used to create deployable structures and shape transformable materials, folding of curved shells is still not fundamentally understood. Shells naturally deform by simultaneously bending and stretching, and while this coupling gives them great stability for engineering applications, it makes folding a surface of arbitrary curvature a nontrivial task. Here we discuss the geometry of folding a creased shell, and demonstrate theoretically the conditions under which it may fold smoothly. When these conditions are violated we show, using experiments and simulations, that shells undergo rapid snapping motion to fold from one stable configuration to another. Although material asymmetry is a proven mechanism for creating this bifurcation of stability, for the case of a creased shell, the inherent geometry itself serves as a barrier to folding. We discuss here how two fundamental geometric concepts, creases and curvature, combine to allow rapid transitions from one stable state to another. Independent of material system and length scale, the design rule that we introduce here explains how to generate snapping transitions in arbitrary surfaces, thus facilitating the creation of programmable multistable materials with fast actuation capabilities.

Structure and assembly of scalable porous protein cages

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasaki, Eita; Böhringer, Daniel; van de Waterbeemd, Michiel; Leibundgut, Marc; Zschoche, Reinhard; Heck, Albert J. R.; Ban, Nenad; Hilvert, Donald

2017-03-01

Proteins that self-assemble into regular shell-like polyhedra are useful, both in nature and in the laboratory, as molecular containers. Here we describe cryo-electron microscopy (EM) structures of two versatile encapsulation systems that exploit engineered electrostatic interactions for cargo loading. We show that increasing the number of negative charges on the lumenal surface of lumazine synthase, a protein that naturally assembles into a ~1-MDa dodecahedron composed of 12 pentamers, induces stepwise expansion of the native protein shell, giving rise to thermostable ~3-MDa and ~6-MDa assemblies containing 180 and 360 subunits, respectively. Remarkably, these expanded particles assume unprecedented tetrahedrally and icosahedrally symmetric structures constructed entirely from pentameric units. Large keyhole-shaped pores in the shell, not present in the wild-type capsid, enable diffusion-limited encapsulation of complementarily charged guests. The structures of these supercharged assemblies demonstrate how programmed electrostatic effects can be effectively harnessed to tailor the architecture and properties of protein cages.

Properties of concrete containing coconut shell powder (CSP) as a filler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leman, A. S.; Shahidan, S.; Nasir, A. J.; Senin, M. S.; Zuki, S. S. Mohd; Ibrahim, M. H. Wan; Deraman, R.; Khalid, F. S.; Azhar, A. T. S.

2017-11-01

Coconut shellsare a type of agricultural waste which can be converted into useful material. Therefore,this study was conducted to investigate the properties of concrete which uses coconut shell powder (CSP) filler material and to define the optimum percentage of CSP which can be used asfiller material in concrete. Comparisons have been made between normal concrete mixes andconcrete containing CSP. In this study, CSP was added into concrete mixes invaryingpercentages (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%). The coconut shell was grounded into afine powder before use. Experimental tests which have been conducted in this study include theslump test, compressive test and splitting tensile strength test. CSP have the potential to be used as a concrete filler and thus the findings of this study may be applied to the construction industry. The use of CSP as a filler in concrete can help make the earth a more sustainable and greener place to live in.

Effect of sub- and supercritical water treatments on the physicochemical properties of crab shell chitin and its enzymatic degradation.

PubMed

Osada, Mitsumasa; Miura, Chika; Nakagawa, Yuko S; Kaihara, Mikio; Nikaido, Mitsuru; Totani, Kazuhide

2015-12-10

This study examined the effects of sub- and supercritical water pretreatments on the physicochemical properties of crab shell α-chitin and its enzymatic degradation to obtain N,N'-diacetylchitobiose (GlcNAc)2. Following sub- and supercritical water pretreatments, the protein in the crab shell was removed and the residue of crab shell contained α-chitin and CaCO3. Prolonged pretreatment led to α-chitin decomposition. The reaction of pure α-chitin in sub- and supercritical water pretreatments was investigated separately; we observed lower mean molecular weight and weaker hydrogen bonds compared with untreated α-chitin. (GlcNAc)2 yields from enzymatic degradation of subcritical (350 °C, 7 min) and supercritical water (400 °C, 2.5 min) pretreated crab shell were 8% and 6%, compared with 0% without any pretreatment. This study shows that sub- and supercritical water pretreatments of crab shell provide to an alternative method to the use of acid and base for decalcification and deproteinization of crab shell required for (GlcNAc)2 production. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enhancing oxidative stability in heated oils using core/shell structures of collagen and α-tocopherol complex.

PubMed

Gim, Seo Yeong; Hong, Seungmi; Kim, Jisu; Kwon, YongJun; Kim, Mi-Ja; Kim, GeunHyung; Lee, JaeHwan

2017-11-15

In this study, collagen mesh structure was prepared by carrying α-tocopherol in the form of core/shell complex. Antioxidant properties of α-tocopherol loaded carriers were tested in moisture added bulk oils at 140°C. From one gram of collagen core/shell complex, 138mg α-tocopherol was released in medium chain triacylglycerol (MCT). α-Tocopherol was substantially protected against heat treatment when α-tocopherol was complexed in collagen core/shell. Oxidative stability in bulk oil was significantly enhanced by added collagen mesh structure or collagen core/shell complex with α-tocopherol compared to that in control bulk oils (p<0.05), although no significant difference was observed between oils containing collagen mesh structure and collagen core/shell with α-tocopherol (p>0.05). Results of DPPH loss in methanol demonstrated that collagen core/shell with α-tocopherol had significantly (p<0.05) higher antioxidant properties than collagen mesh structure up to a certain period. Therefore, collagen core/shell complex is a promising way to enhance the stability of α-tocopherol and oxidative stability in oil-rich foods prepared at high temperature. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Adsorption of metal ions by pecan shell-based granular activated carbons.

PubMed

Bansode, R R; Losso, J N; Marshall, W E; Rao, R M; Portier, R J

2003-09-01

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the adsorption effectiveness of pecan shell-based granular activated carbons (GACs) in removing metal ions (Cu(2+), Pb(2+), Zn(2+)) commonly found in municipal and industrial wastewater. Pecan shells were activated by phosphoric acid, steam or carbon dioxide activation methods. Metal ion adsorption of shell-based GACs was compared to the metal ion adsorption of a commercial carbon, namely, Calgon's Filtrasorb 200. Adsorption experiments were conducted using solutions containing all three metal ions in order to investigate the competitive effects of the metal ions as would occur in contaminated wastewater. The results obtained from this study showed that acid-activated pecan shell carbon adsorbed more lead ion and zinc ion than any of the other carbons, especially at carbon doses of 0.2-1.0%. However, steam-activated pecan shell carbon adsorbed more copper ion than the other carbons, particularly using carbon doses above 0.2%. In general, Filtrasorb 200 and carbon dioxide-activated pecan shell carbons were poor metal ion adsorbents. The results indicate that acid- and steam-activated pecan shell-based GACs are effective metal ion adsorbents and can potentially replace typical coal-based GACs in treatment of metal contaminated wastewater.

Full-Color Biomimetic Photonic Materials with Iridescent and Non-Iridescent Structural Colors

PubMed Central

Kawamura, Ayaka; Kohri, Michinari; Morimoto, Gen; Nannichi, Yuri; Taniguchi, Tatsuo; Kishikawa, Keiki

2016-01-01

The beautiful structural colors in bird feathers are some of the brightest colors in nature, and some of these colors are created by arrays of melanin granules that act as both structural colors and scattering absorbers. Inspired by the color of bird feathers, high-visibility structural colors have been created by altering four variables: size, blackness, refractive index, and arrangement of the nano-elements. To control these four variables, we developed a facile method for the preparation of biomimetic core-shell particles with melanin-like polydopamine (PDA) shell layers. The size of the core-shell particles was controlled by adjusting the core polystyrene (PSt) particles’ diameter and the PDA shell thicknesses. The blackness and refractive index of the colloidal particles could be adjusted by controlling the thickness of the PDA shell. The arrangement of the particles was controlled by adjusting the surface roughness of the core-shell particles. This method enabled the production of both iridescent and non-iridescent structural colors from only one component. This simple and novel process of using core-shell particles containing PDA shell layers can be used in basic research on structural colors in nature and their practical applications. PMID:27658446

Ecological studies on the breeding of Aedes aegypti and other mosquitos in shells of the giant African snail Achatina fulica

PubMed Central

Trpis, Milan

1973-01-01

The breeding of larvae of Aedes aegypti, Aedes simpsoni, and Eretmapodites quinquevittatus in empty shells of Achatina fulica was studied in the coastal zone of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The average density of shells was estimated to be 228 per ha. From 11 to 35% were positive for mosquito larvae. A. aegypti were found in 82-84% of positive shells; A. simpsoni in 8-13%. On Msasani peninsula, during the 3-month rainy season April—June 1970, the larval density of A. aegypti in shells was estimated at 1 100 per ha, that of A. simpsoni and E. quinquevittatus being estimated at 60 and 280 larvae per ha, respectively. Empty shells of A. fulica may contain up to 250 ml of water (average: 56.5 ml). The number of larvae per shell varies from 1 to 35 (average: 8.4) and it was estimated that, depending on the availability of food, and other factors, approximately 10 ml of water are required per larva. Viable eggs of A. aegypti were still to be found in 4% of the shells at the end of the dry season. PMID:4148745

Ni3Si(Al)/a-SiOx core shell nanoparticles: characterization, shell formation, and stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pigozzi, G.; Mukherji, D.; Gilles, R.; Barbier, B.; Kostorz, G.

2006-08-01

We have used an electrochemical selective phase dissolution method to extract nanoprecipitates of the Ni3Si-type intermetallic phase from two-phase Ni-Si and Ni-Si-Al alloys by dissolving the matrix phase. The extracted nanoparticles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry, x-ray powder diffraction, and electron powder diffraction. It is found that the Ni3Si-type nanoparticles have a core-shell structure. The core maintains the size, the shape, and the crystal structure of the precipitates that existed in the bulk alloys, while the shell is an amorphous phase, containing only Si and O (SiOx). The shell forms around the precipitates during the extraction process. After annealing the nanoparticles in nitrogen at 700 °C, the tridymite phase recrystallizes within the shell, which remains partially amorphous. In contrast, on annealing in air at 1000 °C, no changes in the composition or the structure of the nanoparticles occur. It is suggested that the shell forms after dealloying of the matrix phase, where Si atoms, the main constituents of the shell, migrate to the surface of the precipitates.

Ni(3)Si(Al)/a-SiO(x) core-shell nanoparticles: characterization, shell formation, and stability.

PubMed

Pigozzi, G; Mukherji, D; Gilles, R; Barbier, B; Kostorz, G

2006-08-28

We have used an electrochemical selective phase dissolution method to extract nanoprecipitates of the Ni(3)Si-type intermetallic phase from two-phase Ni-Si and Ni-Si-Al alloys by dissolving the matrix phase. The extracted nanoparticles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry, x-ray powder diffraction, and electron powder diffraction. It is found that the Ni(3)Si-type nanoparticles have a core-shell structure. The core maintains the size, the shape, and the crystal structure of the precipitates that existed in the bulk alloys, while the shell is an amorphous phase, containing only Si and O (SiO(x)). The shell forms around the precipitates during the extraction process. After annealing the nanoparticles in nitrogen at 700 °C, the tridymite phase recrystallizes within the shell, which remains partially amorphous. In contrast, on annealing in air at 1000 °C, no changes in the composition or the structure of the nanoparticles occur. It is suggested that the shell forms after dealloying of the matrix phase, where Si atoms, the main constituents of the shell, migrate to the surface of the precipitates.

Glass shell manufacturing in space. [residual gases in spherical shells made from metal-organic gels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nolen, R. J.; Ebner, M. A.; Downs, R. L.

1980-01-01

Residual gases always found in glass shells are CO2, O2 and N2. In those cases where high water vapor pressure is maintained in the furnace, water is also found in the shells. Other evidence for the existence of water in shells is the presence of water-induced surface weathering of the interior shell surface. Water and CO2 are the predominant volatiles generated by the pyrolysis of both inorganic and hydrolyzed metal-organic gels. The pyrolysates of unhydrolyzed metal-organic gels also contain, in addition to water and CO2, significant levels of organic volatiles, such as ethanol and some hydrocarbons; on complete oxidation, these produce CO2 and water as well. Water is most likely the initial blowing agent, it is produced copiously during the initial stages of heating. In the later stages, CO2 becomes the dominant gas as H2O is lost at increasing rates. Water in the shell arises mainly from gel dehydration, CO2 by sodium bicarbonate/carbonate decomposition and carbon oxidation, and O2 and N2 by permeation of the ambient furnace air through the molten shell wall.

Full-Color Biomimetic Photonic Materials with Iridescent and Non-Iridescent Structural Colors.

PubMed

Kawamura, Ayaka; Kohri, Michinari; Morimoto, Gen; Nannichi, Yuri; Taniguchi, Tatsuo; Kishikawa, Keiki

2016-09-23

The beautiful structural colors in bird feathers are some of the brightest colors in nature, and some of these colors are created by arrays of melanin granules that act as both structural colors and scattering absorbers. Inspired by the color of bird feathers, high-visibility structural colors have been created by altering four variables: size, blackness, refractive index, and arrangement of the nano-elements. To control these four variables, we developed a facile method for the preparation of biomimetic core-shell particles with melanin-like polydopamine (PDA) shell layers. The size of the core-shell particles was controlled by adjusting the core polystyrene (PSt) particles' diameter and the PDA shell thicknesses. The blackness and refractive index of the colloidal particles could be adjusted by controlling the thickness of the PDA shell. The arrangement of the particles was controlled by adjusting the surface roughness of the core-shell particles. This method enabled the production of both iridescent and non-iridescent structural colors from only one component. This simple and novel process of using core-shell particles containing PDA shell layers can be used in basic research on structural colors in nature and their practical applications.

Development of pressure containment and damage tolerance technology for composite fuselage structures in large transport aircraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, P. J.; Thomson, L. W.; Wilson, R. D.

1986-01-01

NASA sponsored composites research and development programs were set in place to develop the critical engineering technologies in large transport aircraft structures. This NASA-Boeing program focused on the critical issues of damage tolerance and pressure containment generic to the fuselage structure of large pressurized aircraft. Skin-stringer and honeycomb sandwich composite fuselage shell designs were evaluated to resolve these issues. Analyses were developed to model the structural response of the fuselage shell designs, and a development test program evaluated the selected design configurations to appropriate load conditions.

WHAT IS THE SHELL AROUND R CORONAE BOREALIS?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Montiel, Edward J.; Clayton, Geoffrey C.; Marcello, Dominic C.

2015-07-15

The hydrogen-deficient, carbon-rich R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars are known for being prolific producers of dust which causes their large iconic declines in brightness. Several RCB stars, including R Coronae Borealis (R CrB), itself, have large extended dust shells seen in the far-infrared. The origin of these shells is uncertain but they may give us clues to the evolution of the RCB stars. The shells could form in three possible ways. (1) They are fossil Planetary Nebula (PN) shells, which would exist if RCB stars are the result of a final, helium-shell flash, (2) they are material left over frommore » a white-dwarf (WD) merger event which formed the RCB stars, or (3) they are material lost from the star during the RCB phase. Arecibo 21 cm observations establish an upper limit on the column density of H I in the R CrB shell implying a maximum shell mass of ≲0.3 M{sub ☉}. A low-mass fossil PN shell is still a possible source of the shell although it may not contain enough dust. The mass of gas lost during a WD merger event will not condense enough dust to produce the observed shell, assuming a reasonable gas-to-dust ratio. The third scenario where the shell around R CrB has been produced during the star’s RCB phase seems most likely to produce the observed mass of dust and the observed size of the shell. But this means that R CrB has been in its RCB phase for ∼10{sup 4} years.« less

Isolation and characterization of melanin pigment from yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Xiujun; Wu, Biao; Zhou, Liqing; Liu, Zhihong; Dong, Yinghui; Yang, Aiguo

2017-04-01

Melanin is one of the essential compounds in the pigments of molluscan shells. However, the effects of melanin on color variations in molluscs are largely unknown. Our previous study suggests that Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis might contain melanin pigment in the dark brown shell. We therefore isolated melanin from the pigmented shells using hydrochloric acid method, and characterized the types of melanin pigments by spectrophotometry. The purified melanin, which was verified by spectrophotometry scanning and HPLC analysis, showed the typical characteristics of melanin absorption spectra and HPLC chromatograms. The contents of pheomelanin and eumelanin in pigmented shells, which were determined by the linear standard curve of melanin at 405 nm and 350 nm absorbance, were 48.23 ± 1.350 and 157.65 ± 5.905 mg, respectively. The present results indicate that the brown-pigmented shells of scallops comprise approximately 76.6% of eumelanin and 23.4% of pheomelanin, which supports the presence of eumelanin-rich pigment in scallop shells. Therefore, the combination of hydrochloric acid extraction and spectrophotometric quantification is a rapid and efficient method to isolate and quantify melanin in shells. This will facilitate the melanin studies related to shell color polymorphism and the selective breeding of bivalves with different shell colors.

Modelling the optical properties of aerosols in a chemical transport model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andersson, E.; Kahnert, M.

2015-12-01

According to the IPCC fifth assessment report (2013), clouds and aerosols still contribute to the largest uncertainty when estimating and interpreting changes to the Earth's energy budget. Therefore, understanding the interaction between radiation and aerosols is both crucial for remote sensing observations and modelling the climate forcing arising from aerosols. Carbon particles are the largest contributor to the aerosol absorption of solar radiation, thereby enhancing the warming of the planet. Modelling the radiative properties of carbon particles is a hard task and involves many uncertainties arising from the difficulties of accounting for the morphologies and heterogeneous chemical composition of the particles. This study aims to compare two ways of modelling the optical properties of aerosols simulated by a chemical transport model. The first method models particle optical properties as homogeneous spheres and are externally mixed. This is a simple model that is particularly easy to use in data assimilation methods, since the optics model is linear. The second method involves a core-shell internal mixture of soot, where sulphate, nitrate, ammonia, organic carbon, sea salt, and water are contained in the shell. However, by contrast to previously used core-shell models, only part of the carbon is concentrated in the core, while the remaining part is homogeneously mixed with the shell. The chemical transport model (CTM) simulations are done regionally over Europe with the Multiple-scale Atmospheric Transport and CHemistry (MATCH) model, developed by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI). The MATCH model was run with both an aerosol dynamics module, called SALSA, and with a regular "bulk" approach, i.e., a mass transport model without aerosol dynamics. Two events from 2007 are used in the analysis, one with high (22/12-2007) and one with low (22/6-2007) levels of elemental carbon (EC) over Europe. The results of the study help to assess the significance of aerosol morphology for modelling radiative forcing and aerosol optical properties relevant to interpreting remote sensing observations. The uncertainties introduced by the optics model are gauged by comparing them to model uncertainties related to the inclusion or omission of aerosol dynamic processes.

Debris Disks Among the Shell Stars: Insights from Spitzer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberge, Aki; Weinberger, Alycia; Teske, Johanna

2008-01-01

Shell stars are a class of early-type stars that show narrow absorption lines in their spectra that appear to arise from circumstellar class. This observationally defined class contains a variety of objects, including evolved stars and classical Be stars. However, some of the main sequence shell stars harbor debris disks and younger protoplanetary disks, though this aspect of the class has been largely overlooked. We surveyed a set of main sequence stars for cool dust using Spitzer MIPS and found four additional systems with IR excesses at both 24 and 70 microns. This indicates that the stars have both circumstellar gas and dust, and are likely to be edge-on debris disks. Our estimate of the disk fraction among nearby main sequence shell stars is 48% +/- 14%. We discuss here the nature of the shell stars and present preliminary results from ground-based optical spectra of the survey target stars. We will also outline our planned studies aimed at further characterization of the shell star class.

Cocaine self-administration abolishes associative neural encoding in the nucleus accumbens necessary for higher-order learning.

PubMed

Saddoris, Michael P; Carelli, Regina M

2014-01-15

Cocaine use is often associated with diminished cognitive function, persisting even after abstinence from the drug. Likely targets for these changes are the core and shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which are critical for mediating the rewarding aspects of drugs of abuse as well as supporting associative learning. To understand this deficit, we recorded neural activity in the NAc of rats with a history of cocaine self-administration or control subjects while they learned Pavlovian first- and second-order associations. Rats were trained for 2 weeks to self-administer intravenous cocaine or water. Later, rats learned a first-order Pavlovian discrimination where a conditioned stimulus (CS)+ predicted food, and a control (CS-) did not. Rats then learned a second-order association where, absent any food reinforcement, a novel cued (SOC+) predicted the CS+ and another (SOC-) predicted the CS-. Electrophysiological recordings were taken during performance of these tasks in the NAc core and shell. Both control subjects and cocaine-experienced rats learned the first-order association, but only control subjects learned the second-order association. Neural recordings indicated that core and shell neurons encoded task-relevant information that correlated with behavioral performance, whereas this type of encoding was abolished in cocaine-experienced rats. The NAc core and shell perform complementary roles in supporting normal associative learning, functions that are impaired after cocaine experience. This impoverished encoding of motivational behavior, even after abstinence from the drug, might provide a key mechanism to understand why addiction remains a chronically relapsing disorder despite repeated attempts at sobriety. Copyright © 2014 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nick Cannell; Dr. Mark Samonds; Adi Sholapurwalla

The investment casting process is an expendable mold process where wax patterns of the part and rigging are molded, assembled, shelled and melted to produce a ceramic mold matching the shape of the component to be cast. Investment casting is an important manufacturing method for critical parts because of the ability to maintain dimensional shape and tolerances. However, these tolerances can be easily exceeded if the molding components do not maintain their individual shapes well. In the investment casting process there are several opportunities for the final casting shape to not maintain the intended size and shape, such as shrinkagemore » of the wax in the injection tool, the modification of the shape during shell heating, and with the thermal shrink and distortion in the casting process. Studies have been completed to look at the casting and shell distortions through the process in earlier phases of this project. Dr. Adrian Sabau at Oak Ridge National Labs performed characterizations and validations of 17-4 PH stainless steel in primarily fused silica shell systems with good agreement between analysis results and experimental data. Further tasks provided material property measurements of wax and methodology for employing a viscoelastic definition of wax materials into software. The final set of tasks involved the implementation of the findings into the commercial casting analysis software ProCAST, owned and maintained by ESI Group. This included: o the transfer of the wax material property data from its raw form into separate temperature-dependent thermophysical and mechanical property datasets o adding this wax material property data into an easily viewable and modifiable user interface within the pre-processing application of the ProCAST suite, namely PreCAST o and validating the data and viscoelastic wax model with respect to experimental results« less

Carbon isotopes in mollusk shell carbonates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McConnaughey, Ted A.; Gillikin, David Paul

2008-10-01

Mollusk shells contain many isotopic clues about calcification physiology and environmental conditions at the time of shell formation. In this review, we use both published and unpublished data to discuss carbon isotopes in both bivalve and gastropod shell carbonates. Land snails construct their shells mainly from respired CO2, and shell δ13C reflects the local mix of C3 and C4 plants consumed. Shell δ13C is typically >10‰ heavier than diet, probably because respiratory gas exchange discards CO2, and retains the isotopically heavier HCO3 -. Respired CO2 contributes less to the shells of aquatic mollusks, because CO2/O2 ratios are usually higher in water than in air, leading to more replacement of respired CO2 by environmental CO2. Fluid exchange with the environment also brings additional dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) into the calcification site. Shell δ13C is typically a few ‰ lower than ambient DIC, and often decreases with age. Shell δ13C retains clues about processes such as ecosystem metabolism and estuarine mixing. Ca2+ ATPase-based models of calcification physiology developed for corals and algae likely apply to mollusks, too, but lower pH and carbonic anhydrase at the calcification site probably suppress kinetic isotope effects. Carbon isotopes in biogenic carbonates are clearly complex, but cautious interpretation can provide a wealth of information, especially after vital effects are better understood.

Characterizing haploinsufficiency of SHELL gene to improve fruit form prediction in introgressive hybrids of oil palm.

PubMed

Teh, Chee-Keng; Muaz, Siti Dalila; Tangaya, Praveena; Fong, Po-Yee; Ong, Ai-Ling; Mayes, Sean; Chew, Fook-Tim; Kulaveerasingam, Harikrishna; Appleton, David

2017-06-08

The fundamental trait in selective breeding of oil palm (Eleais guineensis Jacq.) is the shell thickness surrounding the kernel. The monogenic shell thickness is inversely correlated to mesocarp thickness, where the crude palm oil accumulates. Commercial thin-shelled tenera derived from thick-shelled dura × shell-less pisifera generally contain 30% higher oil per bunch. Two mutations, sh MPOB (M1) and sh AVROS (M2) in the SHELL gene - a type II MADS-box transcription factor mainly present in AVROS and Nigerian origins, were reported to be responsible for different fruit forms. In this study, we have tested 1,339 samples maintained in Sime Darby Plantation using both mutations. Five genotype-phenotype discrepancies and eight controls were then re-tested with all five reported mutations (sh AVROS , sh MPOB , sh MPOB2 , sh MPOB3 and sh MPOB4 ) within the same gene. The integration of genotypic data, pedigree records and shell formation model further explained the haploinsufficiency effect on the SHELL gene with different number of functional copies. Some rare mutations were also identified, suggesting a need to further confirm the existence of cis-compound mutations in the gene. With this, the prediction accuracy of fruit forms can be further improved, especially in introgressive hybrids of oil palm. Understanding causative variant segregation is extremely important, even for monogenic traits such as shell thickness in oil palm.

49 CFR 179.220-23 - Test of tanks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... must not be in place when the test is made. (b) The inner container must be pressure tested before... container after its installation within outer shell must have their attachment welds thoroughly inspected by...

Ag@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles study by first principle: The structural, magnetic and optical properties

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheng, Hai-Xia; Wang, Xiao-Xu; Beijing Computing Center, Beijing 100094

Ag@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles of around 72 atoms have been investigated by the density functional theory, revealing proving for the first time that the core-shell structure exhibits a shrinkage phenomenon from outer shell in agreement with the other studies in literatures. Our calculations predict that the Ag@ZnO core-shell structure is a ferromagnetic spin polarized state, and the magnetism mainly stems from the spin splitting of 2p electrons of O atoms. In addition, the total and partial DOS of Ag@ZnO indicate that the nanostructure is a half-metallic nanoparticle and has the characters of the p-type semiconductor. Furthermore, the optical properties calculations showmore » that the absorption edge of Ag@ZnO have a red shift and good photocatalysis compare to that of the bulk ZnO. These results of the Ag@ZnO core-shell structure obtain a well agreement with the experimental measurement. - Graphical abstract: Geometric structure of (a) Ag@ZnO core-shell nanostructure; (b) the core of Ag; (c) the shell of ZnO The core-shell nanoparticle Ag@ZnO contains Ag inner core of radius of 4 Å and ZnO outer shell with thickness of 2 Å. Ag@ZnO core-shell nanoparticles of around 72 atoms have been proved for the first time that the core-shell structure exhibit a shrinkage phenomenon from outer shell. Our calculations predict that the Ag@ZnO core-shell structure is a half-metallic nanoparticle and has the characters of the p-type semiconductor. The absorption edge of Ag@ZnO have a red shift and get good photo-catalysis compare to that of the bulk ZnO.« less

Scanning the parameter space of collapsing rotating thin shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rocha, Jorge V.; Santarelli, Raphael

2018-06-01

We present results of a comprehensive study of collapsing and bouncing thin shells with rotation, framing it in the context of the weak cosmic censorship conjecture. The analysis is based on a formalism developed specifically for higher odd dimensions that is able to describe the dynamics of collapsing rotating shells exactly. We analyse and classify a plethora of shell trajectories in asymptotically flat spacetimes. The parameters varied include the shell’s mass and angular momentum, its radial velocity at infinity, the (linear) equation-of-state parameter and the spacetime dimensionality. We find that plunges of rotating shells into black holes never produce naked singularities, as long as the matter shell obeys the weak energy condition, and so respects cosmic censorship. This applies to collapses of dust shells starting from rest or with a finite velocity at infinity. Not even shells with a negative isotropic pressure component (i.e. tension) lead to the formation of naked singularities, as long as the weak energy condition is satisfied. Endowing the shells with a positive isotropic pressure component allows for the existence of bouncing trajectories satisfying the dominant energy condition and fully contained outside rotating black holes. Otherwise any turning point occurs always inside the horizon. These results are based on strong numerical evidence from scans of numerous sections in the large parameter space available to these collapsing shells. The generalisation of the radial equation of motion to a polytropic equation-of-state for the matter shell is also included in an appendix.

Layer-by-Layer Proteomic Analysis of Mytilus galloprovincialis Shell

PubMed Central

Wang, Xin-xing; Bao, Lin-fei; Fan, Mei-hua; Li, Xiao-min; Wu, Chang-wen; Xia, Shu-wei

2015-01-01

Bivalve shell is a biomineralized tissue with various layers/microstructures and excellent mechanical properties. Shell matrix proteins (SMPs) pervade and envelop the mineral crystals and play essential roles in biomineralization. Despite that Mytilus is an economically important bivalve, only few proteomic studies have been performed for the shell, and current knowledge of the SMP set responsible for different shell layers of Mytilus remains largely patchy. In this study, we observed that Mytilus galloprovincialis shell contained three layers, including nacre, fibrous prism, and myostracum that is involved in shell-muscle attachment. A parallel proteomic analysis was performed for these three layers. By combining LC-MS/MS analysis with Mytilus EST database interrogations, a whole set of 113 proteins was identified, and the distribution of these proteins in different shell layers followed a mosaic pattern. For each layer, about a half of identified proteins are unique and the others are shared by two or all of three layers. This is the first description of the protein set exclusive to nacre, myostracum, and fibrous prism in Mytilus shell. Moreover, most of identified proteins in the present study are novel SMPs, which greatly extended biomineralization-related protein data of Mytilus. These results are useful, on one hand, for understanding the roles of SMPs in the deposition of different shell layers. On the other hand, the identified protein set of myostracum provides candidates for further exploring the mechanism of adductor muscle-shell attachment. PMID:26218932

Working and Net Available Shell Storage Capacity

EIA Publications

2017-01-01

Working and Net Available Shell Storage Capacity is the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) report containing storage capacity data for crude oil, petroleum products, and selected biofuels. The report includes tables detailing working and net available shell storage capacity by type of facility, product, and Petroleum Administration for Defense District (PAD District). Net available shell storage capacity is broken down further to show the percent for exclusive use by facility operators and the percent leased to others. Crude oil storage capacity data are also provided for Cushing, Oklahoma, an important crude oil market center. Data are released twice each year near the end of May (data for March 31) and near the end of November (data for September 30).

Au/CdS Hybrid Nanoparticles in Block Copolymer Micellar Shells.

PubMed

Koh, Haeng-Deog; Changez, Mohammad; Lee, Jae-Suk

2010-10-18

A polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP) micellar structure with a P2VP core containing 5 nm CdS nanoparticles (NPs) and a PS shell formed in toluene that is a good solvent for PS block undergoes the core-shell inversion by excess addition of methanol that is a good solvent for P2VP block. It leads to the formation of micellar shell-embedded CdS NPs in the methanol major phase. The spontaneous crystalline growth of Au NPs on the CdS surfaces positioned at micellar shells without a further reduction process is newly demonstrated. The nanostructure of Au/CdS/PS-b-P2VP hybrid NPs is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, and UV-Vis absorption. Copyright © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The use of COD and plastic instability in crack propagation and arrest in shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Erdogan, F.; Ratwani, M.

1974-01-01

The initiation, growth, and possible arrest of fracture in cylindrical shells containing initial defects are dealt with. For those defects which may be approximated by a part-through semi-elliptic surface crack which is sufficiently shallow so that part of the net ligament in the plane of the crack is still elastic, the existing flat plate solution is modified to take into account the shell curvature effect as well as the effect of the thickness and the small scale plastic deformations. The problem of large defects is then considered under the assumptions that the defect may be approximated by a relatively deep meridional part-through surface crack and the net ligament through the shell wall is fully yielded. The results given are based on an 8th order bending theory of shallow shells using a conventional plastic strip model to account for the plastic deformations around the crack border.

Polyethylenimine-immobilized core-shell nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and biocompatibility test.

PubMed

Ratanajanchai, Montri; Soodvilai, Sunhapas; Pimpha, Nuttaporn; Sunintaboon, Panya

2014-01-01

Herein, we prepared PEI-immobilized core-shell particles possessing various types of polymer cores via a visible light-induced surfactant-free emulsion polymerization (SFEP) of three vinyl monomers: styrene (St), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). An effect of monomers on the polymerization and characteristics of resulting products was investigated. Monomers with high polarity can provide high monomer conversion, high percentage of grafted PEI, stable particles with uniform size distribution but less amino groups per particles. All prepared nanoparticles exhibited a core-shell nanostructure, containing PEI on the shell with hydrodynamic size around 140-230nm. For in-vitro study in Caco-2 cells, we found that the incorporation of PEI into these core-shell nanoparticles can significantly reduce its cytotoxic effect and also be able to internalized within the cells. Accordingly, these biocompatible particles would be useful for various biomedical applications, including gene transfection and intracellular drug delivery. © 2013.

Development of a novel resin-based dental material with dual biocidal modes and sustained release of Ag+ ions based on photocurable core-shell AgBr/cationic polymer nanocomposites.

PubMed

Cao, Weiwei; Zhang, Yu; Wang, Xi; Chen, Yinyan; Li, Qiang; Xing, Xiaodong; Xiao, Yuhong; Peng, Xuefeng; Ye, Zhiwen

2017-07-01

Research on the incorporation of cutting-edge nano-antibacterial agent for designing dental materials with potent and long-lasting antibacterial property is demanding and provoking work. In this study, a novel resin-based dental material containing photocurable core-shell AgBr/cationic polymer nanocomposite (AgBr/BHPVP) was designed and developed. The shell of polymerizable cationic polymer not only provided non-releasing antibacterial capability for dental resins, but also had the potential to polymerize with other methacrylate monomers and prevented nanoparticles from aggregating in the resin matrix. As a result, incorporation of AgBr/BHPVP nanocomposites did not adversely affect the flexural strength and modulus but greatly increased the Vicker's hardness of resin disks. By continuing to release Ag + ions without the impact of anaerobic environment, resins containing AgBr/BHPVP nanoparticles are particularly suitable to combat anaerobic cariogenic bacteria. By reason of the combined bactericidal effect of the contact-killing cationic polymers and the releasing-killing Ag + ions, AgBr/BHPVP-containing resin disks had potent bactericidal activity against S. mutans. The long-lasting antibacterial activity was also achieved through the sustained release of Ag + ions due to the core-shell structure of the nanocomposites. The results of macrophage cytotoxicity showed that the cell viability of dental resins loading less than 1.0 wt% AgBr/BHPVP was close to that of neat resins. The AgBr/BHPVP-containing dental resin with dual bactericidal capability and long term antimicrobial effect is a promising material aimed at preventing second caries and prolonging the longevity of resin composite restorations.

Heat exchanger with intermediate evaporating and condensing fluid

DOEpatents

Fraas, Arthur P.

1978-01-01

A shell and tube-type heat exchanger, such as a liquid sodium-operated steam generator for use in nuclear reactors, comprises a shell containing a primary fluid tube bundle, a secondary fluid tube bundle at higher elevation, and an intermediate fluid vaporizing at the surface of the primary fluid tubes and condensing at the surface of the secondary fluid tubes.

Microcapsules with three orthogonal reactive sites

PubMed Central

Mason, Brian P.; Hira, Steven M.; Strouse, Geoffrey F.; McQuade, D. Tyler

2009-01-01

Polymeric microcapsules containing reactive sites on the shell surface and two orthogonally reactive polymers encapsulated within the interior are selectively labeled. The capsules provide three spatially separate and differentially reactive sites. Confocal fluorescence microscopy is used to characterize the distribution of labels. Polymers encapsulated are distributed homogeneously within the core and do not interact with the shell even when oppositely charged. PMID:19254010

49 CFR 179.220-4 - Insulation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

...-Pressure Tank Car Tanks (Classes DOT-111AW and 115AW) § 179.220-4 Insulation. The annular space between the inner container and the outer shell must contain an approved insulation material. [Amdt. 179-9, 36 FR...

49 CFR 179.220-4 - Insulation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

...-Pressure Tank Car Tanks (Classes DOT-111AW and 115AW) § 179.220-4 Insulation. The annular space between the inner container and the outer shell must contain an approved insulation material. [Amdt. 179-9, 36 FR...

49 CFR 179.220-4 - Insulation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

...-Pressure Tank Car Tanks (Classes DOT-111AW and 115AW) § 179.220-4 Insulation. The annular space between the inner container and the outer shell must contain an approved insulation material. [Amdt. 179-9, 36 FR...

The role of home-made ice cream as a vehicle of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 infection from fresh shell eggs.

PubMed Central

Morgan, D.; Mawer, S. L.; Harman, P. L.

1994-01-01

A family outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis PT4 infection is described in which home-made ice cream was identified as the vehicle of infection. The ice cream contained approximately 10(5) S. enteritidis PT4 organisms per gm and was probably contaminated by an infected shell egg containing between 10(5)-10(8) organisms. The continued relevance of the Chief Medical Officer's warning on the use of raw shell eggs is highlighted. Home-made ice cream using the same recipe as ice cream that had been incriminated as the cause of the family outbreak of S. enteritidis PT4 infection was used to study the growth of the organism that might have occurred in the 3-4 h it took to prepare the product. When the inoculum was in the stationary phase, as it would be from shell or other cross contamination, there was a lag phase of 3 h before growth occurred at room temperature. Even when actively multiplying organisms were introduced, as may be found in an infected egg, there was less than 3 log(10) increase in the salmonella count in 4 h at room temperature. It was, therefore, given the high S. enteritidis count, unlikely that the ice cream was cross-contaminated. By contrast, raspberry sorbet at pH 3.73 proved to be lethal to a large inoculum of S. enteritidis and may be a relatively safe raw egg containing product. PMID:8062876

Differential Dopamine Release Dynamics in the Nucleus Accumbens Core and Shell Reveal Complementary Signals for Error Prediction and Incentive Motivation.

PubMed

Saddoris, Michael P; Cacciapaglia, Fabio; Wightman, R Mark; Carelli, Regina M

2015-08-19

Mesolimbic dopamine (DA) is phasically released during appetitive behaviors, though there is substantive disagreement about the specific purpose of these DA signals. For example, prediction error (PE) models suggest a role of learning, while incentive salience (IS) models argue that the DA signal imbues stimuli with value and thereby stimulates motivated behavior. However, within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) patterns of DA release can strikingly differ between subregions, and as such, it is possible that these patterns differentially contribute to aspects of PE and IS. To assess this, we measured DA release in subregions of the NAc during a behavioral task that spatiotemporally separated sequential goal-directed stimuli. Electrochemical methods were used to measure subsecond NAc dopamine release in the core and shell during a well learned instrumental chain schedule in which rats were trained to press one lever (seeking; SL) to gain access to a second lever (taking; TL) linked with food delivery, and again during extinction. In the core, phasic DA release was greatest following initial SL presentation, but minimal for the subsequent TL and reward events. In contrast, phasic shell DA showed robust release at all task events. Signaling decreased between the beginning and end of sessions in the shell, but not core. During extinction, peak DA release in the core showed a graded decrease for the SL and pauses in release during omitted expected rewards, whereas shell DA release decreased predominantly during the TL. These release dynamics suggest parallel DA signals capable of supporting distinct theories of appetitive behavior. Dopamine signaling in the brain is important for a variety of cognitive functions, such as learning and motivation. Typically, it is assumed that a single dopamine signal is sufficient to support these cognitive functions, though competing theories disagree on how dopamine contributes to reward-based behaviors. Here, we have found that real-time dopamine release within the nucleus accumbens (a primary target of midbrain dopamine neurons) strikingly varies between core and shell subregions. In the core, dopamine dynamics are consistent with learning-based theories (such as reward prediction error) whereas in the shell, dopamine is consistent with motivation-based theories (e.g., incentive salience). These findings demonstrate that dopamine plays multiple and complementary roles based on discrete circuits that help animals optimize rewarding behaviors. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/3511572-11$15.00/0.

Preparation of multifunctional polysaccharide microcontainers for lipophilic bioactive agents.

PubMed

Borodina, Tatiana N; Grigoriev, Dmitry O; Carillo, Maria A; Hartmann, Jürgen; Moehwald, Helmuth; Shchukin, Dmitry G

2014-05-14

Chitosan/xanthan gum microcontainers with a core-shell structure formed due to chemical interactions between polysaccharide chains induced by ultrasonication are presented. Containers were prepared by sonication of water-immiscible (oil-like) liquids in the solution of polysaccharides. One-step fabrication of the container permanent shell is possible, because of the contribution of ultrasonically caused formation of hydrogen bonds and amide linkages. We synthesized containers in a wide size range from 350 nm to 7500 nm, varying in oil/water ratio. The microcontainers were modified with oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and microparticles, which could be used to impart the specified properties to the system. The biocide 4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-4-isothiazoline-3-one (DCOIT) was loaded into the proposed containers by utilizing its solution as an oil phase. The following incorporation of the DCOIT containers into the polymer coating demonstrated more sustained antimicrobial activity (∼30%) of the biocide in the encapsulated state, compared to its non-encapsulated form.

Proteomic analysis of the organic matrix of the abalone Haliotis asinina calcified shell

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The formation of the molluscan shell is regulated to a large extent by a matrix of extracellular macromolecules that are secreted by the shell forming tissue, the mantle. This so called "calcifying matrix" is a complex mixture of proteins and glycoproteins that is assembled and occluded within the mineral phase during the calcification process. While the importance of the calcifying matrix to shell formation has long been appreciated, most of its protein components remain uncharacterised. Results Recent expressed sequence tag (EST) investigations of the mantle tissue from the tropical abalone (Haliotis asinina) provide an opportunity to further characterise the proteins in the shell by a proteomic approach. In this study, we have identified a total of 14 proteins from distinct calcified layers of the shell. Only two of these proteins have been previously characterised from abalone shells. Among the novel proteins are several glutamine- and methionine-rich motifs and hydrophobic glycine-, alanine- and acidic aspartate-rich domains. In addition, two of the new proteins contained Kunitz-like and WAP (whey acidic protein) protease inhibitor domains. Conclusion This is one of the first comprehensive proteomic study of a molluscan shell, and should provide a platform for further characterization of matrix protein functions and interactions. PMID:21050442

Core-Shell Composite Fibers for High-Performance Flexible Supercapacitor Electrodes.

PubMed

Lu, Xiaoyan; Shen, Chen; Zhang, Zeyang; Barrios, Elizabeth; Zhai, Lei

2018-01-31

Core-shell nanofibers containing poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and manganese oxide nanoparticles as the core and polypyrrole (PPy) as the shell were fabricated through electrospinning the solution of PAA and manganese ions (PAA/Mn 2+ ). The obtained nanofibers were stabilized by Fe 3+ through the interaction between Fe 3+ ions and carboxylate groups. Subsequent oxidation of Mn 2+ by KMnO 4 produced uniform manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ) nanoparticles in the fibers. A PPy shell was created on the fibers by immersing the fibers in a pyrrole solution where the Fe 3+ ions in the fiber polymerized the pyrrole on the fiber surfaces. In the MnO 2 @PAA/PPy core-shell composite fibers, MnO 2 nanoparticles function as high-capacity materials, while the PPy shell prevents the loss of MnO 2 during the charge/discharge process. Such a unique structure makes the composite fibers efficient electrode materials for supercapacitors. The gravimetric specific capacity of the MnO 2 @PAA/PPy core-shell composite fibers was 564 F/g based on cyclic voltammetry curves at 10 mV/s and 580 F/g based on galvanostatic charge/discharge studies at 5 A/g. The MnO 2 @PAA/PPy core-shell composite fibers also present stable cycling performance with 100% capacitance retention after 5000 cycles.

Antioxidant and Anti-Adipogenic Activities of Trapa japonica Shell Extract Cultivated in Korea

PubMed Central

Lee, DooJin; Lee, Ok-Hwan; Choi, Geunpyo; Kim, Jong Dai

2017-01-01

Trapa japonica shell contains phenolic compounds such as tannins. Studies regarding the antioxidant and anti-adipogenic effects of Trapa japonica shell cultivated in Korea are still unclear. Antioxidant and anti-adipogenic activities were measured by in vitro assays such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2,2′-azinobis( 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing ability of plasma assay, reducing power, superoxide dismutase-like activity, and iron chelating ability in 3T3-L1 cells. We also measured the total phenol and flavonoids contents (TPC and TFC, respectively) in Trapa japonica shell extract. Our results show that TPC and TFC of Trapa japonica shell extract were 157.7±0.70 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and 25.0±1.95 mg quercetin equivalents/g, respectively. Trapa japonica shell extract showed strong antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner in DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities and other methods. Especially, the whole antioxidant activity test of Trapa japonica shell extract exhibited higher levels than that of butylated hydroxytoluene as a positive control. Furthermore, Trapa japonica shell extract inhibited lipid accumulation and reactive oxygen species production during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Trapa japonica shell extract possessed a significant antioxidant and anti-adipogenic property, which suggests its potential as a natural functional food ingredient. PMID:29333386

Insights from the Shell Proteome: Biomineralization to Adaptation

PubMed Central

Arivalagan, Jaison; Yarra, Tejaswi; Marie, Benjamin; Sleight, Victoria A.; Duvernois-Berthet, Evelyne; Clark, Melody S.; Marie, Arul; Berland, Sophie

2017-01-01

Bivalves have evolved a range of complex shell forming mechanisms that are reflected by their incredible diversity in shell mineralogy and microstructures. A suite of proteins exported to the shell matrix space plays a significant role in controlling these features, in addition to underpinning some of the physical properties of the shell itself. Although, there is a general consensus that a minimum basic protein tool kit is required for shell construction, to date, this remains undefined. In this study, the shell matrix proteins (SMPs) of four highly divergent bivalves (The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas; the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis; the clam, Mya truncata, and the king scallop, Pecten maximus) were analyzed in an identical fashion using proteomics pipeline. This enabled us to identify the critical elements of a “basic tool kit” for calcification processes, which were conserved across the taxa irrespective of the shell morphology and arrangement of the crystal surfaces. In addition, protein domains controlling the crystal layers specific to aragonite and calcite were also identified. Intriguingly, a significant number of the identified SMPs contained domains related to immune functions. These were often are unique to each species implying their involvement not only in immunity, but also environmental adaptation. This suggests that the SMPs are selectively exported in a complex mix to endow the shell with both mechanical protection and biochemical defense. PMID:27744410

Lead contamination of chicken eggs and tissues from a small farm flock.

PubMed

Trampel, Darrell W; Imerman, Paula M; Carson, Thomas L; Kinker, Julie A; Ensley, Steve M

2003-09-01

Twenty mixed-breed adult laying hens from a small farm flock in Iowa were clinically normal but had been exposed to chips of lead-based paint in their environment. These chickens were brought to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ames, Iowa, where the concentration of lead in blood, eggs (yolk, albumen, and shell), and tissues (liver, kidney, muscle, and ovary) from 5 selected chickens was determined over a period of 9 days. Blood lead levels ranged from less than 50 to 760 ppb. Lead contamination of the yolks varied from less than 20 to 400 ppb, and shells were found to contain up to 450 ppb lead. Albumen contained no detectable amount. Lead content of the egg yolks strongly correlated with blood lead levels. Deposition of lead in the shells did not correlate well with blood lead levels. Mean tissue lead accumulation was highest in kidneys (1,360 ppb), with livers ranking second (500 ppb) and ovarian tissue third (320 ppb). Muscle contained the lowest level of lead (280 ppb). Lead contamination of egg yolks and edible chicken tissues represents a potential public health hazard, especially to children repeatedly consuming eggs from contaminated family-owned flocks.

Development of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Cryogenic Pressure Loader

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ebey, Peter S.; Dole, James M.; Hoffer, James K.

2003-05-15

Targets for inertial fusion research and ignition at OMEGA, the National Ignition Facility, LMJ, and future facilities rely on beta-radiation-driven layering of spherical cryogenic DT ice layers contained within plastic or metal shells. Plastic shells will be permeation filled at room temperature then cooled to cryogenic temperatures before removal of the overpressure. The cryogenic pressure loader (CPL) was recently developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a testbed for studying the filling and layering of plastic target shells with DT. A technical description of the CPL is provided. The CPL consists of a cryostat, which contains a high-pressure permeation cell,more » and has optical access for investigating beta layering. The cryostat is housed within a tritium glovebox that contains manifolds for supplying high-pressure DT. The CPL shares some design elements with the cryogenic target handling system at the OMEGA facility to allow testing of tritium issues related to that system. The CPL has the capability to fill plastic targets by permeation to pressures up to 100 MPa and to cool them to 15 K. The CPL will accommodate a range of targets and may be modified for future experiments.« less

Temporal and local variations in biochemical composition of Crassostrea gigas shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Almeida, Maria J.; Machado, Jorge; Moura, Gabriela; Azevedo, Manuela; Coimbra, João

1998-12-01

The objective of this work was to find relations between organic and inorganic shell components. Crassostrea gigas shells were analysed from live specimens collected at five different stations: the Lima estuary (1), the Ria de Aveiro (2, 3), and the Mondego estuary (4, 5), Portugal. About 30% of the oysters, from stations 1, 2 and 3 had shell-thickness-index values ≤10, indicating a severe thickening. Oysters from the Mondego estuary contained mud blisters due to Polydora infestations. Oysters from station 3 had thicker shells and showed a higher Pb content in shell and tissues than oysters from the other stations. Amino-acid composition changed mainly according to the modified protein (jelly-like substance) probably produced by the presence of TBT (tributyltin) in the water; in particular, we observed an increase in glutamic acid and threonine and a decrease in major amino acids such as aspartic acid, serine and glycine. Elemental shell composition was mainly associated with environmental conditions: shells from stations in open areas had higher Li, Cd, Cr and Ca and lower Mn levels than those from semi-enclosed areas (fish farms). Discriminant analyses against the three kinds of shell observed (normal, thick and infested), using chemical elements and amino acids as discriminant variables, showed the infested group to have the biggest differences. There was no correlation between amino-acid and chemical-element patterns in shell composition. Observed changes in amino-acid pattern, probably due to TBT, did not imply a simultaneous change of elemental composition.

Assessing the utility of elemental ratios as a paleotemperature proxy in shells of patelloid limpets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Graniero, Lauren; Surge, Donna; Gillikin, David

2015-04-01

Archaeological shell and fish middens are rich sources of paleoenvironmental proxy data. Carbonate hard part remains contained in such deposits have been used as archives of coastal marine climate and human-climate interactions. Oxygen isotope records from fast-growing limpet shells potentially capture summer and winter seasons, and thus, approach the full seasonal range of sea surface temperature (SST). Fast-growing shells are often short-lived, providing "snap-shots" of multi-year seasonal cycles. Patelloid limpet shells are common constituents in archaeological middens found along European, African, and South American coastlines. Oxygen isotope ratios of archaeological limpet shells from the genus, Patella, have been used to reconstruct seasonal SST and ocean circulation patterns during the Late Quaternary. Such studies depend on the ability to constrain the oxygen isotope ratio of seawater; therefore, alternative proxies are necessary for coastal localities where this is not possible. Elemental ratios (e.g., Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca) have been used as paleotemperature proxies in corals and foraminifera with varying degrees of success and appear problematic in bivalves. Here, we test whether such elemental ratios are useful as an alternative SST proxy in patelloid limpet shells.

Shell extracts of the edible mussel and oyster induce an enhancement of the catabolic pathway of human skin fibroblasts, in vitro.

PubMed

Latire, Thomas; Legendre, Florence; Bouyoucef, Mouloud; Marin, Frédéric; Carreiras, Franck; Rigot-Jolivet, Muriel; Lebel, Jean-Marc; Galéra, Philippe; Serpentini, Antoine

2017-10-01

Mollusc shells are composed of more than 95% calcium carbonate and less than 5% organic matrix consisting mostly of proteins, glycoproteins and polysaccharides. In this study, we investigated the effects of matrix macromolecular components extracted from the shells of two edible molluscs of economic interest, i.e., the blue mussel Mytilus edulis and the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. The potential biological activities of these organic molecules were analysed on human dermal fibroblasts in primary culture. Our results demonstrate that shell extracts of the two studied molluscs modulate the metabolic activities of the cells. In addition, the extracts caused a decrease of type I collagen and a concomitant increase of active MMP-1, both at the mRNA and the protein levels. Therefore, our results suggest that shell extracts from M. edulis and C. gigas contain molecules that promote the catabolic pathway of human dermal fibroblasts. This work emphasises the potential use of these shell matrices in the context of anti-fibrotic strategies, particularly against scleroderma. More generally, it stresses the usefulness to valorise bivalve shells that are coproducts of shellfish farming activity.

Amorphous calcium carbonate: A precursor phase for aragonite in shell disease of the pearl oyster.

PubMed

Huang, Jingliang; Liu, Chuang; Xie, Liping; Zhang, Rongqing

2018-02-26

Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) has long been shown to act as an important constituent or precursor phase for crystalline material in mollusks. However, the presence and the role of ACC in bivalve shell formation are not fully studied. In this study, we found that brown deposits containing heterogeneous calcium carbonates were precipitated when a shell disease occurred in the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata. Calcein-staining of the brown deposits indicated that numerous amorphous calcium deposits were present, which was further confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectrum and X-ray difraction (XRD) analyses. So we speculate that ACC plays an important role in rapid calcium carbonate precipitation during shell repair process in diseased oysters. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

CVD graphene sheets electrochemically decorated with "core-shell" Co/CoO nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayev, V. G.; Fedotova, J. A.; Kasiuk, J. V.; Vorobyova, S. A.; Sohor, A. A.; Komissarov, I. V.; Kovalchuk, N. G.; Prischepa, S. L.; Kargin, N. I.; Andrulevičius, M.; Przewoznik, J.; Kapusta, Cz.; Ivashkevich, O. A.; Tyutyunnikov, S. I.; Kolobylina, N. N.; Guryeva, P. V.

2018-05-01

The paper reports on the first successful fabrication of Co-graphene composites by electrochemical deposition of Co nanoparticles (NPs) on the sheets of twisted graphene. Characterization of the surface morphology and element mapping of twisted graphene decorated with Co NPs by transmission and scanning electron microscopy in combination with the energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy reveals the formation of isolated quasi-spherical oxidized Co NPs with the mean diameter 〈 d〉 ≈ 220 nm and core-shell structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicates that the core of deposited NPs consists of metal Co while the shell is CoO. Composite Co-graphene samples containing core-shell NPs reveal an exchange bias field up to 160 Oe at 4 K as detected by vibrating sample magnetometry after the field cooling procedure.

A Shear Deformable Shell Element for Laminated Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chao, W. C.; Reddy, J. N.

1984-01-01

A three-dimensional element based on the total Lagrangian description of the motion of a layered anisotropic composite medium is developed, validated, and used to analyze layered composite shells. The element contains the following features: geometric nonlinearity, dynamic (transient) behavior, and arbitrary lamination scheme and lamina properties. Numerical results of nonlinear bending, natural vibration, and transient response are presented to illustrate the capabilities of the element.

Crystal Structure of Faradaurate-279: Au279(SPh-tBu)84 Plasmonic Nanocrystal Molecules.

PubMed

Sakthivel, Naga Arjun; Theivendran, Shevanuja; Ganeshraj, Vigneshraja; Oliver, Allen G; Dass, Amala

2017-11-01

We report the discovery of an unprecedentedly large, 2.2 nm diameter, thiolate protected gold nanocrystal characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography (sc-XRD), Au 279 (SPh-tBu) 84 named Faradaurate-279 (F-279) in honor of Michael Faraday's (1857) pioneering work on nanoparticles. F-279 nanocrystal has a core-shell structure containing a truncated octahedral core with bulk face-centered cubic-like arrangement, yet a nanomolecule with a precise number of metal atoms and thiolate ligands. The Au 279 S 84 geometry was established from a low-temperature 120 K sc-XRD study at 0.90 Å resolution. The atom counts in core-shell structure of Au 279 follows the mathematical formula for magic number shells: Au@Au 12 @Au 42 @Au 92 @Au 54 , which is further protected by a final shell of Au 48 . Au 249 core is protected by three types of staple motifs, namely: 30 bridging, 18 monomeric, and 6 dimeric staple motifs. Despite the presence of such diverse staple motifs, Au 279 S 84 structure has a chiral pseudo-D 3 symmetry. The core-shell structure can be viewed as nested, concentric polyhedra, containing a total of five forms of Archimedean solids. A comparison between the Au 279 and Au 309 cuboctahedral superatom model in shell-wise growth is illustrated. F-279 can be synthesized and isolated in high purity in milligram quantities using size exclusion chromatography, as evidenced by mass spectrometry. Electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry independently verifies the X-ray diffraction study based heavy atoms formula, Au 279 S 84 , and establishes the molecular formula with the complete ligands, namely, Au 279 (SPh-tBu) 84 . It is also the smallest gold nanocrystal to exhibit metallic behavior, with a surface plasmon resonance band around 510 nm.

Towards a Probabilistic Preliminary Design Criterion for Buckling Critical Composite Shells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arbocz, Johann; Hilburger, Mark W.

2003-01-01

A probability-based analysis method for predicting buckling loads of compression-loaded laminated-composite shells is presented, and its potential as a basis for a new shell-stability design criterion is demonstrated and discussed. In particular, a database containing information about specimen geometry, material properties, and measured initial geometric imperfections for a selected group of laminated-composite cylindrical shells is used to calculate new buckling-load "knockdown factors". These knockdown factors are shown to be substantially improved, and hence much less conservative than the corresponding deterministic knockdown factors that are presently used by industry. The probability integral associated with the analysis is evaluated by using two methods; that is, by using the exact Monte Carlo method and by using an approximate First-Order Second- Moment method. A comparison of the results from these two methods indicates that the First-Order Second-Moment method yields results that are conservative for the shells considered. Furthermore, the results show that the improved, reliability-based knockdown factor presented always yields a safe estimate of the buckling load for the shells examined.

Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis Identifies an Asparagine–Arginine–Lysine Triad Essential to Assembly of the Shell of the Pdu Microcompartment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sinha, Sharmistha; Cheng, Shouqiang; Sung, Yea Won

2014-06-01

Bacterial microcompartments (MCPs) are the simplest organelles known. They function to enhance metabolic pathways by confining several related enzymes inside an all-protein envelope called the shell. In this study, we investigated the factors that govern MCP assembly by performing scanning mutagenesis on the surface residues of PduA, a major shell protein of the MCP used for 1,2-propanediol degradation. Biochemical, genetic, and structural analysis of 20 mutants allowed us to determine that PduA K26, N29, and R79 are crucial residues that stabilize the shell of the 1,2-propanediol MCP. In addition, we identify two PduA mutants (K37A and K55A) that impair MCPmore » function most likely by altering the permeability of its protein shell. These are the first studies to examine the phenotypic effects of shell protein structural mutations in an MCP system. The findings reported here may be applicable to engineering protein containers with improved stability for biotechnology applications.« less

Cofiring lignite with hazelnut shell and cotton residue in a pilot-scale fluidized bed combustor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zuhal Gogebakan; Nevin Selcuk

In this study, cofiring of high ash and sulfur content lignite with hazelnut shell and cotton residue was investigated in 0.3 MWt METU Atmospheric Bubbling Fluidized Bed Combustion (ABFBC) Test Rig in terms of combustion and emission performance of different fuel blends. The results reveal that cofiring of hazelnut shell and cotton residue with lignite increases the combustion efficiency and freeboard temperatures compared to those of lignite firing with limestone addition only. CO{sub 2} emission is not found sensitive to increase in hazelnut shell and cotton residue share in fuel blend. Cofiring lowers SO{sub 2} emissions considerably. Cofiring of hazelnutmore » shell reduces NO and N{sub 2}O emissions; on the contrary, cofiring cotton residue results in higher NO and N{sub 2}O emissions. Higher share of biomass in the fuel blend results in coarser cyclone ash particles. Hazelnut shell and cotton residue can be cofired with high ash and sulfur-containing lignite without operational problems. 32 refs., 12 figs., 11 tabs.« less

Dye-sensitized solar cells employing a SnO2-TiO2 core-shell structure made by atomic layer deposition.

PubMed

Karlsson, Martin; Jõgi, Indrek; Eriksson, Susanna K; Rensmo, Håkan; Boman, Mats; Boschloo, Gerrit; Hagfeldt, Anders

2013-01-01

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of core-shell structures, based on SnO2 and TiO2, for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC). Atomic layer deposition is employed to control and vary the thickness of the TiO2 shell. Increasing the TiO2 shell thickness to 2 nm improved the device performance of liquid electrolyte-based DSC from 0.7% to 3.5%. The increase in efficiency originates from a higher open-circuit potential and a higher short-circuit current, as well as from an improvement in the electron lifetime. SnO2-TiO2 core-shell DSC devices retain their photovoltage in darkness for longer than 500 seconds, demonstrating that the electrons are contained in the core material. Finally core-shell structures were used for solid-state DSC applications using the hole transporting material 2,2',7,7',-tetrakis(N, N-di-p-methoxyphenyl-amine)-9,9',-spirofluorene. Similar improvements in device performance were obtained for solid-state DSC devices.

Nano-G research laboratory for a spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vonbun, Friedrich O. (Inventor); Garriott, Owen K. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

An acceleration free research laboratory is provided that is confined within a satellite but free of any physical engagement with the walls of the satellite, wherein the laboratory has adequate power, heating, cooling, and communications services to conduct basic research and development. An inner part containing the laboratory is positioned at the center-of-mass of a satellite within the satellite's outer shell. The satellite is then positioned such that its main axes are in a position parallel to its flight velocity vector or in the direction of the residual acceleration vector. When the satellite is in its desired orbit, the inner part is set free so as to follow that orbit without contacting the inside walls of the outer shell. Sensing means detect the position of the inner part with respect to the outer shell, and activate control rockets to move the outer shell; thereby, the inner part is repositioned such that it is correctly positioned at the center-of-mass of the satellite. As a consequence, all disturbing forces, such as drag forces, act on the outer shell, and the inner part containing the laboratory is shielded and is affected only by gravitational forces. Power is supplied to the inner part and to the laboratory by a balanced microwave/laser link which creates the kind of environment necessary for basic research to study critical phenomena such as the Lambda transition in helium and crystal growth, and to perform special metals and alloys research, etc.

Reduced molybenum-oxide-based core-shell hybrids: "blue" electrons are delocalized on the shell.

PubMed

Todea, Ana Maria; Szakács, Julia; Konar, Sanjit; Bögge, Hartmut; Crans, Debbie C; Glaser, Thorsten; Rousselière, Hélène; Thouvenot, René; Gouzerh, Pierre; Müller, Achim

2011-06-06

The present study refers to a variety of reduced metal-oxide core-shell hybrids, which are unique with regard to their electronic structure, their geometry, and their formation. They contain spherical {Mo72Fe30} Keplerate-type shells encapsulating Keggin-type polyoxomolybdates based on very weak interactions. Studies on the encapsulation of molybdosilicate as well as on the earlier reported molybdophosphate, coupled with the use of several physical methods for the characterization led to unprecedented results (see title). Upon standing in air at room temperature, acidified aqueous solutions obtained by dissolving sodium molybdate, iron(II) chloride, acetic acid, and molybdosilicic acid led to the precipitation of monoclinic greenish crystals (1). A rhombohedral variant (2) has also been observed. Upon drying at room temperature, compound 3 with a layer structure was obtained from 1 in a solid-state reaction based on cross-linking of the shells. The compounds 1, 2, and 3 have been characterized by a combination of methods including single-crystal X-ray crystallography, magnetic studies, as well as IR, Mössbauer, (resonance) Raman, and electronic absorption spectroscopy. In connection with detailed studies of the guest-free two-electron-reduced {Mo72Fe30}-type Keplerate (4) and of the previously reported molybdophosphate-based hybrids (including 31P NMR spectroscopy results), it is unambiguously proved that 1, 2, and 3 contain non-reduced Keggin ion cores and reduced {Mo72Fe30}-type shells. The results are discussed in terms of redox considerations (the shell as well as the core can be reduced) including those related to the reduction of "molybdates" by FeII being of interdisciplinary including catalytic interest (the MoVI/MoV and FeIII/FeII couples have very close redox potentials!), while also referring to the special formation of the hybrids based on chemical Darwinism.

Atomic Force Microscopy of virus capsids uncover the interplay between mechanics, structure and function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Pablo, Pedro J.

The basic architecture of a virus consists of the capsid, a shell made up of repeating protein subunits, which packs, shuttles and delivers their genome at the right place and moment. Viral particles are endorsed with specific physicochemical properties which confer to their structures certain meta-stability whose modulation permits fulfilling each task of the viral cycle. These natural designed capabilities have impelled using viral capsids as protein containers of artificial cargoes (drugs, polymers, enzymes, minerals) with applications in biomedical and materials sciences. Both natural and artificial protein cages have to protect their cargo against a variety of physicochemical aggressive environments, including molecular impacts of highly crowded media, thermal and chemical stresses, and osmotic shocks. Viral cages stability under these ambiences depend not only on the ultimate structure of the external capsid, which rely on the interactions between protein subunits, but also on the nature of the cargo. During the last decade our lab has focused on the study of protein cages with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) (figure 1). We are interested in stablishing links of their mechanical properties with their structure and function. In particular, mechanics provide information about the cargo storage strategies of both natural and virus-derived protein cages. Mechanical fatigue has revealed as a nanosurgery tool to unveil the strength of the capisd subunit bonds. We also interrogated the electrostatics of individual protein shells. Our AFM-fluorescence combination provided information about DNA diffusing out cracked-open protein cages in real time.

Compressive strength performance of OPS lightweight aggregate concrete containing coal bottom ash as partial fine aggregate replacement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muthusamy, K.; Mohamad Hafizuddin, R.; Mat Yahaya, F.; Sulaiman, M. A.; Syed Mohsin, S. M.; Tukimat, N. N.; Omar, R.; Chin, S. C.

2018-04-01

Concerns regarding the negative impact towards environment due to the increasing use of natural sand in construction industry and dumping of industrial solid wastes namely coal bottom ash (CBA) and oil palm shell (OPS) has resulted in the development of environmental friendly lightweight concrete. The present study investigates the effect of coal bottom ash as partial fine aggregate replacement towards workability and compressive strength of oil palm shell lightweight aggregate concrete (OPS LWAC). The fresh and mechanical properties of this concrete containing various percentage of coal bottom ash as partial fine aggregate replacement were investigated. The result was compared to OPS LWAC with 100 % sand as a control specimen. The concrete workability investigated by conducting slump test. All specimens were cast in form of cubes and water cured until the testing age. The compressive strength test was carried out at 7 and 28 days. The finding shows that integration of coal bottom ash at suitable proportion enhances the strength of oil palm shell lightweight aggregate concrete.

Fabrication and Release Behavior of Microcapsules with Double-Layered Shell Containing Clove Oil for Antibacterial Applications.

PubMed

Chong, Yong-Bing; Zhang, He; Yue, Chee Yoon; Yang, Jinglei

2018-05-09

In this study, double-layer polyurethane/poly(urea-formaldehyde) (PU/PUF) shell microcapsules containing clove oil with antibacterial properties were successfully synthesized via in situ and interfacial polymerization reactions in an oil-in-water emulsion. The morphology, core-shell structure, and composition of the microcapsules were investigated systematically. Additionally, the release behaviors of microcapsules synthesized under different reaction parameters were studied. It was found that the release rate of clove oil can be controlled by tuning the amount of PU reactants and the length of PUF deposition time. The release profile fitted well against the Baker-Lonsdale model, which indicates diffusion as the primary release mechanism. Experimental results based on the ASTM E2315 time kill test revealed that the fabricated microcapsules have great antibacterial activities against the marine bacteria Vibrio coralliilyticus, Escherichia coli, Exiguobacterium aestuarii, and marine biofilm-forming bacteria isolated from the on-site contaminated samples, showing their great potential as an eco-friendly solution to replace existing toxic antifouling agent.

Fabrication of hierarchical core-shell polydopamine@MgAl-LDHs composites for the efficient enrichment of radionuclides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Kairuo; Lu, Songhua; Gao, Yang; Zhang, Rui; Tan, Xiaoli; Chen, Changlun

2017-02-01

Novel hierarchical core/shell structured polydopamine@MgAl-layered double hydroxides (PDA@MgAl-LDHs) composites involving MgAl-layered double hydroxide shells and PDA cores were fabricated thought one-pot coprecipitation assembly and methodically characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning/transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, elemental mapping, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy technologies. U(VI) and Eu(III) sorption experiments showed that the PDA@MgAl-LDHs exhibited higher sorption ability with a maximum sorption capacity of 142.86 and 76.02 mg/g at 298 K and pH 4.5, respectively. More importantly, according to XPS analyses, U(VI) and Eu(III) were sorbed on PDA@MgAl-LDHs via oxygen-containing functional groups, and the chemical affinity of U(VI) by oxygen-containing functional groups is higher than that of Eu(III). These observations show great expectations in the enrichment of radionuclides from aquatic environments by PDA@MgAl-LDHs.

Fractionation and structural characterization of polyphenolic antioxidants from seed shells of Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata BLUME).

PubMed

Ogawa, Satoshi; Kimura, Hideto; Niimi, Ai; Katsube, Takuya; Jisaka, Mitsuo; Yokota, Kazushige

2008-12-24

Seed shells of the Japanese horse chestnut (Aesculus turbinata BLUME) contain high levels of polyphenolic antioxidants. These compounds were extracted, fractionated, and finally separated into three fractions, F1, F2, and F3, according to their degrees of polymerization. The structures of the isolated fractions were characterized by a combination of mass spectrometric analyses. F1 contained mainly low molecular weight phenolic substances, including procyanidin trimers. The predominant fractions F2 and F3 consisted of polymeric proanthocyanidins having a series of heteropolyflavan-3-ols, (+)-catechin/(-)-epicatechin units, and polymerization degrees of 19 and 23, respectively. The polyphenol polymers had doubly linked A-type interflavan linkages in addition to single B-type bonds without gallic acid esterified to them. The isolated polyphenolic compounds exhibited potent antioxidative activities comparable to monomeric (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, or more efficacious than those monomers. The results suggest the potential usefulness of polyphenol polymers from seed shells as a source for nutraceutical factors.

Shell damage and shell repair in the Antarctic limpet Nacella concinna from King George Island

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cadée, Gerhard C.

1999-03-01

Nacella concinna is the most conspicuous macroinvertebrate in the intertidal of King George Island. An important predator, the Kelp gull Larus dominicanus, feeds on Nacella during spring low tides. The gulls deposit empty Nacella shells as regurgitates mainly on roosts on coastal rocks. The regurgitates were found to consist of 40% shell fragments by weight and 60% intact shells. Faeces of Kelp gulls contained much smaller fragments than the regurgitates. Some of the Nacella, particularly those too large to ingest, are handled in the intertidal. The middens are, therefore, inadequate to study size selection by Kelp gulls: the largest Nacella are underrepresented. Seventy-five per cent of the intact Nacella shells from the Larus middens showed one or more shell repairs. Such repairs may be due to unsuccessful attacks by gulls, but more probably they indicate damage caused by rolling ice blocks and stones in the intertidal and shallow subtidal. A number of living Nacella were found stranded on the beach, detached from the rocks. They showed damage along the shell margin and even one Nacella was collected without any shell left. The observed repair frequency of 75% in Nacella was much higher than in other (smaller) intertidal gastropods at Potter Peninsula (3-11%, av. 8%). Comparably high frequencies are observed for instance in tropical intertidal gastropods, where repair is due to heavy unsuccessful crab predation; however, shell-crushing crabs are absent on King George Island. This indicates that palaeontologists should be cautious in ascribing all shell repairs in fossil shells (particularly from tidal environments) to predators. Shell repair in the related Nacella deaurata, collected in a less exposed site at Port Stanley (Falkland Islands), occurred only in 13% of the specimens. Another conspicuous form of shell damage was due to grazing by Nacella on the boring algae living in other Nacella shells. Epigrowth of crustose calcareous algae inhibited such grazing, but in the absence of epigrowth deep hollows were scraped in the shells, the parallel scratches by the radula clearly visible, urging Nacella to repair its shell by producing more shelly material on the inside.

An expert system shell for inferring vegetation characteristics: Changes to the historical cover type database (Task F)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1993-01-01

All the options in the NASA VEGetation Workbench (VEG) make use of a database of historical cover types. This database contains results from experiments by scientists on a wide variety of different cover types. The learning system uses the database to provide positive and negative training examples of classes that enable it to learn distinguishing features between classes of vegetation. All the other VEG options use the database to estimate the error bounds involved in the results obtained when various analysis techniques are applied to the sample of cover type data that is being studied. In the previous version of VEG, the historical cover type database was stored as part of the VEG knowledge base. This database was removed from the knowledge base. It is now stored as a series of flat files that are external to VEG. An interface between VEG and these files was provided. The interface allows the user to select which files of historical data to use. The files are then read, and the data are stored in Knowledge Engineering Environment (KEE) units using the same organization of units as in the previous version of VEG. The interface also allows the user to delete some or all of the historical database units from VEG and load new historical data from a file. This report summarizes the use of the historical cover type database in VEG. It then describes the new interface to the files containing the historical data. It describes minor changes that were made to VEG to enable the externally stored database to be used. Test runs to test the operation of the new interface and also to test the operation of VEG using historical data loaded from external files are described. Task F was completed. A Sun cartridge tape containing the KEE and Common Lisp code for the new interface and the modified version of the VEG knowledge base was delivered to the NASA GSFC technical representative.

SU-G-IeP3-07: High-Resolution, High-Sensitivity Imaging and Quantification of Intratumoral Distributions of Gold Nanoparticles Using a Benchtop L-Shell XRF Imaging System

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Manohar, N; Diagaradjane, P; Krishnan, S

2016-06-15

Purpose: To demonstrate the ability to perform high-resolution imaging and quantification of sparse distributions of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) within ex vivo tumor samples using a highly-sensitive benchtop L-shell x-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging system. Methods: An optimized L-shell XRF imaging system was assembled using a tungsten-target x-ray source (operated at 62 kVp and 45 mA). The x-rays were filtered (copper: 0.08 mm & aluminum: 0.04 mm) and collimated (lead: 5 cm thickness, 3 cm aperture diameter) into a cone-beam in order to irradiate small samples or objects. A collimated (stainless steel: 4 cm thickness, 2 mm aperture diameter) silicon drift detector,more » capable of 2D translation, was placed at 90° with respect to the beam to acquire XRF/scatter spectra from regions of interest. Spectral processing involved extracting XRF signal from background, followed by attenuation correction using a Compton scatter-based normalization algorithm. Calibration phantoms with water/GNPs (0 and 0.00001–10 mg/cm{sup 3}) were used to determine the detection limit of the system at a 10-second acquisition time. The system was then used to map the distribution of GNPs within a 12×11×2 mm{sup 3} slice excised from the center of a GNP-loaded ex vivo murine tumor sample; a total of 110 voxels (2.65×10{sup −3} cm{sup 3}) were imaged with 1.3-mm spatial resolution. Results: The detection limit of the current cone-beam benchtop L-shell XRF system was 0.003 mg/cm{sup 3} (3 ppm). Intratumoral GNP concentrations ranging from 0.003 mg/cm{sup 3} (3 ppm) to a maximum of 0.055 mg/cm{sup 3} (55 ppm) and average of 0.0093 mg/cm{sup 3} (9.3 ppm) were imaged successfully within the ex vivo tumor slice. Conclusion: The developed cone-beam benchtop L-shell XRF imaging system can immediately be used for imaging of ex vivo tumor samples containing low concentrations of GNPs. With minor finetuning/optimization, the system can be directly adapted for performing routine preclinical in vivo imaging tasks. Supported by NIH/NCI grant R01CA155446 This investigation was supported by NIH/NCI grant R01CA155446.« less

Reconstruction and analysis of hybrid composite shells using meshless methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernardo, G. M. S.; Loja, M. A. R.

2017-06-01

The importance of focusing on the research of viable models to predict the behaviour of structures which may possess in some cases complex geometries is an issue that is growing in different scientific areas, ranging from the civil and mechanical engineering to the architecture or biomedical devices fields. In these cases, the research effort to find an efficient approach to fit laser scanning point clouds, to the desired surface, has been increasing, leading to the possibility of modelling as-built/as-is structures and components' features. However, combining the task of surface reconstruction and the implementation of a structural analysis model is not a trivial task. Although there are works focusing those different phases in separate, there is still an effective need to find approaches able to interconnect them in an efficient way. Therefore, achieving a representative geometric model able to be subsequently submitted to a structural analysis in a similar based platform is a fundamental step to establish an effective expeditious processing workflow. With the present work, one presents an integrated methodology based on the use of meshless approaches, to reconstruct shells described by points' clouds, and to subsequently predict their static behaviour. These methods are highly appropriate on dealing with unstructured points clouds, as they do not need to have any specific spatial or geometric requirement when implemented, depending only on the distance between the points. Details on the formulation, and a set of illustrative examples focusing the reconstruction of cylindrical and double-curvature shells, and its further analysis, are presented.

Universal empirical fit to L-shell X-ray production cross sections in ionization by protons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapicki, G.; Miranda, J.

2018-01-01

A compilation published in 2014, with a recent 2017 update, contains 5730 experimental total L-shell X-ray production cross sections (XRPCS). The database covers an energy range from 10 keV to 1 GeV, and targets from 18Ar to 95Am. With only two adjustable parameters, universal fit to these data normalized to XRPCS calculated at proton velocity v1 equal to the electron velocity in the L-shell v2L, is obtained in terms of a single ratio of v1/v2L. This fit reproduces 97% of the compiled XRPCS to within a factor of 2.

High-resolution stratigraphy with strontium isotopes.

PubMed

Depaolo, D J; Ingram, B L

1985-02-22

The isotopic ratio of strontium-87 to strontium-86 shows no detectable variation in present-day ocean water but changes slowly over millions of years. The strontium contained in carbonate shells of marine organisms records the ratio of strontium-87 to strontium-86 of the oceans at the time that the shells form. Sedimentary rocks composed of accumulated fossil carbonate shells can be dated and correlated with the use of high precision measurements of the ratio of strontium-87 to strontium-86 with a resolution that is similar to that of other techniques used in age correlation. This method may prove valuable for many geological, paleontological, paleooceanographic, and geochemical problems.

Exfoliated BN shell-based high-frequency magnetic core-shell materials.

PubMed

Zhang, Wei; Patel, Ketan; Ren, Shenqiang

2017-09-14

The miniaturization of electric machines demands high frequency magnetic materials with large magnetic-flux density and low energy loss to achieve a decreased dimension of high rotational speed motors. Herein, we report a solution-processed high frequency magnetic composite (containing a nanometal FeCo core and a boron nitride (BN) shell) that simultaneously exhibits high electrical resistivity and magnetic permeability. The frequency dependent complex initial permeability and the mechanical robustness of nanocomposites are intensely dependent on the content of BN insulating phase. The results shown here suggest that insulating magnetic nanocomposites have potential for application in next-generation high-frequency electric machines with large electrical resistivity and permeability.

A pressurized cylindrical shell with a fixed end which contains an axial part-through or through crack

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yahsi, O. S.; Erdogan, F.

1985-01-01

In this paper a cylindrical shell having a very stiff end plate or a flange is considered. It is assumed that near the end the cylinder contains an axial flow which may be modeled as a part-through surface crack or through crack. The primary objective is to study the effect of the end constraining on the stress intensity factor which is the main fracture mechanics parameter. The applied loads acting on the cylinder are assumed to be axisymmetric. Thus the crack problem under consideration is symmetric with respect to the plane of the crack and consequently only the mode I stress intensity factors are nonzero. With this limitation, the general perturbation problem for a cylinder with a built-in end containing an axial crack is considered. Reissner's shell theory is used to formulate the problem. The part-through crack problem is treated by using a line-spring model. In the case of a crack tip terminating at the fixed end it is shown that the integral equation of the shell problem has the same generalized Cauchy kernel as the corresponding plane stress elasticity problem. Even though the problem is formulated for a general surface crack profile and arbitrary crack surface tractions, the numerical results are obtained only for a semielliptic part-through axial crack located at the inside or outside surface of the cylinder and for internal pressure acting on the cylinder. The stress intensity factors are calculated and presented for a relatively wide range of dimensionless length parameters of the problem.

Abundance of non-native crabs in intertidal habitats of New England with natural and artificial structure

PubMed Central

Lovely, Christina M.; Judge, Michael L.

2015-01-01

Marine habitats containing complex physical structure (e.g., crevices) can provide shelter from predation for benthic invertebrates. To examine effects of natural and artificial structure on the abundance of intertidal juvenile crabs, 2 experiments were conducted in Kingston Bay, Massachusetts, USA, from July to September, 2012. In the first experiment, structure was manipulated in a two-factor design that was placed in the high intertidal for 3 one-week periods to test for both substrate type (sand vs. rock) and the presence or absence of artificial structure (mesh grow-out bags used in aquaculture, ∼0.5 m2 with 62 mm2 mesh openings). The Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, and small individuals of the green crab, Carcinus maenas, were observed only in the treatments of rocks and mesh bag plus rocks. Most green crabs were small (<6 mm in carapace width) whereas H. sanguineus occurred in a wide range of sizes. In the second experiment, 3 levels of oyster-shell treatments were established using grow-out bags placed on a muddy sand substrate in the low intertidal zone: mesh grow-out bags without shells, grow-out bags with oyster shells, and grow-out bags containing live oysters. Replicate bags were deployed weekly for 7 weeks in a randomized complete block design. All crabs collected in the bags were juvenile C. maenas (1–15 mm carapace width), and numbers of crabs differed 6-fold among treatments, with most crabs present in bags with live oysters (29.5 ± 10.6 m−2 [mean ± S.D.]) and fewest in bags without shells (4.9 ± 3.7 m−2). Both C. maenas and H. sanguineus occurred in habitats with natural structure (cobble rocks). The attraction of juvenile C. maenas to artificial structure consisting of plastic mesh bags containing both oyster shells and living oysters could potentially impact oyster aquaculture operations. PMID:26401456

Abundance of non-native crabs in intertidal habitats of New England with natural and artificial structure.

PubMed

Lovely, Christina M; O'Connor, Nancy J; Judge, Michael L

2015-01-01

Marine habitats containing complex physical structure (e.g., crevices) can provide shelter from predation for benthic invertebrates. To examine effects of natural and artificial structure on the abundance of intertidal juvenile crabs, 2 experiments were conducted in Kingston Bay, Massachusetts, USA, from July to September, 2012. In the first experiment, structure was manipulated in a two-factor design that was placed in the high intertidal for 3 one-week periods to test for both substrate type (sand vs. rock) and the presence or absence of artificial structure (mesh grow-out bags used in aquaculture, ∼0.5 m(2) with 62 mm(2) mesh openings). The Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, and small individuals of the green crab, Carcinus maenas, were observed only in the treatments of rocks and mesh bag plus rocks. Most green crabs were small (<6 mm in carapace width) whereas H. sanguineus occurred in a wide range of sizes. In the second experiment, 3 levels of oyster-shell treatments were established using grow-out bags placed on a muddy sand substrate in the low intertidal zone: mesh grow-out bags without shells, grow-out bags with oyster shells, and grow-out bags containing live oysters. Replicate bags were deployed weekly for 7 weeks in a randomized complete block design. All crabs collected in the bags were juvenile C. maenas (1-15 mm carapace width), and numbers of crabs differed 6-fold among treatments, with most crabs present in bags with live oysters (29.5 ± 10.6 m(-2) [mean ± S.D.]) and fewest in bags without shells (4.9 ± 3.7 m(-2)). Both C. maenas and H. sanguineus occurred in habitats with natural structure (cobble rocks). The attraction of juvenile C. maenas to artificial structure consisting of plastic mesh bags containing both oyster shells and living oysters could potentially impact oyster aquaculture operations.

An Exposition on the Nonlinear Kinematics of Shells, Including Transverse Shearing Deformations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nemeth, Michael P.

2013-01-01

An in-depth exposition on the nonlinear deformations of shells with "small" initial geometric imperfections, is presented without the use of tensors. First, the mathematical descriptions of an undeformed-shell reference surface, and its deformed image, are given in general nonorthogonal coordinates. The two-dimensional Green-Lagrange strains of the reference surface derived and simplified for the case of "small" strains. Linearized reference-surface strains, rotations, curvatures, and torsions are then derived and used to obtain the "small" Green-Lagrange strains in terms of linear deformation measures. Next, the geometry of the deformed shell is described mathematically and the "small" three-dimensional Green-Lagrange strains are given. The deformations of the shell and its reference surface are related by introducing a kinematic hypothesis that includes transverse shearing deformations and contains the classical Love-Kirchhoff kinematic hypothesis as a proper, explicit subset. Lastly, summaries of the essential equations are given for general nonorthogonal and orthogonal coordinates, and the basis for further simplification of the equations is discussed.

A thermoresponsive nanorattle containing two different catalysts for controllable one-pot tandem catalysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niu, Chengrong; Hu, Jie; Li, Yinfeng; Leng, Jinghang; Li, Songjun

2018-03-01

In the present work, a thermoresponsive nanorattle with a Ag nanoparticle (NP) core (one catalyst in the nanorattle), and a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) shell was developed. An imidazole group was grafted on the polymer shell by copolymerization as the other catalyst. Owing to the catalytic activities of the imidazole group and Ag NP with regards to hydrolysis and reduction, respectively, this nanorattle exhibited tandem-reaction catalytic abilities. In addition, because of the shrinkage of the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) shell at high temperatures, the tandem reaction could be controlled to stop at the first reaction step. That is to say, only the hydrolysis reaction was catalyzed by the imidazole group being grafted on the surface of the shell. The reduction step in the tandem reaction catalyzed by the Ag particle, however, was switched off by the shrinkage of the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) shell. This protocol opens up an opportunity to develop controllable catalysts for complicated chemical processes.

Laser target fabrication, structure and method for its fabrication

DOEpatents

Farnum, Eugene H.; Fries, R. Jay

1985-01-01

The disclosure is directed to a laser target structure and its method of fabrication. The target structure comprises a target plate containing an orifice across which a pair of crosshairs are affixed. A microsphere is affixed to the crosshairs and enclosed by at least one hollow shell comprising two hemispheres attached together and to the crosshairs so that the microsphere is juxtapositioned at the center of the shell.

From the Island of the Blue Dolphins: A unique 19th century cache feature from San Nicolas Island, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Erlandson, Jon M.; Thomas-Barnett, Lisa; Vellanoweth, René L.; Schwartz, Steven J.; Muhs, Daniel R.

2013-01-01

A cache feature salvaged from an eroding sea cliff on San Nicolas Island produced two redwood boxes containing more than 200 artifacts of Nicoleño, Native Alaskan, and Euro-American origin. Outside the boxes were four asphaltum-coated baskets, abalone shells, a sandstone dish, and a hafted stone knife. The boxes, made from split redwood planks, contained a variety of artifacts and numerous unmodified bones and teeth from marine mammals, fish, birds, and large land mammals. Nicoleño-style artifacts include 11 knives with redwood handles and stone blades, stone projectile points, steatite ornaments and effigies, a carved stone pipe, abraders and burnishing stones, bird bone whistles, bone and shell pendants, abalone shell dishes, and two unusual barbed shell fishhooks. Artifacts of Native Alaskan style include four bone toggling harpoons, two unilaterally barbed bone harpoon heads, bone harpoon fore-shafts, a ground slate blade, and an adze blade. Objects of Euro-American origin or materials include a brass button, metal harpoon blades, and ten flaked glass bifaces. The contents of the cache feature, dating to the early-to-mid nineteenth century, provide an extraordinary window on a time of European expansion and global economic development that created unique cultural interactions and social transformations.

Enhanced Impact Resistance of Three-Dimensional-Printed Parts with Structured Filaments.

PubMed

Peng, Fang; Zhao, Zhiyang; Xia, Xuhui; Cakmak, Miko; Vogt, Bryan D

2018-05-09

Net-shape manufacture of customizable objects through three-dimensional (3D) printing offers tremendous promise for personalization to improve the fit, performance, and comfort associated with devices and tools used in our daily lives. However, the application of 3D printing in structural objects has been limited by their poor mechanical performance that manifests from the layer-by-layer process by which the part is produced. Here, this interfacial weakness is overcome using a structured, core-shell polymer filament where a polycarbonate (PC) core solidifies quickly to define the shape, whereas an olefin ionomer shell contains functionality (crystallinity and ionic) that strengthen the interface between the printed layers. This structured filament leads to improved dimensional accuracy and impact resistance in comparison to the individual components. The impact resistance from structured filaments containing 45 vol % shell can exceed 800 J/m. The origins of this improved impact resistance are probed using X-ray microcomputed tomography. Energy is dissipated by delamination of the shell from PC near the crack tip, whereas PC remains intact to provide stability to the part after impact. This structured filament provides tremendous improvements in the critical properties for manufacture and represents a major leap forward in the impact properties obtainable for 3D-printed parts.

Core–Shell to Doped Quantum Dots: Evolution of the Local Environment Using XAFS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saha, Avijit; Chattopadhyay, Soma; Shibata, Tomohiro

2016-09-30

Internal structure study at an atomic level is a challenging task with far reaching consequences to its material properties, specifically in the field of transition metal doping in quantum dots. Diffusion of transition metal ions in and out of quantum dots forming magnetic clusters has been a major bottleneck in this class of materials. Diffusion of the magnetic ions from the core into the nonmagnetic shell in a core/shell heterostructure architecture to attain uniform doping has been recently introduced and yet to be understood. In this work, we have studied the local structure variation of Fe as a function ofmore » CdS matrix thickness and annealing time during the overcoating of Fe 3O 4 core with CdS using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. The data reveals that Fe 3O 4 core initially forms a core/shell structure with CdS followed by alloying at the interface eventually completely diffusing all the way through the CdS matrix to form homogeneously Fe-doped CdS QDs with excellent control over size and size distribution. Study of Fe K-edge shows a complete change of Fe local environment from Fe–O to FeS.« less

Seasonality Records From Stable Isotopes and Trace Elements in Mussel and Limpet Shells From Archaeological Sites on Gibraltar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fa, D.; Ferguson, J. E.; Atkinson, T. C.; Barton, R. N.; Ditchfield, P.; Finlayson, G.; Finlayson, J. C.; Henderson, G. M.

2007-12-01

Seasonal resolution climate records from mid and high latitudes would allow investigation of the role of seasonality in controlling mean climate on diverse timescales, and of the evolution of climate systems such as the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). But achieving such seasonal resolution is difficult for regions outside the growth range of surface corals. Marine mollusc shells provide a possible archive and contain growth increments varying in scale from tidal to annual. However, finding and dating sequences of marine mollusc shells spanning long periods of time is difficult due to sea-level change and the destructional nature of most coastal environments. In this study, we have made use of the habit of hominins on Gibraltar to collect molluscs for food over at least the last 120 kyr. In archaeological excavations of two caves (Gorham's and Vanguard Caves), mollusc shells were found, in habitation levels and in sediment blown into the caves. Existing 14C, OSL, and U-series chronologies provide a chronological framework for this suite of samples. The species found are predominantly Mytilus (mussels) or Patella (limpets). Gibraltar is an interesting location for paleoclimate reconstruction due to its proximity to the boundary of modern day climate belts but also due to its anthropological and archaeological importance. To gain a quantitative understanding of the local controls on stable isotopes and trace elements within Gibraltarian shells, we have initiated a water-sampling programme; emplaced a temperature and salinity logger near the sampling site; and marked live Patella and Mytilus with fluorescent dye to firmly establish growth rates and controls on chemical composition. We have also conducted stable-isotope and trace-element analysis of modern and fossil Patella and Mytilus shells by micromilling. Recent Patella and Mytilus shells show that the oxygen isotope composition of modern shells allow the accurate reconstruction of the full seasonal range in sea-surface temperature. Analysis of three fossil Mytilus samples contained within a Neanderthal occupation level from approximately 115 kyr show clear annual cycles in δ 18O but with different absolute values. Patella samples have also been analysed from the last glacial and from 800-300B.C. Results allow an assessment of past changes in seasonality and of the utility of this archeological shell material as an archive for past change.

NaF-loaded core-shell PAN-PMMA nanofibers as reinforcements for Bis-GMA/TEGDMA restorative resins.

PubMed

Cheng, Liyuan; Zhou, Xuegang; Zhong, Hong; Deng, Xuliang; Cai, Qing; Yang, Xiaoping

2014-01-01

A kind of core-shell nanofibers containing sodium fluoride (NaF) was produced and used as reinforcing materials for dimethacrylate-based dental restorative resins in this study. The core-shell nanofibers were prepared by coaxial-electrospinning with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) solutions as core and shell fluids, respectively. The produced PAN-PMMA nanofibers varied in fiber diameter and the thickness of PMMA shell depending on electrospinning parameters. NaF-loaded nanofibers were obtained by incorporating NaF nanocrystals into the core fluid at two loadings (0.8 or 1.0wt.%). Embedment of NaF nanocrystals into the PAN core did not damage the core-shell structure. The addition of PAN-PMMA nanofibers into Bis-GMA/TEGDMA clearly showed the reinforcement due to the good interfacial adhesion between fibers and resin. The flexural strength (Fs) and flexural modulus (Ey) of the composites decreased slightly as the thickness of PMMA shell increasing. Sustained fluoride releases with minor initial burst release were achieved from NaF-loaded core-shell nanofibers and the corresponding composites, which was quite different from the case of embedding NaF nanocrystals into the dental resin directly. The study demonstrated that NaF-loaded PAN-PMMA core-shell nanofibers were not only able to improve the mechanical properties of restorative resin, but also able to provide sustained fluoride release to help in preventing secondary caries. © 2013.

The R-Shell approach - Using scheduling agents in complex distributed real-time systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Natarajan, Swaminathan; Zhao, Wei; Goforth, Andre

1993-01-01

Large, complex real-time systems such as space and avionics systems are extremely demanding in their scheduling requirements. The current OS design approaches are quite limited in the capabilities they provide for task scheduling. Typically, they simply implement a particular uniprocessor scheduling strategy and do not provide any special support for network scheduling, overload handling, fault tolerance, distributed processing, etc. Our design of the R-Shell real-time environment fcilitates the implementation of a variety of sophisticated but efficient scheduling strategies, including incorporation of all these capabilities. This is accomplished by the use of scheduling agents which reside in the application run-time environment and are responsible for coordinating the scheduling of the application.

3-D analysis of a containment equipment hatch

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Greimann, L.; Fanous, F.

1985-01-01

There are at least two models used to characterize the possible leakage of a containment during a severe accident: (1) the threshold model in which the containment is assumed to be leak-tight until certain pressure/temperature conditions are reached and a very large rupture occurs; and (2) the leak-before-break model in which small leak paths are hypothesized to develop at levels below the threshold. The objective of this work is to investigate the leak-before-break potential of a typical equipment hatch seal. The relative deformations of the sealing surfaces during pressurization are of interest, especially if any buckling of the hatch occurs.more » A three-dimensional finite element model of the equipment hatch assembly was developed. The model included: shell elements for the containment shell, containment stiffeners, penetration sleeve and hatch shell; prestressed bar elements for the swing bolts which hold the hatch closed; and interface elements for the sliding or opening which can occur at the seal surfaces. The nonlinear material properties were approximated by a piecewise linear curve with a proportional limit equal to one-half the yield strength. Geometric nonlinearities were also included in the model. As pressure increments were added to the finite element model, the seal surfaces tended to move together initially. The dominate observable behavior in this range was ''ovaling'' of the penetration sleeve relative to the hatch cover. Since the hatch itself tended to remain circular, there was a mismatch at the sealing surface. Friction reduces but does not eliminate this relative motion. As the containment reached a higher pressure level, the hatch began to buckle at the idealized imperfection. The finite element solution was incremented through the snapthrough. As this postbuckling occurred, additional seal interface distortion was observed.« less

Orexin in Rostral Hotspot of Nucleus Accumbens Enhances Sucrose ‘Liking' and Intake but Scopolamine in Caudal Shell Shifts ‘Liking' Toward ‘Disgust' and ‘Fear'

PubMed Central

Castro, Daniel C; Terry, Rachel A; Berridge, Kent C

2016-01-01

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) contains a hedonic hotspot in the rostral half of medial shell, where opioid agonist microinjections are known to enhance positive hedonic orofacial reactions to the taste of sucrose (‘liking' reactions). Within NAc shell, orexin/hypocretin also has been reported to stimulate food intake and is implicated in reward, whereas blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors by scopolamine suppresses intake and may have anti-reward effects. Here, we show that NAc microinjection of orexin-A in medial shell amplifies the hedonic impact of sucrose taste, but only within the same anatomically rostral site, identical to the opioid hotspot. By comparison, at all sites throughout medial shell, orexin microinjections stimulated ‘wanting' to eat, as reflected by increases in intake of palatable sweet chocolates. At NAc shell sites outside the hotspot, orexin selectively enhanced ‘wanting' to eat without enhancing sweetness ‘liking' reactions. In contrast, microinjections of the antagonist scopolamine at all sites in NAc shell suppressed sucrose ‘liking' reactions as well as suppressing intake of palatable food. Conversely, scopolamine increased aversive ‘disgust' reactions elicited by bitter quinine at all NAc shell sites. Finally, scopolamine microinjections localized to the caudal half of medial shell additionally generated a fear-related anti-predator reaction of defensive treading and burying directed toward the corners of the transparent chamber. Together, these results confirm a rostral hotspot in NAc medial shell as a unique site for orexin induction of hedonic ‘liking' enhancement, similar to opioid enhancement. They also reveal distinct roles for orexin and acetylcholine signals in NAc shell for hedonic reactions and motivated behaviors. PMID:26787120

Preliminary evaluation of physical and chemical characterization of waste palm oil shell as cool material replaced in asphaltic concrete as fine aggregate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anuar, M. A. M.; Anting, N.; Shahidan, S.; Lee, Y. Y.; Din, M. F. Md; Khalid, F. S.; Nazri, W. M. H. W.

2017-11-01

Malaysia is one of the biggest producer of palm oil product and currently as main source of economy for the country. During the production of crude palm oil, a large amount of waste material is generated, such as palm oil fibres, palm oil shells and empty fruit bunches. Palm oil shell aggregate (POSA) is identified as a material that shows good potential to be used as a fine aggregate replacement in asphaltic concrete. On other hand, the chemical compound that exist in the Palm Oil Shell (POS) have shown a good potential as reflective component in cool-material. The purpose of this study is to obtain the physical and chemical properties of palm oil shell. The result shows the apparent particle density of Palm Oil Shell is 1.6 mg/m3. The specific gravity of palm oil shell was obtained with the value 1.6 and the water absorption amount of palm oil shell recorded from this study was 25.1%. The X-Ray Fluorescence study shows that palm oil shell contains the highest amount of SiO2 (46.412 wt%) and the second highest amount of Fe2O3 (34.016 wt%), both is the main output of relectivity compound. As a conclusion, waste palm oil shell has a potential to be used as alternative material for fine aggregate replacement. Besides that, the amount of chemical element that consist in palm oil shell which high in SiO2 and Fe2O3, promising the benefit to mitigate urban heat island as a cooling material agent.

Compositional analysis and structural elucidation of glycosaminoglycans in chicken eggs

PubMed Central

Liu, Zhangguo; Zhang, Fuming; Li, Lingyun; Li, Guoyun; He, Wenqing; Linhardt, Robert J.

2014-01-01

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have numerous applications in the fields of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and foods. GAGs are also critically important in the developmental biology of all multicellular animals. GAGs were isolated from chicken egg components including yolk, thick egg white, thin egg white, membrane, calcified shell matrix supernatant, and shell matrix deposit. Disaccharide compositional analysis was performed using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results of these analyses showed that all four families of GAGs were detected in all egg components. Keratan sulfate was found in egg whites (thick and thin) and shell matrix (calcified shell matrix supernatant and deposit) with high level. Chondroitin sulfates were much more plentiful in both shell matrix components and membrane. Hyaluronan was plentiful in both shell matrix components and membrane, but were only present in a trace of quantities in the yolk. Heparan sulfate was plentiful in the shell matrix deposit but was present in a trace of quantities in the egg content components (yolk, thick and thin egg whites). Most of the chondroitin and heparan sulfate disaccharides were present in the GAGs found in chicken eggs with the exception of chondroitin and heparan sulfate 2,6-disulfated disaccharides. Both CS and HS in the shell matrix deposit contained the most diverse chondroitin and heparan sulfate disaccharide compositions. Eggs might provide a potential new source of GAGs. PMID:25218438

Highly narrow nanogap-containing Au@Au core-shell SERS nanoparticles: size-dependent Raman enhancement and applications in cancer cell imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Chongya; Shen, Jianlei; Yan, Juan; Zhong, Jian; Qin, Weiwei; Liu, Rui; Aldalbahi, Ali; Zuo, Xiaolei; Song, Shiping; Fan, Chunhai; He, Dannong

2016-01-01

Cellular imaging technologies employing metallic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tags have gained much interest toward clinical diagnostics, but they are still suffering from poor controlled distribution of hot spots and reproducibility of SERS signals. Here, we report the fabrication and characterization of high narrow nanogap-containing Au@Au core-shell SERS nanoparticles (GCNPs) for the identification and imaging of proteins overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells. First, plasmonic nanostructures are made of gold nanoparticles (~15 nm) coated with gold shells, between which a highly narrow and uniform nanogap (~1.1 nm) is formed owing to polyA anchored on the Au cores. The well controlled distribution of Raman reporter molecules, such as 4,4'-dipyridyl (44DP) and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), are readily encoded in the nanogap and can generate strong, reproducible SERS signals. In addition, we have investigated the size-dependent SERS activity of GCNPs and found that with the same laser wavelength, the Raman enhancement discriminated between particle sizes. The maximum Raman enhancement was achieved at a certain threshold of particle size (~76 nm). High narrow nanogap-containing Au@Au core-shell SERS tags (GCTs) were prepared via the functionalization of hyaluronic acid (HA) on GCNPs, which recognized the CD44 receptor, a tumor-associated surface biomarker. And it was shown that GCTs have a good targeting ability to tumour cells and promising prospects for multiplex biomarker detection.Cellular imaging technologies employing metallic surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tags have gained much interest toward clinical diagnostics, but they are still suffering from poor controlled distribution of hot spots and reproducibility of SERS signals. Here, we report the fabrication and characterization of high narrow nanogap-containing Au@Au core-shell SERS nanoparticles (GCNPs) for the identification and imaging of proteins overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells. First, plasmonic nanostructures are made of gold nanoparticles (~15 nm) coated with gold shells, between which a highly narrow and uniform nanogap (~1.1 nm) is formed owing to polyA anchored on the Au cores. The well controlled distribution of Raman reporter molecules, such as 4,4'-dipyridyl (44DP) and 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB), are readily encoded in the nanogap and can generate strong, reproducible SERS signals. In addition, we have investigated the size-dependent SERS activity of GCNPs and found that with the same laser wavelength, the Raman enhancement discriminated between particle sizes. The maximum Raman enhancement was achieved at a certain threshold of particle size (~76 nm). High narrow nanogap-containing Au@Au core-shell SERS tags (GCTs) were prepared via the functionalization of hyaluronic acid (HA) on GCNPs, which recognized the CD44 receptor, a tumor-associated surface biomarker. And it was shown that GCTs have a good targeting ability to tumour cells and promising prospects for multiplex biomarker detection. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06919j

Records of River Variation in the Shells of Freshwater Bivalves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carroll, M.; Romanek, C.

2005-12-01

The skeletons of hard-shelled invertebrates such as corals and bivalves are commonly used in marine settings as archives of environmental information. They are less commonly used in freshwater settings where variability in water chemistry makes it more difficult to calibrate chemical proxies such as the Sr:Ca in a shell. Our objective is to evaluate whether trace element concentrations in freshwater bivalve shells contain information on environmental conditions. Multiple elements (Ba, Cu, Mn and Sr) were analyzed within the shells of modern bivalves from four streams on DOE's Savannah River Site in S.C. Laser Ablation ICP-MS was used to measure elemental concentrations across five aragonitic shells from each site. These elements were chosen because they are present in detectable concentrations (ppm) in the shell and they have been suggested as useful proxies for temperature, rainfall, productivity and pollution. Results were compared to historical monthly site records of water chemistry and chemical analyses of water samples collected from the streams where the clams were found. The average shell concentrations of Sr and Mn were significantly different between sites and increased proportionally to water concentration. This was not observed for Ba and Cu. For example, the Ba concentrations of shells collected at a site downstream of a lake were higher than those for shells from stream sites with significantly higher dissolved Ba concentrations. Copper was only detected at dark growth lines with the number of lines and shell material between them varying between shells within the same stream. Intrashell profiles of Ba, Sr and Mn concentrations exhibited cyclical variation. The magnitude of cyclical variation for Mn and Sr within a shell corresponds with the annual variation in monthly water sample concentrations. Again, this pattern was not observed for Ba, especially in shells from the site downstream of a lake. This supports suggestions that particulate organic matter, to which Ba preferentially partitions, plays a role in bivalve Ba uptake. Finally, variations in Ba, Cu, Mn and Sr profiles across shells are not in unison. The individual elemental responses to biological and physicochemical effects suggest that the elemental records in freshwater bivalve shells can be interpreted as environmental proxies.

Mineral contents and their solubility on calcium carbonat calcite nanocrystals from cockle shell powder (Anadara granosa Linn)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widyastuti, S.; Pramushinta, I. A.

2018-03-01

Prepared and characterized calcium carbonat calcite nanocrystals improves solubility. Calcium carbonat calcite nanocrystals were synthesized using precipitation method from the waste of blood clam cockle shells (Anadara granosa Linn). This study was conducted to analyze mineral composition of nanocrystals calcium carbonat calcite cockle (Anadara granosa) shell for calcium fortification of food applications and to evaluate the solubilities of Calsium and Phospor. The sample of nanocrystals from cockle shells was evaluated to determine the content of 11 macro-and micro-elements. These elements are Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sodium (Na), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Ferrum (Fe), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Zink (Zn), Boron (B) and Silica (Si)). Cockleshell powders were found to contain toxic elements below detectable levels. The solubilities of Calcium and Phospor were p<0.05.

Processes in suspensions of nanocomposite microcapsules exposed to external electric fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ermakov, A. V.; Lomova, M. V.; Kim, V. P.; Chumakov, A. S.; Gorbachev, I. A.; Gorin, D. A.; Glukhovskoy, E. G.

2016-04-01

Microcapsules with and without magnetite nanoparticles incorporated in the polyelectrolyte shell were prepared. The effect of external electric field on the nanocomposite polyelectrolyte microcapsules containing magnetite nanoparticles in the shell was studied in this work as a function of the electric field strength. Effect of electric fields on polyelectrolyte microcapsules and the control over integrity of polyelectrolyte microcapsules with and without inorganic nanoparticles by constant electric field has been investigated. Beads effect, aggregation and deformations of nanocomposite microcapsule shell in response to electric field were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Thus, a new approach for effect on the nanocomposite microcapsule, including opening microcapsule shell by an electric field, was demonstrated. These results can be used for creation of new systems for drug delivery systems with controllable release by external electric field.

Ultra-low field nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic resonance imaging to discriminate and identify materials

DOEpatents

Kraus, Robert H.; Matlashov, Andrei N.; Espy, Michelle A.; Volegov, Petr L.

2010-03-30

An ultra-low magnetic field NMR system can non-invasively examine containers. Database matching techniques can then identify hazardous materials within the containers. Ultra-low field NMR systems are ideal for this purpose because they do not require large powerful magnets and because they can examine materials enclosed in conductive shells such as lead shells. The NMR examination technique can be combined with ultra-low field NMR imaging, where an NMR image is obtained and analyzed to identify target volumes. Spatial sensitivity encoding can also be used to identify target volumes. After the target volumes are identified the NMR measurement technique can be used to identify their contents.

A facile route to synthesize nanogels doped with silver nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coll Ferrer, M. Carme; Ferrier, Robert C.; Eckmann, David M.; Composto, Russell J.

2013-01-01

In this study, we describe a simple method to prepare hybrid nanogels consisting of a biocompatible core-shell polymer host containing silver nanoparticles. First, the nanogels (NG, 160 nm) containing a lysozyme rich core and a dextran rich shell, are prepared via Maillard and heat-gelation reactions. Second, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs, 5 nm) are synthesized "in situ" in the NG solution without requiring additional reducing agents. This approach leads to stable Ag NPs located in the NG. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the amount of Ag NPs in the NG can be tuned by varying silver precursor concentration. Hybrid nanogels with silver nanoparticles have potential in antimicrobial, optical, and therapeutic applications.

Nanosized (mu12-Pt)Pd164-xPtx(CO)72(PPh3)20 (x approximately 7) containing Pt-centered four-shell 165-atom Pd-Pt core with unprecedented intershell bridging carbonyl ligands: comparative analysis of icosahedral shell-growth patterns with geometrically related Pd145(CO)x(PEt3)30 (x approximately 60) containing capped three-shell Pd145 core.

PubMed

Mednikov, Evgueni G; Jewell, Matthew C; Dahl, Lawrence F

2007-09-19

Presented herein are the preparation and crystallographic/microanalytical/magnetic/spectroscopic characterization of the Pt-centered four-shell 165-atom Pd-Pt cluster, (mu(12)-Pt)Pd(164-x)Pt(x)(CO)(72)(PPh(3))(20) (x approximately 7), 1, that replaces the geometrically related capped three-shell icosahedral Pd(145) cluster, Pd(145)(CO)(x)(PEt(3))(30) (x approximately 60), 2, as the largest crystallographically determined discrete transition metal cluster with direct metal-metal bonding. A detailed comparison of their shell-growth patterns gives rise to important stereochemical implications concerning completely unexpected structural dissimilarities as well as similarities and provides new insight concerning possible synthetic approaches for generation of multi-shell metal clusters. 1 was reproducibly prepared in small yields (<10%) from the reaction of Pd(10)(CO)(12)(PPh(3))(6) with Pt(CO)(2)(PPh(3))(2). Its 165-atom metal-core geometry and 20 PPh(3) and 72 CO ligands were established from a low-temperature (100 K) CCD X-ray diffraction study. The well-determined crystal structure is attributed largely to 1 possessing cubic T(h) (2/m3) site symmetry, which is the highest crystallographic subgroup of the noncrystallographic pseudo-icosahedral I(h) (2/m35) symmetry. The "full" four-shell Pd-Pt anatomy of 1 consists of: (a) shell 1 with the centered (mu(12)-Pt) atom encapsulated by the 12-atom icosahedral Pt(x)Pd(12-x) cage, x = 1.2(3); (b) shell 2 with the 42-atom nu(2) icosahedral Pt(x)Pd(42-x) cage, x = 3.5(5); (c) shell 3 with the anti-Mackay 60-atom semi-regular rhombicosidodecahedral Pt(x)Pd(60-x) cage, x = 2.2(6); (d) shell 4 with the 50-atom nu(2) pentagonal dodecahedral Pd(50) cage. The total number of crystallographically estimated Pt atoms, 8 +/- 3, which was obtained from least-squares (Pt(x)/Pd(1-x))-occupancy analysis of the X-ray data that conclusively revealed the central atom to be pure Pt (occupancy factor, x = 1.00(3)), is fortuitously in agreement with that of 7.6(7) found from an X-ray Pt/Pd microanalysis (WDS spectrometer) on three crystals of 1. Our utilization of this site-occupancy (Pt(x)Pd(1-x))-analysis for shells 1-3 originated from the microanalytical results; otherwise, the presumed metal-core composition would have been (mu(12)-Pt)Pd(164). [Alternatively, the (mu(12)-Pt)M(164) core-geometry of 1 may be viewed as a pseudo-Ih Pt-centered six-shell successive nu(1) polyhedral system, each with radially equivalent vertex atoms: Pt@M(12)(icosahedron)@M(30)(icosidodecahedron)@M(12)(icosahedron)@M(60)(rhombicosidodecahedron)@M(30)(icosidodecahedron)@M(20)(pentagonal dodecahedron)]. Completely surprising structural dissimilarities between 1 and 2 are: (1) to date 1 is only reproducibly isolated as a heterometallic Pd-Pt cluster with a central Pt instead of Pd atom; (2) the 50 atoms comprising the outer fourth nu(2) pentagonal dodecahedral shell in 1 are less than the 60 atoms of the inner third shell in 1, in contradistinction to shell-by-shell growth processes in all other known shell-based structures; (3) the 10 fewer PR3 ligands in 1 necessitate larger bulky PPh(3) ligands to protect the Pd-Pt core-geometry; (4) the 72 CO ligands consist of six bridging COs within each of the 12 pentagons in shell 4 that are coordinated to intershell metal atoms. SQUID magnetometry measurements showed a single-crystal sample of 1 to be diamagnetic over the entire temperature range of 10-300 K.

Towards better light harvesting capability for DSSC (dye sensitized solar cells) through addition of Au@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fadhilah, Nur; Alhadi, Emha Riyadhul Jinan; Risanti, Doty Dewi

2018-04-01

The Au nanoparticles as core can increase the light harvesting due to the strong near-field effect LSPR (Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance), effectively minimized the electron recombination process and also can improve the optical absorption of the dye sensitized. Au@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles were prepared using SiO2 extracted from Sidoarjo mud volcano. In this work investigated the influence of pH solution and silica shell volume fraction in Au@SiO2 nanoparticles core-shell structure on DSSC loaded with Ru-based dye. From XRD characterization it was found that core-shell contains SiO2, Au, γAl2O3 and traces NaCl. UV-Vis absorption spectra of core-shell showed the position of the surface plasmon AuNP band in the range of 500-600 nm. The Au@SiO2 core-shell with volume fraction of 30ml silica has the highest peak absorbance. The enhanced light absorption is primarily attributed to the LSPR effect of the Au core. Our results on incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency indicates that the presence of SiO2 depending on its volume fraction tends to shift to longer wavelength.

Enhancing the methanol tolerance of platinum nanoparticles for the cathode reaction of direct methanol fuel cells through a geometric design.

PubMed

Feng, Yan; Ye, Feng; Liu, Hui; Yang, Jun

2015-11-18

Mastery over the structure of nanoparticles might be an effective way to enhance their performance for a given application. Herein we demonstrate the design of cage-bell nanostructures to enhance the methanol tolerance of platinum (Pt) nanoparticles while remaining their catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction. This strategy starts with the synthesis of core-shell-shell nanoparticles with Pt and silver (Ag) residing respectively in the core and inner shell regions, which are then agitated with saturated sodium chloride (NaCl) solution to eliminate the Ag component from the inner shell region, leading to the formation of bimetallic nanoparticles with a cage-bell structure, defined as a movable Pt core enclosed by a metal shell with nano-channels, which exhibit superior methanol-tolerant property in catalyzing oxygen reduction reaction due to the different diffusion behaviour of methanol and oxygen in the porous metal shell of cage-bell structured nanoparticles. In particular, the use of remarkably inexpensive chemical agent (NaCl) to promote the formation of cage-bell structured particles containing a wide spectrum of metal shells highlights its engineering merit to produce highly selective electrocatalysts on a large scale for the cathode reaction of direct methanol fuel cells.

The influence of HCl concentration and demineralization temperature of Atrina pectinata shells on quality of chitin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nugroho, Intan Lazuardi; Pursetyo, Kustiawan Tri; Masithah, Endang Dewi

2017-02-01

Atrina pectinata is one of shells species widely consumed by people, which means the high consumption will generate the availability of shells in the environment as waste. Chitin can be produced from the shells. Shells contain quite high minerals that it should be demineralized to reduce the mineral content from the shells. This study aimed to determine the effect of HCl concentration and temperature affect chitin characteristics as the result of demineralization process from pen shells. The method based on two steps, there were demineralization and deproteination. This study used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors, including HCl concentration (2N, 4N, and 6N) and temperature (33°C and 60°C) which consists six combination treatments and three replications. Data was analyzed by using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and followed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The results showed that interaction of HCl concentration and temperature has significant effect (p<0.05) to ash content of chitin. The use concentration of 6N and 33°C produced the lowest ash content. Characteristics chitin resulted from the treatment of 6N and 33°C produced ash content 25.33% ± 6.82, moisture content 3.67% ± 1.10, yield 0.72% ± 0.12 and protein content 5.86%.

Facile method for preparing organic/inorganic hybrid capsules using amino-functional silane coupling agent in aqueous media.

PubMed

Kurayama, Fumio; Suzuki, Satoru; Oyamada, Tetsuro; Furusawa, Takeshi; Sato, Masahide; Suzuki, Noboru

2010-09-01

A new and facile method for preparing microcapsules with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES)/alginate hybrid shell (AP-capsule) is proposed based on gelling and sol-gel processes. In this method, conventional capsules with alginate shells (Alg-capsule) are produced by dripping carboxymethyl cellulose solution containing calcium chloride into a sodium alginate solution. Subsequently, addition of the Alg-capsules to an aqueous APTES solution induces the formation of APTES/alginate hybrid shells. The optical observation shows that the texture of AP-capsules is more glossy and transparent than that of Alg-capsules. The surface morphology and elemental composition of microcapsules were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The results suggest that APTES molecules are incorporated to the framework of the alginate shells via electrostatic interaction between amino groups of APTES and carboxyl groups of alginate and the hybrid shells have a dense and homogeneous structure. In the formation reaction, the shrinking of the capsule shells occurs and the accumulation of APTES in the capsule shells proceeds with pseudo first-order kinetics. Moreover, these behaviors are greatly influenced by pH of the reaction solution, especially promoted under acidic and alkaline conditions. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Turning the halide switch in the synthesis of Au–Pd alloy and core–shell nanoicosahedra with terraced shells: Performance in electrochemical and plasmon-enhanced catalysis

DOE PAGES

Hsu, Shih -Cheng; Chuang, Yu -Chun; Sneed, Brian T.; ...

2016-01-01

Au Pd nanocrystals are an intriguing system to study the integrated functions of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and heterogeneous catalysis. Gold is both durable and can harness incident light energy to enhance the catalytic activity of another metal, such as Pd, via the SPR effect in bimetallic nanocrystals. Despite the superior catalytic performance of icosahedral (IH) nanocrystals compared to alternate morphologies, the controlled synthesis of alloy and core shell IH is still greatly challenged by the disparate reduction rates of metal precursors and lack of continuous epigrowth on multiply twinned boundaries of such surfaces. Herein, we demonstrate a one-stepmore » strategy for the controlled growth of monodisperse Au Pd alloy and core shell IH with terraced shells by turning an ionic switch between [Br ]/[Cl –] in the coreduction process. The core shell IH nanocrystals contain AuPd alloy cores and ultrathin Pd shells (<2 nm). They not only display more than double the activity of the commercial Pd catalysts in ethanol electrooxidation attributed to monatomic step terraces but also show SPR-enhanced conversion of 4-nitrophenol. Furthermore, this strategy holds promise toward the development of alternate bimetallic IH nanocrystals for electrochemical and plasmon-enhanced catalysis.« less

Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury in osprey eggs--1970-79--and their relationships to shell thinning and productivity

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wiemeyer, Stanley N.; Bunck, C.M.; Krynitsky, A.J.

1988-01-01

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) eggs were collected in 14 states in 1970-79 and analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury. Moderate shell thinning occurred in eggs from several areas. DDE was detected in all eggs, PCBs in 99%, DDD in 96%, dieldrin in 52%, and other compounds less frequently. Concentrations of DDT and its metabolites declined in eggs from Cape May County, New Jersey between 1970-72 and 1978-79. Eggs .from New Jersey in the early 1970s contained the highest concentrations of DDE. Dieldrin concentrations declined in eggs from the Potomac River, Maryland during 1971-77. Five different contaminants were significantly negatively correlated with shell thickness; DDE was most closely correlated. Ten percent shell thinning was associated with 2.0 ppm DDE, 15% with 4.2 ppm, and 20% with 8.7 ppm in eggs collected from randomly selected nests before egg loss. Shell thickness could not be accurately predicted from DDE concentrations in eggs collected after failure to hatch, presumably because the eggs with the thinnest shells had been broken and were unavailable for sampling. DDE was also significantly negatively correlated with brood size. Other contaminants did not appear to adversely affect shell thickness or reproductive success.

Disentangling controls on element impurities of bivalve shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Liqiang; Schöne, Bernd R.; Mertz-Kraus, Regina

2017-04-01

Trace and minor elements of bivalve shells can potentially serve as proxies of past environmental change. However, retrieving environmental information from element impurities of bivalve shells remains an extremely challenging task. A central difficulty concerns the fact that extrinsic and intrinsic factors governing the element incorporation are poorly constrained. Within the framework of the ARAMACC project, we aim to decipher the complexity of the incorporation of trace and minor elements into bivalve shells and explore their full potential as proxies of environmental change. More specifically, the following questions were tackled. (1) How are trace and minor elements transported from the ambient environment to the calcifying front? (2) How is their incorporation into the shells affected by environmental and physiological variables? Our findings lend support to the general assumption that divalent ions (e.g., Cu2+, Mn2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+) share the same transport pathways as Ca2+ because of similar ionic radii and electrochemical properties. However, results obtained for Mg2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ are particularly interesting as they are at odds with existing hypotheses on the incorporation of these three elements, i.e., intracellular Ca2+ pathways (via Ca2+ channels and Ca2+-ATPase) are likely not responsible for their incorporation. Despite the existence of strong physiological interference, some encouraging results were found, in particular (1) strong, positive relationships between the Sr, Ba and Mn contents of the shells and concentrations in the ambient water, (2) only minor effects of growth rate (which is closely linked to the rate of crystal growth and hence, kinetics) on the amounts of Na, Sr, Ba and Mn incorporation into the shells. Overall, our findings demonstrate that environmental and physiological controls on the element incorporation do not have to be mutually exclusive, i.e., if environmental changes outweigh physiological influences, one could still expect that trace and minor elements of bivalve shells serve as promising environmental proxies.

Rise of Air Bubbles in Aircraft Lubricating Oils

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robinson, J. V.

1950-01-01

Lubricating and antifoaming additives in aircraft lubricating oils may impede the escape of small bubbles from the oil by forming shells of liquid with a quasi-solid or gel structure around the bubbles. The rates of rise of small air bubbles, up to 2 millimeters in diameter, were measured at room temperature in an undoped oil, in the same oil containing foam inhibitors, and in an oil containing lubricating additives. The apparent diameter of the air bubbles was measured visually through an ocular micrometer on a traveling telescope. The bubbles in the undoped oil obeyed Stokes' Law, the rate of rise being proportional to the square of the apparent diameter and inversely proportional to the viscosity of the oil. The bubbles in the oils containing lubricating additives or foam inhibitors rose more slowly than the rate predicted by Stokes 1 Law from the apparent diameter, and the rate of rise decreased as the length of path the bubbles traveled increased. A method is derived to calculate the thickness of the liquid shell which would have to move with the bubbles in the doped oils to account for the abnoi'I!l8.lly slow velocity. The maximum thickness of this shell, calculated from the velocities observed, was equal to the bubble radius.

Static-stress analysis of dual-axis safety vessel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bultman, D. H.

1992-11-01

An 8 ft diameter safety vessel, made of HSLA-100 steel, is evaluated to determine its ability to contain the quasi-static residual pressure from a high explosive (HE) blast. The safety vessel is designed for use with the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrotest (DARHT) facility being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. A smaller confinement vessel fits inside the safety vessel and contains the actual explosion, and the safety vessel functions as a second layer of containment in the unlikely case of a confinement vessel leak. The safety vessel is analyzed as a pressure vessel based on the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section 8, Division 1, and the Welding Research Council Bulletin, WRC107. Combined stresses that result from internal pressure and external loads on nozzles are calculated and compared to the allowable stresses for HSLA-100 steel. Results confirm that the shell and nozzle components are adequately designed for a static pressure of 830 psi, plus the maximum expected external loads. Shell stresses at the 'shell to nozzle' interface, produced from external loads on the nozzles, were less than 700 psi. The maximum combined stress resulting from the internal pressure plus external loads was 17,384 psi, which is significantly less than the allowable stress of 42,375 psi for HSLA-100 steel.

Static-stress analysis of dual-axis confinement vessel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bultman, D. H.

1992-11-01

This study evaluates the static-pressure containment capability of a 6-ft-diameter, spherical vessel, made of HSLA-100 steel, to be used for high-explosive (HE) containment. The confinement vessel is designed for use with the Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrotest Facility (DARHT) being developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Two sets of openings in the vessel are covered with x-ray transparent covers to allow radiographic imaging of an explosion as it occurs inside the vessel. The confinement vessel is analyzed as a pressure vessel based on the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section 8, Division 1, and the Welding Research Council Bulletin, WRC-107. Combined stresses resulting from internal pressure and external loads on nozzles are calculated and compared with the allowable stresses for HSLA-100 steel. Results confirm that the shell and nozzles of the confinement vessel are adequately designed to safely contain the maximum residual pressure of 1675 psi that would result from an HE charge of 24.2 kg detonated in a vacuum. Shell stresses at the shell-to-nozzle interface, produced from external loads on the nozzles, were less than 400 psi. The maximum combined stress resulting from the internal pressure plus external loads was 16,070 psi, which is less than half the allowable stress of 42,375 psi for HSLA-100 steel.

Twin-belt continuous caster with containment and cooling of the exiting cast product for enabling high-speed casting of molten-center product

DOEpatents

Dykes, Charles D.; Daniel, Sabah S.; Wood, J. F. Barry

1990-02-20

In continuously casting molten metal into cast product by a twin-belt machine, it is desirable to achieve dramatic increases in speed (linear feet per minute) at which cast product exits the machine, particularly in installations where steel cast product is intended to feed a downstream regular rolling mill (as distinct from a planetary mill) operating in tandem with the twin-belt caster. Such high-speed casting produces product with a relatively thin shell and molten interior, and the shell tends to bulge outwardly due to metallostatic head pressure of the molten center. A number of cooperative features enable high-speed, twin-belt casting: (1) Each casting belt is slidably supported adjacent to the caster exit pulley for bulge control and enhanced cooling of cast product. (2) Lateral skew steering of each belt provides an effective increase in moving mold length plus a continuity of heat transfer not obtained with prior art belt steering apparatus. (3) The exiting slab is contained and supported downstream from the casting machine to prevent bulging of the shell of the cast product, and (4) spray cooling is incorporated in the exit containment apparatus for secondary cooling of cast product.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Li -Chen; Lu, Jie; Weck, Marcus

In shell cross-linked micelles (SCMs) containing acid sites in the shell and base sites in the core are prepared from amphiphilic poly(2-oxazoline) triblock copolymers. These materials are utilized as two-chamber nanoreactors for a prototypical acid-base bifunctional tandem deacetalization-nitroaldol reaction. Furthermore, the acid and base sites are localized in different regions of the micelle, allowing the two steps in the reaction sequence to largely proceed in separate compartments, akin to the compartmentalization that occurs in biological systems.

Demountable direct injection high efficiency nebulizer for inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

DOEpatents

Montaser, Akbar; Westphal, Craig S.; Kahen, Kaveh; Rutkowski, William F.; Acon, Billy W.

2006-12-05

A nebulizer adapted for adjusting a position of a capillary tube contained within the nebulizer is provided. The nebulizer includes an elongated tubular shell having a gas input port and a gas output port, a capillary adjustment adapter for displacing the capillary tube in a lateral direction via a rotational force, and a connector for connecting the elongated tubular shell, the capillary adjustment adapter and the capillary tube.

Synthesis and Characterization of Microencapsulated Phase Change Materials with Poly(urea-urethane) Shells Containing Cellulose Nanocrystals.

PubMed

Yoo, Youngman; Martinez, Carlos; Youngblood, Jeffrey P

2017-09-20

The main objective of this study is to develop microencapsulation technology for thermal energy storage incorporating a phase change material (PCM) in a composite wall shell, which can be used to create a stable environment and allow the PCM to undergo phase change without any outside influence. Surface modification of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was conducted by grafting poly(lactic acid) oligomers and oleic acid to improve the dispersion of nanoparticles in a polymeric shell. A microencapsulated phase change material (methyl laurate) with poly(urea-urethane) (PU) composite shells containing the hydrophobized cellulose nanocrystals (hCNCs) was fabricated using an in situ emulsion interfacial polymerization process. The encapsulation process of the PCMs with subsequent interfacial hCNC-PU to form composite microcapsules as well as their morphology, composition, thermal properties, and release rates was examined in this study. Oil soluble Sudan II dye solution in methyl laurate was used as a model hydrophobic fill, representing other latent fills with low partition coefficients, and their encapsulation efficiency as well as dye release rates were measured spectroscopically in a water medium. The influence of polyol content in the PU polymer matrix of microcapsules was investigated. An increase in polyol contents leads to an increase in the mean size of microcapsules but a decrease in the gel content (degree of cross-linking density) and permeability of their shell structure. The encapsulated PCMs for thermal energy storage demonstrated here exhibited promising performance for possible use in building or paving materials in terms of released heat, desired phase transformation temperature, chemical and physical stability, and concrete durability during placement.

Effect of sodium lauryl sulfate in dissolution media on dissolution of hard gelatin capsule shells.

PubMed

Zhao, Fang; Malayev, Vyacheslav; Rao, Venkatramana; Hussain, Munir

2004-01-01

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a commonly used surfactant in dissolution media for poorly water soluble drugs. However, it has occasionally been observed that SLS negatively impacts the dissolution of drug products formulated in gelatin capsules. This study investigated the effect of SLS on the dissolution of hard gelatin capsule shells. The USP paddle method was used with online UV monitoring at 214 nm (peptide bond). Empty size #0 capsule shells were held to the bottom of the dissolution vessel by magnetic three-prong sinkers. SLS significantly slowed down the dissolution of gelatin shells at pH < 5. Visually, the gelatin shells transformed into some less-soluble precipitate under these conditions. This precipitate was found to contain a higher sulfur content than the gelatin control sample by elemental analysis, indicating that SLS is part of the precipitate. Additionally, the slowdown of capsule shell dissolution was shown to be dependent on the SLS concentration and the ionic strength of the media. SLS interacts with gelatin to form a less-soluble precipitate at pH < 5. The use of SLS in dissolution media at acidic pH should be carefully evaluated for gelatin capsule products.

Characterization of preservative and pesticide as potential of bio oil compound from pyrolisis of cocoa shell using gas chromatography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mashuni, Jahiding, M.; Kurniasih, I.; Zulkaidah

2017-03-01

Cocoa shell is one of the plant waste that has not been widely used. Cocoa shell is potential as a producer of bio oil because it contains lignocellulose. The bio oil of Liquid volatile matter (LVM) is the products of smoke condensation from the pyrolysis reactor. The bio oil of cocoa shell from pyrolysis process can be made as raw materials for the application of pesticide and preservative. The aims of this research were to produce bio oil from cocoa shell by pyrolysis and analyzing the content using Gas Chromatography (GC). Bio oil production was done by pyrolysis with variations of temperature, i.e. 400, 500, 600 and 700 °C. Pyrolysis reaction generates three products: gas, liquid and solid. The yield of bio oil with variations of pyrolisis temperature, i.e. 400, 500, 600 and 700 °C were obtained i.e. 46, 45, 44 and 40% (v/w), respectively. The chromatogram results showed the chemical components of bio oil from the cocoa shell were ammonia, hexane, alcohol, ketone, acid and phenolic compounds which can be used as material of preservative and pesticide.

Entrapment of carbon dioxide with chitosan-based core-shell particles containing changeable cores.

PubMed

Dong, Yanrui; Fu, Yinghao; Lin, Xia; Xiao, Congming

2016-08-01

Water-soluble chitosan-based core-shell particles that contained changeable cores were successfully applied to anchor carbon dioxide. The entrapment capacity of the particles for carbon dioxide (EC) depended on the cores. It was found that EC of the particles contained aqueous cores was higher than that of the beads with water-soluble chitosan gel cores, which was confirmed with thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, calcium ions and sodium hydroxide were introduced within the particles to examine their effect on the entrapment. EC of the particles was enhanced with sodium hydroxide when the cores were WSC gel. The incorporation of calcium ions was helpful for stabilizing carbon dioxide through the formation of calcium carbonate, which was verified with Fourier transform infrared spectra and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectrometry. This phenomenon meant the role of calcium ions for fixating carbon dioxide was significant. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Highly efficient siRNA delivery from core-shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles with multifunctional polymer caps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Möller, Karin; Müller, Katharina; Engelke, Hanna; Bräuchle, Christoph; Wagner, Ernst; Bein, Thomas

2016-02-01

A new general route for siRNA delivery is presented combining porous core-shell silica nanocarriers with a modularly designed multifunctional block copolymer. Specifically, the internal storage and release of siRNA from mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with orthogonal core-shell surface chemistry was investigated as a function of pore-size, pore morphology, surface properties and pH. Very high siRNA loading capacities of up to 380 μg per mg MSN were obtained with charge-matched amino-functionalized mesoporous cores, and release profiles show up to 80% siRNA elution after 24 h. We demonstrate that adsorption and desorption of siRNA is mainly driven by electrostatic interactions, which allow for high loading capacities even in medium-sized mesopores with pore diameters down to 4 nm in a stellate pore morphology. The negatively charged MSN shell enabled the association with a block copolymer containing positively charged artificial amino acids and oleic acid blocks, which acts simultaneously as capping and endosomal release agent. The potential of this multifunctional delivery platform is demonstrated by highly effective cell transfection and siRNA delivery into KB-cells. A luciferase reporter gene knock-down of up to 80-90% was possible using extremely low cell exposures with only 2.5 μg MSN containing 0.5 μg siRNA per 100 μL well.A new general route for siRNA delivery is presented combining porous core-shell silica nanocarriers with a modularly designed multifunctional block copolymer. Specifically, the internal storage and release of siRNA from mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with orthogonal core-shell surface chemistry was investigated as a function of pore-size, pore morphology, surface properties and pH. Very high siRNA loading capacities of up to 380 μg per mg MSN were obtained with charge-matched amino-functionalized mesoporous cores, and release profiles show up to 80% siRNA elution after 24 h. We demonstrate that adsorption and desorption of siRNA is mainly driven by electrostatic interactions, which allow for high loading capacities even in medium-sized mesopores with pore diameters down to 4 nm in a stellate pore morphology. The negatively charged MSN shell enabled the association with a block copolymer containing positively charged artificial amino acids and oleic acid blocks, which acts simultaneously as capping and endosomal release agent. The potential of this multifunctional delivery platform is demonstrated by highly effective cell transfection and siRNA delivery into KB-cells. A luciferase reporter gene knock-down of up to 80-90% was possible using extremely low cell exposures with only 2.5 μg MSN containing 0.5 μg siRNA per 100 μL well. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: MSN synthesis and analysis, sample preparation for cell transfections as well as additional studies including experiments with a second cell line and a toxicity assay. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06246b

Automation of peanut drying with a sensor network including an in-shell kernel moisture sensor

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Peanut drying is an essential task in the processing and handling of peanuts. Peanuts leave the fields with kernel moisture contents > 20% wet basis and need to be dried to < 10.5% w.b. for grading and storage purposes. Current peanut drying processes utilize decision support software based on model...

HR Del REMNANT ANATOMY USING TWO-DIMENSIONAL SPECTRAL DATA AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL PHOTOIONIZATION SHELL MODELS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moraes, Manoel; Diaz, Marcos

2009-12-15

The HR Del nova remnant was observed with the IFU-GMOS at Gemini North. The spatially resolved spectral data cube was used in the kinematic, morphological, and abundance analysis of the ejecta. The line maps show a very clumpy shell with two main symmetric structures. The first one is the outer part of the shell seen in H{alpha}, which forms two rings projected in the sky plane. These ring structures correspond to a closed hourglass shape, first proposed by Harman and O'Brien. The equatorial emission enhancement is caused by the superimposed hourglass structures in the line of sight. The second structuremore » seen only in the [O III] and [N II] maps is located along the polar directions inside the hourglass structure. Abundance gradients between the polar caps and equatorial region were not found. However, the outer part of the shell seems to be less abundant in oxygen and nitrogen than the inner regions. Detailed 2.5-dimensional photoionization modeling of the three-dimensional shell was performed using the mass distribution inferred from the observations and the presence of mass clumps. The resulting model grids are used to constrain the physical properties of the shell as well as the central ionizing source. A sequence of three-dimensional clumpy models including a disk-shaped ionization source is able to reproduce the ionization gradients between polar and equatorial regions of the shell. Differences between shell axial ratios in different lines can also be explained by aspherical illumination. A total shell mass of 9 x 10{sup -4} M {sub sun} is derived from these models. We estimate that 50%-70% of the shell mass is contained in neutral clumps with density contrast up to a factor of 30.« less

Realistic Gamow shell model for resonance and continuum in atomic nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, F. R.; Sun, Z. H.; Wu, Q.; Hu, B. S.; Dai, S. J.

2018-02-01

The Gamow shell model can describe resonance and continuum for atomic nuclei. The model is established in the complex-moment (complex-k) plane of the Berggren coordinates in which bound, resonant and continuum states are treated on equal footing self-consistently. In the present work, the realistic nuclear force, CD Bonn, has been used. We have developed the full \\hat{Q}-box folded-diagram method to derive the realistic effective interaction in the model space which is nondegenerate and contains resonance and continuum channels. The CD-Bonn potential is renormalized using the V low-k method. With choosing 16O as the inert core, we have applied the Gamow shell model to oxygen isotopes.

[Cooling shell in renal transplantation. Thermometric evaluation of a prototype].

PubMed

Desgrandchamps, F; Eugene, M; Tuchschmid, Y; Muller, F; Teillac, P; Idatte, J M; Le Duc, A

1996-02-01

We have developed a cooling system for renal transplants designed to eliminate the second period of warm ischaemia corresponding to the vascular anastomosis phase of renal transplantation. This is an autonomous and independent system which forms a shell around the transplant. Following application of the system, cooling is achieved by refrigeration of a Multitherm sponge contained in the wall of the shell. The thermometric characteristics of a prototype were evaluated in vitro and in vivo in pigs. This system allows the kidney to be preserved at a temperature of less than 10 degrees C for 1 hour without inducing any risk of lesions of the renal surface. Human applications should be developed in the near future.

Hierarchic plate and shell models based on p-extension

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Szabo, Barna A.; Sahrmann, Glenn J.

1988-01-01

Formulations of finite element models for beams, arches, plates and shells based on the principle of virtual work was studied. The focus is on computer implementation of hierarchic sequences of finite element models suitable for numerical solution of a large variety of practical problems which may concurrently contain thin and thick plates and shells, stiffeners, and regions where three dimensional representation is required. The approximate solutions corresponding to the hierarchic sequence of models converge to the exact solution of the fully three dimensional model. The stopping criterion is based on: (1) estimation of the relative error in energy norm; (2) equilibrium tests, and (3) observation of the convergence of quantities of interest.

Loop Variables in String Theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sathiapalan, B.

The loop variable approach is a proposal for a gauge-invariant generalization of the sigma-model renormalization group method of obtaining equations of motion in string theory. The basic guiding principle is space-time gauge invariance rather than world sheet properties. In essence it is a version of Wilson's exact renormalization group equation for the world sheet theory. It involves all the massive modes and is defined with a finite world sheet cutoff, which allows one to go off the mass-shell. On shell the tree amplitudes of string theory are reproduced. The equations are gauge-invariant off shell also. This paper is a self-contained discussion of the loop variable approach as well as its connection with the Wilsonian RG.

Demographic patterns of postfire regeneration in mediterranean-climate shrublands of California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Keeley, J.E.; Fotheringham, C.J.; Baer-Keeley, M.

2006-01-01

Eggs of captive black ducks fed diets containing DDE at 10 and 30 ppm (dry weight) experienced significant shell thinning and an increase in shell cracking when compared to eggs of untreated black ducks. Eggshells from dosed ducks were: 18-24 percent thinner at the equator than shells from undosed ducks; 28-31 percent thinner at the cap; and 29-38 percent thinner at the apex. Shell cracking averaged 21 percent among eggs fram the 30 ppm DDE dosage and 10 percent among eggs from the 10 ppm dosage. Only 2 percent of the eggs from untreated black ducks were cracked. Survival of ducklings fram dosed parents in terms of 'percentage of 21-day ducklings of embryonated eggs' was 40-76 percent lower than survival of ducklings from undosed parents. Average DDE residues (wet weight) in eggs from hens fed 10 and 30 ppm DDE were 46 ppm and 144 ppm, respectively.

The ultrastructure of shelled and unshelled cashew nuts.

PubMed

Muniz, Celli R; Freire, Francisco C O; Soares, Arlete Aparecida; Cooke, Peter H; Guedes, Maria I F

2013-01-01

Cashew nuts have many attributes, including sensory, nutritional and health appeal, which contribute to their worldwide acceptance. We demonstrate details of the microstructure of shelled and unshelled cashew kernels with regard to pericarp and cotyledon organization. This study also provides evidence of the colonization of these kernels by filamentous fungi. Nuts were examined by scanning electron and confocal scanning laser microscopy. Staining with acridine orange was performed. A tight lignified palisade layer adjacent to the exocarp surface explains the hardness of the shell's pericarp. The mesocarp contains large secretory cavities that confer a spongy property to this tissue. Papillose cells, which are responsible for secreting CNSL (cashew nutshell liquid), were observed to cover the inner wall of these cavities. Lipid components are readily released from the parenchyma and appear as oil droplets. The outer surface of the shelled samples exhibited a dense Aspergillus infestation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment of single-shell tank residual-liquid issues at Hanford Site, Washington

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Murthy, K.S.; Stout, L.A.; Napier, B.A.

1983-06-01

This report provides an assessment of the overall effectiveness and implications of jet pumping the interstitial liquids (IL) from single-shell tanks at Hanford. The jet-pumping program, currently in progress at Hanford, involves the planned removal of IL contained in 89 of the 149 single-shell tanks and its transfer to double-shell tanks after volume reduction by evaporation. The purpose of this report is to estimate the public and worker doses associated with (1) terminating pumping immediately, (2) pumping to a 100,000-gal limit per tank, (3) pumping to a 50,000-gal limit per tank, and (4) pumping to the maximum practical liquid removalmore » level of 30,000 gal. Assessment of the cost-effectiveness of these various levels of pumping in minimizing any undue health and safety risks to the public or worker is also presented.« less

The crack problem in a reinforced cylindrical shell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yahsi, O. S.; Erdogan, F.

1986-01-01

In this paper a partially reinforced cylinder containing an axial through crack is considered. The reinforcement is assumed to be fully bonded to the main cylinder. The composite cylinder is thus modelled by a nonhomogeneous shell having a step change in the elastic properties at the z=0 plane, z being the axial coordinate. Using a Reissner type transverse shear theory the problem is reduced to a pair of singular integral equations. In the special case of a crack tip touching the bimaterial interface it is shown that the dominant parts of the kernels of the integral equations associated with both membrane loading and bending of the shell reduce to the generalized Cauchy kernel obtained for the corresponding plane stress case. The integral equations are solved and the stress intensity factors are given for various crack and shell dimensions. A bonded fiberglass reinforcement which may serve as a crack arrestor is used as an example.

The crack problem in a reinforced cylindrical shell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yahsi, O. S.; Erdogan, F.

1986-01-01

A partially reinforced cylinder containing an axial through crack is considered. The reinforcement is assumed to be fully bonded to the main cylinder. The composite cylinder is thus modelled by a nonhomogeneous shell having a step change in the elastic properties at the z = 0 plane, z being the axial coordinate. Using a Reissner type transverse shear theory the problem is reduced to a pair of singular integral equations. In the special case of a crack tip touching the bimaterial interface it is shown that the dominant parts of the kernels of the integral equations associated with both membrane loading and bending of the shell reduce to the generalized Cauchy kernel obtained for the corresponding plane stress case. The integral equations are solved and the stress intensity factors are given for various crack and shell dimensions. A bonded fiberglass reinforcement which may serve as a crack arrestor is used as an example.

Structural and energetic properties of La3+ in water/DMSO mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Montagna, Maria; Spezia, Riccardo; Bodo, Enrico

2017-11-01

By using molecular dynamics based on a custom polarizable force field, we have studied the solvation of La3+ in an equimolar mixture of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) with water. An extended structural analysis has been performed to provide a complete picture of the physical properties at the basis of the interaction of La3+ with both solvents. Through our simulations we found that, very likely, the first solvation shell in the mixture is not unlike the one found in pure water or pure DMSO and contains 9 solvent molecules. We have also found that the solvation is preferentially due to DMSO molecules with the water initially present in first shell quickly leaving to the bulk. The dehydration process of the first shell has been analyzed by both plain MD simulations and a constrained dynamics approach; the free energy profiles for the extraction of water from first shell have also been computed.

Coordination radii in diamond, zinc blende, and CaF2 structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hall, George L.

1982-07-01

The radii of all ''shells'' of atoms about any lattice point are given for these three structures, and for the zinc blende (AB) and CaF2 (AB2) structures it is shown that all shells about an A origin and all shells about a B origin are of pure type, i.e., contain only A's or only B's. The initial sequence (small radii) of shell types does not continue indefinitely and is broken according to rules completely specified. These results are analogous to those reported by Hall and Christy earlier for the NaCl and CsCl structures in which the ABABABṡṡṡ sequence for NaCl and the ABAABAABAAṡṡṡ for CsCl, both taken about an A origin, do not continue indefinitely. It is shown that Ferris-Prabhu's results for diamond violate theorem 1 of Hall and Christy.

Internal structure of InP/ZnS nanocrystals unraveled by high-resolution soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

PubMed

Huang, Kai; Demadrille, Renaud; Silly, Mathieu G; Sirotti, Fausto; Reiss, Peter; Renault, Olivier

2010-08-24

High-energy resolution photoelectron spectroscopy (DeltaE < 200 meV) is used to investigate the internal structure of semiconductor quantum dots containing low Z-contrast elements. In InP/ZnS core/shell nanocrystals synthesized using a single-step procedure (core and shell precursors added at the same time), a homogeneously alloyed InPZnS core structure is evidenced by quantitative analysis of their In3d(5/2) spectra recorded at variable excitation energy. When using a two-step method (core InP nanocrystal synthesis followed by subsequent ZnS shell growth), XPS analysis reveals a graded core/shell interface. We demonstrate the existence of In-S and S(x)-In-P(1-x) bonding states in both types of InP/ZnS nanocrystals, which allows a refined view on the underlying reaction mechanisms.

Quantifying the Impact of Nanoparticle Coatings and Non-uniformities on XPS Analysis: Gold/silver Core-shell Nanoparticles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Yung-Chen Andrew; Engelhard, Mark H.; Baer, Donald R.

2016-03-07

Abstract or short description: Spectral modeling of photoelectrons can serve as a valuable tool when combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Herein, a new version of the NIST Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA 2.0) software, capable of directly simulating spherical multilayer NPs, was applied to model citrate stabilized Au/Ag-core/shell nanoparticles (NPs). The NPs were characterized using XPS and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to determine the composition and morphology of the NPs. The Au/Ag-core/shell NPs were observed to be polydispersed in size, non-circular, and contain off-centered Au-cores. Using the average NP dimensions determined from STEM analysis,more » SESSA spectral modeling indicated that washed Au/Ag-core shell NPs were stabilized with a 0.8 nm l« less

Water vapor permeability of the rigid-shelled gecko egg.

PubMed

Andrews, Robin M

2012-07-01

The vast majority of squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) produce parchment-shelled eggs that absorb water during incubation, and thus increase in mass, volume, and surface area. In contrast, females from a single monophyletic lineage of gekkotan lizards produce rigid-shelled eggs. These eggs are functionally comparable to those of birds, that is, at oviposition, eggs contain all the water needed for development, and their mass decreases during incubation via the diffusion of water vapor through the shell. I determined patterns of water loss and shell permeability to water vapor from oviposition to hatching for the rigid-shelled eggs of the gekkonid Chrondrodactylus turneri and compared permeability of C. turneri eggs to those of birds and other squamates. Chrondrodactylus turneri eggs incubated at 28.5°C and 40% relative humidity (RH) decreased in mass by 14% over the course of a 68-day incubation period. The rate of water loss varied during incubation; egg mass decreased rapidly during the first 8 days of incubation, declined at a low constant rate during the next 35 days, and then decreased rapidly during the final 25 days of incubation. Overall permeability was 0.17 mg/day/kPa/cm(2) . Percent water loss of rigid-shelled gecko eggs during incubation is similar to that exhibited by birds, but water vapor permeability is about one-third that of bird eggs and several orders of magnitude lower than that of parchment-shelled squamate eggs. In general, the water economy of their eggs may be associated with the adaptive radiation of the rigid-shelled sphaerodactylid, phyllodactylid, and gekkonid geckos. © 2012 WILEY PERIODICALS, INC.

Ancient DNA analysis identifies marine mollusc shells as new metagenomic archives of the past.

PubMed

Der Sarkissian, Clio; Pichereau, Vianney; Dupont, Catherine; Ilsøe, Peter C; Perrigault, Mickael; Butler, Paul; Chauvaud, Laurent; Eiríksson, Jón; Scourse, James; Paillard, Christine; Orlando, Ludovic

2017-09-01

Marine mollusc shells enclose a wealth of information on coastal organisms and their environment. Their life history traits as well as (palaeo-) environmental conditions, including temperature, food availability, salinity and pollution, can be traced through the analysis of their shell (micro-) structure and biogeochemical composition. Adding to this list, the DNA entrapped in shell carbonate biominerals potentially offers a novel and complementary proxy both for reconstructing palaeoenvironments and tracking mollusc evolutionary trajectories. Here, we assess this potential by applying DNA extraction, high-throughput shotgun DNA sequencing and metagenomic analyses to marine mollusc shells spanning the last ~7,000 years. We report successful DNA extraction from shells, including a variety of ancient specimens, and find that DNA recovery is highly dependent on their biomineral structure, carbonate layer preservation and disease state. We demonstrate positive taxonomic identification of mollusc species using a combination of mitochondrial DNA genomes, barcodes, genome-scale data and metagenomic approaches. We also find shell biominerals to contain a diversity of microbial DNA from the marine environment. Finally, we reconstruct genomic sequences of organisms closely related to the Vibrio tapetis bacteria from Manila clam shells previously diagnosed with Brown Ring Disease. Our results reveal marine mollusc shells as novel genetic archives of the past, which opens new perspectives in ancient DNA research, with the potential to reconstruct the evolutionary history of molluscs, microbial communities and pathogens in the face of environmental changes. Other future applications include conservation of endangered mollusc species and aquaculture management. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A Tutor That's Up to the Task

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

With assistance from NASA s Marshall Space Flight Center, a new breed of ITS for technical training and complex problem-solving has hit the market to provide students and trainees with the decision-making skills necessary to succeed to the next level. The Task Tutor Toolkit (T3), developed by Stottler Henke Associates, Inc., of San Mateo, California, is a generic tutoring system shell and scenario authoring tool that emulates expert instructors and lowers the cost and difficulty of creating scenario-based ITS for technical training. The functionality of Stottler Henke Associates T3 far exceeds that of traditional computer-based training systems, which test factual recall and narrow skills by prompting students to answer multiple-choice or fill-inthe- blank questions. The T3, on the contrary, lets students assess situations, generate solutions, make decisions, and carry out actions in realistically complex scenarios.At the beginning of each scenario, the T3 tutoring system presents a briefing that describes the situation and the goals the students should pursue. Each scenario contains a solution template that specifies a partially-ordered sequence of action patterns that match correct sequences of student actions. During each scenario, the built-in simulator notifies the tutoring system of each student action. The T3 uses this information to evaluate the student action by comparing it with the scenario s solution template and with error rules that detect incorrect actions.

Structural proteins in the egg-shell of the oriental garden cricket, Gryllus mitratus

PubMed Central

Kawasaki, Hiroya; Sato, Hitoshi; Suzuki, Motoko

1971-01-01

1. The egg-shell of the oriental garden cricket, Gryllus mitratus, contained at least two different types of structural protein in an approximate ratio of 5:1. The major fraction was extracted in a solvent containing dithiothreitol, EDTA and 8m-urea, and was purified to apparent homogeneity as judged by free-boundary electrophoresis and ultracentrifugation. This was designated SH-fraction and its S-carboxymethyl derivative (CM-fraction) was also prepared. The minor fraction, insoluble in the solvent, was designated insoluble residue. 2. The major fraction was a phosphoprotein, rich in serine (29.8mol% of the total amino acids) and phosphate (nearly equimolar to serine), and O-phosphoserine was identified in its partial acid hydrolysate. The content of cystine was rather low (0.9mol%) in spite of the importance of this amino acid residue in the native form of the protein. The insoluble residue contained only a small amount of phosphorus, and its amino acid composition was clearly different from the major fraction. 3. CM-fraction, a fibrous protein with an average molecular weight of 57500, behaved as a typical polyanion owing to the high content of phosphate. SH-fraction and CM-fraction were precipitable from their aqueous solutions by the addition of bivalent metal cations, and the precipitation of CM-fraction by Ca2+ and Mg2+ was studied in detail. 4. When SH-fraction was exposed to air, intermolecular disulphide linkages were formed, yielding a net-like gel that changed its volume with changes in Ca2+, Mg2+ and Na+. 5. The possible role of this protein fraction in maintaining the integrity of the egg-shell, and a comparison of its composition and properties with other egg-shell proteins and other phosphoproteins, are discussed. ImagesFig. 2.PLATE 1 PMID:5004198

A Large Metabolic Carbon Ccontribution to the δ13C Record in Marine Aragonitic Bivalve Shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillikin, D. P.; Lorrain, A.; Dehairs, F.

2006-12-01

The stable carbon isotopic signature archived in bivalve shells was originally thought to record the δ13C of seawater dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13C-DIC). However, more recent studies have shown that the incorporation of isotopically light metabolic carbon (M) significantly affects the δ13C signal recorded in biogenic carbonates. To assess the M contribution to Mercenaria mercenaria shells collected in North Carolina, USA, we sampled seawater δ13C-DIC, tissue, hemolymph and shell δ13C. We found up to a 4‰ decrease through ontogeny in shell δ13C in a 23 year old individual. There was no correlation between shell height or age and tissue δ13C. Thus, the ontogenic decrease observed in the shell δ13C could not be attributed to changes in food sources as the animal ages leading to more negative metabolic CO2, since this would require a negative relationship between tissue δ13C and shell height. Hemolymph δ13C, on the other hand, did exhibit a negative relationship with height, but the δ13C values were more positive than expected, indicating that hemolymph may not be a good proxy of extrapallial fluid δ13C. Nevertheless, the hemolymph data indicate that respired CO2 does influence the δ13C of internal fluids and that the amount of respired CO2 is related to the age of the bivalve. The percent metabolic C incorporated into the shell (%M) was significantly higher (up to 37%) than has been found in other bivalve shells, which usually contain less than 10 %M. Attempts to use shell biometrics to predict %M could not explain more than ~60% of the observed variability. Moreover, there were large differences in the %M between different sites. Thus, the metabolic effect on shell δ13C cannot easily be accounted for to allow reliable δ13C-DIC reconstructions. However, there does seem to be a common effect of size, as all sites had indistinguishable slopes between the %M and shell height (+0.19% per mm of shell height).

Diving into Science. Hands-On Water-Related Experiments. Grades 2-4.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perdue, Peggy K.

This book contains hands-on ocean-related laboratory activities. Major chapter hearings are: (1) "Water Experiments" (dealing with the physical nature of water and listing 10 activities); (2) "Ocean-Going Vessels" (studying the principles of boats, with three experiments); (3) "Experiments Using Shells" (containing four activities); (4) "Sand…

Special nuclear material simulation device

DOEpatents

Leckey, John H.; DeMint, Amy; Gooch, Jack; Hawk, Todd; Pickett, Chris A.; Blessinger, Chris; York, Robbie L.

2014-08-12

An apparatus for simulating special nuclear material is provided. The apparatus typically contains a small quantity of special nuclear material (SNM) in a configuration that simulates a much larger quantity of SNM. Generally the apparatus includes a spherical shell that is formed from an alloy containing a small quantity of highly enriched uranium. Also typically provided is a core of depleted uranium. A spacer, typically aluminum, may be used to separate the depleted uranium from the shell of uranium alloy. A cladding, typically made of titanium, is provided to seal the source. Methods are provided to simulate SNM for testing radiation monitoring portals. Typically the methods use at least one primary SNM spectral line and exclude at least one secondary SNM spectral line.

Vertical vibration dynamics of acoustically levitated drop containing two immiscible liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zang, Duyang; Zhai, Zhicong; Li, Lin; Lin, Kejun; Li, Xiaoguang; Geng, Xingguo

2016-09-01

We have studied the levitation and oscillation dynamics of complex drops containing two immiscible liquids. Two types of drops, core-shell drop and abnormal-shaped drop, have been obtained depending on the levitation procedures. The oscillation dynamics of the drops have been studied using a high speed camera. It has been found that the oscillation of the abnormal-shaped drop has a longer oscillation period and decays much faster than that of the core-shell drop, which cannot be accounted for by the air resistance itself. The acoustic streaming induced by ultrasound may bring an additional force against the motion of the drop due to the Bernoulli effect. This is responsible for the enhanced damping during the oscillation in acoustic levitation.

Imaging and estimating the surface heterogeneity on a droplet containing cosolvents.

PubMed

Fang, Xiaohua; Li, Bingquan; Wu, Jun; Maldarelli, Charles; Sokolov, Jonathan C; Rafailovich, Miriam H; Somasundaran, Ponisseril

2009-07-23

Cosolvents have numerous applications in many industries as well as scientific research. The shortage in the knowledge of the structures in a cosolvent system is significant. In this work, we display the spatial as well as the kinetic distribution of the cosolvents using droplets as paradigms. When an alcohol/water-containing sessile droplet evaporates on a substrate, it phase segregates into a water-enriched core and a thin alcohol prevailing shell. This is considered to be due to the different escaping rate of solvents out of the liquid-vapor (l-v) interfaces. In between the core and shell phases, there exists a rough and solid-like liquid-liquid (l-l) wall interface as marked by the fluorescent polystyrene spheres and imaged by a confocal microscope. Holes and patches of beads are observed to form on this phase boundary. The water-dispersed beads prefer to partition within the core. The shell prevails in the droplet during most of the drying and shrinks with the l-v boundary. By monitoring the morphological progression of the droplet, the composition of the cosolvent at the liquid-vapor interface is obtained.

Homogeneous Nanodiamonds Are Different in Reality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Chi-Chin; Gottfried, Jennifer; Pesce-Rodriguez, Rose; Advanced Energetic Materials Team

Commercial detonation nanodiamonds (ND) have been investigated for many applications. They consist of carbon nanoparticles with diamond cores surrounded by onion-like graphitic shells. Unfortunately, variations in the purity and carbon structure between commercial ND samples due to variations in synthesis and purification conditions is an ongoing issue, since these differences can affect the resulting application-dependent ND behavior. Via characterization with transmission electron microscopy, this work investigates the structural and chemical differences among nominally homologous commercial detonation ND sold by a single vendor under the same item number. Significant discrepancies in the carbon structure and crystallinity between different batches with similar sizes and shapes were identified. The ND containing more non-carbon entities as impurities and oxygen-containing surface functional groups were found to possess thicker graphitic shells surrounding an unstable diamond core which quickly transforms to graphite under electron beam irradiation. However, the structure of ND with higher purities and thin onion shells remain unchanged over extended exposure to electron beams. This study demonstrates the structural and chemical differences between nominally identical commercial detonation ND samples and reveals their influence on the decomposition behavior of the particles.

Solvation of Na^+ in water from first-principles molecular dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, J. A.; Schwegler, E.; Galli, G.; Gygi, F.

2000-03-01

We have carried out ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the Na^+ ion in water with an MD cell containing a single alkali ion and 53 water molecules. The electron-electron and electron-ion interactions were modeled by density functional theory with a generalized gradient approximation for the exchange-correlation functional. The computed radial distribution functions, coordination numbers, and angular distributions are consistent with available experimental data. The first solvation shell contains 5.2±0.6 water molecules, with some waters occasionally exchanging with those of the second shell. The computed Na^+ hydration number is larger than that from calculations for water clusters surrounding an Na^+ ion, but is consistent with that derived from x-ray measurements. Our results also indicate that the first hydration shell is better defined for Na^+ than for K^+ [1], as indicated by the first minimum in the Na-O pair distribution function. [1] L.M. Ramaniah, M. Bernasconi, and M. Parrinello, J. Chem. Phys. 111, 1587 (1999). This work was performed for DOE under contract W-7405-ENG-48.

Effect of nonionic compound emulsifiers Tween80 and Span80 on the properties of microencapsulated phase change materials.

PubMed

Zhan, Shiping; Zhou, Zhiyi; Wang, Weijing; Zhao, Qicheng; Hou, Weimin

2014-01-01

In this article, the nonionic compound emulsifiers Tween80 and Span80 were used to prepare microcapsules containing phase change materials (microPCMs) with melamine-formaldehyde (MF) shells by in situ polymerization method. The effects of compound emulsifiers Tween80 and Span80 on the structure, morphologies and properties of microPCMs containing paraffin were studied. SEM morphological investigation suggests that a complex of Tween80 and Span80 as emulsifiers are optimal for the fabrication of microPCMs in this study compared to Tween60 or OP-10. The diameter distributions of microPCMs synthesized with different amounts of compound emulsifiers are uniform, whereas compound emulsifiers' amount affect the mean diameter of microPCMs decreasing from 5.34 to 3.05 µm. These microPCMs with the core/shell weight ratio 3/1 have smoother surface and a higher core content of 68.7% than other core/shell ratio. Anti-osmosis measurements indicate that microPCMs have good compactness and stable performance compared to those synthesized by one type of emulsifier.

Quantum dot-containing polymer particles with thermosensitive fluorescence.

PubMed

Generalova, Alla N; Oleinikov, Vladimir A; Sukhanova, Alyona; Artemyev, Mikhail V; Zubov, Vitaly P; Nabiev, Igor

2013-01-15

Composite polymer particles consisting of a solid poly(acrolein-co-styrene) core and a poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PVCL) polymer shell doped with CdSe/ZnS semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) were fabricated. The temperature response of the composite particles was observed as a decrease in their hydrodynamic diameter upon heating above the lower critical solution temperature of the thermosensitive PVCL polymer. Embedding QDs in the PVCL shell yields particles whose fluorescence is sensitive to temperature changes. This sensitivity was determined by the dependence of the QD fluorescence intensity on the distances between them in the PVCL shell, which reversibly change as a result of the temperature-driven conformational changes in the polymer. The QD-containing thermosensitive particles were assembled with protein molecules in such a way that they retained their thermosensitive properties, including the completely reversible temperature dependence of their fluorescence response. The composite particles developed can be used as local temperature sensors, as carriers for biomolecules, as well as in biosensing and various bioassays employing optical detection schemes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Minute co-variations of Sr/Ca ratios and microstructures in the aragonitic shell of Cerastoderma edule (Bivalvia) - Are geochemical variations at the ultra-scale masking potential environmental signals?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Füllenbach, Christoph S.; Schöne, Bernd R.; Shirai, Kotaro; Takahata, Naoto; Ishida, Akizumi; Sano, Yuji

2017-05-01

It remains a challenging task to reconstruct water temperatures from Sr/Ca ratios of bivalve shells. Although in many aragonitic species, Sr/Ca is negatively correlated to temperature - which is expected based on abiogenic precipitation experiments, the incorporation of Sr into the shell of bivalves is strongly controlled by physiological processes and occurs away from the predicted thermodynamic equilibrium. Strontium-to-calcium ratios of aragonitic shells remain far below that of the ambient water. Moreover, Sr concentrations vary considerably among shell portions consisting of different microstructures and/or organic content. Values observed at annual growth lines and within the intervening shell portions (= annual growth increments) deviate much stronger from each other than expected from a change in temperature or Sr/Cawater. As demonstrated here by ultra-high-resolution chemical analysis (EPMA, NanoSIMS) of a Cerastoderma edule shell, Sr concentrations are also heterogeneously distributed at approximately micrometer resolution. For example, in the outer portion of the outer shell layer, Sr/Ca ratios were statistically significantly (t-, u-tests) higher at circatidal growth lines (irregular simple prismatic structure; arithmetic mean ± 1 standard deviation = 2.86 ± 0.38 mmol/mol; n = 53) than within circatidal increments (nondenticular prismatic structure; 2.42 ± 0.25 mmol/mol; n = 51). S/Cashell, a representative of the concentration of organics, showed the opposite pattern, i.e., significantly higher values in circatidal increments (2.37 ± 0.29 mmol/mol; n = 51) than at circatidal growth lines (2.13 ± 0.47 mmol/mol; n = 53). Overall highest values of Sr/Cashell (3.47 ± 0.65 mmol/mol; n = 3) and S/Cashell (3.98 ± 0.65 mmol/mol; n = 3), however, were typically associated with annual growth lines and larger biomineral units. The intimate link between Sr/Cashell, S/Cashell and shell architecture may indicate that microstructures or the processes controlling their formation exert a strong control over the incorporation of strontium into shells of C. edule. Analytical techniques with lower sampling resolution, e.g., LA-ICP-MS, cannot resolve such fine-scale Sr variations. As a result, the signal-to-noise ratio decreases and the data generated by such techniques may therefore not seem to provide useful paleotemperature data. Future studies should therefore employ a combined analysis of Sr/Cashell and shell microstructures, and interpret Sr/Ca values of shell portions with different microstructures separately.

Pharmaceutical 3D printing: Design and qualification of a single step print and fill capsule.

PubMed

Smith, Derrick M; Kapoor, Yash; Klinzing, Gerard R; Procopio, Adam T

2018-06-10

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing (3DP) has a potential to change how we envision manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry. A more common utilization for FDM 3DP is to build upon existing hot melt extrusion (HME) technology where the drug is dispersed in the polymer matrix. However, reliable manufacturing of drug-containing filaments remains a challenge along with the limitation of active ingredients which can sustain the processing risks involved in the HME process. To circumvent this obstacle, a single step FDM 3DP process was developed to manufacture thin-walled drug-free capsules which can be filled with dry or liquid drug product formulations. Drug release from these systems is governed by the combined dissolution of the FDM capsule 'shell' and the dosage form encapsulated in these shells. To prepare the shells, the 3D printer files (extension '.gcode') were modified by creating discrete zones, so-called 'zoning process', with individual print parameters. Capsules printed without the zoning process resulted in macroscopic print defects and holes. X-ray computed tomography, finite element analysis and mechanical testing were used to guide the zoning process and printing parameters in order to manufacture consistent and robust capsule shell geometries. Additionally, dose consistencies of drug containing liquid formulations were investigated in this work. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quality Evaluation of Shelled and Unshelled Macadamia Nuts by Means of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR).

PubMed

Canneddu, Giovanna; Júnior, Luis Carlos Cunha; de Almeida Teixeira, Gustavo Henrique

2016-07-01

The quality of shelled and unshelled macadamia nuts was assessed by means of Fourier transformed near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy. Shelled macadamia nuts were sorted as sound nuts; nuts infected by Ecdytolopha aurantiana and Leucopteara coffeella; and cracked nuts caused by germination. Unshelled nuts were sorted as intact nuts (<10% half nuts, 2014); half nuts (March, 2013; November, 2013); and crushed nuts (2014). Peroxide value (PV) and acidity index (AI) were determined according to AOAC. PCA-LDA shelled macadamia nuts classification resulted in 93.2% accurate classification. PLS PV prediction model resulted in a square error of prediction (SEP) of 3.45 meq/kg, and a prediction coefficient determination value (Rp (2) ) of 0.72. The AI PLS prediction model was better (SEP = 0.14%, Rp (2) = 0.80). Although adequate classification was possible (93.2%), shelled nuts must not contain live insects, therefore the classification accuracy was not satisfactory. FT-NIR spectroscopy can be successfully used to predict PV and AI in unshelled macadamia nuts, though. © 2016 Institute of Food Technologists®

Characterization of 3D Voronoi Tessellation Nearest Neighbor Lipid Shells Provides Atomistic Lipid Disruption Profile of Protein Containing Lipid Membranes

PubMed Central

Cheng, Sara Y.; Duong, Hai V.; Compton, Campbell; Vaughn, Mark W.; Nguyen, Hoa; Cheng, Kwan H.

2015-01-01

Quantifying protein-induced lipid disruptions at the atomistic level is a challenging problem in membrane biophysics. Here we propose a novel 3D Voronoi tessellation nearest-atom-neighbor shell method to classify and characterize lipid domains into discrete concentric lipid shells surrounding membrane proteins in structurally heterogeneous lipid membranes. This method needs only the coordinates of the system and is independent of force fields and simulation conditions. As a proof-of-principle, we use this multiple lipid shell method to analyze the lipid disruption profiles of three simulated membrane systems: phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol, and beta-amyloid/phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol. We observed different atomic volume disruption mechanisms due to cholesterol and beta-amyloid Additionally, several lipid fractional groups and lipid-interfacial water did not converge to their control values with increasing distance or shell order from the protein. This volume divergent behavior was confirmed by bilayer thickness and chain orientational order calculations. Our method can also be used to analyze high-resolution structural experimental data. PMID:25637891

Problems in understanding the structure and assembly of viruses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

King, J.

1997-12-01

Though viruses infect the cells of all groups of animals, plants, and microorganisms, their structures follow a limited number of general themes; spherical or cylindrical shells built of hundreds of repeated protein subunits enclosing a nucleic acid - DNA or RNA - genome. Since the 1960s it has been known that the protein shells of spherical viruses in fact conform to icosahedral symmetry or to subtle deviations from icosahedral symmetry. The construction of the shell lattices and the transformations they go through in the different stages of the viral life cycle are not fully understood. The shells contain the nucleicmore » in a highly condensed state, of unknown coiling/organization. Features of the well studied bacterial viruses will be reviewed, with examples from adenoviruses, herpesviruses, poliovirus, and HIV. The emergence of new viral disease has led to increased interest in the development of agents which interfere with virus reproduction at the level of the assembly or function of the organized particle. Recently computational approaches to the problem of virus assembly have made important contributions to clarifying shell assembly processes. 1 ref.« less

Solvation of carbonaceous molecules by para-H2 and ortho-D2 clusters. II. Fullerenes.

PubMed

Calvo, F; Yurtsever, E

2016-08-28

The coating of various fullerenes by para-hydrogen and ortho-deuterium molecules has been computationally studied as a function of the solvent amount. Rotationally averaged interaction potentials for structureless hydrogen molecules are employed to model their interaction with neutral or charged carbonaceous dopants containing between 20 and 240 atoms, occasionally comparing different fullerenes having the same size but different shapes. The solvation energy and the size of the first solvation shell obtained from path-integral molecular dynamics simulations at 2 K show only minor influence on the dopant charge and on the possible deuteration of the solvent, although the shell size is largest for ortho-D2 coating cationic fullerenes. Nontrivial finite size effects have been found with the shell size varying non-monotonically close to its completion limit. For fullerenes embedded in large hydrogen clusters, the shell size and solvation energy both follow linear scaling with the fullerene size. The shell sizes obtained for C60 (+) and C70 (+) are close to 49 and 51, respectively, and agree with mass spectrometry experiments.

Solvation of carbonaceous molecules by para-H2 and ortho-D2 clusters. II. Fullerenes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calvo, F.; Yurtsever, E.

2016-08-01

The coating of various fullerenes by para-hydrogen and ortho-deuterium molecules has been computationally studied as a function of the solvent amount. Rotationally averaged interaction potentials for structureless hydrogen molecules are employed to model their interaction with neutral or charged carbonaceous dopants containing between 20 and 240 atoms, occasionally comparing different fullerenes having the same size but different shapes. The solvation energy and the size of the first solvation shell obtained from path-integral molecular dynamics simulations at 2 K show only minor influence on the dopant charge and on the possible deuteration of the solvent, although the shell size is largest for ortho-D2 coating cationic fullerenes. Nontrivial finite size effects have been found with the shell size varying non-monotonically close to its completion limit. For fullerenes embedded in large hydrogen clusters, the shell size and solvation energy both follow linear scaling with the fullerene size. The shell sizes obtained for C 60+ and C 70+ are close to 49 and 51, respectively, and agree with mass spectrometry experiments.

Accelerated crack growth, residual stress, and a cracked zinc coated pressure shell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dittman, Daniel L.; Hampton, Roy W.; Nelson, Howard G.

1987-01-01

During a partial inspection of a 42 year old, operating, pressurized wind tunnel at NASA-Ames Research Center, a surface connected defect 114 in. long having an indicated depth of a 0.7 in. was detected. The pressure shell, constructed of a medium carbon steel, contains approximately 10 miles of welds and is cooled by flowing water over its zinc coated external surface. Metallurgical and fractographic analysis showed that the actual detect was 1.7 in. deep, and originated from an area of lack of weld penetration. Crack growth studies were performed on the shell material in the laboratory under various loading rates, hold times, and R-ratios with a simulated shell environment. The combination of zinc, water with electrolyte, and steel formed an electrolytic cell which resulted in an increase in cyclic crack growth rate by as much as 500 times over that observed in air. It was concluded that slow crack growth occurred in the pressure shell by a combination of stress corrosion cracking due to the welding residual stress and corrosion fatigue due to the cyclic operating stress.

Hydrogen and helium shell burning during white dwarf accretion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Xiao; Meng, Xiang-Cun; Han, Zhan-Wen

2018-05-01

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are believed to be thermonuclear explosions of carbon oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs) with masses close to the Chandrasekhar mass limit. How a CO WD accretes matter and grows in mass to this limit is not well understood, hindering our understanding of SN Ia explosions and the reliability of using SNe Ia as a cosmological distance indicator. In this work, we employed the stellar evolution code MESA to simulate the accretion process of hydrogen-rich material onto a 1.0 M ⊙ CO WD at a high rate (over the Eddington limit) of 4.3 × 10‑7 M ⊙ yr‑1. The simulation demonstrates the characteristics of the double shell burning on top of the WD, with a hydrogen shell burning on top of a helium burning shell. The results show that helium shell burning is not steady (i.e. it flashes). Flashes from the helium shell are weaker than those in the case of accretion of helium-rich material onto a CO WD. The carbon to oxygen mass ratio resulting from the helium shell burning is higher than what was previously thought. Interestingly, the CO WD growing due to accretion has an outer part containing a small fraction of helium in addition to carbon and oxygen. The flashes become weaker and weaker as the accretion continues.

One-pot synthesis of BiOCl half-shells using microemulsion droplets as templates with highly photocatalytic performance for the degradation of ciprofloxacin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, Danjun; Yu, Anqing; Ding, Shanshan; Wang, Fei; Yang, Shaogui; Sun, Cheng; He, Huan; Liu, Yazi; Yu, Kai

2016-12-01

Ultrathin BiOCl half-shells have been synthesized via an ionic liquid-in-water (IL/W) microemulsion, applying the liquid-liquid boundary of the emulsion system as a template. Surfactant TX-100 acted as the stabilizer of the IL-microemulsion, which is of critical importance for the formation of BiOCl half-shells. The hollow structures were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and specific surface area, respectively. Possible formation mechanisms for the BiOCl half-shells were discussed. Moreover, the ultrathin BiOCl half-shells exhibited distinctly enhanced photocatalytic efficiency toward the degradation of colourless ciprofloxacin (CIP, a representative broad-spectrum antibiotic agent) under solar light irradiation as compared to BiOCl nanosheets. The photogenerated reactive species are verified by scavenger experiments, which reveals that rad O2- and h+ were the two major photoactive species toward the photodegradation of CIP over ultrathin BiOCl half-shells under solar-light. The enhanced activities of ultrathin BiOCl half-shells were mainly ascribed to the synergistic effect of the increased light-harvesting, larger BET surface area, faster separation and transfer of electron-hole pairs. It is hoped that the ionic liquid microemulsion-mediated route can be extended to the purposive design and fabrication of other halogen-containing inorganic hollow materials.

Continuous and scalable polymer capsule processing for inertial fusion energy target shell fabrication using droplet microfluidics.

PubMed

Li, Jin; Lindley-Start, Jack; Porch, Adrian; Barrow, David

2017-07-24

High specification, polymer capsules, to produce inertial fusion energy targets, were continuously fabricated using surfactant-free, inertial centralisation, and ultrafast polymerisation, in a scalable flow reactor. Laser-driven, inertial confinement fusion depends upon the interaction of high-energy lasers and hydrogen isotopes, contained within small, spherical and concentric target shells, causing a nuclear fusion reaction at ~150 M°C. Potentially, targets will be consumed at ~1 M per day per reactor, demanding a 5000x unit cost reduction to ~$0.20, and is a critical, key challenge. Experimentally, double emulsions were used as templates for capsule-shells, and were formed at 20 Hz, on a fluidic chip. Droplets were centralised in a dynamic flow, and their shapes both evaluated, and mathematically modeled, before subsequent shell solidification. The shells were photo-cured individually, on-the-fly, with precisely-actuated, millisecond-length (70 ms), uniform-intensity UV pulses, delivered through eight, radially orchestrated light-pipes. The near 100% yield rate of uniform shells had a minimum 99.0% concentricity and sphericity, and the solidification processing period was significantly reduced, over conventional batch methods. The data suggest the new possibility of a continuous, on-the-fly, IFE target fabrication process, employing sequential processing operations within a continuous enclosed duct system, which may include cryogenic fuel-filling, and shell curing, to produce ready-to-use IFE targets.

Dock 'n roll: folding of a silk-inspired polypeptide into an amyloid-like beta solenoid.

PubMed

Zhao, Binwu; Cohen Stuart, Martien A; Hall, Carol K

2016-04-20

Polypeptides containing the motif ((GA)mGX)n occur in silk and have a strong tendency to self-assemble. For example, polypeptides containing (GAGAGAGX)n, where X = G or H have been observed to form filaments; similar sequences but with X = Q have been used in the design of coat proteins (capsids) for artificial viruses. The structure of the (GAGAGAGX)m filaments has been proposed to be a stack of peptides in a β roll structure with the hydrophobic side chains pointing outwards (hydrophobic shell). Another possible configuration, a β roll or β solenoid structure which has its hydrophobic side chains buried inside (hydrophobic core) was, however, overlooked. We perform ground state analysis as well as atomic-level molecular dynamics simulations, both on single molecules and on two-molecule stacks of the silk-inspired sequence (GAGAGAGQ)10, to decide whether the hydrophobic core or the hydrophobic shell configuration is the most stable one. We find that a stack of two hydrophobic core molecules is energetically more favorable than a stack of two hydrophobic shell molecules. A shell molecule initially placed in a perfect β roll structure tends to rotate its strands, breaking in-plane hydrogen bonds and forming out-of-plane hydrogen bonds, while a core molecule stays in the β roll structure. The hydrophobic shell structure has type II' β turns whereas the core configuration has type II β turns; only the latter secondary structure agrees well with solid-state NMR experiments on a similar sequence (GA)15. We also observe that the core stack has a higher number of intra-molecular hydrogen bonds and a higher number of hydrogen bonds between stack and water than the shell stack. Hence, we conclude that the hydrophobic core configuration is the most likely structure. In the stacked state, each peptide has more intra-molecular hydrogen bonds than a single folded molecule, which suggests that stacking provides the extra stability needed for molecules to reach the folded state.

A rule-based shell to hierarchically organize HST observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bose, Ashim; Gerb, Andrew

1995-01-01

An observing program on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is described in terms of exposures that are obtained by one or more of the instruments onboard the HST. These exposures are organized into a hierarchy of structures for purposes of efficient scheduling of observations. The process by which exposures get organized into the higher-level structures is called merging. This process relies on rules to determine which observations can be 'merged' into the same higher level structure, and which cannot. The TRANSformation expert system converts proposals for astronomical observations with HST into detailed observing plans. The conversion process includes the task of merging. Within TRANS, we have implemented a declarative shell to facilitate merging. This shell offers the following features: (1) an easy way of specifying rules on when to merge and when not to merge, (2) a straightforward priority mechanism for resolving conflicts among rules, (3) an explanation facility for recording the merging history, (4) a report generating mechanism to help users understand the reasons for merging, and (5) a self-documenting mechanism that documents all the merging rules that have been defined in the shell, ordered by priority. The merging shell is implemented using an object-oriented paradigm in CLOS. It has been a part of operational TRANS (after extensive testing) since July 1993. It has fulfilled all performance expectations, and has considerably simplified the process of implementing new or changed requirements for merging. The users are pleased with its report-generating and self-documenting features.

An expert system for planning and scheduling in a telerobotic environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ntuen, Celestine A.; Park, Eui H.

1991-01-01

A knowledge based approach to assigning tasks to multi-agents working cooperatively in jobs that require a telerobot in the loop was developed. The generality of the approach allows for such a concept to be applied in a nonteleoperational domain. The planning architecture known as the task oriented planner (TOP) uses the principle of flow mechanism and the concept of planning by deliberation to preserve and use knowledge about a particular task. The TOP is an open ended architecture developed with a NEXPERT expert system shell and its knowledge organization allows for indirect consultation at various levels of task abstraction. Considering that a telerobot operates in a hostile and nonstructured environment, task scheduling should respond to environmental changes. A general heuristic was developed for scheduling jobs with the TOP system. The technique is not to optimize a given scheduling criterion as in classical job and/or flow shop problems. For a teleoperation job schedule, criteria are situation dependent. A criterion selection is fuzzily embedded in the task-skill matrix computation. However, goal achievement with minimum expected risk to the human operator is emphasized.

Boron-based nanostructures: Synthesis, functionalization, and characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bedasso, Eyrusalam Kifyalew

Boron-based nanostructures have not been explored in detail; however, these structures have the potential to revolutionize many fields including electronics and biomedicine. The research discussed in this dissertation focuses on synthesis, functionalization, and characterization of boron-based zero-dimensional nanostructures (core/shell and nanoparticles) and one-dimensional nanostructures (nanorods). The first project investigates the synthesis and functionalization of boron-based core/shell nanoparticles. Two boron-containing core/shell nanoparticles, namely boron/iron oxide and boron/silica, were synthesized. Initially, boron nanoparticles with a diameter between 10-100 nm were prepared by decomposition of nido-decaborane (B10H14) followed by formation of a core/shell structure. The core/shell structures were prepared using the appropriate precursor, iron source and silica source, for the shell in the presence of boron nanoparticles. The formation of core/shell nanostructures was confirmed using high resolution TEM. Then, the core/shell nanoparticles underwent a surface modification. Boron/iron oxide core/shell nanoparticles were functionalized with oleic acid, citric acid, amine-terminated polyethylene glycol, folic acid, and dopamine, and boron/silica core/shell nanoparticles were modified with 3-(amino propyl) triethoxy silane, 3-(2-aminoethyleamino)propyltrimethoxysilane), citric acid, folic acid, amine-terminated polyethylene glycol, and O-(2-Carboxyethyl)polyethylene glycol. A UV-Vis and ATR-FTIR analysis established the success of surface modification. The cytotoxicity of water-soluble core/shell nanoparticles was studied in triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and the result showed the compounds are not toxic. The second project highlights optimization of reaction conditions for the synthesis of boron nanorods. This synthesis, done via reduction of boron oxide with molten lithium, was studied to produce boron nanorods without any contamination and with a uniform size distribution. Various reaction parameters such as temperature, reaction time, and sonication were altered to find the optimal reaction conditions. Once these conditions were determined, boron nanorods were produced then functionalized with amine-terminated polyethylene glycol.

Radiocarbon dating late Quaternary loess deposits using small terrestrial gastropod shells

USGS Publications Warehouse

Pigati, Jeff S.; McGeehin, John P.; Muhs, Daniel R.; Bettis, E. Arthur

2013-01-01

Constraining the ages and mass accumulation rates of late Quaternary loess deposits is often difficult because of the paucity of organic material typically available for 14C dating and the inherent limitations of luminescence techniques. Radiocarbon dating of small terrestrial gastropod shells may provide an alternative to these methods as fossil shells are common in loess and contain ∼12% carbon by weight. Terrestrial gastropod assemblages in loess have been used extensively to reconstruct past environmental conditions but have been largely ignored for dating purposes. Here, we present the results of a multi-faceted approach to understanding the potential for using small terrestrial gastropod shells to date loess deposits in North America. First, we compare highly resolved 14C ages of well-preserved wood and gastropod shells (Succineidae) recovered from a Holocene loess section in Alaska. Radiocarbon ages derived from the shells are nearly identical to wood and plant macrofossil ages throughout the section, which suggests that the shells behaved as closed systems with respect to carbon for at least the last 10 ka (thousands of calibrated 14C years before present). Second, we apply 14C dating of gastropod shells to late Pleistocene loess deposits in the Great Plains using stratigraphy and independent chronologies for comparison. The new shell ages require less interpretation than humic acid radiocarbon ages that are commonly used in loess studies, provide additional stratigraphic coverage to previous dating efforts, and are in correct stratigraphic order more often than their luminescence counterparts. Third, we show that Succineidae shells recovered from historic loess in the Matanuska River Valley, Alaska captured the 20th century 14C bomb spike, which suggests that the shells can be used to date late Holocene and historic-aged loess. Finally, results from Nebraska and western Iowa suggest that, similar to other materials, shell ages approaching ∼40 ka should be viewed with caution as they may reflect trace amounts of contamination. In sum, our results show that small terrestrial gastropod shells, especially from the Succineidae family, provide reliable ages for late Quaternary loess deposits in North America.

Project FARE task III report : urban mass transportation industry reporting system design : interim task III report for November 1972-June 1973 period. Part I - Task summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1973-06-01

This report contains a description of the proposed uniform reporting system for the urban mass transit industry. It is presented in four volumes: Part I - Task Summary contains a description of how Task III was accomplished and the conclusions and re...

Fluid-structure interaction for nonlinear response of shells conveying pulsatile flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tubaldi, Eleonora; Amabili, Marco; Païdoussis, Michael P.

2016-06-01

Circular cylindrical shells with flexible boundary conditions conveying pulsatile flow and subjected to pulsatile pressure are investigated. The equations of motion are obtained based on the nonlinear Novozhilov shell theory via Lagrangian approach. The flow is set in motion by a pulsatile pressure gradient. The fluid is modeled as a Newtonian pulsatile flow and it is formulated using a hybrid model that contains the unsteady effects obtained from the linear potential flow theory and the pulsatile viscous effects obtained from the unsteady time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. A numerical bifurcation analysis employs a refined reduced order model to investigate the dynamic behavior. The case of shells containing quiescent fluid subjected to the action of a pulsatile transmural pressure is also addressed. Geometrically nonlinear vibration response to pulsatile flow and transmural pressure are here presented via frequency-response curves and time histories. The vibrations involving both a driven mode and a companion mode, which appear due to the axial symmetry, are also investigated. This theoretical framework represents a pioneering study that could be of great interest for biomedical applications. In particular, in the future, a more refined model of the one here presented will possibly be applied to reproduce the dynamic behavior of vascular prostheses used for repairing and replacing damaged and diseased thoracic aorta in cases of aneurysm, dissection or coarctation. For this purpose, a pulsatile time-dependent blood flow model is here considered by applying physiological waveforms of velocity and pressure during the heart beating period. This study provides, for the first time in literature, a fully coupled fluid-structure interaction model with deep insights in the nonlinear vibrations of circular cylindrical shells subjected to pulsatile pressure and pulsatile flow.

Shell worlds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roy, Kenneth I.; Kennedy, Robert G., III; Fields, David E.

2013-02-01

The traditional concept of terraforming assumes ready availability of candidate planets with acceptable qualities: orbiting a star in its "Goldilocks zone", liquid water, enough mass, years longer than days, magnetic field, etc. But even stipulating affordable interstellar travel, we still might never find a good candidate elsewhere. Whatever we found likely would require centuries of heavy terraforming, just as Mars or Venus would here. Our increasing appreciation of the ubiquity of life suggests that any terra nova would already possess it. We would then face the dilemma of introducing alien life forms (us, our microbes) into another living world. Instead, we propose a novel method to create habitable environments for humanity by enclosing airless, sterile, otherwise useless planets, moons, and even large asteroids within engineered shells, which avoids the conundrum. These shells are subject to two opposing internal stresses: compression due to the primary's gravity, and tension from atmospheric pressure contained inside. By careful design, these two cancel each other resulting in zero net shell stress. Beneath the shell an Earth-like environment could be created similar in almost all respects to that of Home, except for gravity, regardless of the distance to the sun or other star. Englobing a small planet, moon, or even a dwarf planet like Ceres, would require astronomical amounts of material (quadrillions of tons) and energy, plus a great deal of time. It would be a quantum leap in difficulty over building Dyson Dots or industrializing our solar system, perhaps comparable to a mission across interstellar space with a living crew within their lifetime. But when accomplished, these constructs would be complete (albeit small) worlds, not merely large habitats. They could be stable across historic timescales, possibly geologic. Each would contain a full, self-sustaining ecology, which might evolve in curious directions over time. This has interesting implications for SETI as well.

Effects for rapid conversion from abalone shell to hydroxyapaptite nanosheets by ionic surfactants.

PubMed

Zhong, Shengnan; Wen, Zhenliang; Chen, Jingdi; Li, Qian; Shi, Xuetao; Ding, Shinnjyh; Zhang, Qiqing

2017-08-01

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) has been widely used for repairing or substituting human hard tissues. In this paper, two typical ionic surfactants, cation hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and anion sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), were used for rapid conversion of HAP from abalone shell. From field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), the prepared HAP is flake-like structure. From X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermal analysis, these samples contain a small amount of calcium carbonate whose content gradually increases by increasing the surfactants. The results showed that the HAP formed fast on the layer of abalone shell powder with the assistance of CTAB and SDS. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Core-shell quantum dots tailor the fluorescence of dental resin composites.

PubMed

Alves, Leandro P; Pilla, Viviane; Murgo, Dírian O A; Munin, Egberto

2010-02-01

We characterized the optical properties, such as absorbance and fluorescence, of dental resins containing quantum dots (QD). We also determined the doping level needed to obtain a broad and nearly flat emission spectrum that provides the perception of white color. The samples studied were resin composites from Charisma (Heraeus Kulzer) prepared with CdSe/ZnS core-shell QD (0.05-0.77 mass%). The results showed that the fluorescence of dental resin composites can be tailored by using CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots. QD core incorporation into dental resins allows the fabrication of restorative materials with fluorescence properties that closely match those of natural human teeth. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural analysis of Fe–Mn–O nanoparticles in glass ceramics by small angle scattering

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Raghuwanshi, Vikram Singh, E-mail: vikram.raghuwanshi@helmholtz-berlin.de; Harizanova, Ruzha; Tatchev, Dragomir

2015-02-15

Magnetic nanocrystals containing Fe and Mn were obtained by annealing of silicate glasses with the composition 13.6Na{sub 2}O–62.9SiO{sub 2}–8.5MnO–15.0Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3−x} (mol%) at 580 °C for different periods of time. Here, we present Small Angle Neutron Scattering using Polarized neutrons (SANSPOL) and Anomalous Small Angle X-ray Scattering (ASAXS) investigation on these glass ceramic samples. Analysis of scattering data from both methods reveals the formation of spherical core–shell type of nanoparticles with mean sizes between 10 nm and 100 nm. ASAXS investigation shows the particles have higher concentration of iron atoms and the shell like region surrounding the particles is enrichedmore » in SiO{sub 2}. SANSPOL investigation shows the particles are found to be magnetic and are surrounded by a non-magnetic shell-like region. - Graphical abstract: Magnetic spherical core–shell nanoparticles in glass ceramics: SANSPOL and ASAXS investigations. - Highlights: • Formation and growth mechanisms of magnetic nanoparticles in silicate glass. • SANSPOL and ASAXS methods employed to evaluate quantitative information. • Analyses showed formation of nanoparticles with spherical core–shell structures. • Core of the particle is magnetic and surrounded by weak magnetic shell like region.« less

Optimized design of a low-resistance electrical conductor for the multimegahertz range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurs, André; Kesler, Morris; Johnson, Steven G.

2011-04-01

We propose a design for a conductive wire composed of several mutually insulated coaxial conducting shells. With the help of numerical optimization, it is possible to obtain electrical resistances significantly lower than those of a heavy-gauge copper wire or litz wire in the 2-20 MHz range. Moreover, much of the reduction in resistance can be achieved for just a few shells; in contrast, litz wire would need to contain ˜104 strands to perform comparably in this frequency range.

Structural and optical properties of ZnSe:Eu/ZnS quantum dots depending on interfacial residual europium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Ji Young; Lee, Chan Gi; Seo, Han Wook; Jeong, Da-Woon; Kim, Min Young; Kim, Woo-Byoung; Kim, Bum Sung

2018-01-01

A multimodal emitter comprising of ZnSe:Eu/ZnS (core/shell) quantum dots (QDs) by adding a ZnS precursor in situ during synthesis. ZnSe/Eu2+/Eu3+/ZnS actives both core and core/shell. QDs prepared with the ZnS precursor displayed a luminescence intensity three times that of ZnSe QDs due to the passivation effect of the Shell. While the core QDs display the 450-550 nm emission of Eu2+ (4F65D1 → 4F7), the core/shell system showed no Eu2+ emission but only the sharp peaks in the red at 579, 592, 615, 651, and 700 nm due to the electronic transitions of 5D0 → 7Fn (n = 0-4) depending on leisurely decreased with increased reaction time. These results are in agreement with Eu 3d spectra of XPS analysis results. Microscopic analyses show that the core and core/shell QDs both have a zinc blende structure, and their respective sizes were about 3.19 and 3.44 nm. The lattice constant in the central portion of the core/shell QDs are around d111 = 3.13 Å, which is between the outside and inside ring patterns (d111 = 3.27 and 3.07 Å, respectively). This shows the effective over-capping of shell onto the core QDs. The core/shell structure may contain Eu2O3 bonding the over-coated ZnS surface on the Eu3+-doped ZnSe core.

7 CFR 51.2275 - Application.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Standards for Shelled English Walnuts (Juglans Regia) General § 51.2275 Application. The standards contained in this subpart apply only to walnuts commonly known as English or Persian walnuts (Juglans regia...

Neutron source

DOEpatents

Cason, J.L. Jr.; Shaw, C.B.

1975-10-21

A neutron source which is particularly useful for neutron radiography consists of a vessel containing a moderating media of relatively low moderating ratio, a flux trap including a moderating media of relatively high moderating ratio at the center of the vessel, a shell of depleted uranium dioxide surrounding the moderating media of relatively high moderating ratio, a plurality of guide tubes each containing a movable source of neutrons surrounding the flux trap, a neutron shield surrounding one part of each guide tube, and at least one collimator extending from the flux trap to the exterior of the neutron source. The shell of depleted uranium dioxide has a window provided with depleted uranium dioxide shutters for each collimator. Reflectors are provided above and below the flux trap and on the guide tubes away from the flux trap.

Sphere based fluid systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elleman, Daniel D. (Inventor); Wang, Taylor G. (Inventor)

1989-01-01

Systems are described for using multiple closely-packed spheres. In one system for passing fluid, a multiplicity of spheres lie within a container, with all of the spheres having the same outside diameter and with the spheres being closely nested in one another to create multiple interstitial passages of a known size and configuration and smooth walls. The container has an inlet and outlet for passing fluid through the interstitial passages formed between the nested spheres. The small interstitial passages can be used to filter out material, especially biological material such as cells in a fluid, where the cells can be easily destroyed if passed across sharp edges. The outer surface of the spheres can contain a material that absorbs a constitutent in the flowing fluid, such as a particular contamination gas, or can contain a catalyst to chemically react the fluid passing therethrough, the use of multiple small spheres assuring a large area of contact of these surfaces of the spheres with the fluid. In a system for storing and releasing a fluid such as hydrogen as a fuel, the spheres can include a hollow shell containing the fluid to be stored, and located within a compressable container that can be compressed to break the shells and release the stored fluid.

Rhythmic patterns in ancient shells: Can we reconstruct sub-annual cyclicity in trace element and stable isotope profiles from rudist bivalves?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Winter, N.; Sinnesael, M.; Vansteenberge, S.; Goderis, S.; Snoeck, C.; Van Malderen, S. J. M.; Vanhaecke, F. F.; Claeys, P.

2017-12-01

Well-preserved shells of Torreites rudists from the Late Campanian Saiwan Formation in Oman exhibit fine internal layering. These fine (±20 µm) laminae are rhythmically bundled (±400 µm) and subdivide the shells' larger scale annual lamination (±15 mm), suggesting the presence of several interfering cycles in shell growth rate. The aim of the present study is to determine the duration and chemical signature of these rhythmic variations in shell composition. To achieve this, a range of micro-analytical techniques is applied on cross sections through the shells. Firstly, microscopy-based layer counting and colorimetric analysis are carried out on thin sections of shell calcite. Secondly, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) mapping of cross sections of the shells reveal chemical and structural differences between laminae in 2D. Thirdly, high-resolution XRF (25 µm) and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS; 10 µm) trace element profiles are used to quantify variations in chemical composition between shell laminae. Fourthly, annual chronology is established based on micro-sampled stable carbon and oxygen stable isotope measurements (250 µm) along the growth axis of the shells. Finally, spectral analysis routines are applied to extract rhythmic patterns matched to the shell laminae from the structural, chemical and colorimetric data. Combining these methods allows for a full evaluation of the structural and chemical characteristics as well as the timing of sub-annual lamination in rudist shells. The results of this study shed light on the external factors that influenced growth rates in rudist bivalves. A better understanding of the timing of deposition of these laminae allows them to be used to improve age models of geochemical records in rudist shells. Characterization of small scale variations in shell composition will characterize the uncertainties contained within lower resolution proxy records from these fossil bivalves. Finally, the study of these laminae enables the reconstruction of sub-annual cyclicity in the environment of Late Cretaceous rudist bivalves. This may in turn shed light on the mechanics of climate in this shallow marine hothouse setting, which provide an analogue of future climate in the light of anthropogenic climate change.

Biocompatible magnetic core-shell nanocomposites for engineered magnetic tissues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodriguez-Arco, Laura; Rodriguez, Ismael A.; Carriel, Victor; Bonhome-Espinosa, Ana B.; Campos, Fernando; Kuzhir, Pavel; Duran, Juan D. G.; Lopez-Lopez, Modesto T.

2016-04-01

The inclusion of magnetic nanoparticles into biopolymer matrixes enables the preparation of magnetic field-responsive engineered tissues. Here we describe a synthetic route to prepare biocompatible core-shell nanostructures consisting of a polymeric core and a magnetic shell, which are used for this purpose. We show that using a core-shell architecture is doubly advantageous. First, gravitational settling for core-shell nanocomposites is slower because of the reduction of the composite average density connected to the light polymer core. Second, the magnetic response of core-shell nanocomposites can be tuned by changing the thickness of the magnetic layer. The incorporation of the composites into biopolymer hydrogels containing cells results in magnetic field-responsive engineered tissues whose mechanical properties can be controlled by external magnetic forces. Indeed, we obtain a significant increase of the viscoelastic moduli of the engineered tissues when exposed to an external magnetic field. Because the composites are functionalized with polyethylene glycol, the prepared bio-artificial tissue-like constructs also display excellent ex vivo cell viability and proliferation. When implanted in vivo, the engineered tissues show good biocompatibility and outstanding interaction with the host tissue. Actually, they only cause a localized transitory inflammatory reaction at the implantation site, without any effect on other organs. Altogether, our results suggest that the inclusion of magnetic core-shell nanocomposites into biomaterials would enable tissue engineering of artificial substitutes whose mechanical properties could be tuned to match those of the potential target tissue. In a wider perspective, the good biocompatibility and magnetic behavior of the composites could be beneficial for many other applications.The inclusion of magnetic nanoparticles into biopolymer matrixes enables the preparation of magnetic field-responsive engineered tissues. Here we describe a synthetic route to prepare biocompatible core-shell nanostructures consisting of a polymeric core and a magnetic shell, which are used for this purpose. We show that using a core-shell architecture is doubly advantageous. First, gravitational settling for core-shell nanocomposites is slower because of the reduction of the composite average density connected to the light polymer core. Second, the magnetic response of core-shell nanocomposites can be tuned by changing the thickness of the magnetic layer. The incorporation of the composites into biopolymer hydrogels containing cells results in magnetic field-responsive engineered tissues whose mechanical properties can be controlled by external magnetic forces. Indeed, we obtain a significant increase of the viscoelastic moduli of the engineered tissues when exposed to an external magnetic field. Because the composites are functionalized with polyethylene glycol, the prepared bio-artificial tissue-like constructs also display excellent ex vivo cell viability and proliferation. When implanted in vivo, the engineered tissues show good biocompatibility and outstanding interaction with the host tissue. Actually, they only cause a localized transitory inflammatory reaction at the implantation site, without any effect on other organs. Altogether, our results suggest that the inclusion of magnetic core-shell nanocomposites into biomaterials would enable tissue engineering of artificial substitutes whose mechanical properties could be tuned to match those of the potential target tissue. In a wider perspective, the good biocompatibility and magnetic behavior of the composites could be beneficial for many other applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00224b

Fast synthesis, formation mechanism, and control of shell thickness of CuS–polystyrene core–shell microspheres

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Li-min, E-mail: zhaolimin@lcu.ecu.cn; Shao, Xin; Yin, Yi-bin

2012-09-15

Graphical abstract: Core–shell structure PSt/CuS were prepared using polystyrene which were modified by 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane as template. The coating thickness of CuS can be controlled by the amount of 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and the UV–vis absorption intensity of PSt/CuS composite also changed with the coating thickness of CuS. Highlights: ► Core–shell structure PSt/CuS were prepared using silanol-modified polystyrene microspheres as template. ► The coating thickness of core–shell structure PSt/CuS can be controlled by a simple method. ► The UV–vis absorption intensity of PSt/CuS composite also changed with the coating thickness of CuS. -- Abstract: The silanol-modified polystyrene microspheres were prepared through dispersion polymerization.more » Then copper sulfide particles were grown on silanol-modified polystyrene through sonochemical deposition in an aqueous bath containing copper acetate and sulfide, released through the hydrolysis of thioacetamide. The resulting particles were continuous and uniform as characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure and properties of core–shell particles. The results showed the coating thickness of CuS shell can be controlled by the amount of silanol and the UV–vis absorption intensity of PSt/CuS composite also changed with the coating thickness of CuS.« less

The giant molecular cloud Monoceros R2. 1: Shell structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Xie, Taoling; Goldsmith, Paul F.

1994-01-01

We have obtained a 45 sec resolution, Nyquist-sampled map in CO J = 1-0 covering approximately a 3 deg x 3 deg region of the giant molecular cloud Monoceros R2. The map consists of 167,000 spectra observed with the 15 element focal-plane array system on the FCRAO 14 m telescope. The data reveal that the large-scale structure of Mon R2 is dominated by a is approximately 30 pc diameter largely hemispherical shell containing approximately 4 x 10(exp 4) solar mass of molecular material and expanding at approximately 3-4 km s(exp -1) with symmetric axis roughly along the line of sight. The dynamical timescale of the shell is estimated to be approximately 4 x 10(exp 6) yr, which is consistent with the age of main-sequence stars powering the clusters of reflection nebulea in this region. There is no evidence for a redshifted shell on the far side of the interior 'bubble,' which is largely devoid of molecular material. Distortions of the shell are obvious, suggesting inhomogeneity of the cloud and possible presence of a magnetic field prior to its formation. Dense clumps in Mon R2, including the main core and the GGD 12-15 core, appear to be condensations located on the large shell. The reflection nebulea with their illuminating stars as well as embedded IRAS sources suggest that triggered star formation has taken place over a large part of the Mon R2 shell.

The Shell of the Invasive Bivalve Species Dreissena polymorpha: Biochemical, Elemental and Textural Investigations

PubMed Central

Broussard, Cédric; Catherinet, Bastien; Plasseraud, Laurent; Alcaraz, Gérard; Bundeleva, Irina; Marin, Frédéric

2016-01-01

The zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha is a well-established invasive model organism. Although extensively used in environmental sciences, virtually nothing is known of the molecular process of its shell calcification. By describing the microstructure, geochemistry and biochemistry/proteomics of the shell, the present study aims at promoting this species as a model organism in biomineralization studies, in order to establish a bridge with ecotoxicology, while sketching evolutionary conclusions. The shell of D. polymorpha exhibits the classical crossed-lamellar/complex crossed lamellar combination found in several heterodont bivalves, in addition to an external thin layer, the characteristics of which differ from what was described in earlier publication. We show that the shell selectively concentrates some heavy metals, in particular uranium, which predisposes D. polymorpha to local bioremediation of this pollutant. We establish the biochemical signature of the shell matrix, demonstrating that it interacts with the in vitro precipitation of calcium carbonate and inhibits calcium carbonate crystal formation, but these two properties are not strongly expressed. This matrix, although overall weakly glycosylated, contains a set of putatively calcium-binding proteins and a set of acidic sulphated proteins. 2D-gels reveal more than fifty proteins, twenty of which we identify by MS-MS analysis. We tentatively link the shell protein profile of D. polymorpha and the peculiar recent evolution of this invasive species of Ponto-Caspian origin, which has spread all across Europe in the last three centuries. PMID:27213644

Inhibition of 4NQO-Induced Oral Carcinogenesis by Dietary Oyster Shell Calcium

PubMed Central

Chen, Ying; Jiang, Yi; Liao, Liyan; Zhu, Xiaoxin; Tang, Shengan; Yang, Qing; Sun, Lihua; Li, Yujie; Gao, Shuangrong; Xie, Zhongjian

2015-01-01

Oyster has gained much attention recently for its anticancer activity but it is unclear whether calcium, the major antitumor ingredient in oyster shell, is responsible for the anticarcinogenic role of the oyster. To address this issue, C57BL/6 mice were fed with the carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO, 50 µg/mL) and normal diet or a diet containing oyster powder, oyster calcium, or calcium depleted oyster powder. The tongue tissue specimens isolated from these mice were histologically evaluated for hyperplasia, dysplasia, and papillary lesions, and then analyzed for proliferation and differentiation markers by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that mice on the diet containing oyster calcium significantly reduced rates of tumors in the tongue and proliferation and enhanced differentiation in the oral epithelium compared with the diet containing calcium depleted oyster powder. These results suggest that calcium in oyster plays a critical role in suppressing formation of oral squamous cell carcinoma and proliferation and promoting differentiation of the oral epithelium. PMID:26293805

Reproduction and organochlorine contaminants in terns at San Diego Bay

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ohlendorf, H.M.; Schaffner, F.C.; Custer, T.W.; Stafford, C.J.

1985-01-01

In 1981, we studied Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia) and Elegant Terns (S. elegans) nesting at the south end of San Diego Bay, California. Randomly collected Caspian Tern eggs contained signficantly (P < 0.05) higher mean concentrations of DDE (9.30 ppm) than did Elegant Tern eggs (3.79 ppm). DDE may have had an adverse effect on Caspian Tern reproduction but the relationship between hatching success and DDE concentration was not clear. We found an unusually high incidence of chicks (4.6%) that died in hatching. Caspian Tern eggs that broke during incubation or contained chicks that died while hatching had shells that were significantly (P < 0.05) thinner than eggs collected before 1947, and DDE was associated with reductions in shell thickness index (i.e., lowered eggshell density). Fish brought to Caspian Tern chicks contained up to 3.0 ppm DDE and 1.1 ppm PCBs. Organochlorine concentration brains of terns found dead were not high enough to suggest such poisoning as a cause of death.

Structure of faustovirus, a large dsDNA virus

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Klose, Thomas; Reteno, Dorine G.; Benamar, Samia

Many viruses protect their genome with a combination of a protein shell with or without a membrane layer. In this paper, we describe the structure of faustovirus, the first DNA virus (to our knowledge) that has been found to use two protein shells to encapsidate and protect its genome. The crystal structure of the major capsid protein, in combination with cryo-electron microscopy structures of two different maturation stages of the virus, shows that the outer virus shell is composed of a double jelly-roll protein that can be found in many double-stranded DNA viruses. The structure of the repeating hexameric unitmore » of the inner shell is different from all other known capsid proteins. In addition to the unique architecture, the region of the genome that encodes the major capsid protein stretches over 17,000 bp and contains a large number of introns and exons. Finally, this complexity might help the virus to rapidly adapt to new environments or hosts.« less

Caractéristiques et signification d'un niveau coquillier majeur à brachiopodes, marqueur événementiel dans l'évolution dévonienne de la Saoura (Sahara du Nord-Ouest, Algérie)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouali Mehadji, Abdelkader; Elmi, Serge; Rachebœuf, Patrick; Mekahli, Larbi

2004-11-01

In the Saoura, the brachiopod shell beds, so-called niveau coralligène, correspond to a major shell deposit dated to the Late Emsian. Brachiopods and crinoids dominate the benthic assemblage that contains also corals, bryozoans, trilobites, goniatites, and orthocones. This major level has a large geographic distribution and it is characterized by a wide brachiopod diversity due to time-averaging, taphonomic feedback and alternate bottom conditions changing from soft to shelly and firm. This kind of brachiopod association is linked to a transgressive onlap system. At regional extent, we can correlate this major shell bed to similar shell deposits from the Ahnet-Mouydir, Tindouf, and Zemmour areas. It indicates an important transgressive event underlined by change in the sedimentation from detritic deposits to carbonate sediments. To cite this article: A. Ouali Mehadji et al., C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).

Device for calibrating a radiation detector system

DOEpatents

McFee, M.C.; Kirkham, T.J.; Johnson, T.H.

1994-12-27

A device is disclosed for testing a radiation detector system that includes at least two arrays of radiation detectors that are movable with respect to each other. The device includes a ''shield plate'' or shell, and an opposing ''source plate'' containing a source of ionizing radiation. Guides are attached to the outer surface of the shell for engaging the forward ends of the detectors, thereby reproducibly positioning the detectors with respect to the source and with respect to each other, thereby ensuring that a predetermined portion of the radiation emitted by the source passes through the shell and reaches the detectors. The shell is made of an hydrogenous material having approximately the same radiological attenuation characteristics as composite human tissue. The source represents a human organ such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, thyroid, testes, prostate, or ovaries. The source includes a source of ionizing radiation having a long half-life and an activity that is within the range typically searched for in human subjects. 3 figures.

Structure of faustovirus, a large dsDNA virus

DOE PAGES

Klose, Thomas; Reteno, Dorine G.; Benamar, Samia; ...

2016-05-16

Many viruses protect their genome with a combination of a protein shell with or without a membrane layer. In this paper, we describe the structure of faustovirus, the first DNA virus (to our knowledge) that has been found to use two protein shells to encapsidate and protect its genome. The crystal structure of the major capsid protein, in combination with cryo-electron microscopy structures of two different maturation stages of the virus, shows that the outer virus shell is composed of a double jelly-roll protein that can be found in many double-stranded DNA viruses. The structure of the repeating hexameric unitmore » of the inner shell is different from all other known capsid proteins. In addition to the unique architecture, the region of the genome that encodes the major capsid protein stretches over 17,000 bp and contains a large number of introns and exons. Finally, this complexity might help the virus to rapidly adapt to new environments or hosts.« less

Effect of iron oxide loading on magnetoferritin structure in solution as revealed by SAXS and SANS.

PubMed

Melníková, L; Petrenko, V I; Avdeev, M V; Garamus, V M; Almásy, L; Ivankov, O I; Bulavin, L A; Mitróová, Z; Kopčanský, P

2014-11-01

Synthetic biological macromolecule of magnetoferritin containing an iron oxide core inside a protein shell (apoferritin) is prepared with different content of iron. Its structure in aqueous solution is analysed by small-angle synchrotron X-ray (SAXS) and neutron (SANS) scattering. The loading factor (LF) defined as the average number of iron atoms per protein is varied up to LF=800. With an increase of the LF, the scattering curves exhibit a relative increase in the total scattered intensity, a partial smearing and a shift of the match point in the SANS contrast variation data. The analysis shows an increase in the polydispersity of the proteins and a corresponding effective increase in the relative content of magnetic material against the protein moiety of the shell with the LF growth. At LFs above ∼150, the apoferritin shell undergoes structural changes, which is strongly indicative of the fact that the shell stability is affected by iron oxide presence. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Detailed Investigation of Core-Shell Precipitates in a Cu-Containing High Entropy Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alam, T.; Gwalani, B.; Viswanathan, G.; Fraser, H.; Banerjee, R.

2018-05-01

Due to the competing influences of configurational entropy and enthalpy of mixing, in recent years, secondary (including intermetallic) phases have been reported in many high entropy alloy (HEA) systems. These secondary phases offer great potential in terms of strengthening the HEA beyond the solid solution strengthening effects, and as such are of great interest in regards to alloy design for engineering applications. The present research investigates novel nano-scale core-shell precipitates forming within the disordered bcc matrix phase of an Al2CrCuFeNi2 HEA, utilizing complementary high-resolution microscopy techniques of atom probe tomography (APT) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size, morphology, and local chemistry of these core-shell precipitates was measured by APT, and the composition was further corroborated by high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy in an aberration-corrected TEM. Furthermore, high-resolution TEM imaging of the core-shell structure indicates that the Cu-rich core exhibits a bcc crystal structure.

A non-LTE kinetic model for quick analysis of K-shell spectra from Z-pinch plasmas

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, J., E-mail: s.duan@163.com; Huang, X. B., E-mail: s.duan@163.com; Cai, H. C., E-mail: s.duan@163.com

Analyzing and modeling K-shell spectra emitted by low-to moderate-atomic number plasma is a useful and effective way to retrieve temperature density of z-pinch plasmas. In this paper, a non-LTE population kinetic model for quick analysis of K-shell spectra was proposed. The model contains ionization stages from bare nucleus to neutral atoms and includes all the important atomic processes. In the present form of the model, the plasma is assumed to be both optically thin and homogeneous with constant temperature and density, and only steady-state situation is considered. According to the detailed calculations for aluminum plasmas, contours of ratios of certainmore » K-shell lines in electron temperature and density plane as well as typical synthesized spectra were presented and discussed. The usefulness of the model is demonstrated by analyzing the spectrum from a neon gas-puff Z-pinch experiment performed on a 1 MA pulsed-power accelerator.« less

Device for calibrating a radiation detector system

DOEpatents

Mc Fee, Matthew C.; Kirkham, Tim J.; Johnson, Tippi H.

1994-01-01

A device for testing a radiation detector system that includes at least two arrays of radiation detectors that are movable with respect to each other. The device includes a "shield plate" or shell, and an opposing "source plate" containing a source of ionizing radiation. Guides are attached to the outer surface of the shell for engaging the forward ends of the detectors, thereby reproducibly positioning the detectors with respect to the source and with respect to each other, thereby ensuring that a predetermined portion of the radiation emitted by the source passes through the shell and reaches the detectors. The shell is made of an hydrogenous material having approximately the same radiological attenuation characteristics as composite human tissue. The source represents a human organ such as the lungs, heart, kidneys, heart, liver, spleen, pancreas, thyroid, testes, prostate, or ovaries. The source includes a source of ionizing radiation having a long half-life and an activity that is within the range typically searched for in human subjects.

Fabrication and characterization of rice husk and coconut shell charcoal based bio-briquettes as alternative energy source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuliah, Y.; Kartawidjaja, M.; Suryaningsih, S.; Ulfi, K.

2017-05-01

Rice husk and coconut shell have been disposed or burned as waste. As biomass, both of materials are the potential sources of carbon which can be utilized as alternative energy sources. The energy content can be exploited more intensively when packaged in a brief and convenient. In this work, the mixtures of rice husks and coconut shells charcoal were prepared as briquettes. After going through the carbonization process, several measurements have been taken to find out the factors that determine the value of heat energy contains by each component of the charcoals. The basic ingredients briquettes prepared from rice husk and coconut shell charcoal with varying composition and addition of tapioca starch gradually as adhesive material to obtain briquettes in solid with the maximum heat energy content. After going through pressing and drying process, the briquettes with 50:50 percent of composition and the 6% addition of adhesive was found has the highest heat energy content, equal to 4966 cal/g.

Evaluation of Toxic, Cytotoxic, Mutagenic, and Antimutagenic Activities of Natural and Technical Cashew Nut Shell Liquids Using the Allium cepa and Artemia salina Bioassays

PubMed Central

Leite, Aracelli de Sousa; Oliveira, George Laylson da Silva; Gomes Júnior, Antonio L.; de Lima, Sidney Gonçalo; Citó, Antônia Maria das Graças Lopes; de Freitas, Rivelilson M.; Melo-Cavalcante, Ana Amélia de C.; Dantas Lopes, José Arimateia

2015-01-01

The cashew nut releases a substance that is known as cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). There are both natural (iCNSL) and technical (tCNSL) cashew nut shell liquids. This study used an Artemia salina bioassay to evaluate the toxic effects of iCNSL and tCNSL cashew nut shell liquids. It also evaluated the toxicity, cytotoxicity, and mutagenicity of CNSL and its effects on the damage induced by copper sulfate (CuSO4·5H2O) on the meristems' root of Allium cepa. Effects of the damage induced by CuSO4·5H2O were evaluated before (pre-), during (co-), and after (post-) treatments. The iCNSL contained 94.5% anacardic acid, and the tCNSL contained 91.3% cardanol. The liquids were toxic to A. salina. Toxicity, cytotoxicity, and mutagenicity were observed with iCNSL compared with the negative control. Similarly, iCNSL failed to inhibit the toxicity and cytotoxicity of CuSO4·5H2O. The tCNSL was not toxic, cytotoxic, or mutagenic in any of the concentrations. However, the lowest iCNSL concentrations and all of the tCNSL concentrations had preventive, antimutagenic, and reparative effects on micronuclei and on chromosomal aberrations in the A. cepa. Therefore, protective, modulating, and reparative effects may be observed in the A. cepa, depending on the concentration and type of CNSL used. PMID:25861638

Evaluation of toxic, cytotoxic, mutagenic, and antimutagenic activities of natural and technical cashew nut shell liquids using the Allium cepa and Artemia salina bioassays.

PubMed

Leite, Aracelli de Sousa; Dantas, Alisson Ferreira; Oliveira, George Laylson da Silva; Gomes Júnior, Antonio L; de Lima, Sidney Gonçalo; Citó, Antônia Maria das Graças Lopes; de Freitas, Rivelilson M; Melo-Cavalcante, Ana Amélia de C; Dantas Lopes, José Arimateia

2015-01-01

The cashew nut releases a substance that is known as cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL). There are both natural (iCNSL) and technical (tCNSL) cashew nut shell liquids. This study used an Artemia salina bioassay to evaluate the toxic effects of iCNSL and tCNSL cashew nut shell liquids. It also evaluated the toxicity, cytotoxicity, and mutagenicity of CNSL and its effects on the damage induced by copper sulfate (CuSO4·5H2O) on the meristems' root of Allium cepa. Effects of the damage induced by CuSO4·5H2O were evaluated before (pre-), during (co-), and after (post-) treatments. The iCNSL contained 94.5% anacardic acid, and the tCNSL contained 91.3% cardanol. The liquids were toxic to A. salina. Toxicity, cytotoxicity, and mutagenicity were observed with iCNSL compared with the negative control. Similarly, iCNSL failed to inhibit the toxicity and cytotoxicity of CuSO4·5H2O. The tCNSL was not toxic, cytotoxic, or mutagenic in any of the concentrations. However, the lowest iCNSL concentrations and all of the tCNSL concentrations had preventive, antimutagenic, and reparative effects on micronuclei and on chromosomal aberrations in the A. cepa. Therefore, protective, modulating, and reparative effects may be observed in the A. cepa, depending on the concentration and type of CNSL used.

Americium-241 and plutonium-237 turnover in mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis) living in field enclosures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guary, J. C.; Fowler, S. W.

1981-02-01

Loss of 241Am and 237Pu from contaminated mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis) living in situ in the Mediterranean Sea is described as the sum of three exponential functions. In the case of 241Am, two short-lived compartments representing a total of 80% of the incorporated radionuclide turned over rapidly with biological half-lives of 2 and 3 weeks. The remaining fraction of 241Am, associated with a long-lived compartment, was lost at an extremely slow rate ( Tb1/2=1·3 years). Plutonium-237 turnover in the two short-lived compartments (containing 70% of the Pu) was more rapid ( Tb1/2=1-2 days and 2 weeks) than that of 241Am; however, there was some indication that subsequent loss rates of the two radionuclides in long-lived compartments may be similar if determined over comparable periods of time. Loss rates of 241Am differed for the various tissues, with the most rapid rates occurring in gill, viscera and shell. Abrupt changes in loss observed in muscle and mantle suggested a translocation of 241Am to muscle and mantle during depuration. Whole shell contained by far the largest fraction (˜90%) of both 241Am and 237Pu taken up; in addition, these radionuclides are not irreversibly bound to mussel shell but readily leach into the water. These observations suggest that mollusc shell may influence the biogeochemistry of transuranic elements in littoral zones.

Modeling of thin-walled structures interacting with acoustic media as constrained two-dimensional continua

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rabinskiy, L. N.; Zhavoronok, S. I.

2018-04-01

The transient interaction of acoustic media and elastic shells is considered on the basis of the transition function approach. The three-dimensional hyperbolic initial boundary-value problem is reduced to a two-dimensional problem of shell theory with integral operators approximating the acoustic medium effect on the shell dynamics. The kernels of these integral operators are determined by the elementary solution of the problem of acoustic waves diffraction at a rigid obstacle with the same boundary shape as the wetted shell surface. The closed-form elementary solution for arbitrary convex obstacles can be obtained at the initial interaction stages on the background of the so-called “thin layer hypothesis”. Thus, the shell–wave interaction model defined by integro-differential dynamic equations with analytically determined kernels of integral operators becomes hence two-dimensional but nonlocal in time. On the other hand, the initial interaction stage results in localized dynamic loadings and consequently in complex strain and stress states that require higher-order shell theories. Here the modified theory of I.N.Vekua–A.A.Amosov-type is formulated in terms of analytical continuum dynamics. The shell model is constructed on a two-dimensional manifold within a set of field variables, Lagrangian density, and constraint equations following from the boundary conditions “shifted” from the shell faces to its base surface. Such an approach allows one to construct consistent low-order shell models within a unified formal hierarchy. The equations of the N th-order shell theory are singularly perturbed and contain second-order partial derivatives with respect to time and surface coordinates whereas the numerical integration of systems of first-order equations is more efficient. Such systems can be obtained as Hamilton–de Donder–Weyl-type equations for the Lagrangian dynamical system. The Hamiltonian formulation of the elementary N th-order shell theory is here briefly described.

Design and Synthesis of Spherical Multicomponent Aggregates Composed of Core-Shell, Yolk-Shell, and Hollow Nanospheres and Their Lithium-Ion Storage Performances.

PubMed

Park, Gi Dae; Kang, Yun Chan

2018-03-01

Micrometer-sized spherical aggregates of Sn and Co components containing core-shell, yolk-shell, hollow nanospheres are synthesized by applying nanoscale Kirkendall diffusion in the large-scale spray drying process. The Sn 2 Co 3 -Co 3 SnC 0.7 -C composite microspheres uniformly dispersed with Sn 2 Co 3 -Co 3 SnC 0.7 mixed nanocrystals are formed by the first-step reduction of spray-dried precursor powders at 900 °C. The second-step oxidation process transforms the Sn 2 Co 3 -Co 3 SnC 0.7 -C composite into the porous microsphere composed of Sn-Sn 2 Co 3 @CoSnO 3 -Co 3 O 4 core-shell, Sn-Sn 2 Co 3 @CoSnO 3 -Co 3 O 4 yolk-shell, and CoSnO 3 -Co 3 O 4 hollow nanospheres at 300, 400, and 500 °C, respectively. The discharge capacity of the microspheres with Sn-Sn 2 Co 3 @CoSnO 3 -Co 3 O 4 core-shell, Sn-Sn 2 Co 3 @CoSnO 3 -Co 3 O 4 yolk-shell, and CoSnO 3 -Co 3 O 4 hollow nanospheres for the 200 th cycle at a current density of 1 A g -1 is 1265, 987, and 569 mA h g -1 , respectively. The ultrafine primary nanoparticles with a core-shell structure improve the structural stability of the porous-structured microspheres during repeated lithium insertion and desertion processes. The porous Sn-Sn 2 Co 3 @CoSnO 3 -Co 3 O 4 microspheres with core-shell primary nanoparticles show excellent cycling and rate performances as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Direct Evidence of Significant Cation Intermixing in Upconverting Core@Shell Nanocrystals: Toward a New Crystallochemical Model

DOE PAGES

Hudry, Damien; Busko, Dmitry; Popescu, Radian; ...

2017-11-02

Core@shell design represents an important class of architectures because of its capability to dramatically increase the absolute upconversion quantum yield (UCQY) of upconverting nanocrystals (UCNCs) but also to tune energy migration pathways. A relatively new trend towards the use of very thick optically inert shells affording significantly higher absolute UCQYs raises the question of the crystallographic and chemical characteristics of such nanocrystals (NCs). In this article, local chemical analyses performed by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) combined with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and x-ray total scattering experiments together with pair distribution function (PDF) analyses were used to probe themore » local chemical and structural characteristics of hexagonal β-NaGd0.78Yb0.2Er0.02F4@NaYF4 core@shell UCNCs. The investigations lead to a new crystallochemical model to describe core@shell UCNCs that considerably digresses from the commonly accepted epitaxial growth concept with sharp interfaces. The results obtained on ultra-small (4.8 ± 0.5 nm) optically active cores (β-NaGd0.78Yb0.2Er0.02F4) surrounded by an optically inert shell (NaYF4) of tunable thickness (roughly 0, 1, 2, and 3.5 nm) clearly indicate the massive dissolution of the starting seeds and the inter-diffusion of the shell element (such as Y) into the Gd/Yb/Er-containing core giving rise to the formation of a non-homogeneous solid solution characterized by concentration gradients and the lack of sharp interfaces. Independently of the inert shell thickness, core/interface/shell architectures were observed for all synthesized UCNCs. The presented results constitute a significant step towards the comprehensive understanding of the “structure - property” relationship of upconverting core@shell architectures, which is of prime interest not only in the development of more efficient structures but also to provide new physical insights at the nanoscale to better explain upconversion (UC) properties alterations.« less

Direct Evidence of Significant Cation Intermixing in Upconverting Core@Shell Nanocrystals: Toward a New Crystallochemical Model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hudry, Damien; Busko, Dmitry; Popescu, Radian

Core@shell design represents an important class of architectures because of its capability to dramatically increase the absolute upconversion quantum yield (UCQY) of upconverting nanocrystals (UCNCs) but also to tune energy migration pathways. A relatively new trend towards the use of very thick optically inert shells affording significantly higher absolute UCQYs raises the question of the crystallographic and chemical characteristics of such nanocrystals (NCs). In this article, local chemical analyses performed by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) combined with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDXS) and x-ray total scattering experiments together with pair distribution function (PDF) analyses were used to probe themore » local chemical and structural characteristics of hexagonal β-NaGd0.78Yb0.2Er0.02F4@NaYF4 core@shell UCNCs. The investigations lead to a new crystallochemical model to describe core@shell UCNCs that considerably digresses from the commonly accepted epitaxial growth concept with sharp interfaces. The results obtained on ultra-small (4.8 ± 0.5 nm) optically active cores (β-NaGd0.78Yb0.2Er0.02F4) surrounded by an optically inert shell (NaYF4) of tunable thickness (roughly 0, 1, 2, and 3.5 nm) clearly indicate the massive dissolution of the starting seeds and the inter-diffusion of the shell element (such as Y) into the Gd/Yb/Er-containing core giving rise to the formation of a non-homogeneous solid solution characterized by concentration gradients and the lack of sharp interfaces. Independently of the inert shell thickness, core/interface/shell architectures were observed for all synthesized UCNCs. The presented results constitute a significant step towards the comprehensive understanding of the “structure - property” relationship of upconverting core@shell architectures, which is of prime interest not only in the development of more efficient structures but also to provide new physical insights at the nanoscale to better explain upconversion (UC) properties alterations.« less

Large-Scale Trade in Legally Protected Marine Mollusc Shells from Java and Bali, Indonesia.

PubMed

Nijman, Vincent; Spaan, Denise; Nekaris, K Anne-Isola

2015-01-01

Tropical marine molluscs are traded globally. Larger species with slow life histories are under threat from over-exploitation. We report on the trade in protected marine mollusc shells in and from Java and Bali, Indonesia. Since 1987 twelve species of marine molluscs are protected under Indonesian law to shield them from overexploitation. Despite this protection they are traded openly in large volumes. We collected data on species composition, origins, volumes and prices at two large open markets (2013), collected data from wholesale traders (2013), and compiled seizure data by the Indonesian authorities (2008-2013). All twelve protected species were observed in trade. Smaller species were traded for 32,000 shells valued at USD500,000), chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) (>3,000 shells, USD60,000) and giant clams (Tridacna spp.) (>2,000 shells, USD45,000) were traded in largest volumes. Two-thirds of this trade was destined for international markets, including in the USA and Asia-Pacific region. We demonstrated that the trade in protected marine mollusc shells in Indonesia is not controlled nor monitored, that it involves large volumes, and that networks of shell collectors, traders, middlemen and exporters span the globe. This impedes protection of these species on the ground and calls into question the effectiveness of protected species management in Indonesia; solutions are unlikely to be found only in Indonesia and must involve the cooperation of importing countries.

Ultraviolet Communication for Medical Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-01

parent company Imaging Systems Technology (IST) demonstrated feasibility of several key concepts are being developed into a working prototype in the...program using multiple high-end GPUs ( NVIDIA Tesla K20). Finally, the Monte Carlo simulation task will be resumed after the Milestone 2 demonstration...is acceptable for automated printing and handling. Next, the option of having our shells electroded by an external company was investigated and DEI

Botanical pesticides effect from shells of bean’s cashew nut on biological agents of trichoderma sp. and gliocladium sp.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bande, L. O. S.; Mariadi; Gusnawaty, HS; Nuriadi; Trisulpa, L.; Rahmania

2018-02-01

A shell of cashew nut (Anacardium occidentanle) has contained Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) that is used as botanical pesticides. CNSL oil consists of active substance such as anacardat acid, cardol and cardanol. Utilization of the pesticides from shells of cashew nut to control pests and diseases of plants would be affected on biological agents. The objective of this research was to investigate pesticides inhibition on the increase of mycelium Trichoderma sp. and Gliocladium sp. by in vitro method. The tested concentration sample consisted of 0.0% (control), 2.5%, 7.5% and 10.0% in PDA media. The results of this research showed that 2.5% botanical pesticides concentration could minimize mycelium of Trichoderma sp. and Gliocladium sp. 22.73% and 21.04% respectively and also the increase shells of cashew extract could be affected the increase of mycelium inhibition. The extract with 2.5% concentration was the recommended concentration to control of fruit rot diseases and if concentration was 10.0% then its inhibition become 54.98% and 49.35%, respectively. The results proved that uncontrolled utilization of the pesticides could be affected on decrease of Trichoderma sp. and Gliocladium sp. growth.

Early and late lithification of aragonitic bivalve beds in the Purbeck Formation (upper jurassic-lower cretaceous) of Southern England

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Shahat, Adam; West, Ian

1983-05-01

Beds of euryhaline bivalves alternating with shales constitute much of the middle Purbeck Formation. They originated on "tidal" flats at the western margin of an extensive brackish lagoon. When these shell beds are thin and enclosed in shale they are often still preserved as aragonite and are associated with "beef", fibrous calcite formed during compaction. In most cases, however, the shell debris has been converted by diagenesis into calcitic biosparrudite limestones. A compacted type has been lithified at a late stage, after deep burial. In this, pyrite is abundant and most of the shell aragonite has been replaced neomorphically by ferroan pseudopleochroic calcite. A contrasting uncompacted type of biosparrudite is characterised by bivalve fragments with micrite envelopes. Shells and former pores are occupied by non-ferroan sparry calcite cement, and there is little pyrite. These limestones frequently contain dinosaur footprints and originated in "supratidal" environments where they were cemented early, mainly in meteoric water. Once lithified they were unaffected by compaction. This uncompacted type indicates phases of mild uplift or halts in subsidence. These shell-bed lithologies, and also intermediate types described here, will probably be recognised in other lagoonal formations.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hansen, Stephanie B.; Harding, Eric C.; Knapp, Patrick F.

The burning core of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) plasma produces bright x-rays at stagnation that can directly diagnose core conditions essential for comparison to simulations and understanding fusion yields. These x-rays also backlight the surrounding shell of warm, dense matter, whose properties are critical to understanding the efficacy of the inertial confinement and global morphology. In this work, we show that the absorption and fluorescence spectra of mid-Z impurities or dopants in the warm dense shell can reveal the optical depth, temperature, and density of the shell and help constrain models of warm, dense matter. This is illustrated bymore » the example of a high-resolution spectrum collected from an ICF plasma with a beryllium shell containing native iron impurities. Lastly, analysis of the iron K-edge provides model-independent diagnostics of the shell density (2.3 × 10 24 e/cm 3) and temperature (10 eV), while a 12-eV red shift in Kβ and 5-eV blue shift in the K-edge discriminate among models of warm dense matter: Both shifts are well described by a self-consistent field model based on density functional theory but are not fully consistent with isolated-atom models using ad-hoc density effects.« less

Fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy for warm dense matter studies and ICF plasma diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, S. B.; Harding, E. C.; Knapp, P. F.; Gomez, M. R.; Nagayama, T.; Bailey, J. E.

2018-05-01

The burning core of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) plasma produces bright x-rays at stagnation that can directly diagnose core conditions essential for comparison to simulations and understanding fusion yields. These x-rays also backlight the surrounding shell of warm, dense matter, whose properties are critical to understanding the efficacy of the inertial confinement and global morphology. We show that the absorption and fluorescence spectra of mid-Z impurities or dopants in the warm dense shell can reveal the optical depth, temperature, and density of the shell and help constrain models of warm, dense matter. This is illustrated by the example of a high-resolution spectrum collected from an ICF plasma with a beryllium shell containing native iron impurities. Analysis of the iron K-edge provides model-independent diagnostics of the shell density (2.3 × 1024 e/cm3) and temperature (10 eV), while a 12-eV red shift in Kβ and 5-eV blue shift in the K-edge discriminate among models of warm dense matter: Both shifts are well described by a self-consistent field model based on density functional theory but are not fully consistent with isolated-atom models using ad-hoc density effects.

49 CFR 179.220 - General specifications applicable to nonpressure tank car tanks consisting of an inner container...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... tank car tanks consisting of an inner container supported within an outer shell (class DOT-115). 179... AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (CONTINUED) SPECIFICATIONS FOR TANK CARS Specifications for Non-Pressure Tank Car Tanks (Classes DOT-111AW and 115AW) § 179.220...

Scrap computer recycling in Taiwan

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, C.H.; Chang, S.L.; Wang, K.M.

1999-07-01

It is estimated that approximately 700,000 scrap personal computers will be generated each year in Taiwan. The disposal of such a huge amount of scrap computers presents a difficult task for the island due to the scarcity of landfills and incineration facilities available locally. Also, the hazardous materials contained in the scrap computers may cause serious pollution to the environment, if they are not properly disposed. Thus, EPA of Taiwan has declared scrap personal computers as a producer responsibility recycling product on July 1997 to mandate that the manufacturers, importers and sellers of personal computers have to recover and recyclemore » their scrap computers properly. Beginning on June 1, 1998, a scrap computer recycling plan is officially implemented on the island. Under this plan, consumers can deliver their unwanted personal computers to the designated collection points to receive reward money. Currently, only six items are mandated to be recycled in this recycling plan. They are notebooks, monitor and the hard disk, power supply, printed circuit board and shell of the main frame of the personal computer. This paper presents the current scrap computer recycling system in Taiwan.« less

Method of sections in analytical calculations of pneumatic tires

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarasov, V. N.; Boyarkina, I. V.

2018-01-01

Analytical calculations in the pneumatic tire theory are more preferable in comparison with experimental methods. The method of section of a pneumatic tire shell allows to obtain equations of intensities of internal forces in carcass elements and bead rings. Analytical dependencies of intensity of distributed forces have been obtained in tire equator points, on side walls (poles) and pneumatic tire bead rings. Along with planes in the capacity of secant surfaces cylindrical surfaces are used for the first time together with secant planes. The tire capacity equation has been obtained using the method of section, by means of which a contact body is cut off from the tire carcass along the contact perimeter by the surface which is normal to the bearing surface. It has been established that the Laplace equation for the solution of tasks of this class of pneumatic tires contains two unknown values that requires the generation of additional equations. The developed computational schemes of pneumatic tire sections and new equations allow to accelerate the pneumatic tire structure improvement process during engineering.

Magnetization processes in core/shell exchange-spring structures.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, J. S.

2015-03-27

The magnetization reversal processes in cylindrical and spherical soft core/hard shell exchange-spring structures are investigated via the analytical nucleation theory, and are verified with numerical micromagnetic simulations. At small core sizes, the nucleation of magnetic reversal proceeds via the modified bulging mode, where the transverse component of the magnetization is only semi-coherent in direction and the nucleation field contains a contribution from self-demagnetization. For large core sizes, the modified curling mode, where the magnetization configuration is vortex-like, is favored at nucleation. The preference for the modified curling mode is beneficial in that the fluxclosure allows cylindrical and spherical core/shell exchange-springmore » elements to be densely packed into bulk permanent magnets without affecting the nucleation field, thereby offering the potential for high energy product.« less

Solvation of Cr 3+ cation in water-acetonitrile mixture studied by IR spectroscopy: molecular penetration into the solvation shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jamróz, Dorota; Wójcik, Marek; Lindgren, Jan

2000-09-01

Infrared spectra of mixtures of water and deuteroacetonitrile containing the Cr 3+ cation have been studied as a function of concentration, time and temperature. The CN stretching vibration of CD 3CN molecules has been used as a probe of the structural environments. The CN band in the spectra of the solutions is a superposition of four subbands, which may be attributed to CD 3CN bound in the first, second, and third solvation shells of the cation and to non-bound CD 3CN. The character of changes of the integral intensities of the subbands with time for various H 2O:Cr 3+ molar ratios are explained by suggesting mechanisms of molecular replacement within the solvation shells of Cr 3+.

21 CFR 172.255 - Polyacrylamide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

..., Films and Related Substances § 172.255 Polyacrylamide. Polyacrylamide containing not more than 0.2 percent of acrylamide monomer may be safely used as a film former in the imprinting of soft-shell gelatin...

21 CFR 172.255 - Polyacrylamide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

..., Films and Related Substances § 172.255 Polyacrylamide. Polyacrylamide containing not more than 0.2 percent of acrylamide monomer may be safely used as a film former in the imprinting of soft-shell gelatin...

21 CFR 172.255 - Polyacrylamide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

..., Films and Related Substances § 172.255 Polyacrylamide. Polyacrylamide containing not more than 0.2 percent of acrylamide monomer may be safely used as a film former in the imprinting of soft-shell gelatin...

21 CFR 172.255 - Polyacrylamide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

..., Films and Related Substances § 172.255 Polyacrylamide. Polyacrylamide containing not more than 0.2 percent of acrylamide monomer may be safely used as a film former in the imprinting of soft-shell gelatin...

Isoleucine epimerization in the high-molecular-weight fraction of pleistocene Arctica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaufman, Darrell S.; Sejrup, Hans-Petter

The extent of amino acid racemization, as traditionally determined in the entire (total acid hydrolysate) pool of amino acids comprising the organic remains of fossils, is a function of the integrated effects of a complex diagenetic reaction network. We investigated the possibility that some of the complications involved in protein diagenesis might be circumvented by isolating one component of the reaction network and studying the extent of racemization in that fraction alone. We used gel-filtration to extract the high-molecular-weight (HMW) fraction of proteinaceous matter from fossil and modem molluscan shells. This fraction contains the largest (ca. > 15,000 MW), most-pristine macromolecules and has been less affected by diagenesis than the more-degraded, lower molecular-weight fractions. Variations in the extent of racemization (isoleucine epimerization; alle/Ile) measured in the HMW fraction of subsamples taken along cross sections of Arctica shells from two interglacial sites, Bø and Fjøsanger, southwestern Norway, are within the range of analytical uncertainty [coefficient of variation (cv) = 5-8%], despite the strong gradient (cv = 20-24%) in alle/Ile of the total amino acid population. Because there is no age difference across a shell, this finding supports the idea that the HMW fraction contains more geochronologically reliable proteinaceous matter than the total amino acid pool. Weighted mean alle/Ile ratios in the HMW fraction of aliquots of powdered sample from the two shells overlap at ± 1σ, despite significantly different alle/Ile ratios in the total amino acid population of some shells from the two sites. The difference in alle/Ile ratios in the total population is attributed to a greater proportion of low-molecular-weight (ca. 300 MW), and hence, extensively epimerized molecules measured in gel-filtered samples from the Fjøsanger shell. Because the rate of epimerization in the HMW fraction is much lower than in the total population, the temporal resolution of the HMW technique is limited, particularly at these high-latitude sites. Therefore, we cannot use the aIle/Ile HMW data to exclude the possibility that the two sites are significantly different ages. Analyses of shells ranging in age from late Pliocene to Holocene indicate that reaction rate in the HMW fraction is about one-fifth the rate in the total amino acid population, although the difference is expected to decrease with increasing aIle/Ile.

Effect of brace design on patients with ACL-ruptures.

PubMed

Strutzenberger, G; Braig, M; Sell, S; Boes, K; Schwameder, H

2012-11-01

Different designs of functional knee braces for ACL-injury rehabilitation exist. In addition to the mechanical stabilization provided by rigid shell braces, sleeve braces also address proprioceptive mechanisms, but little is known if this leads to benefits for ACL-deficient subjects. Therefore the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 2 different functional brace designs (shell and sleeve brace) on functional achievements in ACL-deficient patients. 28 subjects with ACL-ruptured knees performed tests for knee joint laxity, joint position sense, static and dynamic balance and isometric and dynamic lower limb extension strength in non-braced, sleeve braced and shell braced condition. The results showed a significant decrease in knee joint laxity for sleeve (33%; p<0.001) and rigid shell bracing (14%, p=0.039). The sleeve brace revealed a significant increase in dynamic balance after perturbation (20%; p=0.024) and a significant increase in dynamic lower limb peak rate of force development (17%; p=0.015) compared to the non-braced condition. The effects might be caused by the flexible area of support and the incorporated mechanisms to address proprioceptive aspects. Braces might not be needed in simple daily life tasks, but could provide beneficial support in more dynamic settings when patients return to sporting activities after an ACL-injury. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Microbial Degradation of Lobster Shells to Extract Chitin Derivatives for Plant Disease Management.

PubMed

Ilangumaran, Gayathri; Stratton, Glenn; Ravichandran, Sridhar; Shukla, Pushp S; Potin, Philippe; Asiedu, Samuel; Prithiviraj, Balakrishnan

2017-01-01

Biodegradation of lobster shells by chitinolytic microorganisms are an environment safe approach to utilize lobster processing wastes for chitin derivation. In this study, we report degradation activities of two microbes, "S223" and "S224" isolated from soil samples that had the highest rate of deproteinization, demineralization and chitinolysis among ten microorganisms screened. Isolates S223 and S224 had 27.3 and 103.8 protease units mg -1 protein and 12.3 and 11.2 μg ml -1 of calcium in their samples, respectively, after 1 week of incubation with raw lobster shells. Further, S223 contained 23.8 μg ml -1 of N -Acetylglucosamine on day 3, while S224 had 27.3 μg ml -1 on day 7 of incubation with chitin. Morphological observations and 16S rDNA sequencing suggested both the isolates were Streptomyces . The culture conditions were optimized for efficient degradation of lobster shells and chitinase (∼30 kDa) was purified from crude extract by affinity chromatography. The digested lobster shell extracts induced disease resistance in Arabidopsis by induction of defense related genes ( PR1 > 500-fold, PDF1.2 > 40-fold) upon Pseudomonas syringae and Botrytis cinerea infection. The study suggests that soil microbes aid in sustainable bioconversion of lobster shells and extraction of chitin derivatives that could be applied in plant protection.

Unique pumping-out fracturing mechanism of a polymer-shelled contrast agent: an acoustic characterization and optical visualization.

PubMed

Kothapalli, Satya V V N; Daeichin, Verya; Mastik, Frits; Brodin, Lars Åke; Janerot-Sjoberg, Birgitta; Paradossi, Gaio; de Jong, Nico; Grishenkov, Dmitry

2015-03-01

This work describes the fracturing mechanism of air-filled microbubbles (MBs) encapsulated by a cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) shell. The radial oscillation and fracturing events following the ultrasound exposure were visualized with an ultrahigh-speed camera, and backscattered timedomain signals were acquired with the acoustic setup specific for harmonic detection. No evidence of gas emerging from defects in the shell with the arrival of the first insonation burst was found. In optical recordings, more than one shell defect was noted, and the gas core was drained without any sign of air extrusion when several consecutive bursts of 1 MPa amplitude were applied. In acoustic tests, the backscattered peak-to-peak voltage gradually reached its maximum and exponentially decreased when the PVA-based MB suspension was exposed to approximately 20 consecutive bursts arriving at pulse repetition frequencies of 100 and 500 Hz. Taking into account that the PVA shell is porous and possibly contains large air pockets between the cross-linked PVA chains, the aforementioned acoustic behavior might be attributed to pumping gas from these pockets in combination with gas release from the core through shell defects. We refer to this fracturing mechanism as pumping-out behavior, and this behavior could have potential use for the local delivery of therapeutic gases, such as nitric oxide.

Microbial Degradation of Lobster Shells to Extract Chitin Derivatives for Plant Disease Management

PubMed Central

Ilangumaran, Gayathri; Stratton, Glenn; Ravichandran, Sridhar; Shukla, Pushp S.; Potin, Philippe; Asiedu, Samuel; Prithiviraj, Balakrishnan

2017-01-01

Biodegradation of lobster shells by chitinolytic microorganisms are an environment safe approach to utilize lobster processing wastes for chitin derivation. In this study, we report degradation activities of two microbes, “S223” and “S224” isolated from soil samples that had the highest rate of deproteinization, demineralization and chitinolysis among ten microorganisms screened. Isolates S223 and S224 had 27.3 and 103.8 protease units mg-1 protein and 12.3 and 11.2 μg ml-1 of calcium in their samples, respectively, after 1 week of incubation with raw lobster shells. Further, S223 contained 23.8 μg ml-1 of N-Acetylglucosamine on day 3, while S224 had 27.3 μg ml-1 on day 7 of incubation with chitin. Morphological observations and 16S rDNA sequencing suggested both the isolates were Streptomyces. The culture conditions were optimized for efficient degradation of lobster shells and chitinase (∼30 kDa) was purified from crude extract by affinity chromatography. The digested lobster shell extracts induced disease resistance in Arabidopsis by induction of defense related genes (PR1 > 500-fold, PDF1.2 > 40-fold) upon Pseudomonas syringae and Botrytis cinerea infection. The study suggests that soil microbes aid in sustainable bioconversion of lobster shells and extraction of chitin derivatives that could be applied in plant protection. PMID:28529501

Identification of a Unique Fe-S Cluster Binding Site in a Glycyl-Radical Type Microcompartment Shell Protein

PubMed Central

Thompson, Michael C.; Wheatley, Nicole M.; Jorda, Julien; Sawaya, Michael R.; Gidaniyan, Soheil D.; Ahmed, Hoda; Yang, Zhongyu; McCarty, Krystal N.; Whitelegge, Julian P.; Yeates, Todd O.

2014-01-01

Recently, progress has been made toward understanding the functional diversity of bacterial microcompartment (MCP) systems, which serve as protein-based metabolic organelles in diverse microbes. New types of MCPs have been identified, including the glycyl-radical propanediol (Grp) MCP. Within these elaborate protein complexes, BMC-domain shell proteins assemble to form a polyhedral barrier that encapsulates the enzymatic contents of the MCP. Interestingly, the Grp MCP contains a number of shell proteins with unusual sequence features. GrpU is one such shell protein, whose amino acid sequence is particularly divergent from other members of the BMC-domain superfamily of proteins that effectively defines all MCPs. Expression, purification, and subsequent characterization of the protein showed, unexpectedly, that it binds an iron-sulfur cluster. We determined X-ray crystal structures of two GrpU orthologs, providing the first structural insight into the homohexameric BMC-domain shell proteins of the Grp system. The X-ray structures of GrpU, both obtained in the apo form, combined with spectroscopic analyses and computational modeling, show that the metal cluster resides in the central pore of the BMC shell protein at a position of broken 6-fold symmetry. The result is a structurally polymorphic iron-sulfur cluster binding site that appears to be unique among metalloproteins studied to date. PMID:25102080

Influences of organic matter and calcification rate on trace elements in aragonitic estuarine bivalve shells

USGS Publications Warehouse

Takesue, R.K.; Bacon, C.R.; Thompson, J.K.

2008-01-01

A suite of elements (B, Na, Mg, S, K, Ca, V, Mn, Cr, Sr, and Ba) was measured in aragonitic shells of the estuarine bivalve Corbula amurensis, the Asian clam, using the Sensitive High-Resolution Ion MicroProbe with Reverse Geometry (SHRIMP RG). Our initial intent was to explore potential geochemical proxy relationships between shell chemistry and salinity (freshwater inflow) in northern San Francisco Bay (SFB). In the course of this study we observed variations in shell trace element to calcium ([M]/Ca) ratios that could only be attributed to internal biological processes. This paper discusses the nature and sources of internal trace element variability in C. amurensis shells related to the shell organic fraction and shell calcification rates. The average organic content of whole C. amurensis shells is 19%. After treating whole powdered shells with an oxidative cleaning procedure to remove organic matter, shells contained on average 33% less total Mg and 78% less total Mn. Within our analytical uncertainty, Sr and Ba contents were unchanged by the removal of organic matter. These results show that aragonitic C. amurensis shells have a large component of non-lattice-bound Mg and Mn that probably contribute to the dissimilarity of [M]/Ca profiles among five same-sized shells. Non-lattice-bound trace elements could complicate the development and application of geochemical proxy relationships in bivalve shells. Because B, Ba and Sr occur exclusively in shell aragonite, they are good candidates for external proxy relationships. [M]/Ca ratios were significantly different in prismatic and nacreous aragonite and in two valves of the same shell that had different crystal growth rates. Some part of these differences can be attributed to non-lattice-bound trace elements associated with the organic fraction. The differences in [M]/Ca ratios were also consistent with the calcification rate-dependent ion transport model developed by Carr?? et al. [Carr?? M., Bentaleb I., Bruguier O., Ordinola E., Barrett N. T. and Fontugne M. (2006) Calcification rate influence on trace element concentrations in aragonitic bivalve shells: evidences and mechanisms. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 70, 4906-4920] which predicts that [M]/Ca ratios increase as calcification rates increase and Ca2+ channel specificity decreases. This result, in combination with the possibility that there were ontogenetic variations in growth rates among individuals younger than 2 years, underscores the need to develop an independent age model for C. amurensis shells. If growth-rate effects on lattice-bound [M]/Ca ratios can be constrained, it may yet be possible to develop high-resolution geochemical proxies for external solution chemistry in low-salinity regions of SFB.

Novel chronotherapeutic rectal aminophylline delivery system for therapy of asthma.

PubMed

Shiohira, Hideo; Fujii, Makiko; Koizumi, Naoya; Kondoh, Masuo; Watanabe, Yoshiteru

2009-09-08

The aim of this study was to develop a new chronotherapeutic pharmaceutical preparation as a sustained-release suppository for prevention and therapeutic use against bronchial asthma in the early morning. Sustained-release hollow-type (SR-HT) suppositories using sodium alginate (Alg-Na), sodium polyacrylate (PANa) or polyacrylate-PANa co-polymer (PA-PANa) as gelling polymers (gel agent) were prepared and pharmaceutical characteristics of these suppositories were investigated. Type A SR-HT suppositories comprised a suppository shell prepared with oleaginous base and containing aminophylline only or aminophylline with Alg-Na or PANa in the cavity (hollow space). Type B SR-HT suppositories comprised a suppository shell prepared with oleaginous base and gel agent (30%), with aminophylline in the hollow space. In drug-release studies, the acrylate polymer-containing suppositories showed linearity of delayed release rate, providing significantly decreased the highest concentration of theophylline in plasma (C(max)) and delayed the time required to reach C(max) (t(max)) and the mean residence time (MRT) after rectal administrated in rabbits. In particular, suppositories containing PA-PANa maintained significantly higher theophylline concentrations than control suppositories at 12h after rectal administration. Furthermore, histopathological examination indicated that these suppositories using acrylate polymers did not result in rectal lesions. The SR-HT suppository, particularly using PA-PANa as a gel agent, may thus be useful against nocturnal symptoms of asthma. In this study, we confirmed new formulation of sustained-release suppository for chronotherapy of theophylline using oily base material in combination with polymer such as PA-PANa. The hollow-type suppository containing oleaginous base and hydrophilic polymer in the shell could be useful device for rectal administration of various drugs with prolongation of plasma concentration.

Membrane-containing virus particles exhibit the mechanics of a composite material for genome protection.

PubMed

Azinas, S; Bano, F; Torca, I; Bamford, D H; Schwartz, G A; Esnaola, J; Oksanen, H M; Richter, R P; Abrescia, N G

2018-04-26

The protection of the viral genome during extracellular transport is an absolute requirement for virus survival and replication. In addition to the almost universal proteinaceous capsids, certain viruses add a membrane layer that encloses their double-stranded (ds) DNA genome within the protein shell. Using the membrane-containing enterobacterial virus PRD1 as a prototype, and a combination of nanoindentation assays by atomic force microscopy and finite element modelling, we show that PRD1 provides a greater stability against mechanical stress than that achieved by the majority of dsDNA icosahedral viruses that lack a membrane. We propose that the combination of a stiff and brittle proteinaceous shell coupled with a soft and compliant membrane vesicle yields a tough composite nanomaterial well-suited to protect the viral DNA during extracellular transport.

Uranium extraction from TRISO-coated fuel particles using supercritical CO2 containing tri-n-butyl phosphate.

PubMed

Zhu, Liyang; Duan, Wuhua; Xu, Jingming; Zhu, Yongjun

2012-11-30

High-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) are advanced nuclear systems that will receive heavy use in the future. It is important to develop spent nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies for HTGR. A new method for recovering uranium from tristructural-isotropic (TRISO-) coated fuel particles with supercritical CO(2) containing tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) as a complexing agent was investigated. TRISO-coated fuel particles from HTGR fuel elements were first crushed to expose UO(2) pellet fuel kernels. The crushed TRISO-coated fuel particles were then treated under O(2) stream at 750°C, resulting in a mixture of U(3)O(8) powder and SiC shells. The conversion of U(3)O(8) into solid uranyl nitrate by its reaction with liquid N(2)O(4) in the presence of a small amount of water was carried out. Complete conversion was achieved after 60 min of reaction at 80°C, whereas the SiC shells were not converted by N(2)O(4). Uranyl nitrate in the converted mixture was extracted with supercritical CO(2) containing TBP. The cumulative extraction efficiency was above 98% after 20 min of online extraction at 50°C and 25 MPa, whereas the SiC shells were not extracted by TBP. The results suggest an attractive strategy for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel from HTGR to minimize the generation of secondary radioactive waste. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Gauge and Non-Gauge Tensor Multiplets in 5D Conformal Supergravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kugo, T.; Ohashi, K.

2002-12-01

An off-shell formulation of two distinct tensor multiplets, a massive tensor multiplet and a tensor gauge multiplet, is presented in superconformal tensor calculus in five-dimensional space-time. Both contain a rank 2 antisymmetric tensor field, but there is no gauge symmetry in the former, while it is a gauge field in the latter. Both multiplets have 4 bosonic and 4 fermionic on-shell modes, but the former consists of 16 (boson)+16 (fermion) component fields, while the latter consists of 8 (boson)+8 (fermion) component fields.

Double-detonation Sub-Chandrasekhar Supernovae: Synthetic Observables for Minimum Helium Shell Mass Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kromer, M.; Sim, S. A.; Fink, M.; Röpke, F. K.; Seitenzahl, I. R.; Hillebrandt, W.

2010-08-01

In the double-detonation scenario for Type Ia supernovae, it is suggested that a detonation initiates in a shell of helium-rich material accreted from a companion star by a sub-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf. This shell detonation drives a shock front into the carbon-oxygen white dwarf that triggers a secondary detonation in the core. The core detonation results in a complete disruption of the white dwarf. Earlier studies concluded that this scenario has difficulties in accounting for the observed properties of Type Ia supernovae since the explosion ejecta are surrounded by the products of explosive helium burning in the shell. Recently, however, it was proposed that detonations might be possible for much less massive helium shells than previously assumed (Bildsten et al.). Moreover, it was shown that even detonations of these minimum helium shell masses robustly trigger detonations of the carbon-oxygen core (Fink et al.). Therefore, it is possible that the impact of the helium layer on observables is less than previously thought. Here, we present time-dependent multi-wavelength radiative transfer calculations for models with minimum helium shell mass and derive synthetic observables for both the optical and γ-ray spectral regions. These differ strongly from those found in earlier simulations of sub-Chandrasekhar-mass explosions in which more massive helium shells were considered. Our models predict light curves that cover both the range of brightnesses and the rise and decline times of observed Type Ia supernovae. However, their colors and spectra do not match the observations. In particular, their B - V colors are generally too red. We show that this discrepancy is mainly due to the composition of the burning products of the helium shell of the Fink et al. models which contain significant amounts of titanium and chromium. Using a toy model, we also show that the burning products of the helium shell depend crucially on its initial composition. This leads us to conclude that good agreement between sub-Chandrasekhar-mass explosions and observed Type Ia supernovae may still be feasible but further study of the shell properties is required.

On the size and structure of helium snowballs formed around charged atoms and clusters of noble gases.

PubMed

Bartl, Peter; Leidlmair, Christian; Denifl, Stephan; Scheier, Paul; Echt, Olof

2014-09-18

Helium nanodroplets doped with argon, krypton, or xenon are ionized by electrons and analyzed in a mass spectrometer. HenNgx(+) ions containing up to seven noble gas (Ng) atoms and dozens of helium atoms are identified; the high resolution of the mass spectrometer combined with advanced data analysis make it possible to unscramble contributions from isotopologues that have the same nominal mass but different numbers of helium or Ng atoms, such as the magic He20(84)Kr2(+) and the isobaric, nonmagic He41(84)Kr(+). Anomalies in these ion abundances reveal particularly stable ions; several intriguing patterns emerge. Perhaps most astounding are the results for HenAr(+), which show evidence for three distinct, solid-like solvation shells containing 12, 20, and 12 helium atoms. This observation runs counter to the common notion that only the first solvation shell is solid-like but agrees with calculations by Galli et al. for HenNa(+) [J. Phys. Chem. A 2011, 115, 7300] that reveal three shells of icosahedral symmetry. HenArx(+) (2 ≤ x ≤ 7) ions appear to be especially stable if they contain a total of n + x = 19 atoms. A sequence of anomalies in the abundance distribution of HenKrx(+) suggests that rings of six helium atoms are inserted into the solvation shell each time a krypton atom is added to the ionic core, from Kr(+) to Kr3(+). Previously reported strong anomalies at He12Kr2(+) and He12Kr3(+) [Kim , J. H.; et al. J. Chem. Phys. 2006, 124, 214301] are attributed to a contamination. Only minor local anomalies appear in the distributions of HenXex(+) (x ≤ 3). The distributions of HenKr(+) and HenXe(+) show strikingly similar, broad features that are absent from the distribution of HenAr(+); differences are tentatively ascribed to the very different fragmentation dynamics of these ions.

On the Size and Structure of Helium Snowballs Formed around Charged Atoms and Clusters of Noble Gases

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Helium nanodroplets doped with argon, krypton, or xenon are ionized by electrons and analyzed in a mass spectrometer. HenNgx+ ions containing up to seven noble gas (Ng) atoms and dozens of helium atoms are identified; the high resolution of the mass spectrometer combined with advanced data analysis make it possible to unscramble contributions from isotopologues that have the same nominal mass but different numbers of helium or Ng atoms, such as the magic He2084Kr2+ and the isobaric, nonmagic He4184Kr+. Anomalies in these ion abundances reveal particularly stable ions; several intriguing patterns emerge. Perhaps most astounding are the results for HenAr+, which show evidence for three distinct, solid-like solvation shells containing 12, 20, and 12 helium atoms. This observation runs counter to the common notion that only the first solvation shell is solid-like but agrees with calculations by Galli et al. for HenNa+ [J. Phys. Chem. A2011, 115, 730021568337] that reveal three shells of icosahedral symmetry. HenArx+ (2 ≤ x ≤ 7) ions appear to be especially stable if they contain a total of n + x = 19 atoms. A sequence of anomalies in the abundance distribution of HenKrx+ suggests that rings of six helium atoms are inserted into the solvation shell each time a krypton atom is added to the ionic core, from Kr+ to Kr3+. Previously reported strong anomalies at He12Kr2+ and He12Kr3+ [KimJ. H.; et al. J. Chem. Phys.2006, 124, 21430116774401] are attributed to a contamination. Only minor local anomalies appear in the distributions of HenXex+ (x ≤ 3). The distributions of HenKr+ and HenXe+ show strikingly similar, broad features that are absent from the distribution of HenAr+; differences are tentatively ascribed to the very different fragmentation dynamics of these ions. PMID:24128371

Dock ’n Roll: Folding of a Silk-Inspired Polypeptide into an Amyloid-like Beta Solenoid

PubMed Central

Zhao, Binwu; Cohen Stuart, Martien A.; Hall, Carol K.

2016-01-01

Polypeptides containing the motif ((GA)mGX)n occur in silk (we refer to them as ‘silk-like’) and have a strong tendency to self-assemble. For example, polypeptides containing (GAGAGAGX)n, where X = G or H have been observed to form filaments; similar sequences but with X = Q have been used in the design of coat proteins (capsids) for artificial viruses. The structure of the (GAGAGAGX)m filaments has been proposed to be a stack of peptides in a β roll structure with the hydrophobic side chains pointing outwards (hydrophobic shell). Another possible configuration, a β roll or β solenoid structure which has its hydrophobic side chains buried inside (hydrophobic core) was, however, overlooked. We perform ground state analysis as well as atomic-level molecular dynamics simulations, both on single molecules and on two-molecule stacks of the silk-inspired sequence (GAGAGAGQ)10, to decide whether the hydrophobic core or the hydrophobic shell configuration is the most stable one. We find that a stack of two hydrophobic core molecules is energetically more favorable than a stack of two shell molecules. A shell molecule initially placed in a perfect β roll structure tends to rotate its strands, breaking in-plane hydrogen bonds and forming out-of-plane hydrogen bonds, while a core molecule stays in the β roll structure. The hydrophobic shell structure has type II’ β turns whereas the core configuration has type II β turns; only the latter secondary structure agrees well with solid-state NMR experiments on a similar sequence (GA)15. We also observe that the core stack has a higher number of intra-molecular hydrogen bonds and a higher number of hydrogen bonds between stack and water than the shell stack. Hence, we conclude that the hydrophobic core configuration is the most likely structure. In the stacked state, each peptide has more intra-molecular hydrogen bonds than a single folded molecule, which suggests that stacking provides the extra stability needed for molecules to reach the folded state. PMID:26947809

Project FARE task III report : urban mass transportation industry reporting system design : interim task III report for November 1972-June 1973 period. Part III - Reporting system forms.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1973-06-01

The report contains a description of the proposed uniform reporting system for the urban mass transit industry. It is presented in four volumes: Part I - Task Summary contains a description of how Task III was accomplished and the conclusions and rec...

Project FARE task III report : urban mass transportation industry reporting system design : interim task III report for November 1972-June 1973 period. Part IV - Commuter rail reporting.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1973-06-01

This report contains a description of the proposed uniform reporting system for the urban mass transit industry. It is presented in four volumes: Part I - Task Summary contains a description of how Task III was accomplished and the conclusions and re...

Project FARE task III report : urban mass transportation industry reporting system design : interim task III report for November 1972-June 1973 period. Part II - Reporting system instructions.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1973-06-01

This report contains a description of the proposed uniform reporting system for the urban mass transit industry. It is presented in four volumes: Part I - Task Summary contains a description of how Task III was accomplished and the conclusions and re...

Fault-tolerant rotary actuator

DOEpatents

Tesar, Delbert

2006-10-17

A fault-tolerant actuator module, in a single containment shell, containing two actuator subsystems that are either asymmetrically or symmetrically laid out is provided. Fault tolerance in the actuators of the present invention is achieved by the employment of dual sets of equal resources. Dual resources are integrated into single modules, with each having the external appearance and functionality of a single set of resources.

Coulomb excitations for a short linear chain of metallic shells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhemchuzhna, Liubov, E-mail: lzhemchuzhna@unm.edu; Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106; Gumbs, Godfrey

2015-03-15

A self-consistent-field theory is given for the electronic collective modes of a chain containing a finite number, N, of Coulomb-coupled spherical two-dimensional electron gases arranged with their centers along a straight line, for simulating electromagnetic response of a narrow-ribbon of metallic shells. The separation between nearest-neighbor shells is arbitrary and because of the quantization of the electron energy levels due to their confinement to the spherical surface, all angular momenta L of the Coulomb excitations, as well as their projections M on the quantization axis, are coupled. However, for incoming light with a given polarization, only one angular momentum quantummore » number is usually required. Therefore, the electromagnetic response of the narrow-ribbon of metallic shells is expected to be controlled externally by selecting different polarizations for incident light. We show that, when N = 3, the next-nearest-neighbor Coulomb coupling is larger than its value if they are located at opposite ends of a right-angle triangle forming the triad. Additionally, the frequencies of the plasma excitations are found to depend on the orientation of the line joining them with respect to the axis of quantization since the magnetic field generated from the induced oscillating electric dipole moment on one sphere can couple to the induced magnetic dipole moment on another. Although the transverse inter-shell electromagnetic coupling can be modeled by an effective dynamic medium, the longitudinal inter-shell Coulomb coupling, on the other hand, can still significantly modify the electromagnetic property of this effective medium between shells.« less

Co-encapsulation of CdSe/ZnS and CeO2 nanoparticles in waterborne polymer dispersions: enhancement of fluorescence emission under sunlight.

PubMed

De San Luis, Alicia; Paulis, Maria; Leiza, Jose Ramon

2017-11-15

Hybrid core/shell polymer particles with co-encapsulated quantum dots (QDs) (CdSe/ZnS) and CeO 2 nanoparticles have been synthesized in a two stage semi-batch emulsion polymerization process. In the first stage, both inorganic nanoparticles are incorporated into cross-linked polystyrene (PS) particles by miniemulsion polymerization. This hybrid dispersion is then used as the seed to produce the core/shell particles by starved feeding of methyl methacrylate and divinylbenzene (MMA/DVB) monomers. The core/shell hybrid dispersions maintained in the dark exhibit stable fluorescence emission over time, and notably their fluorescence intensity increases under sunlight, likely due to the effect of the co-encapsulated CeO 2 nanoparticles that change the optical properties of the environment of the quantum dot particles. The fluorescence increase depends on the QD : CeO 2 ratio, with the 1 : 2 ratio resulting in the highest increase (280%). Furthermore, a film forming hybrid latex has been synthesized using the former core/shell PS/QD/CeO 2 /PMMA particles as seeds and feeding under semi-batch conditions methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate and acrylic acid. Films cast from this core/shell/shell hybrid dispersion also exhibit fluorescence, and as for the core/shell latex the fluorescence increases under sunlight exposure. Interestingly, the increase in the film is at least two times higher than that in the latex, which is attributed to the additional effect of the neighboring coalesced particles containing CeO 2 affecting the environment of the QDs.

Detection and use of HT and DT gamma rays to diagnose mix in ICF capsules

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitt, M. J.; Kim, Y. H.; Herrmann, H. W.; McEvoy, A. M.; Zylstra, A.; Leatherland, A.; Gales, S.

2015-11-01

Recent results from Omega capsule implosion experiments containing HT-rich gas mixtures indicate that the 19.8 MeV gamma ray from aneutronic HT fusion can be measured using existing time-resolved gas Cherenkov detectors (GCDs). Additional dedicated experiments to characterize HT- γ emission in ICF experiments already have been planned. The concurrent temporally-resolved measurement of both HT- γs and DT- γs opens the door for in-depth exploration of interface mix in gas-filled ICF capsules. We propose a method to temporally resolve and observe the evolution of shell material into the capsule core as a function of fuel/shell interface temperature (which can be varied by varying the capsule shell thickness). Our proposed method uses a CD-lined plastic capsule filled with 50/50 HT gas and diagnosed using GCDs to temporally resolve both the HT ``clean'' and DT ``mix'' gamma ray burn histories. It will be shown that these burn history profiles are sensitive to the depth to which shell material mixes into the gas region. An experiment to observe these differences as a function of capsule shell thickness is proposed to determine if interface mixing is consistent with thermal diffusion (λion ~Tion2 /Zion2 ρ) at the gas/shell interface. Since hydrodynamic mixing from shell perturbations, such as the mounting stalk and glue, could complicate these types of capsule-averaged temporal measurements, simulations including their effects also will be shown. This research supported by the US DOE/NNSA, performed in part at LANL, operated by LANS LLC under contract DE-AC52-06NA25396.

Effects of pretreatment methods for hazelnut shell hydrolysate fermentation with Pichia Stipitis to ethanol.

PubMed

Arslan, Yeşim; Eken-Saraçoğlu, Nurdan

2010-11-01

In this study, we investigated the use of hazelnut shell as a renewable and low cost lignocellulosic material for bioethanol production for the first time. High lignin content of hazelnut shell is an important obstacle for such a biotransformation. Biomass hydrolysis with acids yields reducing sugar with several inhibitors which limit the fermentability of sugars. The various conditioning methods for biomass and hydrolysate were performed to overcome the toxicity and their effects on the subsequent fermentation of hazelnut shell hydrolysate by Pichia stipitis were evaluated with shaking flasks experiments. Hazelnut shells hydrolysis with 0.7M H(2)SO(4) yielded 49 gl(-1) total reducing sugars and fermentation inhibitors in untreated hydrolysate. First, it was shown that several hydrolysate detoxification methods were solely inefficient in achieving cell growth and ethanol production in the fermentation of hazelnut shell hydrolysates derived from non-delignified biomass. Next, different pretreatments of hazelnut shells were considered for delignification and employed before hydrolysis in conjunction with hydrolysate detoxification to improve alcohol fermentation. Among six delignification methods, the most effective pretreatment regarding to ethanol concentration includes the treatment of shells with 3% (w/v) NaOH at room temperature, which was integrated with sequential hydrolysate detoxification by overliming and then treatment with charcoal twice at 60 degrees C. This treatment brought about a total reduction of 97% in furans and 88.4% in phenolics. Almost all trialed treatments caused significant sugar loss. Under the best assayed conditions, ethanol concentration of 16.79gl(-1) was reached from a hazelnut shell hyrolysate containing initial 50g total reducing sugar l(-1) after partial synthetic xylose supplementation. This value is equal to 91.25% of ethanol concentration that was obtained from synthetic d-xylose under same conditions. The present study demonstrates that Pichia stipitis is able to grow and ferment sugars to ethanol in detoxified hazelnut hydrolysate derived from delignified biomass.

Computational modeling of the effective Young's modulus values of fullerene molecules: a combined molecular dynamics simulation and continuum shell model.

PubMed

Ghavanloo, Esmaeal; Izadi, Razie; Nayebi, Ali

2018-02-28

Estimating the Young's modulus of a structure in the nanometer size range is a difficult task. The reliable determination of this parameter is, however, important in both basic and applied research. In this study, by combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and continuum shell theory, we designed a new approach to determining the Young's modulus values of different spherical fullerenes. The results indicate that the Young's modulus values of fullerene molecules decrease nonlinearly with increasing molecule size and understandably tend to the Young's modulus of an ideal flat graphene sheet at large molecular radii. To the best of our knowledge, this is first time that a combined atomistic-continuum method which can predict the Young's modulus values of fullerene molecules with high precision has been reported.

Passive containment cooling system

DOEpatents

Conway, Lawrence E.; Stewart, William A.

1991-01-01

A containment cooling system utilizes a naturally induced air flow and a gravity flow of water over the containment shell which encloses a reactor core to cool reactor core decay heat in two stages. When core decay heat is greatest, the water and air flow combine to provide adequate evaporative cooling as heat from within the containment is transferred to the water flowing over the same. The water is heated by heat transfer and then evaporated and removed by the air flow. After an initial period of about three to four days when core decay heat is greatest, air flow alone is sufficient to cool the containment.

MXP(M = Co/Ni)@carbon core-shell nanoparticles embedded in 3D cross-linked graphene aerogel derived from seaweed biomass for hydrogen evolution reaction.

PubMed

Zhao, Wentong; Lu, Xiaoqing; Selvaraj, Manickam; Wei, Wei; Jiang, Zhifeng; Ullah, Nabi; Liu, Jie; Xie, Jimin

2018-05-24

Low-cost electrocatalysts play an important role in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Particularly, transition metal phosphides (TMPs) are widely applied in the development of HER electrocatalysts. To improve the poor electrochemical reaction kinetics of HER, we introduce a facile way to synthesize carbon core-shell materials containing cobalt phosphide nanoparticles embedded in different graphene aerogels (GAs) (CoP@C-NPs/GA-x (x = 5, 10 and 20)) using seaweed biomass as precursors. The synthesized CoP@C-NPs/GA-5 exhibits efficient catalytic activity with small overpotentials of 120 and 225 mV at current densities of 10 mA cm-2, along with the low Tafel slopes of 57 and 66 mV dec-1, for HER in acidic and alkaline electrolytes, respectively. Compared with carbon aerogel (CA) containing cobalt phosphide nanoparticles (CoP-NPs@CA), the stability of CoP@C-NPs/GA-5 coated with carbon-shells (∼0.8 nm) was significantly improved in acidic electrolytes. We also prepared carbon core-shell materials containing nickel phosphide nanoparticles embedded in GA (Ni2P@C-NPs/GA) to further expand this synthetic route. The graphene-Ni2P@C aerogel shows a similar morphology and better catalytic activity for HER in acidic and alkaline electrolytes. In this work, the robust three-dimensional (3D) GA matrix with abundant open pores and large surface area provides unblocked channels for electrolyte contact and electronic transfer and enables very close contact between the catalyst and electrolyte. The MxP@C core-shell structure prevents the inactivation of MxP NPs during HER processes, and the thin graphene oxide (GO) layers and 3D CA together build up a 3D conductive matrix, which not only adjusts the volume expansion of MxP NPs as well as preventing their aggregation, but also provides a 3D conductive pathway for rapid charge transfer processes. The present synthetic strategy for phosphides via in situ phosphorization with 3D GA can be extended to other novel high-performance catalysts. The simple synthesis and efficient catalytic activity of MXP@C-NPs/GA indicate good application prospects in HER.

Transverse shear effects on the stress-intensity factor for a circumferentially cracked, specially orthotropic cylindrical shell

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Delale, F.; Erdogan, F.

1977-01-01

The problem of a cylindrical shell containing a circumferential through crack is considered by taking into account the effect of transverse shear deformations. The formulation is given for a specially orthotropic material within the confines of a linearized shallow shell theory. The particular theory used permits the consideration of all five boundary conditions regarding moment and stress resultants on the crack surface. Consequently, aside from multiplicative constants representing the stress intensity factors, the membrane and bending components of the asymptotic stress fields near the crack tip are found to be identical. The stress intensity factors are calculated separately for a cylinder under a uniform membrane load, and that under a uniform bending moment. Sample results showing the nature of the out-of-plane crack surface displacement and the effect of the Poisson's ratio are presented.

Multifunctional Core–Shell Nanoparticles: Discovery of Previously Invisible Biomarkers

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Many low-abundance biomarkers for early detection of cancer and other diseases are invisible to mass spectrometry because they exist in body fluids in very low concentrations, are masked by high-abundance proteins such as albumin and immunoglobulins, and are very labile. To overcome these barriers, we created porous, buoyant, core–shell hydrogel nanoparticles containing novel high affinity reactive chemical baits for protein and peptide harvesting, concentration, and preservation in body fluids. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) nanoparticles were functionalized with amino-containing dyes via zero-length cross-linking amidation reactions. Nanoparticles functionalized in the core with 17 different (12 chemically novel) molecular baits showed preferential high affinities (KD < 10–11 M) for specific low-abundance protein analytes. A poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-vinylsulfonic acid) shell was added to the core particles. This shell chemistry selectively prevented unwanted entry of all size peptides derived from albumin without hindering the penetration of non-albumin small proteins and peptides. Proteins and peptides entered the core to be captured with high affinity by baits immobilized in the core. Nanoparticles effectively protected interleukin-6 from enzymatic degradation in sweat and increased the effective detection sensitivity of human growth hormone in human urine using multiple reaction monitoring analysis. Used in whole blood as a one-step, in-solution preprocessing step, the nanoparticles greatly enriched the concentration of low-molecular weight proteins and peptides while excluding albumin and other proteins above 30 kDa; this achieved a 10,000-fold effective amplification of the analyte concentration, enabling mass spectrometry (MS) discovery of candidate biomarkers that were previously undetectable. PMID:21999289

Dewatering and low-temperature pyrolysis of oily sludge in the presence of various agricultural biomasses.

PubMed

Zhao, Song; Zhou, Xiehong; Wang, Chuanyi; Jia, Hanzhong

2017-08-24

Pyrolysis is potentially an effective treatment of waste oil residues for recovery of petroleum hydrocarbons, and the addition of biomass is expected to improve its dewatering and pyrolysis behavior. In this study, the dewatering and low-temperature co-pyrolysis of oil-containing sludge in the presence of various agricultural biomasses, such as rice husk, walnut shell, sawdust, and apricot shell, were explored. As a result, the water content gradually decreases with the increase of biomass addition within 0-1.0 wt % in original oily sludge. Comparatively, the dewatering efficiency of sludge in the presence of four types of biomasses follows the order of apricot shell > walnut shell > rice husk > sawdust. On the other hand, rice husk and sawdust are relatively more efficient in the recovery of petroleum hydrocarbons compared with walnut shell and apricot shell. The recovery efficiency generally increased with the increase in the biomass content in the range of 0-0.2 wt %, then exhibited a gradually decreasing trend with the increase in the biomass content from 0.2 to 1.0 wt %. The results suggest that optimum amount of biomass plays an important role in the recovery efficiency. In addition, the addition of biomass (such as rice husk) also promotes the formation of C x H y and CO, increasing the calorific value of pyrolysis residue, and controlled the pollution components of the exhaust gas discharged from residue incineration. The present work implies that biomass as addictive holds great potential in the industrial dewatering and pyrolysis of oil-containing sludge.

The effects of environment on Arctica islandica shell formation and architecture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milano, Stefania; Nehrke, Gernot; Wanamaker, Alan D., Jr.; Ballesta-Artero, Irene; Brey, Thomas; Schöne, Bernd R.

2017-03-01

Mollusks record valuable information in their hard parts that reflect ambient environmental conditions. For this reason, shells can serve as excellent archives to reconstruct past climate and environmental variability. However, animal physiology and biomineralization, which are often poorly understood, can make the decoding of environmental signals a challenging task. Many of the routinely used shell-based proxies are sensitive to multiple different environmental and physiological variables. Therefore, the identification and interpretation of individual environmental signals (e.g., water temperature) often is particularly difficult. Additional proxies not influenced by multiple environmental variables or animal physiology would be a great asset in the field of paleoclimatology. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential use of structural properties of Arctica islandica shells as an environmental proxy. A total of 11 specimens were analyzed to study if changes of the microstructural organization of this marine bivalve are related to environmental conditions. In order to limit the interference of multiple parameters, the samples were cultured under controlled conditions. Three specimens presented here were grown at two different water temperatures (10 and 15 °C) for multiple weeks and exposed only to ambient food conditions. An additional eight specimens were reared under three different dietary regimes. Shell material was analyzed with two techniques; (1) confocal Raman microscopy (CRM) was used to quantify changes of the orientation of microstructural units and pigment distribution, and (2) scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to detect changes in microstructural organization. Our results indicate that A. islandica microstructure is not sensitive to changes in the food source and, likely, shell pigment are not altered by diet. However, seawater temperature had a statistically significant effect on the orientation of the biomineral. Although additional work is required, the results presented here suggest that the crystallographic orientation of biomineral units of A. islandica may serve as an alternative and independent proxy for seawater temperature.

49 CFR 232.203 - Training requirements.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... related to the performance of the tasks identified. (3) Require all employees to successfully complete a... regulatory requirements contained in this part related to the performance of a task for which the employee... contained in this part related to the performance of the tasks which the employee will be responsible for...

Task Lists for Agricultural Occupations, 1988: Cluster Matrices for Agricultural Occupations. Education for Employment Task Lists.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pepple, Jerry

This document contains four publications for agricultural occupations in Illinois. "Task Lists for Agricultural Occupations" provide lists of employability skills for the following: park aide; hand sprayer; gardener/groundskeeper; salesperson, parts, agricultural equipment; and dairy processing equipment operator. Each list contains skills…

The ESR age of Portlandia arctica shells from glacial deposits of Central Latvia . an answer to a controversy on the age and genesis of their enclosing sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molodkov, Anatoly; Dreimanis, Aleksis; ĀBoltiņš, Ojars; Raukas, Anto

The occurrence of Portlandia arctica shells in glacigenic sediments of Central Latvia had created a controversy in many publications about (1) their age ranging from the Holsteinian to the Late Weichselian and (2) the genesis of their enclosing sediments: glacial, glaciomarine or marine. Our reinvestigation of the main object of controversy, the Lı¯čupe site, leads to a conclusion that the sedimentary package of diamictons, clays and sands containing Portlandia arctica shells and marine microfossils is a large glacial raft that had been transported and deposited by the Riga lobe during the Weichselian. The electron spin resonance (ESR) ages on five sets of Portlandia arctica shells from the Lı¯čupe and Daugmales Tomēni sites range from 86.0±6.8 to 105.0±9.2 ka BP. These ESR age determinations and the cool climate indicators of the associated microflora and microfauna suggest that their source sediments, probably in the Gulf of Riga, are marine clays of Early Weichselian age, probably correlative to the Brørup Interstadial. In Central Latvia Portlandia arctica shells and their enclosing clay occur resedimented or translocated in glacial deposits during Weichselian glacial advances.

Fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy for warm dense matter studies and ICF plasma diagnostics

DOE PAGES

Hansen, Stephanie B.; Harding, Eric C.; Knapp, Patrick F.; ...

2018-03-07

The burning core of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) plasma produces bright x-rays at stagnation that can directly diagnose core conditions essential for comparison to simulations and understanding fusion yields. These x-rays also backlight the surrounding shell of warm, dense matter, whose properties are critical to understanding the efficacy of the inertial confinement and global morphology. In this work, we show that the absorption and fluorescence spectra of mid-Z impurities or dopants in the warm dense shell can reveal the optical depth, temperature, and density of the shell and help constrain models of warm, dense matter. This is illustrated bymore » the example of a high-resolution spectrum collected from an ICF plasma with a beryllium shell containing native iron impurities. Lastly, analysis of the iron K-edge provides model-independent diagnostics of the shell density (2.3 × 10 24 e/cm 3) and temperature (10 eV), while a 12-eV red shift in Kβ and 5-eV blue shift in the K-edge discriminate among models of warm dense matter: Both shifts are well described by a self-consistent field model based on density functional theory but are not fully consistent with isolated-atom models using ad-hoc density effects.« less

Active formation of `chaos terrain' over shallow subsurface water on Europa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, B. E.; Blankenship, D. D.; Patterson, G. W.; Schenk, P. M.

2011-11-01

Europa, the innermost icy satellite of Jupiter, has a tortured young surface and sustains a liquid water ocean below an ice shell of highly debated thickness. Quasi-circular areas of ice disruption called chaos terrains are unique to Europa, and both their formation and the ice-shell thickness depend on Europa's thermal state. No model so far has been able to explain why features such as Conamara Chaos stand above surrounding terrain and contain matrix domes. Melt-through of a thin (few-kilometre) shell is thermodynamically improbable and cannot raise the ice. The buoyancy of material rising as either plumes of warm, pure ice called diapirs or convective cells in a thick (>10 kilometres) shell is insufficient to produce the observed chaos heights, and no single plume can create matrix domes. Here we report an analysis of archival data from Europa, guided by processes observed within Earth's subglacial volcanoes and ice shelves. The data suggest that chaos terrains form above liquid water lenses perched within the ice shell as shallow as 3kilometres. Our results suggest that ice-water interactions and freeze-out give rise to the diverse morphologies and topography of chaos terrains. The sunken topography of Thera Macula indicates that Europa is actively resurfacing over a lens comparable in volume to the Great Lakes in North America.

Morphology conserving aminopropyl functionalization of hollow silica nanospheres in toluene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dobó, Dorina G.; Berkesi, Dániel; Kukovecz, Ákos

2017-07-01

Inorganic nanostructures containing cavities of monodisperse diameter distribution find applications in e.g. catalysis, adsorption and drug delivery. One of their possible synthesis routes is the template assisted core-shell synthesis. We synthesized hollow silica spheres around polystyrene cores by the sol-gel method. The polystyrene template was removed by heat treatment leaving behind a hollow spherical shell structure. The surface of the spheres was then modified by adding aminopropyl groups. Here we present the first experimental evidence that toluene is a suitable alternative functionalization medium for the resulting thin shells, and report the comprehensive characterization of the amino-functionalized hollow silica spheres based on scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption, FT-IR spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and electrokinetic potential measurement. Both the presence of the amino groups and the preservation of the hollow spherical morphology were unambiguously proven. The introduction of the amine functionality adds amphoteric character to the shell as shown by the zeta potential vs. pH function. Unlike pristine silica particles, amino-functionalized nanosphere aqueous sols can be stable at both acidic and basic conditions.

Hydrazine-Assisted Formation of Indium Phosphide (InP)-Based Nanowires and Core-Shell Composites

PubMed Central

Patzke, Greta R.; Kontic, Roman; Shiolashvili, Zeinab; Makhatadze, Nino; Jishiashvili, David

2012-01-01

Indium phosphide nanowires (InP NWs) are accessible at 440 °C from a novel vapor phase deposition approach from crystalline InP sources in hydrazine atmospheres containing 3 mol % H2O. Uniform zinc blende (ZB) InP NWs with diameters around 20 nm and lengths up to several tens of micrometers are preferably deposited on Si substrates. InP particle sizes further increase with the deposition temperature. The straightforward protocol was extended on the one-step formation of new core-shell InP–Ga NWs from mixed InP/Ga source materials. Composite nanocables with diameters below 20 nm and shells of amorphous gallium oxide are obtained at low deposition temperatures around 350 °C. Furthermore, InP/Zn sources afford InP NWs with amorphous Zn/P/O-coatings at slightly higher temperatures (400 °C) from analogous setups. At 450 °C, the smooth outer layer of InP-Zn NWs is transformed into bead-shaped coatings. The novel combinations of the key semiconductor InP with isotropic insulator shell materials open up interesting application perspectives in nanoelectronics. PMID:28809296

The enhançon and the consistency of excision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Clifford V.; Myers, Robert C.; Peet, Amanda W.; Ross, Simon F.

2001-11-01

The enhançon mechanism removes a family of timelike singularities from certain supergravity spacetimes by forming a shell of branes on which the exterior geometry terminates. The problematic interior geometry is replaced by a new spacetime, which in the prototype extremal case is simply flat. We show that this excision process, made inevitable by stringy phenomena such as enhanced gauge symmetry and the vanishing of certain D-branes' tension at the shell, is also consistent at the purely gravitational level. The source introduced at the excision surface between the interior and exterior geometries behaves exactly as a shell of wrapped D6 branes, and in particular, the tension vanishes at precisely the enhançon radius. These observations can be generalized, and we present the case for nonextremal generalizations of the geometry, showing that the procedure allows for the possibility that the interior geometry contains a horizon. Further knowledge of the dynamics of the enhançon shell itself is needed to determine the precise position of the horizon, and to uncover a complete physical interpretation of the solutions.

Synthesis of ligand-stabilized metal oxide nanocrystals and epitaxial core/shell nanocrystals via a lower-temperature esterification process.

PubMed

Ito, Daisuke; Yokoyama, Shun; Zaikova, Tatiana; Masuko, Keiichiro; Hutchison, James E

2014-01-28

The properties of metal oxide nanocrystals can be tuned by incorporating mixtures of matrix metal elements, adding metal ion dopants, or constructing core/shell structures. However, high-temperature conditions required to synthesize these nanocrystals make it difficult to achieve the desired compositions, doping levels, and structural control. We present a lower temperature synthesis of ligand-stabilized metal oxide nanocrystals that produces crystalline, monodisperse nanocrystals at temperatures well below the thermal decomposition point of the precursors. Slow injection (0.2 mL/min) of an oleic acid solution of the metal oleate complex into an oleyl alcohol solvent at 230 °C results in a rapid esterification reaction and the production of metal oxide nanocrystals. The approach produces high yields of crystalline, monodisperse metal oxide nanoparticles containing manganese, iron, cobalt, zinc, and indium within 20 min. Synthesis of tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) can be accomplished with good control of the tin doping levels. Finally, the method makes it possible to perform epitaxial growth of shells onto nanocrystal cores to produce core/shell nanocrystals.

Effectively-truncated large-scale shell-model calculations and nuclei around 100Sn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gargano, A.; Coraggio, L.; Itaco, N.

2017-09-01

This paper presents a short overview of a procedure we have recently introduced, dubbed the double-step truncation method, which is aimed to reduce the computational complexity of large-scale shell-model calculations. Within this procedure, one starts with a realistic shell-model Hamiltonian defined in a large model space, and then, by analyzing the effective single particle energies of this Hamiltonian as a function of the number of valence protons and/or neutrons, reduced model spaces are identified containing only the single-particle orbitals relevant to the description of the spectroscopic properties of a certain class of nuclei. As a final step, new effective shell-model Hamiltonians defined within the reduced model spaces are derived by way of a unitary transformation of the original large-scale Hamiltonian. A detailed account of this transformation is given and the merit of the double-step truncation method is illustrated by discussing few selected results for 96Mo, described as four protons and four neutrons outside 88Sr. Some new preliminary results for light odd-tin isotopes from A = 101 to 107 are also reported.

Hydrazine-Assisted Formation of Indium Phosphide (InP)-Based Nanowires and Core-Shell Composites.

PubMed

Patzke, Greta R; Kontic, Roman; Shiolashvili, Zeinab; Makhatadze, Nino; Jishiashvili, David

2012-12-27

Indium phosphide nanowires (InP NWs) are accessible at 440 °C from a novel vapor phase deposition approach from crystalline InP sources in hydrazine atmospheres containing 3 mol % H₂O. Uniform zinc blende (ZB) InP NWs with diameters around 20 nm and lengths up to several tens of micrometers are preferably deposited on Si substrates. InP particle sizes further increase with the deposition temperature. The straightforward protocol was extended on the one-step formation of new core-shell InP-Ga NWs from mixed InP/Ga source materials. Composite nanocables with diameters below 20 nm and shells of amorphous gallium oxide are obtained at low deposition temperatures around 350 °C. Furthermore, InP/Zn sources afford InP NWs with amorphous Zn/P/O-coatings at slightly higher temperatures (400 °C) from analogous setups. At 450 °C, the smooth outer layer of InP-Zn NWs is transformed into bead-shaped coatings. The novel combinations of the key semiconductor InP with isotropic insulator shell materials open up interesting application perspectives in nanoelectronics.

Effect of fly ash content towards Sulphate resistance of oil palm shell lightweight aggregate concrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muthusamy, K.; Fadzil, M. Y.; Nazrin Akmal, A. Z. Muhammad; Ahmad, S. Wan; Nur Azzimah, Z.; Hanafi, H. Mohd; Mohamad Hafizuddin, R.

2018-04-01

Both oil palm shell (OPS) and fly ash are by-product generated from the industries. Disposal of these by-product as wastes cause negative impact to the environment. The use of both oil palm shell and fly ash in concrete is seen as an economical solution for making green and denser concrete. The primary aim of this research is to determine the effects of FA utilization as sand replacement in oil palm shell lightweight aggregate concrete (OPS LWAC) towards sulphate resistance. Five concrete mixes containing fly ash as sand replacement namely 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% were prepared in these experimental work. All mixes were cast in form of cubes before subjected to sulphate solution for the period of 5 months. It was found that addition of 10% fly ash as sand replacement content resulted in better sulphate resistance of OPS LWAC. The occurrence of pozzolanic reaction due to the presence of FA in concrete has consumed the vulnerable Calcium hydroxide to be secondary C-S-H gel making the concrete denser and more durable.

49 CFR 178.345-4 - Joints.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-4 Joints. (a) All joints between the cargo tank shell... accessible for inspection. [Amdt. 178-89, 54 FR 25022, June 12, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 178-118, 61 FR...

49 CFR 178.345-4 - Joints.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-4 Joints. (a) All joints between the cargo tank shell... accessible for inspection. [Amdt. 178-89, 54 FR 25022, June 12, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 178-118, 61 FR...

49 CFR 178.345-4 - Joints.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-4 Joints. (a) All joints between the cargo tank shell... accessible for inspection. [Amdt. 178-89, 54 FR 25022, June 12, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 178-118, 61 FR...

49 CFR 178.345-4 - Joints.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-4 Joints. (a) All joints between the cargo tank shell... accessible for inspection. [Amdt. 178-89, 54 FR 25022, June 12, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 178-118, 61 FR...

49 CFR 178.345-4 - Joints.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Containers for Motor Vehicle Transportation § 178.345-4 Joints. (a) All joints between the cargo tank shell... accessible for inspection. [Amdt. 178-89, 54 FR 25022, June 12, 1989, as amended by Amdt. 178-118, 61 FR...

Large-Scale Trade in Legally Protected Marine Mollusc Shells from Java and Bali, Indonesia

PubMed Central

Nijman, Vincent; Spaan, Denise; Nekaris, K. Anne-Isola

2015-01-01

Background Tropical marine molluscs are traded globally. Larger species with slow life histories are under threat from over-exploitation. We report on the trade in protected marine mollusc shells in and from Java and Bali, Indonesia. Since 1987 twelve species of marine molluscs are protected under Indonesian law to shield them from overexploitation. Despite this protection they are traded openly in large volumes. Methodology/Principal Findings We collected data on species composition, origins, volumes and prices at two large open markets (2013), collected data from wholesale traders (2013), and compiled seizure data by the Indonesian authorities (2008–2013). All twelve protected species were observed in trade. Smaller species were traded for 32,000 shells valued at USD500,000), chambered nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) (>3,000 shells, USD60,000) and giant clams (Tridacna spp.) (>2,000 shells, USD45,000) were traded in largest volumes. Two-thirds of this trade was destined for international markets, including in the USA and Asia-Pacific region. Conclusions/Significance We demonstrated that the trade in protected marine mollusc shells in Indonesia is not controlled nor monitored, that it involves large volumes, and that networks of shell collectors, traders, middlemen and exporters span the globe. This impedes protection of these species on the ground and calls into question the effectiveness of protected species management in Indonesia; solutions are unlikely to be found only in Indonesia and must involve the cooperation of importing countries. PMID:26717021

Supergiants and their shells in young globular clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szécsi, Dorottya; Mackey, Jonathan; Langer, Norbert

2018-04-01

Context. Anomalous surface abundances are observed in a fraction of the low-mass stars of Galactic globular clusters, that may originate from hot-hydrogen-burning products ejected by a previous generation of massive stars. Aims: We aim to present and investigate a scenario in which the second generation of polluted low-mass stars can form in shells around cool supergiant stars within a young globular cluster. Methods: Simulations of low-metallicity massive stars (Mi 150-600 M⊙) show that both core-hydrogen-burning cool supergiants and hot ionizing stellar sources are expected to be present simulaneously in young globular clusters. Under these conditions, photoionization-confined shells form around the supergiants. We have simulated such a shell, investigated its stability and analysed its composition. Results: We find that the shell is gravitationally unstable on a timescale that is shorter than the lifetime of the supergiant, and the Bonnor-Ebert mass of the overdense regions is low enough to allow star formation. Since the low-mass stellar generation formed in this shell is made up of the material lost from the supergiant, its composition necessarily reflects the composition of the supergiant wind. We show that the wind contains hot-hydrogen-burning products, and that the shell-stars therefore have very similar abundance anomalies that are observed in the second generation stars of globular clusters. Considering the mass-budget required for the second generation star-formation, we offer two solutions. Either a top-heavy initial mass function is needed with an index of -1.71 to -2.07. Alternatively, we suggest the shell-stars to have a truncated mass distribution, and solve the mass budget problem by justifiably accounting for only a fraction of the first generation. Conclusions: Star-forming shells around cool supergiants could form the second generation of low-mass stars in Galactic globular clusters. Even without forming a photoionizaton-confined shell, the cool supergiant stars predicted at low-metallicity could contribute to the pollution of the interstellar medium of the cluster from which the second generation was born. Thus, the cool supergiant stars should be regarded as important contributors to the evolution of globular clusters.

Emergence of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 in the Caribbean: case-control study in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.

PubMed

Indar-Harrinauth, L; Daniels, N; Prabhakar, P; Brown, C; Baccus-Taylor, G; Comissiong, E; Hospedales, J

2001-03-15

A prospective case-control study involving 46 case patients and 92 age- and neighborhood-matched control subjects was conducted in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) between March 1998 and May 1999 to determine the etiology, sources, and risk factors for Salmonella enteritidis (SE) infection. SE infection in T&T was found to be associated with the consumption of shell eggs, and in particular raw or undercooked eggs. SE isolates from 30 (88%) of 34 patients and from 9 implicated egg or egg-containing food samples were phage type 4. Homemade eggnog and ice cream, cake batter, and egg-containing beverages were the main raw egg-containing foods, reflecting the cultural practices of the people of T&T. Public health education on the risks of eating raw or undercooked eggs, thorough cooking of all egg dishes, and refrigeration of shell eggs and egg dishes; studies tracing infected eggs to their sources; and testing of flocks of layer chickens for SE are needed to reduce the incidence of this infection.

Modeling the carbon isotope composition of bivalve shells (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romanek, C.

2010-12-01

The stable carbon isotope composition of bivalve shells is a valuable archive of paleobiological and paleoenvironmental information. Previous work has shown that the carbon isotope composition of the shell is related to the carbon isotope composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the ambient water in which a bivalve lives, as well as metabolic carbon derived from bivalve respiration. The contribution of metabolic carbon varies among organisms, but it is generally thought to be relatively low (e.g., <10%) in shells from aquatic organism and high (>90%) in the shells from terrestrial organisms. Because metabolic carbon contains significantly more C-12 than DIC, negative excursions from the expected environmental (DIC) signal are interpreted to reflect an increased contribution of metabolic carbon in the shell. This observation contrasts sharply with modeled carbon isotope compositions for shell layers deposited from the inner extrapallial fluid (EPF). Previous studies have shown that growth lines within the inner shell layer of bivalves are produced during periods of anaerobiosis when acidic metabolic byproducts (e.g., succinic acid) are neutralized (or buffered) by shell dissolution. This requires the pH of EPF to decrease below ambient levels (~7.5) until a state of undersaturation is achieved that promotes shell dissolution. This condition may occur when aquatic bivalves are subjected to external stressors originating from ecological (predation) or environmental (exposure to atm; low dissolved oxygen; contaminant release) pressures; normal physiological processes will restore the pH of EPF when the pressure is removed. As a consequence of this process, a temporal window should also exist in EPF at relatively low pH where shell carbonate is deposited at a reduced saturation state and precipitation rate. For example, EPF chemistry should remain slightly supersaturated with respect to aragonite given a drop of one pH unit (6.5), but under closed conditions, equilibrium carbon isotope fractionation relations dictate that shell carbonate should be preferentially enriched in C-13 by 3 to 5 per mill (from 30° to 0°C) compared to EPF at a pH of 7.5. Anomalous positive excursions are rarely, if ever, observed in shell carbonate and they have yet to be associated with growth cessation markers in bivalves. The most likely explanation for the lack of anomalous positive values is that the percentage of metabolic carbon increases in EPF when bivalves experience stressful condition. This influx of metabolic carbon is balanced to a measureable extent by the enhanced fractionation of carbon isotopes during shell deposition from EPF at relatively low pH. These two processes may be combined in a quantitative model to extract a historical record of metabolic activity from the carbon isotope profiles of bivalve shells.

Comparison of Phenotypic Value Changes in Pure Lines of Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) During Consecutive Generations Following Initial Selection on Cocoon Weight

PubMed Central

Seidavi, Alireza; Goldsmith, Marian R.

2014-01-01

Abstract The experiments reported here were conducted to investigate the effect of selection on three quantitative traits, namely cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, and cocoon shell percentage, during four generations by rearing six pure breeds of domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) of Chinese and Japanese origin compared with random unselected groups as controls. All stages of rearing and data recording were performed over four rearing periods, with generations 1–3 during successive spring seasons and generation 4 during the autumn season in year 3. Each pure line contained two groups of selected and random (control) groups. Comparisons included the effect of selection methods, pure line, and generation on the phenotypic values. We found strong main effects of pure line, generation, sex, and group and support for nearly all interactions between these main effects for all three response traits. The results indicated that cocoon weight and cocoon shell weight in the selected group were higher than in the control or nonselected group. Both selected and nonselected groups had the lowest cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, and cocoon shell percentage in the fourth generation when environmental conditions during the autumn season were less favorable than spring. The cocoon weight and cocoon shell weight averages were higher for nonselected groups in the second and third generations, and for the selected group in the first generation due to the direct effect of selection. PMID:25527593

Razor clam (Ensis directus) shell as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of Congo red and Rhodamine B dyes from aqueous solution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Areibat, Lila Elamari Mohamed; Kamari, Azlan

2017-05-01

Wastewater originating from industrial effluents contains many types of pollutants including dyes. Anionic and cationic dyes are very toxic and they can cause several problems to aquatic system. In present study, razor clam shell was used as a potential adsorbent to remove two classes of dyes, namely anionic (Congo red, CR) and cationic (Rhodamine B, RB) dyes from aqueous solution. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to study the effects of three experimental parameters, namely solution pH, adsorbent dosage and initial dye concentration, on adsorption capacity of CR and RB onto razor clam shell. Results indicated that pH 2.0 was optimum pH for adsorbent to adsorb both CR and RB. At an initial concentration of 20 mg/L, the removal percentages of CR and RB were 97% and 38%, respectively. The Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were used to describe adsorption behaviour of CR and RB, as well as the relationship between adsorbent and adsorbate. The adsorption equilibrium data were well fitted to Freundlich isotherm model. The separation factor (RL) constants suggest that both CR and RB were favourably adsorbed by razor clam shell. Razor clam shell was characterised by using two techniques, namely Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR). Overall, this study suggests that razor clam shell has great potential to be an alternative to expensive adsorbents.

Gas production apparatus

DOEpatents

Winsche, Warren E.; Miles, Francis T.; Powell, James R.

1976-01-01

This invention relates generally to the production of gases, and more particularly to the production of tritium gas in a reliable long operating lifetime systems that employs solid lithium to overcome the heretofore known problems of material compatibility and corrosion, etc., with liquid metals. The solid lithium is irradiated by neutrons inside low activity means containing a positive (+) pressure gas stream for removing and separating the tritium from the solid lithium, and these means are contained in a low activity shell containing a thermal insulator and a neutron moderator.

Enhanced energy density and thermostability in polyimide nanocomposites containing core-shell structured BaTiO3@SiO2 nanofibers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Junchuan; Long, Yunchen; Sun, Ying; Zhang, Xueqin; Yang, Hong; Lin, Baoping

2017-12-01

High energy density polymer nanocomposites with high-temperature resistance are quite desirable for film capacitors and many other power electronics. In this study, polyimide-based (PI) nanocomposite films containing the core-shell structured barium titanate@silicon dioxide (BT@SiO2) nanofibers have been successfully synthesized by the solution casting method. In the BT@SiO2/PI nanocomposite films, the dielectric permittivity as well as the breakdown strength increase significantly. The SiO2 shell layers with moderate dielectric permittivity could effectively mitigate the local field concentration induced by the large mismatch between the dielectric permittivity of BT and PI, which contributes to the enhancement of the breakdown strength of the PI nanocomposite films. As a result, the PI nanocomposite film filled with 3 vol% BT@SiO2 nanofibers exhibits a maximal energy density of 2.31 J cm-3 under the field of 346 kV/mm, which is 62% over the pristine PI (1.42 J cm-3 at 308 kV/mm) and about 200% greater than the best commercial polymer, i.e. biaxially oriented polypropylenes (BOPP) (≈1.2 J cm-3). The thermogravimetric analysis results indicate that the BT@SiO2/PI nanocomposite films have good thermal stability below 500 °C.

A Hydrogen Containment Process for Nuclear Thermal Engine Ground testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Ten-See; Stewart, Eric; Canabal, Francisco

2016-01-01

The objective of this study is to propose a new total hydrogen containment process to enable the testing required for NTP engine development. This H2 removal process comprises of two unit operations: an oxygen-rich burner and a shell-and-tube type of heat exchanger. This new process is demonstrated by simulation of the steady state operation of the engine firing at nominal conditions.

Georgetown University Integrated Community Energy System (GU-ICES). Phase III, Stage I. Feasibility analysis. Final report. Volume 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

This Feasibility Analysis covers a wide range of studies and evaluations. The Report is divided into five parts. Section 1 contains all material relating to the Institutional Assessment including consideration of the requirements and position of the Potomac Electric Co. as they relate to cogeneration at Georgetown in parallel with the utility (Task 1). Sections 2 through 7 contain all technical information relating to the Alternative Subsystems Analysis (Task 4). This includes the energy demand profiles upon which the evaluations were based (Task 3). It further includes the results of the Life-Cycle-Cost Analyses (Task 5) which are developed in detailmore » in the Appendix for evaluation in the Technical Report. Also included is the material relating to Incremental Savings and Optimization (Task 6) and the Conceptual Design for candidate alternate subsystems (Task 7). Section 8 contains all material relating to the Environmental Impact Assessment (Task 2). The Appendix contains supplementary material including the budget cost estimates used in the life-cycle-cost analyses, the basic assumptions upon which the life-cycle analyses were developed, and the detailed life-cycle-cost anlysis for each subsystem considered in detail.« less

Applications and results of X-ray spectroscopy in implosion experiments on the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Epstein, R.; Regan, S. P.; Hammel, B. A.; Suter, L. J.; Scott, H. A.; Barrios, M. A.; Bradley, D. K.; Callahan, D. A.; Cerjan, C.; Collins, G. W.; Dixit, S. N.; Döppner, T.; Edwards, M. J.; Farley, D. R.; Fournier, K. B.; Glenn, S.; Glenzer, S. H.; Golovkin, I. E.; Hamza, A.; Hicks, D. G.; Izumi, N.; Jones, O. S.; Key, M. H.; Kilkenny, J. D.; Kline, J. L.; Kyrala, G. A.; Landen, O. L.; Ma, T.; MacFarlane, J. J.; Mackinnon, A. J.; Mancini, R. C.; McCrory, R. L.; Meyerhofer, D. D.; Meezan, N. B.; Nikroo, A.; Park, H.-S.; Patel, P. K.; Ralph, J. E.; Remington, B. A.; Sangster, T. C.; Smalyuk, V. A.; Springer, P. T.; Town, R. P. J.; Tucker, J. L.

2017-03-01

Current inertial confinement fusion experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) [G. H. Miller, E. I. Moses, and C. R. Wuest, Opt. Eng. 43, 2841 (2004)] are attempting to demonstrate thermonuclear ignition using x-ray drive by imploding spherical targets containing hydrogen-isotope fuel in the form of a thin cryogenic layer surrounding a central volume of fuel vapor [J. Lindl, Phys. Plasmas 2, 3933 (1995)]. The fuel is contained within a plastic ablator layer with small concentrations of one or more mid-Z elements, e.g., Ge or Cu. The capsule implodes, driven by intense x-ray emission from the inner surface of a hohlraum enclosure irradiated by the NIF laser, and fusion reactions occur in the central hot spot near the time of peak compression. Ignition will occur if the hot spot within the compressed fuel layer attains a high-enough areal density to retain enough of the reaction product energy to reach nuclear reaction temperatures within the inertial hydrodynamic disassembly time of the fuel mass [J. Lindl, Phys. Plasmas 2, 3933 (1995)]. The primary purpose of the ablator dopants is to shield the ablator surface adjacent to the DT ice from heating by the hohlraum x-ray drive [S. W. Haan et al., Phys. Plasmas 18, 051001 (2011)]. Simulations predicted that these dopants would produce characteristic K-shell emission if ablator material mixed into the hot spot [B. A. Hammel et al., High Energy Density Phys. 6, 171 (2010)]. In NIF ignition experiments, emission and absorption features from these dopants appear in x-ray spectra measured with the hot-spot x-ray spectrometer in Supersnout II [S. P. Regan et al., "Hot-Spot X-Ray Spectrometer for the National Ignition Facility," to be submitted to Review of Scientific Instruments]. These include K-shell emission lines from the hot spot (driven primarily by inner-shell collisional ionization and dielectronic recombination) and photoionization edges, fluorescence, and absorption lines caused by the absorption of the hot-spot continuum in the shell. These features provide diagnostics of the central hot spot and the compressed shell, plus a measure of the shell mass that has mixed into the hot spot [S. P. Regan et al., Phys. Plasmas 19, 056307 (2012)] and evidence locating the origin of the mixed shell mass in the imploding ablator [S. P. Regan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 045001 (2013)]. Spectra are analyzed and interpreted using detailed atomic models (including radiation-transport effects) to determine the characteristic temperatures, densities, and sizes of the emitting regions. A mix diagnostic based on enhanced continuum x-ray production, relative to neutron yield, provides sensitivity to the undoped shell material mixed into the hot spot [T. Ma et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 111, 085004 (2013)]. Together, these mix-mass measurements confirm that mix is a serious impediment to ignition. The spectroscopy and atomic physics of shell dopants have become essential in confronting this impediment and will be described.

Growth of Walled Cells: From Shells to Vesicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boudaoud, Arezki

2003-07-01

The growth of isolated walled cells is investigated. Examples of such cells range from bacteria to giant algae, and include cochlear hair, plant root hair, fungi, and yeast cells. They are modeled as elastic shells containing a liquid. Cell growth is driven by fluid pressure and is is similar to a plastic deformation of the wall. The requirement of mechanical equilibrium leads to two new scaling laws for cell size that are in quantitative agreement with the compiled biological data. Given these results, possible shapes for growing cells are computed by analogy with those of vesicle membranes.

A Prussian Blue-Based Core-Shell Hollow-Structured Mesoporous Nanoparticle as a Smart Theranostic Agent with Ultrahigh pH-Responsive Longitudinal Relaxivity.

PubMed

Cai, Xiaojun; Gao, Wei; Ma, Ming; Wu, Meiying; Zhang, Linlin; Zheng, Yuanyi; Chen, Hangrong; Shi, Jianlin

2015-11-04

Novel core-shell hollow mesoporous Prussian blue @ Mn-containing Prussian blue analogue (HMPB@MnPBA) nanoparticles, designated as HMPB-Mn) as an intelligent theranostic nanoagent, are successfully constructed by coating a similarly crystal-structured MnPBA onto HMPB. This can be used as a pH-responsive T1 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent with ultrahigh longitudinal relaxivity (r1 = 7.43 m m(-1) s(-1) ), and achieves the real-time monitoring of drug release. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A large bubble around the Crab Nebula

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Romani, Roger W.; Reach, William T.; Koo, Bon Chul; Heiles, Carl

1990-01-01

IRAS and 21 cm observations of the interstellar medium around the Crab nebula show evidence of a large bubble surrounded by a partial shell. If located at the canonical 2 kpc distance of the Crab pulsar, the shell is estimated to have a radius of about 90 pc and to contain about 50,000 solar masses of swept-up gas. The way in which interior conditions of this bubble can have important implications for observations of the Crab are described, and the fashion in which presupernova evolution of the pulsar progenitor has affected its local environment is described.

Truly Nonionic Polymer Shells for the Encapsulation of Living Cells

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-07-04

exponential growth mode, where the cell division accelerates and a unicellular organism duplicates, i.e., one cell produces two in a given period of time...AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Georgia Institute of...Technology,School of Materials Science and Engineering,Atlanta,GA,30332 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S

Federal Reserve Could Improve the Efficiency of Bank Holding Company Inspections.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-08-18

examiners have the essential qualifications and experience needed to perform many such tasks, and it would seem to require little additional effort...activities and where the holding company and subsidiary bank management are essentially the same. (See p. 32.) AGENCY COMMENTS The Federal Reserve has...consider- ably more complex and thus moe difficult to evaluate. Most small companies are tax shells and operate essentially as banks. The risk in small

Project FARE Task IV Report: Urban Mass Transportation Industry Financial and Operating Data Reporting System. Volume I. Task and Project Summary.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1973-11-01

The report contains a description of the uniform reporting system for the urban mass transit industry designed and tested in Project FARE. It is presented in five volumes. Volume I contains a description of how Task IV was accomplished and the conclu...

Fabrication and Characterization of Novel Electrothermal Self-Healing Microcapsules with Graphene/Polymer Hybrid Shells for Bitumenious Material.

PubMed

Wang, Xinyu; Guo, Yandong; Su, Junfeng; Zhang, Xiaolong; Wang, Yingyuan; Tan, Yiqiu

2018-06-09

Self-healing bituminous material has been a hot research topic in self-healing materials, and this smart self-healing approach is a promising a revolution in pavement material technology. Bitumen has a self-healing naturality relating to temperature, healing time, and aging degree. To date, heat induction and microencapsulation rejuvenator are two feasible approaches, which have been put into real applications. However, both methods have disadvantages limiting their practical results and efficiency. It will be an ideal method combining the advantages and avoiding the disadvantages of the above two methods at the same time. The aim of this work was to synthesize and characterize electrothermal self-healing microcapsules containing bituminous rejuvenator with graphene/organic nanohybrid structure shells. The microcapsules owned electric conductivity capability because of the advent of graphene, and realized the self-healing through the two approaches of heat induction and rejuvenation. The microcapsule shells were fabricated using a strength hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) resin and graphene by two-step hybrid polymerization. Experimental tests were carried out to character the morphology, integrity, and shell structure. It was found that the electric charge balance determined the graphene/HMMM microstructure. The graphene content in shells could not be greatly increased under an electrostatic balance in emulsion. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results indicated that the graphene had deposited on shells. TGA/DTG tests implied that the thermal decomposition temperature of microcapsules with graphene had increased to about 350 °C. The thermal conductivity of microcapsules had been sharply increased to about 8.0 W/m²·K with 2.0 wt % graphene in shells. At the same time, electrical resistivity of microcapsules/bitumen samples had a decrease with more graphene in bitumen.

On demand manufacturing of patient-specific liquid capsules via co-ordinated 3D printing and liquid dispensing.

PubMed

Okwuosa, Tochukwu C; Soares, Cindy; Gollwitzer, Verena; Habashy, Rober; Timmins, Peter; Alhnan, Mohamed A

2018-06-15

A method for the production of liquid capsules with the potential of modifying drug dose and release is presented. For the first time, the co-ordinated use of fused deposition modelling (FDM), 3D printing and liquid dispensing to fabricate individualised dosage form on demand in a fully automated fashion has been demonstrated. Polymethacrylate shells (Eudragit EPO and RL) for immediate and extended release were fabricated using FDM 3D printing and simultaneously filled using a computer-controlled liquid dispenser loaded with model drug solution (theophylline) or suspension (dipyridamole). The impact of printing modes: simultaneous shell printing and filling (single-phase) or sequential 3D printing of shell bottom, filling and shell cap (multi-phase), nozzle size, syringe volume, and shell structure has been reported. The use of shell thickness of 1.6 mm, and concentric architecture allowed successful containment of liquid core whilst maintaining the release properties of the 3D printed liquid capsule. The linear relationship between the theoretical and the actual volumes from the dispenser reflected its potential for accurate dosing (R 2  = 0.9985). Modifying the shell thickness of Eudragit RL capsule allowed a controlled extended drug release without the need for formulation change. Owing to its low cost and versatility, this approach can be adapted to wide spectrum of liquid formulations such as small and large molecule solutions and obviate the need for compatibility with the high temperature of FDM 3D printing process. In a clinical setting, health care staff will be able to instantly manufacture in small volumes liquid capsules with individualised dose contents and release pattern in response to specific patient's needs. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Theoretical Investigation of the Infrared Spectroscopic Properties of Closed-Shell Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Cations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hudgins, Douglas M.; Bauschlicher, Charles W., Jr.; Allamandola, Louis J.; DeVincenzi, Donald L. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

Density functional theory has been employed to calculate the harmonic frequencies and intensities of a range of PAH cations which explore both size and electronic structure effects on the infrared spectroscopic of these species. The sample extends the size range of PAH species considered to more than 50 carbon atoms and includes several representatives from each of two heretofore unexplored categories of PAH cations: (1) fully benzenoid PAH cations whose carbon skeleton is composed of an odd number of carbon atoms and (2) protonated PAH cations. Unlike the radical electronic structures of the PAH cations that have been the subject of previous theoretical and experimental work, the species in these two classes have a closed-shell electronic configuration. The calculated spectra of circumcoronene, C54H18, in both neutral and (radical) cationic form are also reported and compared to those of the other species. Closed-shell species are inherently less reactive than radical (or open-shell) cations and are known to play a role in combustion chemistry. Since interstellar PAHs are typically exposed to abundant atomic hydrogen and are thought to originate under pseudo-combustion conditions in carbon-rich circumstellar shells, such species may represent an important component of the interstellar PAH population. Furthermore, species larger than 50 carbon atoms are more representative of the size of the typical interstellar PAH. Overall, as has been the case for previous studies of PAH radical cations, the general pattern of band positions and intensities are consistent with that of the interstellar infrared emission spectrum. In addition, the spectra of closed-shell and open-shell cations are found to converge with increasing molecular size and are found to be relatively similar for species containing about 50 carbon atoms.

Multicanister overpack topical report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lorenz, B.D., Fluor Daniel Hanford

1997-03-25

The Spent Nuclear Fuel MCO is a single-use container that consists of a cylindrical shell, five to six fuel baskets, a shield plug, and features necessary for maintaining the structural integrity of the MCO while providing criticality control and fuel processing capability.

Structural control of InP/ZnS core/shell quantum dots enables high-quality white LEDs.

PubMed

Kumar, Baskaran Ganesh; Sadeghi, Sadra; Melikov, Rustamzhon; Aria, Mohammad Mohammadi; Jalali, Houman Bahmani; Ow-Yang, Cleva W; Nizamoglu, Sedat

2018-08-24

Herein, we demonstrate that the structural and optical control of InP-based quantum dots (QDs) can lead to high-performance light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Zinc sulphide (ZnS) shells passivate the InP QD core and increase the quantum yield in green-emitting QDs by 13-fold and red-emitting QDs by 8-fold. The optimised QDs are integrated in the liquid state to eliminate aggregation-induced emission quenching and we fabricated white LEDs with a warm, neutral and cool-white appearance by the down-conversion mechanism. The QD-functionalized white LEDs achieve luminous efficiency (LE) up to 14.7 lm W -1 and colour-rendering index up to 80. The structural and optical control of InP/ZnS core/shell QDs enable 23-fold enhancement in LE of white LEDs compared to ones containing only QDs of InP core.

Preparation of core-shell Ag@CeO2 nanocomposite by LSPR photothermal induced interface reaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, H. X.; Wei, Y.; Yue, Y. Z.; Zhang, L. H.; Liu, Y.

2016-04-01

The core-shell structure of Ag@CeO2 was prepared by a novel and facile method, which was based on the photothermal effect of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Nanoparticles (NPs) of Ag were dispersed in a solution containing citric acid, ethylene glycol and cerium nitrate, then under irradiation, Ag NPs generated heat from LSPR and the heat-induced polymerization reaction in the interface between Ag and the sol resulted in cerium gel formation only on the surface of the Ag NPs. After calcination, Ag@CeO2 was successfully obtained, then Ag@CeO2/SiO2 was prepared by loading Ag@CeO2 on SiO2. The resultant catalyst exhibited favorable activity and stability for CO oxidation. The preparation method proposed here should be extendable to other composites with metallic cores and oxide shells in which the metallic nanoparticle possesses LSPR properties.

Grounding electrode and method of reducing the electrical resistance of soils

DOEpatents

Koehmstedt, Paul L.

1980-01-01

A first solution of an electrolyte is injected underground into a volume of soil having negative surface charges on its particles. A cationic surfactant suspended in this solution neutralizes these surface charges of the soil particles within the volume. Following the first solution, a cationic asphalt emulsion suspended in a second solution is injected into the volume. The asphalt emulsion diffuses through the volume and electrostatically bonds with additional soil surrounding the volume such that an electrically conductive water repellant shell enclosing the volume is formed. This shell prevents the leaching of electrolyte from the volume into the additional soil. The second solution also contains a dissolved deliquescent salt which draws water into the volume prior to the formation of the shell. When electrically connected to an electrical installation such as a power line tower, the volume constitutes a grounding electrode for the tower.

Gravastars in f (G ,T ) gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shamir, M. Farasat; Ahmad, Mushtaq

2018-05-01

This work proposes a stellar model under Gauss-Bonnet f (G ,T ) gravity with the conjecture theorized by Mazur and Mottola, well known as the gravitational vacuum stars (gravastars). By taking into account the f (G ,T ) stellar model, the structure of the gravastar with its exclusive division of three different regions, namely, (i) the core interior region, (ii) the junction region (shell), and (iii) the exterior region, has been investigated with reference to the existence of energy density, pressure, ultrarelativistic plasma, and repulsive forces. The different physical features, like the equation of state parameter, length of the shell, entropy, and energy-thickness relation of the gravastar shell model, have been discussed. Also, some other physically valid aspects have been presented with the connection to nonsingular and event-horizon-free gravastar solutions, which in contrast to a black hole solution, might be stable without containing any information paradox.

Late Holocene sedimentary environments of south San Francisco Bay, California, illustrated in gravity cores

USGS Publications Warehouse

Woodrow, Donald L.; Fregoso, Theresa A.; Wong, Florence L.; Jaffe, Bruce E.

2014-01-01

Data are reported here from 51 gravity cores collected from the southern part of San Francisco Bay by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1990. The sedimentary record in the cores demonstrates a stable geographic distribution of facies and spans a few thousand years. Carbon-14 dating of the sediments suggests that sedimentation rates average about 1 mm/yr. The geometry of the bay floor and the character of the sediment deposited have remained about the same in the time spanned by the cores. However, the sedimentary record over periods of centuries or decades is likely to be much more variable. Sediments containing a few bivalve shells and bivalve or oyster coquinas are most often found west of the main channel and near the San Mateo Bridge. Elsewhere in the south bay, shells are rare except in the southernmost reaches where scattered gastropod shells are found.

Stable Radical Materials for Energy Applications.

PubMed

Wilcox, Daniel A; Agarkar, Varad; Mukherjee, Sanjoy; Boudouris, Bryan W

2018-06-07

Although less studied than their closed-shell counterparts, materials containing stable open-shell chemistries have played a key role in many energy storage and energy conversion devices. In particular, the oxidation-reduction (redox) properties of these stable radicals have made them a substantial contributor to the progress of organic batteries. Moreover, the use of radical-based materials in photovoltaic devices and thermoelectric systems has allowed for these emerging molecules to have impacts in the energy conversion realm. Additionally, the unique doublet states of radical-based materials provide access to otherwise inaccessible spin states in optoelectronic devices, offering many new opportunities for efficient usage of energy in light-emitting devices. Here, we review the current state of the art regarding the molecular design, synthesis, and application of stable radicals in these energy-related applications. Finally, we point to fundamental and applied arenas of future promise for these designer open-shell molecules, which have only just begun to be evaluated in full.

Influence of Electrostatics on Small Molecule Flux through a Protein Nanoreactor.

PubMed

Glasgow, Jeff E; Asensio, Michael A; Jakobson, Christopher M; Francis, Matthew B; Tullman-Ercek, Danielle

2015-09-18

Nature uses protein compartmentalization to great effect for control over enzymatic pathways, and the strategy has great promise for synthetic biology. In particular, encapsulation in nanometer-sized containers to create nanoreactors has the potential to elicit interesting, unexplored effects resulting from deviations from well-understood bulk processes. Self-assembled protein shells for encapsulation are especially desirable for their uniform structures and ease of perturbation through genetic mutation. Here, we use the MS2 capsid, a well-defined porous 27 nm protein shell, as an enzymatic nanoreactor to explore pore-structure effects on substrate and product flux during the catalyzed reaction. Our results suggest that the shell can influence the enzymatic reaction based on charge repulsion between small molecules and point mutations around the pore structure. These findings also lend support to the hypothesis that protein compartments modulate the transport of small molecules and thus influence metabolic reactions and catalysis in vitro.

Quantifying immediate price impact of trades based on the k-shell decomposition of stock trading networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Wen-Jie; Li, Ming-Xia; Xu, Hai-Chuan; Chen, Wei; Zhou, Wei-Xing; Stanley, H. Eugene

2016-10-01

Traders in a stock market exchange stock shares and form a stock trading network. Trades at different positions of the stock trading network may contain different information. We construct stock trading networks based on the limit order book data and classify traders into k classes using the k-shell decomposition method. We investigate the influences of trading behaviors on the price impact by comparing a closed national market (A-shares) with an international market (B-shares), individuals and institutions, partially filled and filled trades, buyer-initiated and seller-initiated trades, and trades at different positions of a trading network. Institutional traders professionally use some trading strategies to reduce the price impact and individuals at the same positions in the trading network have a higher price impact than institutions. We also find that trades in the core have higher price impacts than those in the peripheral shell.

Integration of textile fabric and coconut shell in particleboard

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Misnon, M. I.; Bahari, S. A.; Islam, M. M.; Epaarachchi, J. A.

2013-08-01

In this study, cotton fabric and coconut shell were integrated in particleboard to reduce the use of wood. Particleboards containing mixed rubberwood and coconut shell with an equal weight ratio have been integrated with various layers of cotton fabric. These materials were bonded by urea formaldehyde with a content level of 12% by weight. Flexural and water absorption tests were conducted to analyze its mechanical properties and dimensional stability. Results of flexural test showed an increment at least double strength values in fabricated materials as compared to control sample. The existence of fabric in the particleboard system also improved the dimensional stability of the produced material. Enhancement of at least 39% of water absorption could help the dimensional stability of the produced material. Overall, these new particleboards showed better results with the incorporation of cotton fabric layers and this study provided better understanding on mechanical and physical properties of the fabricated particleboard.

Acoustically excited surface waves on empty or fluid-filled cylindrical and spherical shells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahyi, A. Claude; Cao, H.; Raju, P. K.; Werby, M. F.; Bao, X. L.; Überall, H.

2002-05-01

A comparative study is presented of the acoustical excitation of circumferential (surface) waves on fluid-immersed cylindrical or spherical metal shells, which may be either evacuated, or filled with the same or a different fluid. The excited surface waves can manifest themselves by the resonances apparent in the sound scattering amplitude, which they cause upon phase matching following repeated circumnavigations of the target object, or by their re-radiation into the external fluid in the manner of head waves. We plot dispersion curves versus frequency of the surface waves, which for evacuated shells have a generally rising character, while the fluid filling adds an additional set of circumferential waves that descend with frequency. The resonances of these latter waves may also be interpreted as being due to phase matching, but they may alternately be interpreted as constituting the eigenfrequencies of the internal fluid contained in an elastic enclosure.

Connections between the dynamical symmetries in the microscopic shell model

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Georgieva, A. I., E-mail: anageorg@issp.bas.bg; Drumev, K. P.

2016-03-25

The dynamical symmetries of the microscopic shell model appear as the limiting cases of a symmetry adapted Pairing-Plus-Quadrupole Model /PQM/, with a Hamiltonian containing isoscalar and isovector pairing and quadrupole interactions. We establish a correspondence between each of the three types of pairing bases and Elliott’s SU(3) basis, that describes collective rotation of nuclear systems with quadrupole deformation. It is derived from their complementarity to the same LS coupling chain of the shell model number conserving algebra. The probability distribution of the S U(3) basis states within the pairing eigenstates is also obtained through a numerical diagonalization of the PQMmore » Hamiltonian in each limit. We introduce control parameters, which define the phase diagram of the model and determine the role of each term of the Hamiltonian in the correct reproduction of the experimental data for the considered nuclei.« less

Robust synthesis of epoxy resin-filled microcapsules for application to self-healing materials.

PubMed

Bolimowski, Patryk A; Bond, Ian P; Wass, Duncan F

2016-02-28

Mechanically and thermally robust microcapsules containing diglycidyl ether bisphenol A-based epoxy resin and a high-boiling-point organic solvent were synthesized in high yield using in situ polymerization of urea and formaldehyde in an oil-in-water emulsion. Microcapsules were characterized in terms of their size and size distribution, shell surface morphology and thermal resistance to the curing cycles of commercially used epoxy polymers. The size distribution of the capsules and characteristics such as shell thickness can be controlled by the specific parameters of microencapsulation, including concentrations of reagents, stirrer speed and sonication. Selected microcapsules, and separated core and shell materials, were analysed using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. It is demonstrated that capsules lose minimal 2.5 wt% at temperatures no higher than 120°C. These microcapsules can be applied to self-healing carbon fibre composite structural materials, with preliminary results showing promising performance. © 2016 The Author(s).

Interior Department Suggests Improvements for Offshore Arctic Oil and Gas Drilling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Showstack, Randy

2013-03-01

Shell's "difficulties" during its 2012 program to drill offshore oil and natural gas exploration wells in the Alaskan Arctic Ocean "have raised serious questions regarding its ability to operate safely and responsibly in the challenging and unpredictable conditions offshore Alaska," according to the report "Review of Shell's 2012 Alaska Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration Program," issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) on 8 March. Noting the company's lack of adequate preparation for drilling in the Arctic, its failure to deploy a specialized Arctic Containment System, and the grounding of the Kulluk drilling rig near Kodiak Island last December, the report recommends that Shell develop a comprehensive and integrated plan describing its future drilling program and related operations and that it commission a third-party audit of its management systems, including its safety and environmental management systems program.

Internal Proteins of the Procapsid and Mature Capsids of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Mapped by Bubblegram Imaging

PubMed Central

Wu, Weimin; Newcomb, William W.; Cheng, Naiqian; Aksyuk, Anastasia; Winkler, Dennis C.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT The herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) capsid is a huge assembly, ∼1,250 Å in diameter, and is composed of thousands of protein subunits with a combined mass of ∼200 MDa, housing a 100-MDa genome. First, a procapsid is formed through coassembly of the surface shell with an inner scaffolding shell; then the procapsid matures via a major structural transformation, triggered by limited proteolysis of the scaffolding proteins. Three mature capsids are found in the nuclei of infected cells. A capsids are empty, B capsids retain a shrunken scaffolding shell, and C capsids—which develop into infectious virions—are filled with DNA and ostensibly have expelled the scaffolding shell. The possible presence of other internal proteins in C capsids has been moot as, in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), they would be camouflaged by the surrounding DNA. We have used bubblegram imaging to map internal proteins in all four capsids, aided by the discovery that the scaffolding protein is exceptionally prone to radiation-induced bubbling. We confirmed that this protein forms thick-walled inner shells in the procapsid and the B capsid. C capsids generate two classes of bubbles: one occupies positions beneath the vertices of the icosahedral surface shell, and the other is distributed throughout its interior. A likely candidate is the viral protease. A subpopulation of C capsids bubbles particularly profusely and may represent particles in which expulsion of scaffold and DNA packaging are incomplete. Based on the procapsid structure, we propose that the axial channels of hexameric capsomers afford the pathway via which the scaffolding protein is expelled. IMPORTANCE In addition to DNA, capsids of tailed bacteriophages and their distant relatives, herpesviruses, contain internal proteins. These proteins are often essential for infectivity but are difficult to locate within the virion. A novel adaptation of cryo-EM based on detecting gas bubbles generated by radiation damage was used to localize internal proteins of HSV-1, yielding insights into how capsid maturation is regulated. The scaffolding protein, which forms inner shells in the procapsid and B capsid, is exceptionally bubbling-prone. In the mature DNA-filled C capsid, a previously undetected protein was found to underlie the icosahedral vertices: this is tentatively assigned as a storage form of the viral protease. We also observed a capsid species that appears to contain substantial amounts of scaffolding protein as well as DNA, suggesting that DNA packaging and expulsion of the scaffolding protein are coupled processes. PMID:26984725

Automated Sequence Processor: Something Old, Something New

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Streiffert, Barbara; Schrock, Mitchell; Fisher, Forest; Himes, Terry

2012-01-01

High productivity required for operations teams to meet schedules Risk must be minimized. Scripting used to automate processes. Scripts perform essential operations functions. Automated Sequence Processor (ASP) was a grass-roots task built to automate the command uplink process System engineering task for ASP revitalization organized. ASP is a set of approximately 200 scripts written in Perl, C Shell, AWK and other scripting languages.. ASP processes/checks/packages non-interactive commands automatically.. Non-interactive commands are guaranteed to be safe and have been checked by hardware or software simulators.. ASP checks that commands are non-interactive.. ASP processes the commands through a command. simulator and then packages them if there are no errors.. ASP must be active 24 hours/day, 7 days/week..

Enhanced Control of Attention by Stimulating Mesolimbic-Corticopetal Cholinergic Circuitry

PubMed Central

St. Peters, Megan; Demeter, Elise; Lustig, Cindy; Bruno, John P.; Sarter, Martin

2011-01-01

Sustaining and recovering attentional performance requires interactions between the brain’s motivation and attention systems. The first experiment demonstrated that in rats performing a sustained attention task (SAT), presentation of a distractor (dSAT) augmented performance-associated increases in cholinergic neurotransmission in prefrontal cortex (PFC). Because stimulation of NMDA receptors in the shell of the nucleus accumbens (NAC) activates PFC cholinergic neurotransmission, a second experiment demonstrated that bilateral infusions of NMDA into the NAC shell, but not core, improved dSAT-performance to levels observed in the absence of a distractor. A third experiment demonstrated that removal of prefrontal or posterior parietal cholinergic inputs, by intra-cortical infusions of the cholinotoxin 192 IgG saporin, attenuated the beneficial effects of NMDA on dSAT perfomance. Mesolimbic activation of cholinergic projections to the cortex benefits the cognitive control of attentional performance by enhancing the detection of cues and the filtering of distractors. PMID:21715641

Sea shell diversity and rapidly evolving secretomes: insights into the evolution of biomineralization.

PubMed

Kocot, Kevin M; Aguilera, Felipe; McDougall, Carmel; Jackson, Daniel J; Degnan, Bernard M

2016-01-01

An external skeleton is an essential part of the body plan of many animals and is thought to be one of the key factors that enabled the great expansion in animal diversity and disparity during the Cambrian explosion. Molluscs are considered ideal to study the evolution of biomineralization because of their diversity of highly complex, robust and patterned shells. The molluscan shell forms externally at the interface of animal and environment, and involves controlled deposition of calcium carbonate within a framework of macromolecules that are secreted from the dorsal mantle epithelium. Despite its deep conservation within Mollusca, the mantle is capable of producing an incredible diversity of shell patterns, and macro- and micro-architectures. Here we review recent developments within the field of molluscan biomineralization, focusing on the genes expressed in the mantle that encode secreted proteins. The so-called mantle secretome appears to regulate shell deposition and patterning and in some cases becomes part of the shell matrix. Recent transcriptomic and proteomic studies have revealed marked differences in the mantle secretomes of even closely-related molluscs; these typically exceed expected differences based on characteristics of the external shell. All mantle secretomes surveyed to date include novel genes encoding lineage-restricted proteins and unique combinations of co-opted ancient genes. A surprisingly large proportion of both ancient and novel secreted proteins containing simple repetitive motifs or domains that are often modular in construction. These repetitive low complexity domains (RLCDs) appear to further promote the evolvability of the mantle secretome, resulting in domain shuffling, expansion and loss. RLCD families further evolve via slippage and other mechanisms associated with repetitive sequences. As analogous types of secreted proteins are expressed in biomineralizing tissues in other animals, insights into the evolution of the genes underlying molluscan shell formation may be applied more broadly to understanding the evolution of metazoan biomineralization.

The influence of seagrass on shell layers and Florida Bay mudbanks

USGS Publications Warehouse

Prager, E.J.; Halley, R.B.

1999-01-01

Aerial photography indicates that sometime since the early 1970's, an emergent ridge of shell debris developed on a mudbank north of Calusa Key in Florida Bay. Coarse shell deposits on and within the Bay's shallow mudbanks are believed to be the product of transport during major storm events and subsequent winnowing. However, shell material from the ridge contains nuclear bomb 14C, supporting formation within the past 30 years and the last major hurricanes to influence Florida Bay were Donna and Betsy (1960 and 1965). Results from this study suggest that the Calusa ridge and other coarse shell deposits in Florida Bay can result from, 1) periodic seagrass mortality and wave-induced transport during frequent winter cold fronts and/or 2) mollusc blooms and subsequent burial. A survey of bottom types indicates that dense to intermediate beds of seagrass, mainly Thalassia testudinum (turtle grass), occur within the shallow basins of western Florida Bay and along the margins of Bay mudbanks. Wave measurements and modeling indicate that Thalassia along mudbank margins can reduce incoming wave-energy by over 80%. Seagrass beds also host particularly dense populations of molluscs from periodic 'blooms' and are believed to be the major source of coarse sediments in the Bay. Thus, if bank-edge seagrass dies, sediments, including shell debris, become exposed and subject to greatly increased wave energy. Modeling indicates that winds typical of winter cold fronts in South Florida can produce near-bottom velocities and shear stress at a grass-free bank edge which are sufficient to transport coarse carbonate grains. Shell layers found at depth in mudbank cores can also be explained by previous episodes of sediment accretion over mollusc-rich seagrass beds or grass bed mortality at the edge of a mudbank and shell transport during cold front passage. The latter implies that mortality of marginal seagrass beds has occurred throughout the history of Florida Bay and that the historical influence of hurricanes on sedimentation in the Bay may have been overestimated.

Task Lists for Home Economics Occupations, 1988: Cluster Matrices for Home Economics Occupations. Education for Employment Task Lists.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Below, Virginia

This document contains information for home economics occupations in Illinois in seven sections. The first part provides lists of employability skills for the following: food preparation and service worker, fashion designer, dietetic technician, and service coordinator/consumer assistant/concierge. The second section contains task analyses for the…

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Luk, V.K.; Hessheimer, M.F.; Matsumoto, T.

A high pressure test of a mixed-scaled model (1:10 in geometry and 1:4 in shell thickness) of a steel containment vessel (SCV), representing an improved boiling water reactor (BWR) Mark II containment, was conducted on December 11--12, 1996 at Sandia National Laboratories. This paper describes the preliminary results of the high pressure test. In addition, the preliminary post-test measurement data and the preliminary comparison of test data with pretest analysis predictions are also presented.

Shell boosts recovery at Kernridge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Moore, S.

1984-01-01

Since acquiring the Kernridge property in December 1979, Shell Oil Co. has drilled more than 1,800 wells and steadily increased production from 42,000 to 89,000 b/d of oil. Currently, the Kernridge Production Division of Shell California Production Inc. (SCPI), a newly formed subsidiary of Shell Oil Co., is operator for the property. The property covers approximately 35,000 mostly contiguous net acres, with production concentrated mainly on about 5,500 net acres. SCPI's four major fields in the area are the North and South Belridge, Lost Hills, and Antelope Hills. Most of the production comes from the North and South Belridge fields,more » which were previously held by the Belridge Oil Co. Productive horizons in the fields are the Tulare, Diatomite, Brown Shale, Antelope Shale, 64 Zone, and Agua sand. The Tulare and Diatomite are the two major reservoirs SCPI is developing. The Tulare, encountered between 400 and 1,300 ft, is made up of fine- to coarse-grained, unconsolidated sands with interbedded shales and silt stones and contains 13 /sup 0/ API oil. Using steam drive as the main recovery method, SCPI estimates an ultimate recovery from the Tulare formation of about 60% of the original 1 billion barrels in place. The Diatomite horizon, found between 800 and 3,500 ft and containing light, 28 /sup 0/ API oil, has high porosity (more than 60%), low permeability (less than 1 md), and natural fractures. Because of the Diatomite's low permeability, fracture stimulation is being used to increase well productivity. SCPI anticipates that approximately 5% of the almost 2 billion barrels of oil originally in place will be recovered by primary production.« less

Salmonella penetration through eggshells of chickens of different genetic backgrounds.

PubMed

Rathgeber, Bruce M; McCarron, Paige; Budgell, Krista L

2013-09-01

Eggs have been identified as a source of salmonellosis, making the transmission of Salmonella to eggs of great concern to the poultry industry. The goal of this experiment was to determine the ability of Salmonella to penetrate the eggshell of 5 different breeds of noncommercial chicken, Barred Plymouth Rock, White Leghorn, Brown Leghorn, Fayoumi, and Light Sussex, and 1 commercial Lohmann LSL-Lite. Egg weight, breaking force, shell weight, and shell thickness measurements were taken for 30 eggs per breed. A 1 cm in diameter hole was cut out from the narrow end of 30 additional eggs per breed. The shells were filled with plate count agar containing tetracycline and 0.1% 2,3,5-triphenyl terazolium chloride and sealed with paraffin wax. Agar-filled eggs were submerged for 1 min in an overnight culture of tetracycline-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg and incubated at 37°C for 40 h. Eggs were candled and visual colonies were counted and reported as cfu per egg and cfu per gram of shell. The SAS mixed model was used to evaluate differences between breeds for egg quality characteristics and the number of cfu per egg and per gram of shell. Commercial layers (62.6 g) and Barred Plymouth Rock (61.5 g) produced the largest eggs, whereas Fayoumi (47.1 g) produced the smallest (P < 0.05). Force to break the shell was lowest (P < 0.05) for Barred Plymouth Rock (3.6 kg) and greatest for the commercial (4.4 kg), White Leghorn (4.4 kg), and Fayoumi (4.2 kg). Bacteria penetrating the shell was lowest (P < 0.05) for Barred Plymouth Rock (10.7 cfu/g) and highest for Light Sussex (27.7 cfu/g) and Brown Leghorn (27.2 cfu/g), with other breeds intermediate. These results indicate that there are breed-specific influences on the ability of an egg to resist Salmonella, which cannot be explained by shell quality measurements. Further investigations are warranted to determine the contributing factors to shell penetration by bacteria. This study highlights the value in maintaining heritage chicken breeds as a genetic resource for the future.

Automated ILA design for synchronous sequential circuits

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, M. N.; Liu, K. Z.; Maki, G. K.; Whitaker, S. R.

1991-01-01

An iterative logic array (ILA) architecture for synchronous sequential circuits is presented. This technique utilizes linear algebra to produce the design equations. The ILA realization of synchronous sequential logic can be fully automated with a computer program. A programmable design procedure is proposed to fullfill the design task and layout generation. A software algorithm in the C language has been developed and tested to generate 1 micron CMOS layouts using the Hewlett-Packard FUNGEN module generator shell.

Impact interaction of shells and structural elements of spacecrafts with the particles of space debris and micrometeoroids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerasimov, A. V.; Pashkov, S. V.; Khristenko, Yu. F.

2017-10-01

Space debris formed during the launch and operation of spacecrafts in the circumterrestrial space, and the flows of micrometeoroids from the depths of space pose a real threat to manned and automatic vehicles. Providing the fracture resistance of aluminum, glass and ceramic spacecraft elements is an important practical task. These materials are widely used in spacecraft elements such as bodies, tanks, windows, glass in optical devices, heat shields, etc.

Continuum Mechanics Based Bi-linear Shear Deformable Shell Element Using Absolute Nodal Coordinate Formulation

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-07

Skinnarilankatu 34, 53850 Lappeenranta, Finland Paramsothy Jayakumar US Army RDECOM TARDEC 6501 E. 11 Mile Road Warren, MI 48397-5000 Hiroyuki Sugiyama...ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) Hiroki Yamashita; Antti Valkeapaa; Paramsothy Jayakumar ; Hiroyuki Sugiyama 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK...Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, Chicago, IL, USA [9] Valkeapää, A. I., Yamashita, H., Jayakumar , P. and Sugiyama, H., “Gradient

Functional Requirements of an Advanced Instructional Design Advisor: Task Analysis and Troubleshooting Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-09-01

would be relevant to constructing a transactional shell that could be used by a person who is a subject matter expert, but a novice instructional designer...or other data, is not to be regarded by implication, or otherwise in any manner construed, as licensing the holder, or any other person or...process of producing effective computer-based instructional materials is complex and time- consuming . Few experts exist to ensure the effectiveness of

Active formation of 'chaos terrain' over shallow subsurface water on Europa.

PubMed

Schmidt, B E; Blankenship, D D; Patterson, G W; Schenk, P M

2011-11-16

Europa, the innermost icy satellite of Jupiter, has a tortured young surface and sustains a liquid water ocean below an ice shell of highly debated thickness. Quasi-circular areas of ice disruption called chaos terrains are unique to Europa, and both their formation and the ice-shell thickness depend on Europa's thermal state. No model so far has been able to explain why features such as Conamara Chaos stand above surrounding terrain and contain matrix domes. Melt-through of a thin (few-kilometre) shell is thermodynamically improbable and cannot raise the ice. The buoyancy of material rising as either plumes of warm, pure ice called diapirs or convective cells in a thick (>10 kilometres) shell is insufficient to produce the observed chaos heights, and no single plume can create matrix domes. Here we report an analysis of archival data from Europa, guided by processes observed within Earth's subglacial volcanoes and ice shelves. The data suggest that chaos terrains form above liquid water lenses perched within the ice shell as shallow as 3 kilometres. Our results suggest that ice-water interactions and freeze-out give rise to the diverse morphologies and topography of chaos terrains. The sunken topography of Thera Macula indicates that Europa is actively resurfacing over a lens comparable in volume to the Great Lakes in North America. ©2011 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

Equation-of-motion coupled-cluster method for ionised states with spin-orbit coupling using open-shell reference wavefunction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhifan; Wang, Fan

2018-04-01

The equation-of-motion coupled-cluster method for ionised states at the singles and doubles level (EOM-IP-CCSD) with spin-orbit coupling (SOC) included in post-Hartree-Fock (HF) steps is extended to spatially non-degenerate open-shell systems such as high spin states of s1, p3, σ1 or π2 configuration in this work. Pseudopotentials are employed to treat relativistic effects and spin-unrestricted scalar relativistic HF determinant is adopted as reference in calculations. Symmetry is not exploited in the implementation since both time-reversal and spatial symmetry is broken due to SOC. IPs with the EOM-IP-CCSD approach are those from the 3Σ1- states for high spin state of π2 configuration, while the ground state is the 3Σ0- state. When removing an electron from the high spin state of p3 configuration, only the 3P2 state can be reached. The open-shell EOM-IP-CCSD approach with SOC was employed in calculating IPs of some open-shell atoms with s1 configuration, diatomic molecules with π2 configuration and SOC splitting of the ionised π1 state, as well as IPs of VA atoms with p3 configuration. Our results demonstrate that this approach can be applied to ionised states of spatially non-degenerate open-shell states containing heavy elements with reasonable accuracy.

Cryptic diversity: Two morphologically similar species of invasive apple snail in Peninsular Malaysia.

PubMed

Rama Rao, Suganiya; Liew, Thor-Seng; Yow, Yoon-Yen; Ratnayeke, Shyamala

2018-01-01

Invasive snails in the genus Pomacea have spread across Southeast Asia including Peninsular Malaysia. Their effects on natural and agricultural wetlands are appreciable, but species-specific effects are less clear because of morphological similarity among the species. Our objective was to establish diagnostic characteristics of Pomacea species in Malaysia using genetic and morphological criteria. The mitochondrial COI gene of 52 adult snails from eight localities in Peninsular Malaysia was amplified, sequenced, and analysed to verify species and phylogenetic relationships. Shells were compared using geometric morphometric and covariance analyses. Two monophyletic taxa, P. canaliculata and P. maculata, occurred in our samples. The mean ratio of shell height: aperture height (P = 0.042) and shell height: shell width (P = 0.007) was smaller in P. maculata. P. maculata co-occurred with P. canaliculata in five localities, but samples from three localities contained only P. canaliculata. This study is the first to confirm the presence of two of the most invasive species of Pomacea in Peninsular Malaysia using a molecular technique. P. canaliculata appears to be the more widespread species. Despite statistical differences, both quantitative and qualitative morphological characteristics demonstrated much interspecific overlap and intraspecific variability; thus, shell morphology alone cannot reliably verify species identity. Molecular techniques for distinguishing between these two highly invasive Pomacea species are needed to understand their specific ecological niches and to develop effective protocols for their management.

Seasonality recorded in Modern and Viking Limpet Shells ( Patella vulgata), Quoygrew, Orkney, UK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surge, D.; Barrett, J. H.; Milner, N.

2007-12-01

Climate archives contained in shells of the European limpet, Patella vulgata, from Viking shell middens can potentially provide much needed information about seasonality in mid-latitude coastal areas prior to the complicating effects of industrialization. P. vulgata shells are common in the stratified middens accumulated by the Viking inhabitants of Quoygrew, Orkney, and were likely used for baiting fish. Radiocarbon dates and artifacts place these middens between the 9th/10th and 13th centuries. This interval coincides with the Medieval Warm Period. Little is known about the seasonal temperature variation during this time of pre-industrial warming. Before reconstructing climate information from Viking shells, we determined whether P. vulgata preserves environmental and ecological information. Previous work on live-collected specimens from Whitley Bay near Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, confirmed that: (1) oxygen isotope ratios served as a proxy for sea surface temperature after accounting for a uniform +1.01 +/-0.21 ‰ offset; and (2) annual growth lines occurred during the winter given this location is within the cold-temperature biogeographic province. Winter growth lines and increments are common growth patterns found in marine bivalves from the cold-temperate province along the western North Atlantic. Preliminary isotope data from the 9th/10th century reveals similar winter and summer temperature relative to today and annual growth lines formed during winter, typical of a cold-temperate habitat.

Phase Behavior of Salt-Free Polyelectrolyte Gel-Surfactant Systems.

PubMed

Andersson, Martin; Hansson, Per

2017-06-22

Ionic surfactants tend to collapse the outer parts of polyelectrolyte gels, forming shells that can be used to encapsulate other species including protein and peptide drugs. In this paper, the aqueous phase behavior of covalently cross-linked polyacrylate networks containing sodium ions and dodecyltrimethylammonium ions as counterions is investigated by means of swelling isotherms, dye staining, small-angle X-ray scattering, and confocal Raman spectroscopy. The equilibrium state is approached by letting the networks absorb pure water. With an increasing fraction of surfactant ions, the state of the water-saturated gels is found to change from being swollen and monophasic, via multiphasic states, to collapsed and monophasic. The multiphasic gels have a swollen, micelle-lean core surrounded by a collapsed, micelle-rich shell, or a collapsed phase forming a spheroidal inner shell separating two micelle-lean parts. It is shown that the transition between monophasic and core-shell states can be induced by variation of the osmotic pressure and variation of the charge of the micelles by forming mixed micelles with the nonionic surfactant octaethyleneglycol monododecylether. The experimental data are compared with theoretical predictions of a model derived earlier. In the calculations, the collapsed shell is assumed to be homogeneous, an approximation introduced here and shown to be excellent for a wide range of compositions. The theoretical results highlight the electrostatic and hydrophobic driving forces behind phase separation.

Numerical study on microbubble-enhanced heating for various parameters in EUS-FUS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okita, Kohei; Maezawa, Miyuki; Takagi, Shu; Matsumoto, Yoichiro

2012-11-01

Endoscopic ultrasonography guided focused ultrasound surgery (EUS-FUS) have been developed as a less-invasive treatment for pancreatic cancer. In the present study, microbubble-enhanced heating for various parameters in EUS-FUS is investigated numerically. Mass and momentum equations for bubbly mixture are solved to reproduce the propagation of ultrasound of 4.8MHz through the gel containing microbubbles as Sonazoid®. The dynamics of bubble is governed by the equation which considers the elasticity of both shell and surrounding media. Additionally, the heat equation with the time averaged heat source is solved to obtain a temperature distribution. The basic equations are discretized by the 6th-order finite difference method and developed based on FDTD method. The mixture and bubbles are coupled by Euler-Lagrange method. As the results, the temperature around the target increased due to the microbubble oscillation with increasing the initial void fraction fG0 from 10-5 to 10-4%. However, at fG0=10-3%, ultrasounds were too attenuated to heat the target. The heating region moved from the target to the transducer side. By comparing the results with and without shell, the shell of bubble induced the heating around focus. This is because the decrease of the attenuation due to the elasticity of the shell and the increase of the viscous dissipation rate due to the viscosity of the shell.

Are antimicrobial defences in bird eggs related to climatic conditions associated with risk of trans-shell microbial infection?

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Introduction All bird eggs are exposed to microbes in the environment, which if transmitted to the developing embryo, could cause hatching failure. However, the risk of trans-shell infection varies with environmental conditions and is higher for eggs laid in wetter environments. This might relate to generally higher microbial abundances and diversity in more humid environments, including on the surface of eggshells, as well as the need for moisture to facilitate microbial penetration of the eggshell. To protect against microbial infection, the albumen of avian eggs contains antimicrobial proteins, including lysozyme and ovotransferrin. We tested whether lysozyme and ovotransferrin activities varied in eggs of larks (Alaudidae) living along an arid-mesic gradient of environmental aridity, which we used as a proxy for risk of trans-shell infection. Results Contrary to expectations, lysozyme activity was highest in eggs from hotter, more arid locations, where we predicted the risk of trans-shell infection would be lower. Ovotransferrin concentrations did not vary with climatic factors. Temperature was a much better predictor of antimicrobial protein activity than precipitation, a result inconsistent with studies stressing the importance of moisture for trans-shell infection. Conclusions Our study raises interesting questions about the links between temperature and lysozyme activity in eggs, but we find no support for the hypothesis that antimicrobial protein deposition is higher in eggs laid in wetter environments. PMID:25057281

Are antimicrobial defences in bird eggs related to climatic conditions associated with risk of trans-shell microbial infection?

PubMed

Horrocks, Nicholas Pc; Hine, Kathryn; Hegemann, Arne; Ndithia, Henry K; Shobrak, Mohammed; Ostrowski, Stéphane; Williams, Joseph B; Matson, Kevin D; Tieleman, B Irene

2014-01-01

All bird eggs are exposed to microbes in the environment, which if transmitted to the developing embryo, could cause hatching failure. However, the risk of trans-shell infection varies with environmental conditions and is higher for eggs laid in wetter environments. This might relate to generally higher microbial abundances and diversity in more humid environments, including on the surface of eggshells, as well as the need for moisture to facilitate microbial penetration of the eggshell. To protect against microbial infection, the albumen of avian eggs contains antimicrobial proteins, including lysozyme and ovotransferrin. We tested whether lysozyme and ovotransferrin activities varied in eggs of larks (Alaudidae) living along an arid-mesic gradient of environmental aridity, which we used as a proxy for risk of trans-shell infection. Contrary to expectations, lysozyme activity was highest in eggs from hotter, more arid locations, where we predicted the risk of trans-shell infection would be lower. Ovotransferrin concentrations did not vary with climatic factors. Temperature was a much better predictor of antimicrobial protein activity than precipitation, a result inconsistent with studies stressing the importance of moisture for trans-shell infection. Our study raises interesting questions about the links between temperature and lysozyme activity in eggs, but we find no support for the hypothesis that antimicrobial protein deposition is higher in eggs laid in wetter environments.

Highly selective coextraction of rhodamine B and dibenzyl phthalate based on high-density dual-template imprinted shells on silica microparticles.

PubMed

Long, Zerong; Xu, Weiwei; Peng, Yumei; Lu, Yi; Luo, Qian; Qiu, Hongdeng

2017-01-01

A simple one-pot approach based on molecularly imprinted polymer shells dispersed on the surface of silica for simultaneous determination of rhodamine B and dibenzyl phthalate (DBzP) has been developed. Highly dense molecularly imprinted polymer shells were formed in the mixture of acetonitrile and toluene by the copolymerization of methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, as well as two templates, rhodamine B and dibenzyl phthalate, directed by the vinyl end groups functional monolayer at surface silica microspheres after 3-methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane modification. The obtained imprinted polymer shells showed large average pore diameter (102.5 nm) and about 100 nm shell thickness. The imprinted particles also showed high imprinting factor (α RhB = 3.52 and α DBzP = 3.94), rapid binding kinetics, and excellent selective affinity capacity for rhodamine B and dibenzyl phthalate containing another three competitors in mixed solution. Moreover, the imprinted particles coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography was successfully applied to simultaneous analysis of rhodamine B and dibenzyl phthalate in two spiked beverage samples with average recoveries in the range of 88.0-93.0% for rhodamine B and 84.0-92.0% for dibenzyl phthalate with the relative standard deviation lower than 5.1%. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Cryptic diversity: Two morphologically similar species of invasive apple snail in Peninsular Malaysia

PubMed Central

Liew, Thor-Seng; Yow, Yoon-Yen; Ratnayeke, Shyamala

2018-01-01

Invasive snails in the genus Pomacea have spread across Southeast Asia including Peninsular Malaysia. Their effects on natural and agricultural wetlands are appreciable, but species-specific effects are less clear because of morphological similarity among the species. Our objective was to establish diagnostic characteristics of Pomacea species in Malaysia using genetic and morphological criteria. The mitochondrial COI gene of 52 adult snails from eight localities in Peninsular Malaysia was amplified, sequenced, and analysed to verify species and phylogenetic relationships. Shells were compared using geometric morphometric and covariance analyses. Two monophyletic taxa, P. canaliculata and P. maculata, occurred in our samples. The mean ratio of shell height: aperture height (P = 0.042) and shell height: shell width (P = 0.007) was smaller in P. maculata. P. maculata co-occurred with P. canaliculata in five localities, but samples from three localities contained only P. canaliculata. This study is the first to confirm the presence of two of the most invasive species of Pomacea in Peninsular Malaysia using a molecular technique. P. canaliculata appears to be the more widespread species. Despite statistical differences, both quantitative and qualitative morphological characteristics demonstrated much interspecific overlap and intraspecific variability; thus, shell morphology alone cannot reliably verify species identity. Molecular techniques for distinguishing between these two highly invasive Pomacea species are needed to understand their specific ecological niches and to develop effective protocols for their management. PMID:29734361

Regulation of Extracellular Matrix Synthesis by Shell Extracts from the Marine Bivalve Pecten maximus in Human Articular Chondrocytes- Application for Cartilage Engineering.

PubMed

Bouyoucef, Mouloud; Rakic, Rodolphe; Gómez-Leduc, Tangni; Latire, Thomas; Marin, Frédéric; Leclercq, Sylvain; Carreiras, Franck; Serpentini, Antoine; Lebel, Jean-Marc; Galéra, Philippe; Legendre, Florence

2018-04-07

The shells of the bivalve mollusks are organo-mineral structures predominantly composed of calcium carbonate, but also of a minor organic matrix, a mixture of proteins, glycoproteins, and polysaccharides. These proteins are involved in mineral deposition and, more generally, in the spatial organization of the shell crystallites in well-defined microstructures. In this work, we extracted different organic shell extracts (acid-soluble matrix, acid-insoluble matrix, water-soluble matrix, guanidine HCl/EDTA-extracted matrix, referred as ASM, AIM, WSM, and EDTAM, respectively) from the shell of the scallop Pecten maximus and studied their biological activities on human articular chondrocytes (HACs). We found that these extracts differentially modulate the biological activities of HACs, depending on the type of extraction and the concentration used. Furthermore, we showed that, unlike ASM and AIM, WSM promotes maintenance of the chondrocyte phenotype in monolayer culture. WSM increased the expression of chondrocyte-specific markers (aggrecan and type II collagen), without enhancing that of the main chondrocyte dedifferentiation marker (type I collagen). We also demonstrated that WSM could favor redifferentiation of chondrocyte in collagen sponge scaffold in hypoxia. Thus, this study suggests that the organic matrix of Pecten maximus, particularly WSM, may contain interesting molecules with chondrogenic effects. Our research emphasizes the potential use of WSM of Pecten maximus for cell therapy of cartilage.

An Ochered Fossil Marine Shell From the Mousterian of Fumane Cave, Italy

PubMed Central

Peresani, Marco; Vanhaeren, Marian; Quaggiotto, Ermanno; Queffelec, Alain; d’Errico, Francesco

2013-01-01

A scanty but varied ensemble of finds challenges the idea that Neandertal material culture was essentially static and did not include symbolic items. In this study we report on a fragmentary Miocene-Pliocene fossil marine shell, Aspa marginata , discovered in a Discoid Mousterian layer of the Fumane Cave, northern Italy, dated to at least 47.6-45.0 Cal ky BP. The shell was collected by Neandertals at a fossil exposure probably located more than 100 kms from the site. Microscopic analysis of the shell surface identifies clusters of striations on the inner lip. A dark red substance, trapped inside micropits produced by bioeroders, is interpreted as pigment that was homogeneously smeared on the outer shell surface. Dispersive X-ray and Raman analysis identify the pigment as pure hematite. Of the four hypotheses we considered to explain the presence of this object at the site, two (tool, pigment container) are discarded because in contradiction with observations. Although the other two (“manuport”, personal ornament) are both possible, we favor the hypothesis that the object was modified and suspended by a ‘thread’ for visual display as a pendant. Together with contextual and chronometric data, our results support the hypothesis that deliberate transport and coloring of an exotic object, and perhaps its use as pendant, was a component of Neandertal symbolic culture, well before the earliest appearance of the anatomically modern humans in Europe. PMID:23874677

Hydrophilic excipients modulate the time lag of time-controlled disintegrating press-coated tablets.

PubMed

Lin, Shan-Yang; Li, Mei-Jane; Lin, Kung-Hsu

2004-08-16

An oral press-coated tablet was developed by means of direct compression to achieve the time-controlled disintegrating or rupturing function with a distinct predetermined lag time. This press-coated tablet containing sodium diclofenac in the inner core was formulated with an outer shell by different weight ratios of hydrophobic polymer of micronized ethylcellulose (EC) powder and hydrophilic excipients such as spray-dried lactose (SDL) or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The effect of the formulation of an outer shell comprising both hydrophobic polymer and hydrophilic excipients on the time lag of drug release was investigated. The release profile of the press-coated tablet exhibited a time period without drug release (time lag) followed by a rapid and complete release phase, in which the outer shell ruptured or broke into 2 halves. The lag phase was markedly dependent on the weight ratios of EC/SDL or EC/HPMC in the outer shell. Different time lags of the press-coated tablets from 1.0 to 16.3 hours could be modulated by changing the type and amount of the excipients. A semilogarithmic plot of the time lag of the tablet against the weight ratios of EC/SDL or EC/HPMC in the outer shell demonstrated a good linear relationship, with r = 0.976 and r = 0.982, respectively. The predetermined time lag prior to the drug release from a press-coated tablet prepared by using a micronized EC as a retarding coating shell can be adequately scheduled with the addition of hydrophilic excipients according to the time or site requirements.

The Involvement of Hemocyte Prophenoloxidase in the Shell-Hardening Process of the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus

PubMed Central

Alvarez, Javier V.; Chung, J. Sook

2015-01-01

Cuticular structures of arthropods undergo dramatic molt-related changes from being soft to becoming hard. The shell-hardening process of decapod crustaceans includes sclerotization and mineralization. Hemocyte PPO plays a central role in melanization and sclerotization particularly in wound healing in crustaceans. However, little is known about its role in the crustacean initial shell-hardening process. The earlier findings of the aggregation of heavily granulated hemocytes beneath the hypodermis during ecdysis imply that the hemocytes may be involved in the shell-hardening process. In order to determine if hemocytes and hemocyte PPO have a role in the shell-hardening of crustaceans, a knockdown study using specific CasPPO-hemo-dsRNA was carried out with juvenile blue crabs, Callinectes sapidus. Multiple injections of CasPPO-hemo-dsRNA reduce specifically the levels of CasPPO-hemo expression by 57% and PO activity by 54% in hemocyte lysate at the postmolt, while they have no effect on the total hemocyte numbers. Immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry analysis using a specific antiserum generated against CasPPO show granulocytes, semigranulocytes and hyaline cells as the cellular sources for PPO at the postmolt. Interestingly, the type of hemocytes, as the cellular sources of PPO, varies by molt stage. The granulocytes always contain PPO throughout the molt cycle. However, semigranulocytes and hyaline cells become CasPPO immune-positive only at early premolt and postmolt, indicating that PPO expression in these cells may be involved in the shell-hardening process of C. sapidus. PMID:26393802

Composition, shell strength, and metabolizable energy of Mulinia lateralis and Ischadium recurvum as food for wintering surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Berlin, Alicia; Perry, Matthew C.; Kohn, R.A.; Paynter, K.T.; Ottinger, Mary Ann

2015-01-01

Decline in surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) waterfowl populations wintering in the Chesapeake Bay has been associated with changes in the availability of benthic bivalves. The Bay has become more eutrophic, causing changes in the benthos available to surf scoters. The subsequent decline in oyster beds (Crassostrea virginica) has reduced the hard substrate needed by the hooked mussel (Ischadium recurvum), one of the primary prey items for surf scoters, causing the surf scoter to switch to a more opportune species, the dwarf surfclam (Mulinia lateralis). The composition (macronutrients, minerals, and amino acids), shell strength (N), and metabolizable energy (kJ) of these prey items were quantified to determine the relative foraging values for wintering scoters. Pooled samples of each prey item were analyzed to determine composition. Shell strength (N) was measured using a shell crack compression test. Total collection digestibility trials were conducted on eight captive surf scoters. For the prey size range commonly consumed by surf scoters (6-12 mm for M. lateralis and 18-24 mm for I. recurvum), I. recurvum contained higher ash, protein, lipid, and energy per individual organism than M. lateralis. I. recurvum required significantly greater force to crack the shell relative to M. lateralis. No difference in metabolized energy was observed for these prey items in wintering surf scoters, despite I. recurvum's higher ash content and harder shell than M. lateralis. Therefore, wintering surf scoters were able to obtain the same amount of energy from each prey item, implying that they can sustain themselves if forced to switch prey.

Burrowing behaviour of robotic bivalves with synthetic morphologies.

PubMed

Germann, D P; Carbajal, J P

2013-12-01

Several bivalve species burrow into sandy sediments to reach their living position. There are many hypotheses concerning the functional morphology of the bivalve shell for burrowing. Observational studies are limited and often qualitative and should be complemented by a synthetic approach mimicking the burrowing process using a robotic emulation. In this paper we present a simple mechatronic set-up to mimic the burrowing behaviour of bivalves. As environment we used water and quartz sand contained in a glass tank. Bivalve shells were mathematically modelled on the computer and then materialized using a 3D printer. The burrowing motion of the shells was induced by two external linear motors. Preliminary experiments did not expose any artefacts introduced to the burrowing process by the set-up. We tested effects of shell size, shape and surface sculpturing on the burrowing performance. Neither the typical bivalve shape nor surface sculpture did have a clear positive effect on burrowing depth in the performed experiments. We argue that the presented method is a valid and promising approach to investigate the functional morphology of bivalve shells and should be improved and extended in future studies. In contrast to the observation of living bivalves, our approach offers complete control over the parameters defining shell morphology and motion pattern. The technical set-up allows the systematic variation of all parameters to quantify their effects. The major drawback of the built set-up was that the reliability and significance of the results was limited by the lack of an optimal technique to standardize the sediment state before experiments.

Composition, Shell Strength, and Metabolizable Energy of Mulinia lateralis and Ischadium recurvum as Food for Wintering Surf Scoters (Melanitta perspicillata)

PubMed Central

Wells-Berlin, Alicia M.; Perry, Matthew C.; Kohn, Richard A.; Paynter, Kennedy T.; Ottinger, Mary Ann

2015-01-01

Decline in surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) waterfowl populations wintering in the Chesapeake Bay has been associated with changes in the availability of benthic bivalves. The Bay has become more eutrophic, causing changes in the benthos available to surf scoters. The subsequent decline in oyster beds (Crassostrea virginica) has reduced the hard substrate needed by the hooked mussel (Ischadium recurvum), one of the primary prey items for surf scoters, causing the surf scoter to switch to a more opportune species, the dwarf surfclam (Mulinia lateralis). The composition (macronutrients, minerals, and amino acids), shell strength (N), and metabolizable energy (kJ) of these prey items were quantified to determine the relative foraging values for wintering scoters. Pooled samples of each prey item were analyzed to determine composition. Shell strength (N) was measured using a shell crack compression test. Total collection digestibility trials were conducted on eight captive surf scoters. For the prey size range commonly consumed by surf scoters (6–12 mm for M. lateralis and 18–24 mm for I. recurvum), I. recurvum contained higher ash, protein, lipid, and energy per individual organism than M. lateralis. I. recurvum required significantly greater force to crack the shell relative to M. lateralis. No difference in metabolized energy was observed for these prey items in wintering surf scoters, despite I. recurvum’s higher ash content and harder shell than M. lateralis. Therefore, wintering surf scoters were able to obtain the same amount of energy from each prey item, implying that they can sustain themselves if forced to switch prey. PMID:25978636