Effects of high pressure processing on activity and structure of soluble acid invertase in mango pulp, crude extract, purified form and model systems.

PubMed

Li, Renjie; Wang, Yongtao; Ling, Jiangang; Liao, Xiaojun

2017-09-15

The effects of high pressure processing (HPP) on the activity of soluble acid invertase (SAI) in mango pulp, crude extract, purified SAI and purified SAI in model systems (pectin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), sugars and pH 3-7) were investigated. The activity of SAI in mango pulp was increased after HPP, and that in crude extract stayed unchanged. The activity of purified SAI was decreased after HPP at 45 and 50°C. Pectin exhibited a concentration-dependent protection for purified SAI against HPP at 50°C/600MPa for 30min. Pectin that had an esterification degree (DE) of 85% exhibited a greater protection than pectin that had a DE of 20-34%. BSA, acidic pH (3-6) and sucrose also exhibited protection for purified SAI against HPP. HPP at 50°C/600MPa for 30min disrupted the secondary structure and tertiary structure of purified SAI, but no aggregation of purified SAI was observed after HPP. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of high-pressure processing on colour, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity in smoothies during refrigerated storage.

PubMed

Andrés, Víctor; Villanueva, María J; Tenorio, María D

2016-02-01

The effects of high-pressure processing--HPP--(450 and 600 MPa/3 min/20 °C) on the colour, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, polyphenols and antioxidant activity (FRAP and DPPH) of a smoothie were compared to thermal processing (80 °C/3 min). Stability during 45 days at 4 °C was also evaluated. HPP samples showed slight differences (p < 0.05) in colour compared to untreated smoothies. Both HPP significantly increased the extractability of lycopene, β-carotene and polyphenols compared to untreated samples. After HPP, ascorbic acid was retained by more than 92% of the initial content. The best results for antioxidant activity were obtained when HPP was applied at 600 MPa. FRAP and DPPH showed a high correlation with ascorbic acid (R(2) = 0.7135 and 0.8107, respectively) and polyphenolic compounds (R(2) = 0.6819 and 0.6935, respectively), but not with total carotenoids. Changes in bioactive compounds during the storage period were lower in the HPP smoothie than in the thermal-treated sample. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Human norovirus inactivation in oysters by high hydrostatic pressure processing: A randomized double-blinded study

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial assessed the effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) on genogroup I.1 human norovirus (HuNoV) inactivation in virus-seeded oysters when ingested by subjects. The safety and efficacy of HPP treatments were assessed in three study phases wi...

Effect of high pressure and thermal processing on shelf life and quality of strawberry purée and juice.

PubMed

Aaby, Kjersti; Grimsbo, Ingunn Haugland; Hovda, Maria Befring; Rode, Tone Mari

2018-09-15

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of high pressure processing (HPP; 400-600 MPa, 20 °C, 1.5 or 3 min) and heat treatment (HT; 85 °C for 2 min) of strawberry purée and juice made from the same raw material. Microbiological and enzymatic inactivation, Brix, pH, anthocyanins, vitamin C, colour and sensory properties were analysed after processing and cold storage. The microbiological shelf life of the products was at least 49 days when processed at 500 or 600 MPa. Anthocyanins, vitamin C and colour were well preserved after HPP and HT. During storage, anthocyanins, vitamin C and sensory quality were better conserved in HT than in HPP purées, while there were minor differences between HT and HPP juices. This was probably due to higher enzyme activity in HPP purées, and indicates that raw materials with lower initial enzyme activity, like juices, are more suited for HPP than e.g. purées. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High pressure inactivation of human norovirus-like particles: evidence that the capsid of human norovirus is highly pressure resistant

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

High pressure processing (HPP) is a promising non-thermal technology to inactivate foodborne viruses. However, the effectiveness of HPP on inactivating human norovirus (HuNoV), the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis, is unknown because it cannot be propagated in cell culture. Therefore, developi...

Recent Advances in Food Processing Using High Hydrostatic Pressure Technology.

PubMed

Wang, Chung-Yi; Huang, Hsiao-Wen; Hsu, Chiao-Ping; Yang, Binghuei Barry

2016-01-01

High hydrostatic pressure is an emerging non-thermal technology that can achieve the same standards of food safety as those of heat pasteurization and meet consumer requirements for fresher tasting, minimally processed foods. Applying high-pressure processing can inactivate pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms and enzymes, as well as modify structures with little or no effects on the nutritional and sensory quality of foods. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have approved the use of high-pressure processing (HPP), which is a reliable technological alternative to conventional heat pasteurization in food-processing procedures. This paper presents the current applications of HPP in processing fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, dairy, and egg products; such applications include the combination of pressure and biopreservation to generate specific characteristics in certain products. In addition, this paper describes recent findings on the microbiological, chemical, and molecular aspects of HPP technology used in commercial and research applications.

Nonthermal pasteurization of beer by high pressure processing: modelling the inactivation of saccharomyces cerevisiae ascospores in different alcohol beers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Milani, Elham A.; Silva, Filipa V. M.

2016-10-01

The industrial production of beer ends with a process of thermal pasteurization. In this research, the nonthermal pasteurization of beer by high pressure processing (HPP) was carried out. First, the effect of alcohol content on Saccharomyces cerevisiae ascospore inactivation at 400 MPa was studied. The number of ascospores in 0.0%, 4.8%, and 7.0% alc/vol beers for 10 min processing time decreased by 3.1, 4.9, and ≥ 6.0 log, respectively. The Weibull model fitted the ascospore inactivation by HPP in 0.0%, 4.8%, and 7.0% alc/vol beers. At 400 MPa, 7.2 s could ensure the minimum pasteurization of beers and for 600 MPa 5 s were enough for ≥ 7 log reductions. The overall flavour of HPP vs. untreated beers was evaluated for a lager and an ale, with no significant differences between the untreated and HPP beers. Thus, nonthermal HPP is a feasible technology to pasteurize beer with different alcohol contents without heat.

High pressure treatment of human norovirus-like particles: factors affecting destruction efficacy

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is the leading cause of foodborne diseases worldwide. High pressure processing (HPP) is considered a promising non-thermal technology to inactivate viral pathogens in foods. However, the effectiveness of HPP on inactivating HuNoV remains poorly understood because it cannot be...

High-Pressure Inactivation of Rotaviruses: Role of Treatment Temperature and Strain Diversity in Virus Inactivation

PubMed Central

Araud, Elbashir; DiCaprio, Erin; Yang, Zhihong; Li, Xinhui; Lou, Fangfei; Hughes, John H.; Chen, Haiqiang

2015-01-01

Rotavirus (RV) is the major etiological agent of acute gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. Although high-pressure processing (HPP) is a popular method to inactivate enteric pathogens in food, the sensitivity of different virus strains within same species and serotype to HPP is variable. This study aimed to compare the barosensitivities of seven RV strains derived from four serotypes (serotype G1, strains Wa, Ku, and K8; serotype G2, strain S2; serotype G3, strains SA-11 and YO; and serotype G4, strain ST3) following high-pressure treatment. RV strains showed various responses to HPP based on the initial temperature and had different inactivation profiles. Ku, K8, S2, SA-11, YO, and ST3 showed enhanced inactivation at 4°C compared to 20°C. In contrast, strain Wa was not significantly impacted by the initial treatment temperature. Within serotype G1, strain Wa was significantly (P < 0.05) more resistant to HPP than strains Ku and K8. Overall, the resistance of the human RV strains to HPP at 4°C can be ranked as Wa > Ku = K8 > S2 > YO > ST3, and in terms of serotype the ranking is G1 > G2 > G3 > G4. In addition, pressure treatment of 400 MPa for 2 min was sufficient to eliminate the Wa strain, the most pressure-resistant RV, from oyster tissues. HPP disrupted virion structure but did not degrade viral protein or RNA, providing insight into the mechanism of viral inactivation by HPP. In conclusion, HPP is capable of inactivating RV at commercially acceptable pressures, and the efficacy of inactivation is strain dependent. PMID:26187961

The Impact of Maturity Stage on Cell Membrane Integrity and Enzymatic Browning Reactions in High Pressure Processed Peaches (Prunus persica).

PubMed

Techakanon, Chukwan; Gradziel, Thomas M; Zhang, Lu; Barrett, Diane M

2016-09-28

Fruit maturity is an important factor associated with final product quality, and it may have an effect on the level of browning in peaches that are high pressure processed (HPP). Peaches from three different maturities, as determined by firmness (M1 = 50-55 N, M2 = 35-40 N, and M3 = 15-20 N), were subjected to pressure levels at 0.1, 200, and 400 MPa for 10 min. The damage from HPP treatment results in loss of fruit integrity and the development of browning during storage. Increasing pressure levels of HPP treatment resulted in greater damage, particularly in the more mature peaches, as determined by shifts in transverse relaxation time (T2) of the vacuolar component and by light microscopy. The discoloration of peach slices of different maturities processed at the same pressure was comparable, indicating that the effect of pressure level is greater than that of maturity in the development of browning.

A meta-analysis of the effects of shockwave and high pressure processing on color and cook loss of fresh meat.

PubMed

Ha, Minh; Dunshea, Frank R; Warner, Robyn D

2017-10-01

Meta-analysis is a statistical approach for investigating experimental differences across studies. Meta-analyses were performed to examine the effects of hydrodynamic processing (shockwave; n=12 papers) and high pressure processing (HPP; n=8 papers) on the color and cook loss of fresh meat. Shockwave did not affect color (L*, a*), whereas cook loss was increased by 0.6% relative to untreated meat. HPP resulted in an increase in lightness (L*) and a decrease in redness (a*), with the effect being greater at higher pressures (>300MPa vs <300MPa). In addition, HPP applied at moderate pressure (<300MPa) reduced cook loss but at high pressure (>300MPa) the cook loss was increased (-1.5% vs 3.0% respectively). The increased cook loss with shockwave and high pressure (>300MPa) processing needs to be balanced against benefits in texture if this technology is applied to meat. The reduced cook loss of meat treated at moderate pressures (<300MPa) is an advantage which would likely improve sensory traits. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of high-pressure processing and thermal pasteurization on overall quality parameters of white grape juice.

PubMed

Chang, Yin-Hsuan; Wu, Sz-Jie; Chen, Bang-Yuan; Huang, Hsiao-Wen; Wang, Chung-Yi

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial levels, physicochemical and antioxidant properties and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities as well as to conduct a sensory analysis of white grape juice treated with high-pressure processing (HPP) and thermal pasteurization (TP), over a period of 20 days of refrigerated storage. HPP treatment of 600 MPa and TP significantly reduced aerobic bacteria, coliform and yeast/mold counts. At day 20 of storage, HPP-600 juice displayed no significant differences compared with fresh juice in terms of physicochemical properties such as titratable acidity, pH and soluble solids, and retained less than 50% PPO and POD activities. Although significant differences were observed in the color, antioxidant contents and antioxidant capacity of HPP-treated juice, the extent of these differences was substantially lower than that in TP-treated juice, indicating that HPP treatment can better retain the quality of grape juice. Sensory testing showed no significant difference between HPP-treated juice and fresh juice, while TP reduced the acceptance of grape juice. This study shows that HPP treatment maintained the overall quality parameters of white grape juice, thus effectively extending the shelf life during refrigerated storage. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Inactivation of Byssochlamys nivea ascospores in strawberry puree by high pressure, power ultrasound and thermal processing.

PubMed

Evelyn; Silva, F V M

2015-12-02

Byssochlamys nivea is a mold that can spoil processed fruit products and produce mycotoxins. In this work, high pressure processing (HPP, 600 MPa) and power ultrasound (24 kHz, 0.33 W/mL; TS) in combination with 75°C for the inactivation of four week old B. nivea ascospores in strawberry puree for up to 30 min was investigated and compared with 75°C thermal processing alone. TS and thermal processing can activate the mold ascospores, but HPP-75°C resulted in 2.0 log reductions after a 20 min process. For a 10 min process, HPP-75°C was better than 85°C alone in reducing B. nivea spores (1.4 vs. 0.2 log reduction), demonstrating that a lower temperature in combination with HPP is more effective for spore inactivation than heat alone at a higher temperature. The ascospore inactivation by HPP-thermal, TS and thermal processing was studied at different temperatures and modeled. Faster inactivation was achieved at higher temperatures for all the technologies tested, indicating the significant role of temperature in spore inactivation, alone or combined with other physical processes. The Weibull model described the spore inactivation by 600 MPa HPP-thermal (38, 50, 60, 75°C) and thermal (85, 90°C) processing, whereas the Lorentzian model was more appropriate for TS treatment (65, 70, 75°C). The models obtained provide a useful tool to design and predict pasteurization processes targeting B. nivea ascospores. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of high pressure and high temperature short time processing on quality of carambola juice during cold storage.

PubMed

Huang, Hsiao-Wen; Chen, Bang-Yuan; Wang, Chung-Yi

2018-05-01

This study validated high hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) for achieving greater than 5-log reductions of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in carambola juice and determined shelf life of processed juice stored at 4 °C. Carambola juice processed at 600 MPa for 150 s was identified capable of achieving greater than 5.15-log reductions of E. coli O157:H7, and the quality was compared with that of high temperature short time (HTST)-pasteurized juice at 110 °C for 8.6 s. Aerobic, psychrotrophic, E. coli /coliform, and yeasts and moulds in the juice were reduced by HPP or HTST to levels below the minimum detection limit (< 1.0 log CFU/mL), and showed no outgrowth after refrigerated storage of 40 days. There were no significant differences in pH and titratable acidity between the untreated, HPP, and HTST juices. However, HTST treatment significantly changed the color of juice, while no significant difference was observed between the control and HPP samples. HPP and HTST treatments reduced the total soluble solids in the juice, but maintained higher sucrose, glucose, fructose, and total sugar contents than untreated juice. The total phenolic and ascorbic acid contents were higher in juice treated with HPP than untreated and HTST juice, but there was no significant difference in the flavonoid content. Aroma score analysis showed that HPP had no effect on aroma, maintaining the highest score during cold storage. The results of this study suggest that appropriate HPP conditions can achieve the same microbial safety as HTST, while maintaining the quality and extending the shelf life of carambola juice.

Stabilisation of red fruit-based smoothies by high-pressure processing. Part II: effects on sensory quality and selected nutrients.

PubMed

Hurtado, Adriana; Guàrdia, Maria Dolors; Picouet, Pierre; Jofré, Anna; Ros, José María; Bañón, Sancho

2017-02-01

Non-thermal pasteurisation by high-pressure processing (HPP) is increasingly replacing thermal processing (TP) to maintain the properties of fresh fruit products. The resulting products need to be validated from a sensory and nutritional standpoint. The objective was to assess a mild HPP treatment to stabilise red fruit-based smoothies in a wide (sensory quality and major nutrients) study. HPP (350 MPa/ 10 °C/ 5 min) provided 'fresh-like' smoothies, free of cooked-fruit flavours, for at least 14 days at 4 °C, although their sensory stability was low compared with the TP-smoothies (85 °C/ 7 min). In HPP-smoothies, the loss of fresh fruit flavour and reduced sliminess were the clearest signs of sensory deterioration during storage. Furthermore, HPP permitted the higher initial retention of vitamin C, although this vitamin and, to a lesser extent, total phenols, had a higher degradation rate during storage. The content of sugar present was not affected by either processing treatment. Mild HPP treatment did not alter the sensory and nutritional properties of smoothies. The sensory and nutritional losses during storage were less than might be expected, probably due to the high antioxidant content and the natural turbidity provided by red fruits. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Efficacy of low-temperature high hydrostatic pressure processing in inactivating Vibrio parahaemolyticus in culture suspension and oyster homogenate.

PubMed

Phuvasate, Sureerat; Su, Yi-Cheng

2015-03-02

Culture suspensions of five clinical and five environmental Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains in 2% NaCl solution were subjected to high pressure processing (HPP) under various conditions (200-300MPa for 5 and 10 min at 1.5-20°C) to study differences in pressure resistance among the strains. The most pressure-resistant and pressure-sensitive strains were selected to investigate the effects of low temperatures (15, 5 and 1.5°C) on HPP (200 or 250MPa for 5 min) to inactivate V. parahaemolyticus in sterile oyster homogenates. Inactivation of V. parahaemolyticus cells in culture suspensions and oyster homogenates was greatly enhanced by lowering the processing temperature from 15 to 5 or 1.5°C. A treatment of oyster homogenates at 250MPa for 5 min at 5°C decreased the populations of V. parahaemolyticus by 6.2logCFU/g for strains 10290 and 100311Y11 and by >7.4logCFU/g for strain 10292. Decreasing the processing temperature of the same treatment to 1.5°C reduced all the V. parahaemolyticus strains inoculated to oyster homogenates to non-detectable (<10CFU/g) levels. Factors including pressure level, processing temperature and time all need to be considered for developing effective HPP for eliminating pathogens from foods. Further studies are needed to validate the efficacy of the HPP (250MPa for 5 min at 1.5°C) in inactivating V. parahaemolyticus cells in whole oysters. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quality comparison of elephant apple juices after high-pressure processing and thermal treatment.

PubMed

Nayak, Prakash Kumar; Rayaguru, Kalpana; Radha Krishnan, Kesavan

2017-03-01

In the present work, the effect of high pressure processing (HPP) on the quality parameters (pH, °Brix, total acidity, viscosity, colour, antioxidant activity, total phenols, total flavonoids, microbial flora, and sensory analysis) of elephant apple (Dillenia indica) juice was investigated. The juice samples were analysed periodically (0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days) during 60 days of storage period and results were compared with thermally processed as well as with untreated (fresh juice) samples. Slight variations had been observed in the quality parameters like pH, °Brix and total acidity. Other parameters like colour values, antioxidant activity, total phenols and total flavonoids were varied significantly (P < 0.05) in between the treated (HPP and thermal) and untreated juice samples. The microbial counts of the HPP treated samples were lower than the other samples. Sensory results also showed similar results to those of the other analyses that the treated samples were better for consumption rather than the untreated samples. The shelf-life of the HPP processed elephant apple juice was established as 60 days at 4 °C. This study showed that application of HPP effectively maintained quality attributes and extended shelf life of the elephant apple juice. It may be suggested that application of HPP could be considered for commercial application during storage and marketing. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Influence of high-pressure processing on the generation of γ-aminobutyric acid and microbiological safety in coffee beans.

PubMed

Chen, Bang-Yuan; Huang, Hsiao-Wen; Cheng, Ming-Ching; Wang, Chung-Yi

2018-04-27

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of high-pressure processing (HPP) on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content, glutamic acid (Glu) content, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity, growth of Aspergillus fresenii, and accumulated ochratoxin A (OTA) content in coffee beans. The results indicated that coffee beans subjected to HPP at pressures ≥50 MPa for 5 min increased GAD activity and promoted the conversion of Glu to GABA, and showed a significantly doubling of GABA content compared with unprocessed coffee beans. Additionally, investigation of the influence of HPP on A. fresenii growth on coffee beans showed that application ≥400 MPa reduced A. fresenii concentrations to <1 log. Furthermore, during a 50-day storage period, we observed that a processing pressure of 600 MPa completely inhibited A. fresenii growth, and on day 50 the OTA content of coffee beans subjected to processing pressures of 600 MPa was 0.0066 μg g -1 , which was significantly lower than the OTA content of 0.1143 μg g -1 in the control group. This study shows that HPP treatment can simultaneously increase GABA content and inhibit the growth of A. fresenii, thereby effectively reducing the production and accumulation of OTA and maintaining the microbiological safety of coffee beans. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

High pressure inactivation of Brettanomyces bruxellensis in red wine.

PubMed

van Wyk, Sanelle; Silva, Filipa V M

2017-05-01

Brettanomyces bruxellensis ("Brett") is a major spoilage concern for the wine industry worldwide, leading to undesirable sensory properties. Sulphur dioxide, is currently the preferred method for wine preservation. However, due to its negative effects on consumers, the use of new alternative non-thermal technologies are increasingly being investigated. The aim of this study was to determine and model the effect of high pressure processing (HPP) conditions and yeast strain on the inactivation of "Brett" in Cabernet Sauvignon wine. Processing at 200 MPa for 3 min resulted in 5.8 log reductions. However higher pressure is recommended to achieve high throughput in the wine industry, for example >6.0 log reductions were achieved after 400 MPa for 5 s. The inactivation of B. bruxellensis is pressure and time dependent, with increased treatment time and pressure leading to increased yeast inactivation. It was also found that yeast strain had a significant effect on HPP inactivation, with AWRI 1499 being the most resistant strain. The Weibull model successfully described the HPP "Brett" inactivation. HPP is a viable alternative for the inactivation of B. bruxellensis in wine, with the potential to reduce the industry's reliance on sulphur dioxide. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impact of pH and Total Soluble Solids on Enzyme Inactivation Kinetics during High Pressure Processing of Mango (Mangifera indica) Pulp.

PubMed

Kaushik, Neelima; Nadella, Tejaswi; Rao, P Srinivasa

2015-11-01

This study was undertaken with an aim to enhance the enzyme inactivation during high pressure processing (HPP) with pH and total soluble solids (TSS) as additional hurdles. Impact of mango pulp pH (3.5, 4.0, 4.5) and TSS (15, 20, 25 °Brix) variations on the inactivation of pectin methylesterase (PME), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (POD) enzymes were studied during HPP at 400 to 600 MPa pressure (P), 40 to 70 °C temperature (T), and 6- to 20-min pressure-hold time (t). The enzyme inactivation (%) was modeled using second order polynomial equations with a good fit that revealed that all the enzymes were significantly affected by HPP. Response surface and contour models predicted the kinetic behavior of mango pulp enzymes adequately as indicated by the small error between predicted and experimental data. The predicted kinetics indicated that for a fixed P and T, higher pulse pressure effect and increased isobaric inactivation rates were possible at lower levels of pH and TSS. In contrast, at a fixed pH or TSS level, an increase in P or T led to enhanced inactivation rates, irrespective of the type of enzyme. PPO and POD were found to have similar barosensitivity, whereas PME was found to be most resistant to HPP. Furthermore, simultaneous variation in pH and TSS levels of mango pulp resulted in higher enzyme inactivation at lower pH and TSS during HPP, where the effect of pH was found to be predominant than TSS within the experimental domain. Exploration of additional hurdles such as pH, TSS, and temperature for enzyme inactivation during high pressure processing of fruits is useful from industrial point of view, as these parameters play key role in preservation process design. © 2015 Institute of Food Technologists®

Effects of Peach Cultivar on Enzymatic Browning Following Cell Damage from High-Pressure Processing.

PubMed

Techakanon, Chukwan; Gradziel, Thomas M; Barrett, Diane M

2016-10-12

Peach cultivars contribute to unique product characteristics and may affect the degree of browning after high-pressure processing (HPP). Nine peach cultivars were subjected to HPP at 0, 100, and 400 MPa for 10 min. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR) relaxometry, light microscopy, color, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, and total phenols were evaluated. The development of enzymatic browning during refrigerated storage occurred because of damage during HPP that triggered loss of cell integrity, allowing substrates to interact with enzymes. Increasing pressure levels resulted in greater damage, as determined by shifts in transverse relaxation time (T 2 ) and by light micrographs. Discoloration was triggered by membrane decompartmentalization but limited by PPO activity, which was found to correlate to cultivar harvest time (early, mid, and late season). Outcomes from the microstructure, 1 H NMR ,and PPO activity evaluation were an effective means of determining membrane decompartmentalization and allowed for prediction of browning scenarios.

The impact of high hydrostatic pressure on the functionality and consumer acceptability of reduced sodium naturally cured wieners.

PubMed

Pietrasik, Z; Gaudette, N J; Johnston, S P

2017-07-01

The effects of high pressure processing (HPP; 600MPa for 3min at 8°C) on the quality and shelf life of reduced sodium naturally-cured wieners was studied. HPP did not negatively impact processing characteristics and assisted in extending shelf life of all wiener treatments up to a 12week storage period. At week 8, HPP wieners received higher acceptability scores, indicating HPP can effectively extend the sensory quality of products, including sodium reduced formulations containing natural forms of nitrite. Substitution of 50% NaCl with modified KCl had negative effect on textural characteristics of conventionally cured wieners but not those processed with celery powder as a source of nitrite. Celery powder favorably affected hydration of textural properties of wieners, and consumer acceptability of juiciness and texture was higher compared to nitrite. Sodium reduction, independent of curing agent, negatively impacted flavor acceptability, while only nitrite containing reduced sodium wieners scored significantly lower than both regular salt wieners for texture, juiciness and saltiness. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity in cashew apple juice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Queiroz, C.; Moreira, C. F. F.; Lavinas, F. C.; Lopes, M. L. M.; Fialho, E.; Valente-Mesquita, V. L.

2010-12-01

The cashew apple is native to Brazil, but there is insufficient information regarding the nutritional properties of this fruit. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of high pressure processing (HPP) at room temperature (25 °C) on phenolic compound and ascorbic acid contents and antioxidant capacity of cashew apple juice. This study showed that HPP at 250 or 400 MPa for 3, 5 and 7 min did not change pH, acidity, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid or hydrolysable polyphenol contents. However, juice pressurized for 3 and 5 min showed higher soluble polyphenol contents. Antioxidant capacity, measured by the ferric-reducing antioxidant power method, was not altered by HPP, but when treated at 250 MPa for 3 min, it resulted in an increased value when 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl was used. These data demonstrate that HPP can be used in the food industry for the generation of products with higher nutritional quality.

Effect of high-pressure processing and milk on the anthocyanin composition and antioxidant capacity of strawberry-based beverages.

PubMed

Tadapaneni, Ravi Kiran; Banaszewski, Katarzyna; Patazca, Eduardo; Edirisinghe, Indika; Cappozzo, Jack; Jackson, Lauren; Burton-Freeman, Britt

2012-06-13

The present study investigated processing strategies and matrix effects on the antioxidant capacity (AC) and polyphenols (PP) content of fruit-based beverages: (1) strawberry powder (Str) + dairy, D-Str; (2) Str + water, ND-Str; (3) dairy + no Str, D-NStr. Beverages were subjected to high-temperature-short-time (HTST) and high-pressure processing (HPP). AC and PP were measured before and after processing and after a 5 week shelf-life study. Unprocessed D-Str had significantly lower AC compared to unprocessed ND-Str. Significant reductions in AC were apparent in HTST- compared to HPP-processed beverages (up to 600 MPa). PP content was significantly reduced in D-Str compared to ND-Str and in response to HPP and HTST in all beverages. After storage (5 weeks), AC and PP were reduced in all beverages compared to unprocessed and week 0 processed beverages. These findings indicate potentially negative effects of milk and processing on AC and PP of fruit-based beverages.

Alginate-Based Edible Films Delivering Probiotic Bacteria to Sliced Ham Pretreated with High Pressure Processing.

PubMed

Pavli, Foteini; Kovaiou, Ioanna; Apostolakopoulou, Georgia; Kapetanakou, Anastasia; Skandamis, Panagiotis; Nychas, George-John E; Tassou, Chrysoula; Chorianopoulos, Nikos

2017-08-29

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the efficacy of Na-alginate edible films as vehicles for delivering probiotic bacteria to sliced ham with or without pretreatment using high pressure processing (HPP). Three strains of probiotic bacteria were incorporated in Na-alginate forming solution. Ham slices (with or without pretreatment using HPP at 500 MPa for 2 min) were packed under vacuum in contact with the films and then stored at 4, 8 and 12 °C for 66, 47 and 40 days, respectively. Microbiological analysis was performed in parallel with pH and color measurements. Sensory characteristics were assessed, while the presence and the relative abundance of each probiotic strain during storage was evaluated using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. In ham slices without HPP treatment, probiotic bacteria were enumerated above 10⁶ CFU/g during storage at all temperatures. Same results were obtained in cases of HPP treated samples, but pH measurements showed differences with the latter ones exhibiting higher values. Sensory evaluation revealed that probiotic samples had a more acidic taste and odor than the control ones, however these characteristics were markedly compromised in samples treated with HPP. Overall, the results of the study are promising since probiotic bacteria were successfully delivered in the products by edible films regardless of the HPP treatment.

Alginate-Based Edible Films Delivering Probiotic Bacteria to Sliced Ham Pretreated with High Pressure Processing

PubMed Central

Pavli, Foteini; Kovaiou, Ioanna; Apostolakopoulou, Georgia; Kapetanakou, Anastasia; Skandamis, Panagiotis; Tassou, Chrysoula

2017-01-01

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the efficacy of Na-alginate edible films as vehicles for delivering probiotic bacteria to sliced ham with or without pretreatment using high pressure processing (HPP). Three strains of probiotic bacteria were incorporated in Na-alginate forming solution. Ham slices (with or without pretreatment using HPP at 500 MPa for 2 min) were packed under vacuum in contact with the films and then stored at 4, 8 and 12 °C for 66, 47 and 40 days, respectively. Microbiological analysis was performed in parallel with pH and color measurements. Sensory characteristics were assessed, while the presence and the relative abundance of each probiotic strain during storage was evaluated using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. In ham slices without HPP treatment, probiotic bacteria were enumerated above 106 CFU/g during storage at all temperatures. Same results were obtained in cases of HPP treated samples, but pH measurements showed differences with the latter ones exhibiting higher values. Sensory evaluation revealed that probiotic samples had a more acidic taste and odor than the control ones, however these characteristics were markedly compromised in samples treated with HPP. Overall, the results of the study are promising since probiotic bacteria were successfully delivered in the products by edible films regardless of the HPP treatment. PMID:28850093

High pressure processing of meat: effects on ultrastructure and protein digestibility.

PubMed

Kaur, Lovedeep; Astruc, Thierry; Vénien, Annie; Loison, Olivier; Cui, Jian; Irastorza, Marion; Boland, Mike

2016-05-18

The effects of high pressure processing (HPP, at 175 and 600 MPa) on the ultrastructure and in vitro protein digestion of bovine longissimus dorsi muscle meat were studied. HPP caused a significant change in the visual appearance and texture of the meat subjected to HPP at 600 MPa so that it appeared similar to cooked meat, unlike the meat subjected to HPP at 175 MPa that showed no significant visible change in the colour and texture compared to the raw meat. The muscles were subjected to digestion under simulated gastric conditions for 1 h and then under simulated small-intestinal conditions for a further 2 h. The digests were analysed using gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and ninhydrin assay for amino N. The effect of the acid conditions of the stomach alone was also investigated. Reduced SDS-PAGE results showed that pepsin-digested (60 min) HPP meats showed fewer proteins or peptides of high molecular weight than the pepsin-digested untreated meat, suggesting more breakdown of the parent proteins in HPP-treated meats. This effect was more pronounced in the muscles treated at 600 MPa. These results are in accordance with microscopy results, which showed greater changes in the myofibrillar structure after simulated gastric digestion of the sample processed at 600 MPa than at 175 MPa. Transmission electron microscopy also showed the presence of protein aggregates in the former sample, resulting probably from protein denaturation of sarcoplasmic proteins, in the subcellular space and between myofibrils; along with cell contraction (similar to that caused by heating) in the former.

Influence of high-pressure processing on the profile of polyglutamyl 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in selected vegetables.

PubMed

Wang, Chao; Riedl, Ken M; Somerville, Jeremy; Balasubramaniam, V M; Schwartz, Steven J

2011-08-24

In plants, folate occurs predominantly as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF) polyglutamyl forms. Differences in stability and bioavailability of food folate compared to synthetic folic acid have been attributed to the presence of the polyglutamyl chain. High-pressure processing (HPP) was tested for whether it might shorten polyglutamyl chains of 5MTHF species in fresh vegetables by enabling action of native γ-glutamylhydrolase (GGH). A validated ultrahigh-performance reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method using stable isotope as internal standard was applied for characterizing 5MTHF polyglutamyl profiles. HPP conditions included 300, 450, and 600 MPa at 30 °C for 0 or 5 min, and vegetables were vacuum-packed before treatment. Investigated vegetables included cauliflower (Brassica oleracea), baby carrots (Daucus carota), and carrot greens (D. carota). HPP treatment caused conversion of polyglutamyl 5MTHF species to short-chain and monoglutamyl forms. Maximal conversion of polyglutamyl folate to monoglutamyl folate occurred at the highest pressure/time combination investigated, 600 MPa/30 °C/5 min. Under this condition, cauliflower monoglutamyl folate increased nearly 4-fold, diglutamyl folate 32-fold, and triglutamyl folate 8-fold; carrot monoglutamyl increased 23-fold and diglutamyl 32-fold; and carrot greens monoglutamyl increased 2.5-fold and the diglutamyl form 19-fold. Although some folate degradation was observed at certain intermediate HPP conditions, total 5MTHF folate was largely preserved at 600 MPa/5 min. Thus, HPP of raw vegetables is a feasible strategy for enhancing vegetable monoglutamate 5MTHF.

Influence of High-Pressure Processing on the Profile of Polyglutamyl 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate in Selected Vegetables

PubMed Central

Wang, Chao; Riedl, Ken M.; Somerville, Jeremy; Balasubramaniam, V. M.; Schwartz, Steven J.

2013-01-01

In plants, folate occurs predominantly as 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5MTHF) polyglutamyl forms. Differences in stability and bioavailability of food folate compared to synthetic folic acid have been attributed to the presence of the polyglutamyl chain. High-pressure processing (HPP) was tested for whether it might shorten polyglutamyl chains of 5MTHF species in fresh vegetables by enabling action of native γ-glutamylhydrolase (GGH). A validated ultrahigh-performance reversed-phase liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method using stable isotope as internal standard was applied for characterizing 5MTHF polyglutamyl profiles. HPP conditions included 300, 450, and 600 MPa at 30 °C for 0 or 5 min, and vegetables were vacuum-packed before treatment. Investigated vegetables included cauliflower (Brassica oleracea), baby carrots (Daucus carota), and carrot greens (D. carota). HPP treatment caused conversion of polyglutamyl 5MTHF species to short-chain and monoglutamyl forms. Maximal conversion of polyglutamyl folate to monoglutamyl folate occurred at the highest pressure/time combination investigated, 600 MPa/30 °C/5 min. Under this condition, cauliflower monoglutamyl folate increased nearly 4-fold, diglutamyl folate 32-fold, and triglutamyl folate 8-fold; carrot monoglutamyl increased 23-fold and diglutamyl 32-fold; and carrot greens monoglutamyl increased 2.5-fold and the diglutamyl form 19-fold. Although some folate degradation was observed at certain intermediate HPP conditions, total 5MTHF folate was largely preserved at 600 MPa/5 min. Thus, HPP of raw vegetables is a feasible strategy for enhancing vegetable monoglutamate 5MTHF. PMID:21770413

Influence of physicochemical characteristics and high pressure processing on the volatile fraction of Iberian dry-cured ham.

PubMed

Martínez-Onandi, Nerea; Rivas-Cañedo, Ana; Ávila, Marta; Garde, Sonia; Nuñez, Manuel; Picon, Antonia

2017-09-01

The volatile fraction of 30 Iberian dry-cured hams of different physicochemical characteristics and the effect of high pressure processing (HPP) at 600MPa on volatile compounds were investigated. According to the analysis of variance carried out on the levels of 122 volatile compounds, intramuscular fat content influenced the levels of 8 benzene compounds, 5 carboxylic acids, 2 ketones, 2 furanones, 1 alcohol, 1 aldehyde and 1 sulfur compound, salt concentration influenced the levels of 1 aldehyde and 1 ketone, salt-in-lean ratio had no effect on volatile compounds, and water activity influenced the levels of 3 sulfur compounds, 1 alcohol and 1 aldehyde. HPP-treated samples of Iberian ham had higher levels of 4 compounds and lower levels of 31 compounds than untreated samples. A higher influence of HPP treatment on volatile compounds than physicochemical characteristics was observed for Iberian ham. Therefore, HPP treatment conditions should be optimized in order to diminish its possible effect on Iberian ham odor and aroma characteristics. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Changes in protein structures to improve the rheology and texture of reduced-fat sausages using high pressure processing.

PubMed

Yang, Huijuan; Khan, Muhammad Ammar; Yu, Xiaobo; Zheng, Haibo; Han, Minyi; Xu, Xinglian; Zhou, Guanghong

2016-11-01

This study investigated the role of high-pressure processing (HPP) for improving the functional properties of meat batters and the textural properties of reduced-fat sausages. Application of 200MPa pressure at 10°C for 2min to pork batters containing various fat contents (0-30%) affected their rheological properties, cooking losses, color, textual properties and their protein imaging. The results revealed that both application of 200MPa and increasing fat content decreased cooking loss, as well as improved the textural and rheological properties. Cooking losses, texture and sensory evaluation of 200MPa treated sausages having 20% fat were similar to those of the 0.1MPa treated sausages having 30% fat. Principal component analysis revealed that certain quality attributes were affected differently by the levels of fat addition and by HPP. These findings indicated the potential of HPP for improving yield and texture of emulsion-type sausages having reduced fat contents. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microbiota of high-pressure-processed Serrano ham investigated by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods.

PubMed

Martínez-Onandi, N; Castioni, A; San Martín, E; Rivas-Cañedo, A; Nuñez, M; Torriani, S; Picon, A

2017-01-16

The microbiota of Serrano dry-cured ham of different chemical composition, subjected or not to high-pressure processing (HPP), was investigated using culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Microbial counts were submitted to analysis of variance with physicochemical parameters (a w , NaCl concentration, salt-in-lean ratio and intramuscular fat content) or HPP as main effects. In untreated hams, physicochemical parameters significantly affected counts of aerobic mesophiles, psychrotrophs, and moulds and yeasts. NaCl concentration and fat content influenced the levels of four and three of the five studied microbial groups, respectively, whereas no influence of a w was stated. The HPP treatment had a significant effect on counts of all investigated microbial groups. Culture-independent methods showed the presence of bacteria such as Staphylococcus equorum, Staphylococcus succinus, Bacillus subtilis and Cellulosimicrobium sp., moulds like Penicillium commune, Aspergillus fumigatus, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Eurotium athecium and Moniliella mellis, and yeasts like Debaryomyces hansenii and Candida glucosophila. Absence of B. subtilis bands and weaker bands of E. athecium were recorded for HPP-treated hams. The higher microbial levels found in lean ham might result in a quicker deterioration. HPP treatment confirmed its suitability as a procedure to control spoilage microorganisms. DGGE did not seem to be sensitive enough to highlight changes caused by HPP treatment in the microbiota of ham, but contributed to the detection of microbial species not previously found in ham. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pneumoperitoneum pressures during pelvic laparoscopic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Bogani, Giorgio; Martinelli, Fabio; Ditto, Antonino; Chiappa, Valentina; Lorusso, Domenica; Ghezzi, Fabio; Raspagliesi, Francesco

2015-12-01

Growing evidence suggests that the level of pneumoperitoneal pressure is directly correlated with postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic procedures. However, only limited evidence is available in the field of gynaecologic surgery. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effects of low (8mmHg), standard (12mmHg) and high (15mmHg) pneumoperitoneal pressures (LPP

Comparing effects of perfusion and hydrostatic pressure on gene profiles of human chondrocyte.

PubMed

Zhu, Ge; Mayer-Wagner, Susanne; Schröder, Christian; Woiczinski, Matthias; Blum, Helmut; Lavagi, Ilaria; Krebs, Stefan; Redeker, Julia I; Hölzer, Andreas; Jansson, Volkmar; Betz, Oliver; Müller, Peter E

2015-09-20

Hydrostatic pressure and perfusion have been shown to regulate the chondrogenic potential of articular chondrocytes. In order to compare the effects of hydrostatic pressure plus perfusion (HPP) and perfusion (P) we investigated the complete gene expression profiles of human chondrocytes under HPP and P. A simplified bioreactor was constructed to apply loading (0.1 MPa for 2 h) and perfusion (2 ml) through the same piping by pressurizing the medium directly. High-density monolayer cultures of human chondrocytes were exposed to HPP or P for 4 days. Controls (C) were maintained in static cultures. Gene expression was evaluated by sequencing (RNAseq) and quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Both treatments changed gene expression levels of human chondrocytes significantly. Specifically, HPP and P increased COL2A1 expression and decreased COL1A1 and MMP-13 expression. Despite of these similarities, RNAseq revealed a list of cartilage genes including ACAN, ITGA10 and TNC, which were differentially expressed by HPP and P. Of these candidates, adhesion related molecules were found to be upregulated in HPP. Both HPP and P treatment had beneficial effects on chondrocyte differentiation and decreased catabolic enzyme expression. The study provides new insight into how hydrostatic pressure and perfusion enhance cartilage differentiation and inhibit catabolic effects. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High pressure processing and its application to the challenge of virus-contaminated foods

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

High pressure processing (HPP) is an increasingly popular non-thermal food processing technology. Study of HPP’s potential to inactivate foodborne viruses has defined general pressure levels required to inactivate hepatitis A virus, norovirus surrogates, and human norovirus itself within foods such...

Effects of high-pressure processing on the safety, quality, and shelf life of ready-to-eat meats.

PubMed

Hayman, Melinda M; Baxter, Irene; O'Riordan, Patrick J; Stewart, Cynthia M

2004-08-01

Ready-to-eat (RTE) meats (low-fat pastrami, Strassburg beef, export sausage, and Cajun beef) were pressure treated at 600 MPa, 20 degrees C, for 180 s to evaluate the feasibility of using high-pressure processing (HPP) for the safe shelf-life extension of these products. After processing, samples were stored at 4 degrees C for 98 days during which time microbiological enumeration and enrichments were performed. Additionally, sensory analyses were undertaken to determine consumer acceptability and purchase intent over the duration of storage. Counts of aerobic and anaerobic mesophiles, lactic acid bacteria, Listeria spp., staphylococci, Brochothrix thermosphacta, coliforms, and yeasts and molds revealed that there were undetectable or low levels for all types of microorganisms throughout storage. Comparison of consumer hedonic ratings for unprocessed and processed meats revealed no difference in consumer acceptability, and no deterioration in the sensory quality was evident for any of the products tested during the study. Additionally, inoculated pack studies were conducted to determine if HPP could be used as a postlethality treatment to reduce or eliminate Listeria monocytogenes and thus assess the potential use of HPP in a hazard analysis critical control point plan for production of RTE meats. Inoculated samples (initial level of 10(4) CFU/g) were pressure treated (600 MPa, 20 degrees C, for 180 s) and stored at 4 degrees C, and survival of L. monocytogenes was monitored for 91 days. L. monocytogenes was not detected by plating methods until day 91, but selective enrichments showed sporadic recovery in three of the four products examined. The results show that HPP at 600 MPa, 20 degrees C, for 180 s can extend the refrigerated shelf life of RTE meats and reduce L. monocytogenes numbers by more than 4 log CFU/g in inoculated product.

Effects of high-pressure process on kinetics of leaching oil from soybean powder using hexane in batch systems.

PubMed

Uhm, Joo Tae; Yoon, Won Byong

2011-08-01

Mass transfer models of leaching oil from soybean (Glycine max) flour with hexane after high-pressure process (HPP) treatment were developed. High pressure (450 MPa) was applied to the soybean flour (mean diameter of flour particle: 365 μm) for 30 min before leaching the oil components in the solvent. The ratio of solvent (volume, mL) to soybean flour (mass, g), such as 1:10 and 1:20, was employed to characterize the effect of solvent ratio on the leaching rate in the batch type of extraction process. Ultraviolet absorbance at 300 nm was used to monitor the extraction rate. Saturation solubility (C(AS)) was determined to be 21.73 kg/m³. The mass transfer coefficients (k) were determined based on the 1st- and 2nd-order kinetic models. The 2nd kinetic model showed better fit. The HPP treatment showed a higher extraction rate and yield compared to the control, while the amount of solvent did not affect the extraction rate and yield. The scanning electron microscope showed that HPP-treated soybean particles included more pores than the untreated. The pores observed in the HPP-treated soybean flours might help increase the mass transfer rate of solvent and solute in the solid matrix. High-pressure processing can help increase the extraction rate of oil from the soybean flour operated in batch systems. The conventional solid to solvent ratio (1:20) used to extract oil composition from the plant seed did not help increase the amount of oil extracted from the soybean flour. © 2011 Institute of Food Technologists®

Application of high pressure processing to reduce verotoxigenic E. coli in two types of dry-fermented sausage.

PubMed

Omer, M K; Alvseike, O; Holck, A; Axelsson, L; Prieto, M; Skjerve, E; Heir, E

2010-12-01

The effect of high pressure processing (HPP) on the survival of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in two types of Norwegian type dry-fermented sausages was studied. Two different types of recipes for each sausage type were produced. The sausage batter was inoculated with 6.8 log(10) CFU/g of VTEC O103:H25. After fermentation, drying and maturation, slices of finished sausages were vacuum packed and subjected to two treatment regimes of HPP. One group was treated at 600 MPa for 10 min and another at three cycles of 600 MPa for 200 s per cycle. A generalized linear model split by recipe type showed that these two HPP treatments on standard recipe sausages reduced E. coli by 2.9 log(10) CFU/g and 3.3 log(10) CFU/g, respectively. In the recipe with higher levels of dextrose, sodium chloride and sodium nitrite E. coli reduction was 2.7 log(10) CFU/g in both treatments. The data show that HPP has a potential to make the sausages safer and also that the effect depends somewhat on recipe. Copyright © 2010 The American Meat Science Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High pressure processing alters water distribution enabling the production of reduced-fat and reduced-salt pork sausages.

PubMed

Yang, Huijuan; Han, Minyi; Bai, Yun; Han, Yanqing; Xu, Xinglian; Zhou, Guanghong

2015-04-01

High pressure processing (HPP) was used to explore novel methods for modifying the textural properties of pork sausages with reduced-salt, reduced-fat and no fat replacement additions. A 2×7 factorial design was set up, incorporating two pressure levels (0.1 or 200 MPa) and seven fat levels (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30%). Sausages treated at 200 MPa exhibited improved tenderness at all fat levels compared with 0.1 MPa treated samples, and the shear force of sausages treated at 200 MPa with 15 or 20% fat content was similar to the 0.1 MPa treated sausages with 30% fat. HPP significantly changed the P₂ peak ratio of the four water components in raw sausages, resulting in improved textural properties of emulsion-type sausages with reduced-fat and reduced-salt. Significant correlations were found between pH, color, shear force and water proportions. The scanning and transmission micrographs revealed the formation of smaller fat globules and an improved network structure in the pressure treated sausages. In conclusion, there is potential to manufacture sausages with reduced-fat and reduced-salt by using HPP to maintain textural qualities. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Tailoring structure and technological properties of plant proteins using high hydrostatic pressure.

PubMed

Queirós, Rui P; Saraiva, Jorge A; da Silva, José A Lopes

2018-06-13

The demand for proteins is rising and alternatives to meat proteins are necessary since animal husbandry is expensive and intensive to the environment. Plant proteins appear as an alternative; however, their techno-functional properties need improvement. High-pressure processing (HPP) is a non-thermal technology that has several applications including the modification of proteins. The application of pressure allows modifying proteins' structure hence allowing to change several of their properties, such as hydration, hydrophobicity, and hydrophilicity. These properties may influence the solubility of proteins and their ability to stabilize emulsions or foams, create aggregates or gels, and their general role in stability and texture of food commodities. Commonly HPP decreases the proteins' solubility yet increasing their surface hydrophobicity exposing sulfhydryl groups, which promotes aggregation or gelation or enhance their ability to stabilize emulsions/foams. However, these effects are not verifiable for all the proteins and are immensely dependent on the type and concentration of the protein, environmental conditions (pH, ionic strength, and co-solutes), and HPP conditions. This review collects and critically discusses the available information on how HPP affects the structure of plant proteins and how their techno-functional properties can be tailored using this approach.

High-pressure processing and antimicrobial biodegradable packaging to control Listeria monocytogenes during storage of cooked ham.

PubMed

Marcos, Begonya; Aymerich, Teresa; Monfort, Josep M; Garriga, Margarita

2008-02-01

The efficiency of combining high-pressure processing (HPP) and active packaging technologies to control Listeria monocytogenes growth during the shelf life of artificially inoculated cooked ham was assessed. Three lots of cooked ham were prepared: control, packaging with alginate films, and packaging with antimicrobial alginate films containing enterocins. After packaging, half of the samples were pressurized. Sliced cooked ham stored at 6 degrees C experienced a quick growth of L. monocytogenes. Both antimicrobial packaging and pressurization delayed the growth of the pathogen. However, at 6 degrees C the combination of antimicrobial packaging and HPP was necessary to achieve a reduction of inoculated levels without recovery during 60 days of storage. Further storage at 6 degrees C of pressurized antimicrobial packed cooked ham resulted in L. monocytogenes levels below the detection limit (day 90). On the other hand, storage at 1 degrees C controlled the growth of the pathogen until day 39 in non-pressurized ham, while antimicrobial packaging and storage at 1 degrees C exerted a bacteriostatic effect for 60 days. All HPP lots stored at 1 degrees C led to counts <100CFU/g at day 60. Similar results were observed when combining both technologies. After a cold chain break no growth of L. monocytogenes was observed in pressurized ham packed with antimicrobial films, showing the efficiency of combining both technologies.

Inactivation of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Ground Chicken Meat Using High Pressure Processing and Gamma Radiation, and in Purge and Chicken Meat Surfaces by Ultraviolet Light.

PubMed

Sommers, Christopher H; Scullen, O J; Sheen, Shiowshuh

2016-01-01

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli, including uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), are common contaminants in poultry meat and may cause urinary tract infections after colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and transfer of contaminated feces to the urethra. Three non-thermal processing technologies used to improve the safety and shelf-life of both human and pet foods include high pressure processing (HPP), ionizing (gamma) radiation (GR), and ultraviolet light (UV-C). Multi-isolate cocktails of UPEC were inoculated into ground chicken which was then treated with HPP (4°C, 0-25 min) at 300, 400, or 500 MPa. HPP D10, the processing conditions needed to inactivate 1 log of UPEC, was 30.6, 8.37, and 4.43 min at 300, 400, and 500 MPa, respectively. When the UPEC was inoculated into ground chicken and gamma irradiated (4 and -20°C) the GR D10 were 0.28 and 0.36 kGy, respectively. The UV-C D10 of UPEC in chicken suspended in exudate and placed on stainless steel and plastic food contact surfaces ranged from 11.4 to 12.9 mJ/cm(2). UV-C inactivated ca. 0.6 log of UPEC on chicken breast meat. These results indicate that existing non-thermal processing technologies such as HPP, GR, and UV-C can significantly reduce UPEC levels in poultry meat or exudate and provide safer poultry products for at-risk consumers.

Effect of moderate pressure treatments on microstructure, texture, and sensory properties of stirred-curd cheddar shreds.

PubMed

Serrano, J; Velazquez, G; Lopetcharat, K; Ramírez, J A; Torres, J A

2004-10-01

A moderate high-pressure processing (HPP) treatment is proposed to accelerate the shredability of Cheddar cheese. High pressure processing (345 and 483 MPa for 3 and 7 min) applied to unripened (1 d old) stirred-curd Cheddar cheese yielded microstructure changes that differed with pressure level and processing time. Untreated and pressure-treated cheese shredded at d 27 and 1, respectively, shared similar visual and tactile sensory properties. The moderate (345 MPa) and the higher (483 MPa) pressure treatments reduced the presence of crumbles, increased mean shred particle length, improved length uniformity, and enhanced surface smoothness in shreds produced from unripened cheese. High-pressure processing treatments did not affect the mechanical properties of ripened cheese or the proteolytic susceptibility of milk protein. It was concluded that a moderate HPP treatment could allow processors to shred Cheddar cheese immediately after block cooling, reducing refrigerated storage costs, with expected savings of over 15 US dollars/1000 lb cheese, and allowing fewer steps in the handling of cheese blocks produced for shredding.

Effect of high pressure processing on the survival of Salmonella Enteritidis and shelf-life of chicken fillets.

PubMed

Argyri, Anthoula A; Papadopoulou, Olga S; Nisiotou, Aspasia; Tassou, Chrysoula C; Chorianopoulos, Nikos

2018-04-01

High pressure processing (HPP) is a preservation technology alternative to heat treatment that is mild for food, but effectively inactivates the spoilage microbiota and foodborne pathogens of several foods. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of HPP on Salmonella ser. Enteritidis, indigenous microbiota and shelf-life of chicken fillets. Chicken fillets were inoculated with S. Enteritidis at three different initial inocula (3, 5, 7 log CFU/g), packed under vacuum, treated or not with HPP (500 MPa/10 min) and stored at 4 and 12 °C. Total viable counts, S. Enteritidis, pseudomonads, Brochothrix thermosphacta, lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and yeasts/molds populations were determined in parallel with sensory analysis of non-inoculated samples. The HPP resulted in the reduction of the pathogen population below the detection limit of the enumeration method (0.48 log CFU/g), irrespective of the inoculum. During the shelf life of the HPP samples, the pathogens population remained below or near the detection limit of the enumeration method at both temperatures, except from the high inoculum case that an increase was observed at 12 °C. At the low inoculum level, the pathogen could not be detected with the enrichment method after the first storage days (2nd day for 4 °C and 0 day for 12 °C). The survival of Salmonella strains was assessed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and it was shown that the survival of the different strains depended on the inoculum and storage temperature. Regarding the indigenous microbiota, Br. thermosphacta was reported for the first time to be the main spoilage microorganism that survived and dominated after the HPP. From the results it was evident that, HPP may enhance the safety and increase the shelf life (6 at 4 °C and 2 days at 12 °C) of chicken meat. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quasi-adiabatic compression heating of selected foods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Landfeld, Ales; Strohalm, Jan; Halama, Radek; Houska, Milan

2011-03-01

The quasi-adiabatic temperature increase due to compression heating, during high-pressure (HP) processing (HPP), was studied using specially designed equipment. The temperature increase was evaluated as the difference in temperature, during compression, between atmospheric pressure and nominal pressure. The temperature was measured using a thermocouple in the center of a polyoxymethylene cup, which contained the sample. Fresh meat balls, pork meat pate, and tomato purée temperature increases were measured at three initial temperature levels between 40 and 80 °C. Nominal pressure was either 400 or 500 MPa. Results showed that the fat content had a positive effect on temperature increases. Empirical equations were developed to calculate the temperature increase during HPP at different initial temperatures for pressures of 400 and 500 MPa. This thermal effect data can be used for numerical modeling of temperature histories of foods during HP-assisted pasteurization or sterilization processes.

Inactivation of Salmonella spp. in ground chicken using High Pressure Processing

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

High pressure processing (HPP) is a safe and effective process for improving the microbial safety and shelf-life of foods. Salmonella is a common contaminant in poultry meat and is frequently responsible for foodborne illness associated with contaminated poultry meat. In this study the inactivation...

Effect of edible chitosan/clove oil films and high-pressure processing on the microbiological shelf life of trout fillets.

PubMed

Albertos, Irene; Rico, Daniel; Diez, Ana María; González-Arnáiz, Lucía; García-Casas, María Jesús; Jaime, Isabel

2015-11-01

The inhibitory effect of chitosan films with clove oil (0-50 g kg(-1) ) was evaluated on a range of ten representative food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The most sensitive bacteria to the films was Shewanella putrefaciens and the most resistant was Aeromonas hydrophila (inhibition was apparent only at 50 g kg(-1) clove essential oil (CEO)). Films with 20 g kg(-1) CEO inhibited nine of ten of the bacteria tested. Chitosan films with 20 g kg(-1) CEO were combined with high-pressure (HPP) processing as treatments for trout fillets, and changes in physicochemical parameters and microbial load were evaluated at 4 °C over 22 days of storage. The films reduced weight loss and water activity compared to fresh and treated samples (HPP and cooking). Results showed that microbial load (total aerobic mesophilic, lactic acid bacteria and total coliform) of the trout fillets covered with chitosan films was lower than that for HPP-treated samples, and similar to cooked samples, except for coliform counts. The use of 20 g kg(-1) CEO-chitosan films showed a further improvement in the shelf-life of trout fillets when compared to that obtained with HPP and cooking treatment. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Desirability of oysters treated by high pressure processing at different temperatures and elevated pressures

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Organoleptic changes in sterile triploid oysters (Crassostrea virginica) induced by high pressure processing (HPP) were investigated using a volunteer panel. Using a 1-7 hedonic scale, where seven is “like very much”, and one is “dislike very much”, oysters were evaluated organoleptically for flavo...

Inactivation of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli in Ground Chicken Meat Using High Pressure Processing and Gamma Radiation, and in Purge and Chicken Meat Surfaces by Ultraviolet Light

PubMed Central

Sommers, Christopher H.; Scullen, O. J.; Sheen, Shiowshuh

2016-01-01

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli, including uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), are common contaminants in poultry meat and may cause urinary tract infections after colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and transfer of contaminated feces to the urethra. Three non-thermal processing technologies used to improve the safety and shelf-life of both human and pet foods include high pressure processing (HPP), ionizing (gamma) radiation (GR), and ultraviolet light (UV-C). Multi-isolate cocktails of UPEC were inoculated into ground chicken which was then treated with HPP (4°C, 0–25 min) at 300, 400, or 500 MPa. HPP D10, the processing conditions needed to inactivate 1 log of UPEC, was 30.6, 8.37, and 4.43 min at 300, 400, and 500 MPa, respectively. When the UPEC was inoculated into ground chicken and gamma irradiated (4 and -20°C) the GR D10 were 0.28 and 0.36 kGy, respectively. The UV-C D10 of UPEC in chicken suspended in exudate and placed on stainless steel and plastic food contact surfaces ranged from 11.4 to 12.9 mJ/cm2. UV-C inactivated ca. 0.6 log of UPEC on chicken breast meat. These results indicate that existing non-thermal processing technologies such as HPP, GR, and UV-C can significantly reduce UPEC levels in poultry meat or exudate and provide safer poultry products for at-risk consumers. PMID:27148167

High pressure inactivation of human norovirus virus-like particles: evidence that the capsid of human norovirus is highly pressure resistant

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Human norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of non-bacterial acute gastroenteritis epidemics worldwide. High pressure processing (HPP) has been considered a promising non-thermal processing technology to inactivate food- and water-borne viral pathogens. Due to the lack of an effective cell culture fo...

The application of high pressure-mild temperature processing for prolonging the shelf-life of strawberry purée

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marszałek, K.; Woźniak, Ł.; Skąpska, S.

2016-04-01

The aim of this study was to monitor the shelf-life and quality of strawberry purée preserved using combined high pressure processing (HPP)-mild temperature processing at 300 and 600 MPa for 15 min during cold storage (6°C). Increasing the pressure resulted in a prolonged shelf-life of from 4 to 28 weeks for HPP-preserved purée at 300 and 600 MPa, respectively. The highest inactivation of peroxidases, pectinesterases and polygalacturonases was noted when a higher pressure was used, whereas a lower pressure was more efficient for polyphenoloxidases. The degradation of vitamin C and anthocyanins was 20% and 5% higher at 600 MPa than at 300 MPa, respectively. Significantly fewer changes in the colour coefficient, expressed as ΔE, and the browning index, were observed in purée preserved at 600 MPa. Oxidative and hydrolytic enzymes are highly pressure-resistant, which suggests other inhibitors should be used to increase the shelf-life of good-quality fruit products.

Proteomics analysis in frozen horse mackerel previously high-pressure processed.

PubMed

Pazos, Manuel; Méndez, Lucía; Vázquez, Manuel; Aubourg, Santiago P

2015-10-15

The effect of high-pressure processing (HPP) (150, 300 and 450 MPa for 0, 2.5 and 5 min) on total sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-soluble and sarcoplasmic proteins in frozen (-10 °C for 3 months) horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) was evaluated. Proteomics tools based on image analysis of SDS-PAGE protein gels and protein identification by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) were applied. Although total SDS-soluble fraction indicated no important changes induced by HPP, this processing modified the 1-D SDS-PAGE sarcoplasmic patterns in a direct-dependent manner and exerted a selective effect on particular proteins depending on processing conditions. Thus, application of the highest pressure (450 MPa) provoked a significant degradation of phosphoglycerate mutase 2, glycogen phosphorylase muscle form, pyruvate kinase muscle isozyme, beta-enolase and triosephosphate isomerase and phosphoglucomutase-1. Conversely, protein bands assigned to tropomyosin alpha-1 chain, fast myotomal muscle troponin T and parvalbumin beta 2 increased their intensity after applying a 450-MPa processing. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of high pressure processing on the preservation of frozen and re-thawed sliced cod (Gadus morhua) and salmon (Salmo salar) fillets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arnaud, Cécilia; de Lamballerie, Marie; Pottier, Laurence

2018-01-01

Cod and salmon are both widely found in the seafood market, but those products are easily spoiled. This work reports on the investigation of the effects of three moderate pressure values (150, 300 and 450 MPa) applied for 5 min at 20°C on crude sliced cod and salmon fillets. It was found that high pressure processing (HPP) significantly reduced the microbial load during refrigerated storage for up to 14 days. As expected, the most effective treatment was 450 MPa because it inhibited microbial growth. This process affected the hardness, lightness, lipid oxidation, protein denaturation and oxidation. The fish muscle composition (lipid amount and protein profile) played a main role in the changes promoted by pressure. HPP permits the shelf life of the raw product at 4°C to be increased with minimal changes in the organoleptic characteristics and to enable crude consumption.

Influence of physicochemical parameters and high pressure processing on the volatile compounds of Serrano dry-cured ham after prolonged refrigerated storage.

PubMed

Martínez-Onandi, N; Rivas-Cañedo, A; Picon, A; Nuñez, M

2016-12-01

One hundred and three volatile compounds were detected by solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in 30 ripened Serrano dry-cured hams, submitted or not to high pressure processing (HPP) and afterwards held for 5months at 4°C. The effect of ham physicochemical parameters and HPP (600MPa for 6min) on volatile compounds was assessed. Physicochemical parameters primarily affected the levels of acids, alcohols, alkanes, esters, benzene compounds, sulfur compounds and some miscellaneous compounds. Intramuscular fat content was the physicochemical parameter with the most pronounced effect on the volatile fraction of untreated Serrano ham after refrigerated storage, influencing the levels of 38 volatile compounds while aw, salt content and salt-in-lean ratio respectively influenced the levels of 4, 4 and 5 volatile compounds. HPP treatment affected 21 volatile compounds, resulting in higher levels of alkanes and ketones and lower levels of esters and secondary alcohols, what might affect Serrano ham odor and aroma after 5months of refrigerated storage. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The use of high pressure processing to enhance the quality and shelf life of reduced sodium naturally cured restructured cooked hams.

PubMed

Pietrasik, Z; Gaudette, N J; Johnston, S P

2016-06-01

The combined effect of partial salt replacement with modified potassium chloride and high pressure processing (600 MPa for 3 min at 8°C) on the quality and shelf life of naturally-cured restructured hams was investigated over a 12 week storage period. Instrumental, microbiological and consumer acceptability testing was performed. A partial salt substitution with modified potassium chloride adversely affected textural and water binding characteristics of hams and led to a decrease in the consumer acceptance compared to regular salt hams. Celery powder used as a curing agent had beneficial effects on water holding and moisture retention and improved bind of restructured hams; however the consumer acceptability of flavor and aftertaste received significantly lower scores compared to nitrite. No significant differences in all consumer acceptability parameters resulted for hams subjected to HPP compared to non-HPP for all storage periods indicating that HPP can effectively extend shelf-life of restructured ham without compromising eating quality. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of thermal and high pressure processing on stability of betalain extracted from red beet stalks.

PubMed

Dos Santos, Cláudia Destro; Ismail, Marliya; Cassini, Aline Schilling; Marczak, Ligia Damasceno Ferreira; Tessaro, Isabel Cristina; Farid, Mohammed

2018-02-01

Red beet stalks are a potential source of betalain, but their pigments are not widely used because of their instability. In the present work, the applicability of high pressure processing (HPP) and high temperature short time (HTST) thermal treatment was investigated to improve betalain stability in extracts with low and high concentrations. The HPP was applied at 6000 bar for 10, 20 and 30 min and HTST treatment was applied at 75.7 °C for 80 s, 81.1 °C for 100 s and 85.7 °C for 120 s, HPP treatment did not show any improvement in the betalain stability. In turn, the degradation rate of the control and the HTST thermal treatment at 85.7 °C for 120 s of the sample with high initial betalain concentration were 1.2 and 0.4 mg of betanin/100 ml of extract per day respectively. Among the treatments studied, HTST was considered the most suitable to maintain betalain stability from red beet stalks.

Human Milk Composition and Preservation: Evaluation of High-pressure Processing as a Nonthermal Pasteurization Technology.

PubMed

Sousa, Sílvia G; Delgadillo, Ivonne; Saraiva, Jorge A

2016-01-01

Human milk is seen not only as a food, but as a functional and dynamic biologic system. It provides nutrients, bioactive components, and immune factors, promoting adequate and healthy growth of newborn infants. When mothers cannot supply their children, donated breast milk is the nutrition recommended by the World Health Organization, as it is a better alternative than infant formula. However, because of the manner in which donor milk is handled in human milk banks (HMB) many of the properties ascribed to mother's own milk are diminished or destroyed. The major process responsible for these losses is Holder pasteurization. High-pressure processing (HPP) is a novel nonthermal pasteurization technology that is being increasingly applied in food industries worldwide, primarily as an alternative to thermal treatment. This is due to its capacity to inactivate microorganisms while preserving both nutritional and bioactive components of foods. This review describes human milk composition and preservation, and critically discusses HMB importance and practices, highlighting HPP as a potential nonthermal pasteurization technology for human milk preservation. HPP technology is described and the few currently existing studies of its effects in human milk are presented.

Inactivation of a diverse set of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in ground beef by high pressure processing

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are frequently implicated in foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls of ground beef. In this study we determined the High Pressure Processing (HPP) D-10 value (the processing conditions needed to reduce the microbial population by 1 log) of 39 individua...

High pressure processing of Queso Fresco: effects on textural and rheological properties over 12 weeks of storage

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

High pressure processing (HPP) is a non-thermal post-packaging process with the potential to improve cheese safety and shelf life because of its lethality to bacteria (spoilage and pathogens) and ability to inactivate many enzymes. Queso Fresco (QF), a high moisture Hispanic-style cheese popular in ...

Effects of high pressure processing on the composition, functional and rheological properties of fresh Queso Fresco

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Although Queso Fresco (QF), a popular high moisture Hispanic-style cheese sold in the U.S., is made from pasteurized milk it is subject to post pasteurization bacterial contamination. High pressure processing (HPP) of cheese is being considered because of its lethality to bacteria and potential to ...

Inactivation of Staphylococcus saprophyticus in chicken meat and exudate using high pressure processing, gamma radiation, and ultraviolet light

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Stapylococcus saprophyticus is a common contaminant in foods and causes urinary tract infections in humans. Three nonthermal food safety intervention technologies used to improve the safety foods include high pressure processing (HPP), ionizing (gamma) radiation (GR), and ultraviolet light (UV-C). A...

Effect of high pressure processing on reduction of Listeria monocytogenes in packaged Queso Fresco

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) on the survival of a five-strain rifampicin-resistant cocktail of Listeria monocytogenes in Queso Fresco (QF) was evaluated as a post-packaging intervention. QF was made using pasteurized, homogenized milk, was starter-free and was not pressed...

Effect of hydrostatic high-pressure processing on the chemical, functional, and rheological properties of starter-free Queso Fresco

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Queso Fresco (QF), a popular high-moisture, high-pH Hispanic-style cheese sold in the U.S., underwent high-pressure processing (HPP), which has the potential to improve the safety of cheese, to determine the effects of this process on quality traits of the cheese. Starter-free rennet-set QF (manufa...

High hydrostatic pressure processing of murine norovirus 1-contaminated oysters inhibits oral infection in STAT-1 -/- deficient female mice

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

We have previously demonstrated that high pressure processing (HPP) is effective in preventing in vitro replication of murine norovirus strain 1 (MNV-1), a human norovirus surrogate, in a monocyte cell line following extraction from MNV-1-contaminated oysters. In the present study, the efficacy of ...

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing on in vitro digestion of milk proteins and fats

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The use of high hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) is increasing in popularity in the food industry. Its ability to modify milk proteins and fats suggests that it may be useful in creating foods that suppress appetite; however, its effect on the digestibility of proteins and fats is unclear. The...

Impact of high pressure processing on color, bioactive compounds, polyphenol oxidase activity, and microbiological attributes of pumpkin purée.

PubMed

González-Cebrino, Francisco; Durán, Rocío; Delgado-Adámez, Jonathan; Contador, Rebeca; Bernabé, Rosario Ramírez

2016-04-01

Physicochemical parameters, bioactive compounds' content (carotenoids and total phenols), total antioxidant activity, and enzymatic activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were evaluated after high pressure processing (HPP) on a pumpkin purée (cv. 'Butternut'). Three pressure levels (400, 500, and 600 MPa) were combined with three holding times (200, 400, and 600 s). The applied treatments reduced the levels of total aerobic mesophilic (TAM), total psychrophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria (TPP), and molds and yeasts (M&Y). All applied treatments did not affect enzymatic activity of PPO. Pressure level increased CIE L* values, which could enhance the lightness perception of high pressure (HP)-treated purées. No differences were found between the untreated and HP-treated purées regarding total phenols and carotenoids content (lutein, α-carotene, and β-carotene) and total antioxidant activity. HPP did not affect most quality parameters and maintained the levels of bioactive compounds. However, it did not achieve the complete inhibition of PPO, which could reduce the shelf-life of the pumpkin purée. © The Author(s) 2015.

Bioaccessibility of tocopherols, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid from milk- and soy-based fruit beverages: influence of food matrix and processing.

PubMed

Cilla, Antonio; Alegría, Amparo; de Ancos, Begoña; Sánchez-Moreno, Concepción; Cano, M Pilar; Plaza, Lucía; Clemente, Gonzalo; Lagarda, María J; Barberá, Reyes

2012-07-25

A study was made of the effect of high-pressure processing (HPP) and thermal treatment (TT) on plant bioactive compounds (tocopherols, carotenoids, and ascorbic acid) in 12 fruit juice-milk beverages and of how the food matrix [whole milk (JW), skimmed milk (JS), and soy milk (JSy)] modulates their bioaccessibility (%). HPP (400 MPa/40 °C/5 min) produced a significant decrease in carotenoid and ascorbic acid bioaccessibility in all three beverages and maintained the bioaccessibility of tocopherols in JW and JS while decreasing it in JSy. TT (90 °C/30 s) produced a significant decrease in tocopherol and carotenoid bioaccessibility in all three beverages and increased the bioaccessibility of ascorbic acid. With regard to the food matrix, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid bioaccessibility was greatest in JW beverages and lowest in JSy beverages, whereas no significant differences were found among the three beverages in terms of carotenoid bioaccessibility. HPP-treated samples showed higher tocopherol and carotenoid bioaccessibility than TT-treated samples, thus indicating that HPP combined with a milk matrix positively modulates the bioaccessibility of certain types of bioactive components of food, mainly those of a lipophilic nature.

Inactivation of uropathogenic Escherichia coli in ground chicken meat using high pressure processing and gamma radiation, and in purge and chicken meat surfaces by ultraviolet light

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are common contaminants in meat and poultry. Nonthermal food safety intervention technologies used to improve safety and shelf-life of both human and pet foods can include high pressure processing (HPP), ionizing (gamma) radiation (GR), and ultraviolet light (UV...

Cost analysis and environmental impact of nonthermal technologies

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The cost of high pressure processing (HPP) orange juice and its environmental impact were estimated. In addition, the environmental impact of pulsed electric fields (PEF) and thermal pasteurization were assessed for comparison. The cost analysis was based on commercial processing conditions that wer...

High-pressure effects on cooking loss and histological structure of beef muscle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Anjun; Zhan, Hu; Zheng, Jie; Liu, Dongyue; Jia, Peiqi

2010-12-01

In this study, we investigate the effects of high pressures (up to 600 MPa) applied at room temperature for 10 min on beef cooking loss and structure. The data on cooking loss, pH and protein solubility, as well as the electron microscopy, illustrate the changes in cooking loss and structure with high pressure processing (HPP). There is a significant reduction in cooking loss of beef with HPP. When the beef sample is imposed upon by 300 or 400 MPa, the cooking loss reduction is about 12%. Further, the pH of beef is dramatically increased as the pressure increases, and the pH increases by about 5% when imposed upon by 500 MPa. When a high pressure was applied at room temperature, the structure of the beef tissue apparently changed. Muscle fiber fragments gradually became slender and sarcomeres became lengthened. Our data indicated that high-pressure treatment on beef leads to stretching of the muscle fiber and an increase in the water-holding capacity.

Shelf life of donkey milk subjected to different treatment and storage conditions.

PubMed

Giacometti, Federica; Bardasi, Lia; Merialdi, Giuseppe; Morbarigazzi, Michele; Federici, Simone; Piva, Silvia; Serraino, Andrea

2016-06-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different treatment conditions on microbiological indicators of donkey milk hygiene and their evolution during shelf life at 4 and 12°C from 3 to 30d, simulating a farm-scale pasteurization and packing system. Four treatment conditions were tested: no treatment (raw milk), pasteurization (65°C × 30 min), high-pressure processing (HPP), and pasteurization plus HPP. The microbiological quality of the raw donkey milk investigated was not optimal; our results highlight the importance of raw milk management with the need for animal hygiene management and good dairy farming practices on donkey farms to improve handling procedures. The raw milk treated with HPP alone showed visible alterations with flocks, making the milk unfit for sale. The microbiological risk posed by consumption of raw donkey milk was significantly reduced by heat treatment but farm-scale packing systems cannot guarantee an extended shelf life. In contrast, the pasteurization plus HPP treatment was the most effective method to maintain microbiological milk quality. Microflora growth had little effect on pH in donkey milk: pH values were significantly different only between raw milk and pasteurized and pasteurized plus HPP milk stored at 12°C for 3d. Alkaline phosphatase activity and furosine could be used as indicators of proper pasteurization and thermal processing in donkey milk. Moreover, the presence and growth of Bacillus cereus in the case of thermal abuse hamper the wide-scale marketing of donkey milk due to the potential consequences for sensitive consumers and therefore further tests with time/temperature/high-pressure protocols associated with B. cereus are needed. Finally, our study shows that an HPP treatment of pasteurized milk after packing extends the shelf life of donkey milk and assures its microbial criteria up to 30d if properly stored at 4°C until opening; therefore, combined heat treatment and storage strategies are recommended to enhance the shelf life of donkey milk. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Randomized, double-blinded clinical trial for human norovirus inactivation in oysters by high hydrostatic pressure processing.

PubMed

Leon, Juan S; Kingsley, David H; Montes, Julia S; Richards, Gary P; Lyon, G Marshall; Abdulhafid, Gwen M; Seitz, Scot R; Fernandez, Marina L; Teunis, Peter F; Flick, George J; Moe, Christine L

2011-08-01

Contamination of oysters with human noroviruses (HuNoV) constitutes a human health risk and may lead to severe economic losses in the shellfish industry. There is a need to identify a technology that can inactivate HuNoV in oysters. In this study, we conducted a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial to assess the effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) on Norwalk virus (HuNoV genogroup I.1) inactivation in virus-seeded oysters ingested by subjects. Forty-four healthy, positive-secretor adults were divided into three study phases. Subjects in each phase were randomized into control and intervention groups. Subjects received Norwalk virus (8FIIb, 1.0 × 10(4) genomic equivalent copies) in artificially seeded oysters with or without HPP treatment (400 MPa at 25°C, 600 MPa at 6°C, or 400 MPa at 6°C for 5 min). HPP at 600 MPa, but not 400 MPa (at 6° or 25°C), completely inactivated HuNoV in seeded oysters and resulted in no HuNoV infection among these subjects, as determined by reverse transcription-PCR detection of HuNoV RNA in subjects' stool or vomitus samples. Interestingly, a white blood cell (granulocyte) shift was identified in 92% of the infected subjects and was significantly associated with infection (P = 0.0014). In summary, these data suggest that HPP is effective at inactivating HuNoV in contaminated whole oysters and suggest a potential intervention to inactivate infectious HuNoV in oysters for the commercial shellfish industry.

Inactivation of pathogenic bacteria in food matrices: high pressure processing, photodynamic inactivation and pressure-assisted photodynamic inactivation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cunha, A.; Couceiro, J.; Bonifácio, D.; Martins, C.; Almeida, A.; Neves, M. G. P. M. S.; Faustino, M. A. F.; Saraiva, J. A.

2017-09-01

Traditional food processing methods frequently depend on the application of high temperature. However, heat may cause undesirable changes in food properties and often has a negative impact on nutritional value and organoleptic characteristics. Therefore, reducing the microbial load without compromising the desirable properties of food products is still a technological challenge. High-pressure processing (HPP) can be classified as a cold pasteurization technique, since it is a non-thermal food preservation method that uses hydrostatic pressure to inactivate spoilage microorganisms. At the same time, it increases shelf life and retains the original features of food. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is also regarded as promising approach for the decontamination of food matrices. In this case, the inactivation of bacterial cells is achieved by the cytotoxic effects of reactive oxygens species (ROS) produced from the combined interaction of a photosensitizer molecule, light and oxygen. This short review examines some recent developments on the application of HPP and PDI with food-grade photosensitizers for the inactivation of listeriae, taken as a food pathogen model. The results of a proof-of-concept trial of the use of high-pressure as a coadjutant to increase the efficiency of photodynamic inactivation of bacterial endospores is also addressed.

Food matrix and processing influence on carotenoid bioaccessibility and lipophilic antioxidant activity of fruit juice-based beverages.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Roque, María Janeth; de Ancos, Begoña; Sánchez-Vega, Rogelio; Sánchez-Moreno, Concepción; Cano, M Pilar; Elez-Martínez, Pedro; Martín-Belloso, Olga

2016-01-01

The biological activity of carotenoids depends on their bioaccessibility and solubilization in the gastrointestinal tract. These compounds are poorly dispersed in the aqueous media of the digestive tract due to their lipophilic nature. Thus, it is important to analyze the extent to which some factors, such as the food matrix and food processing, may improve their bioaccessibility. Beverages formulated with a blend of fruit juices and water (WB), milk (MB) or soymilk (SB) were treated by high-intensity pulsed electric fields (HIPEF) (35 kV cm(-1) with 4 μs bipolar pulses at 200 Hz for 1800 μs), high-pressure processing (HPP) (400 MPa at 40 °C for 5 min) or thermal treatment (TT) (90 °C for 1 min) in order to evaluate the influence of food matrix and processing on the bioaccessibility of carotenoids and on the lipophilic antioxidant activity (LAA). The bioaccessibility of these compounds diminished after applying any treatment (HIPEF, HPP and TT), with the exception of cis-violaxanthin + neoxanthin, which increased by 79% in HIPEF and HPP beverages. The lowest carotenoid bioaccessibility was always obtained in TT beverages (losses up to 63%). MB was the best food matrix for improving the bioaccessibility of carotenoids, as well as the LAA. The results demonstrate that treatment and food matrix modulated the bioaccessibility of carotenoids as well as the lipophilic antioxidant potential of beverages. Additionally, HIPEF and HPP could be considered as promising technologies to obtain highly nutritional and functional beverages.

Effect of high pressure impact on the survival of Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli ('Big Six' and 0157) in ground beef

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

High pressure processing (HPP) is a safe and effective technology for improving food safety while maintaining food quality attributes. Non-O157:H7 Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) have been increasingly implicated in foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls, and the USDA Food Safety Ins...

Effect of high-pressure processing on reduction of Listeria monocytogenes in packaged Queso Fresco.

PubMed

Tomasula, P M; Renye, J A; Van Hekken, D L; Tunick, M H; Kwoczak, R; Toht, M; Leggett, L N; Luchansky, J B; Porto-Fett, A C S; Phillips, J G

2014-03-01

The effect of high-hydrostatic-pressure processing (HPP) on the survival of a 5-strain rifampicin-resistant cocktail of Listeria monocytogenes in Queso Fresco (QF) was evaluated as a postpackaging intervention. Queso Fresco was made using pasteurized, homogenized milk, and was starter-free and not pressed. In phase 1, QF slices (12.7 × 7.6 × 1 cm), weighing from 52 to 66 g, were surface inoculated with L. monocytogenes (ca. 5.0 log10 cfu/g) and individually double vacuum packaged. The slices were then warmed to either 20 or 40°C and HPP treated at 200, 400, and 600 MPa for hold times of 5, 10, 15, or 20 min. Treatment at 600 MPa was most effective in reducing L. monocytogenes to below the detection level of 0.91 log10 cfu/g at all hold times and temperatures. High-hydrostatic-pressure processing at 40°C, 400 MPa, and hold time ≥ 15 min was effective but resulted in wheying-off and textural changes. In phase 2, L. monocytogenes was inoculated either on the slices (ca. 5.0 log10 cfu/g; ON) or in the curds (ca. 7.0 log10 cfu/g; IN) before the cheese block was formed and sliced. The slices were treated at 20°C and 600 MPa at hold times of 3, 10, and 20 min, and then stored at 4 and 10°C for 60 d. For both treatments, L. monocytogenes became less resistant to pressure as hold time increased, with greater percentages of injured cells at 3 and 10 min than at 20 min, at which the lethality of the process increased. For the IN treatment, with hold times of 3 and 10 min, growth of L. monocytogenes increased the first week of storage, but was delayed for 1 wk, with a hold time of 20 min. Longer lag times in growth of L. monocytogenes during storage at 4°C were observed for the ON treatment at hold times of 10 and 20 min, indicating that the IN treatment may have provided a more protective environment with less injury to the cells than the ON treatment. Similarly, HPP treatment for 10 min followed by storage at 4°C was the best method for suppressing the growth of the endogenous microflora with bacterial counts remaining below the level of detection for 2 out of the 3 QF samples for up to 84 d. Lag times in growth were not observed during storage of QF at 10°C. Although HPP reduced L. monocytogenes immediately after processing, a second preservation technique is necessary to control growth of L. monocytogenes during cold storage. However, the results also showed that HPP would be effective for slowing the growth of microorganisms that can shorten the shelf life of QF. Copyright © 2014 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of post-rigor high pressure processing on the physicochemical and microbial shelf-life of cultured red abalone (Haliotis rufescens).

PubMed

Hughes, Brianna H; Perkins, L Brian; Yang, Tom C; Skonberg, Denise I

2016-03-01

High pressure processing (HPP) of post-rigor abalone at 300MPa for 10min extended the refrigerated shelf-life to four times that of unprocessed controls. Shucked abalone meats were processed at 100 or 300MPa for 5 or 10min, and stored at 2°C for 35days. Treatments were analyzed for aerobic plate count (APC), total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN), K-value, biogenic amines, color, and texture. APC did not exceed 10(6) and TVBN levels remained below 35mg/100g for 35days for the 300MPa treatments. No biogenic amines were detected in the 300MPa treatments, but putrescine and cadaverine were detected in the control and 100MPa treatments. Color and texture were not affected by HPP or storage time. These results indicate that post-rigor processing at 300MPa for 10min can significantly increase refrigerated shelf-life of abalone without affecting chemical or physical quality characteristics important to consumers. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The combined effect of high pressure and nisin or lysozyme on the inactivation of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris spores in apple juice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sokołowska, B.; Skąpska, S.; Fonberg-Broczek, M.; Niezgoda, J.; Chotkiewicz, M.; Dekowska, A.; Rzoska, S.

2012-03-01

Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, a thermoacidophilic and spore-forming bacterium is one of the important target micro-organisms in the quality control of acidic canned foods. High pressure pasteurization (HPP) at 50°C was used for the inactivation of A. acidoterrestris spores in apple juice. Pressure applied both in a continuous and oscillatory mode gave the best results when 200 MPa was used. Increasing the pressure to 500 MPa, as well as lowering its value to 100 MPa, had an adverse effect on the effectiveness of the process. The best results were achieved with the use of a combined treatment, involving oscillatory pressurization at 200 MPa, followed by holding the sample for 60 min at atmospheric pressure and subsequent pressurization at 500 MPa, resulting in a reduction in the spore count of 6.15 log. Nisin significantly enhanced the effect of HPP at 300 MPa. Using pressure of 200 MPa for 45 min with a nisin concentration of 250 IU/mL enabled total spore inactivation (over 6 log). No significant effect of lysozyme at a concentration of 0.05 and 0.1 mg/L at 300 MPa was observed.

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the polyphenols and antioxidant activity of plantain pulp (Musa paradisiaca AAB).

PubMed

Jiménez-Martínez, Miriam C; Montalvo-González, Efigenia; Sáyago-Ayerdi, Sonia G; Mercado-Mercado, Gilberto; Ramírez-de León, José A; Paz-Gamboa, Ernestina; Vivar-Vera, Maria A

2017-06-01

The impact of high-pressure processing (HPP) on the polyphenol (PP) content and antioxidant activity (AOX) of plantain pulp was evaluated. Pressures of 400, 500 and 600 MPa were applied to plantain pulp for 90 and 180 s at room temperature (25 °C). Polyphenoloxidase activity, extractable (EPP) and non-extractable PP (NEPP) contents, flavonoid content and AOX (FRAP, ABTS •+ ) were evaluated. In addition, PP identification was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. Polyphenoloxidase activity was inhibited after HPP under all of the conditions studied. Increases of 110.80% and 137.40% in EPP content under conditions of 500 MPa/180 s and 600 MPa/90 s were observed with a simultaneous improvement in the AOX with increments of up to 128.71%. The treatment under conditions of 500 MPa/90 s had the highest total PP content, including the highest content of flavonoids (0.22 g ellagic acid equivalents kg -1  dry weight) and the proportion of NEPP that contained hydrolysable PPs (91.12 g gallic acid equivalents kg -1  dry weight with high AOX. The identified PPs included catechin, quercetin, gallic and hydroxybenzoic acids. HPP performed at a room temperature can be used for improving the total content of PP compounds in plantain pulp under specific pressure and time conditions. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effect of high pressure on growth and bacteriocin production of Pediococcus acidilactici HA-6111-2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castro, S. M.; Kolomeytseva, M.; Casquete, R.; Silva, J.; Saraiva, J. A.; Teixeira, P.

2015-10-01

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of high pressure processing (HPP, 200-600 MPa) on the (i) survival of Listeria innocua and Pediococcus acidilactici HA-6111-2; (ii) production of bacteriocin bacHA-6111-2 and (iii) activity of bacteriocin against untreated and pressure-treated L. innocua cells. Inactivation of P. acidilactici was observed for pressures of >300 MPa. However, at this pressure level, L. innocua was more sensitive. Bacteriocin crude extract was pressure stable, with a decrease for pressures of ≥400 MPa. Pressures of ≤200 MPa did not affect bacteriocin production when compared with non-pressure-treated cells, whereas higher pressures caused a 2- to 4-fold decrease on the maximum level of bacteriocin production. Growth curves of P. acidilactici were fitted with the modified Gompertz model. The lag phase period depended on the magnitude of the pressure applied: there was a delay in the exponential phase as pressure increased and, as a consequence, in the beginning of bacteriocin production. Since P. acidilactici HA-6111-2 and its bacteriocin have shown resistance to pressures up to 300-400 MPa, they could be used in combination with HPP in order to improve food safety.

Lethality Prediction for Escherichia Coli O157:H7 and Uropathogenic E. coli in Ground Chicken Treated with High Pressure Processing and Trans-Cinnamaldehyde.

PubMed

Sheen, Shiowshuh; Huang, Chi-Yun; Ramos, Rommel; Chien, Shih-Yung; Scullen, O Joseph; Sommers, Christopher

2018-03-01

Pathogenic Escherichia coli, intestinal (O157:H7) as well as extraintestinal types (for example, Uropathogenic E. coli [UPEC]) are commonly found in many foods including raw chicken meat. The resistance of E. coli O157:H7 to UPEC in chicken meat under the stresses of high hydrostatic Pressure (HHP, also known as HPP-high pressure processing) and trans-cinnamaldehyde (an essential oil) was investigated and compared. UPEC was found slightly less resistant than O157:H7 in our test parameter ranges. With the addition of trans-cinnamaldehyde as an antimicrobial to meat, HPP lethality enhanced both O157:H7 and UPEC inactivation. To facilitate the predictive model development, a central composite design (CCD) was used to assess the 3-parameter effects, that is, pressure (300 to 400 MPa), trans-cinnamaldehyde dose (0.2 to 0.5%, w/w), and pressure-holding time (15 to 25 min), on the inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 and UPEC in ground chicken. Linear models were developed to estimate the lethality of E. coli O157:H7 (R 2 = 0.86) and UPEC (R 2 = 0.85), as well as dimensionless nonlinear models. All models were validated with data obtained from separated CCD combinations. Because linear models of O157:H7 and UPEC had similar R 2 and the significant lethality difference of CCD points was only 9 in 20; all data were combined to generate models to include both O157:H7 and UPEC. The results provide useful information/tool to predict how pathogenic E. coli may survive HPP in the presence of trans-cinnamaldehyde and to achieve a great than 5 log CFU/g reduction in chicken meat. The models may be used for process optimization, product development and to assist the microbial risk assessment. The study provided an effective means to reduce the high hydrostatic pressure level with incorporation of antimicrobial compound to achieve a 5-log reduction of pathogenic E. coli without damaging the raw meat quality. The developed models may be used to predict the high pressure processing lethality (and process optimization), product development (ingredient selection), and to assist the microbial risk assessment. © 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.

The biology/disease-driven human proteome project (B/D-HPP): enabling protein research for the life sciences community.

PubMed

Aebersold, Ruedi; Bader, Gary D; Edwards, Aled M; van Eyk, Jennifer E; Kussmann, Martin; Qin, Jun; Omenn, Gilbert S

2013-01-04

The biology and disease oriented branch of the Human Proteome Project (B/D-HPP) was established by the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) with the main goal of supporting the broad application of state-of the-art measurements of proteins and proteomes by life scientists studying the molecular mechanisms of biological processes and human disease. This will be accomplished through the generation of research and informational resources that will support the routine and definitive measurement of the process or disease relevant proteins. The B/D-HPP is highly complementary to the C-HPP and will provide datasets and biological characterization useful to the C-HPP teams. In this manuscript we describe the goals, the plans, and the current status of the of the B/D-HPP.

Advanced Decontamination Technologies: High Hydrostatic Pressure on Meat Products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garriga, Margarita; Aymerich, Teresa

The increasing demand for “natural” foodstuffs, free from chemical additives, and preservatives has triggered novel approaches in food technology developments. In the last decade, practical use of high-pressure processing (HPP) made this emerging non-thermal technology very attractive from a commercial point of view. Despite the fact that the investment is still high, the resulting value-added products, with an extended and safe shelf-life, will fulfil the wishes of consumers who prefer preservative-free minimally processed foods, retaining sensorial characteristics of freshness. Moreover, unlike thermal treatment, pressure treatment is not time/mass dependant, thus reducing the time of processing.

Bacterial spore inactivation at 45-65 °C using high pressure processing: study of Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in orange juice.

PubMed

Silva, Filipa V M; Tan, Eng Keat; Farid, Mohammed

2012-10-01

High pressure processing (HPP) is a new non-thermal technology commercially used to pasteurize fruit juices and extend shelf-life, while preserving delicate aromas/flavours and bioactive constituents. Given the spoilage incidents and economic losses due to Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris in the fruit juice industry, the use of high pressure (200 MPa - 600 MPa) in combination with mild temperature (45 °C-65 °C) for 1-15 min, to inactivate these spores in orange juice were investigated. As expected, the higher the temperature, pressure and time, the larger was the A. acidoterrestris inactivation. The survival curves were described by the first order Bigelow model. For 200 MPa, D(45 °C) = 43.9 min, D(55 °C) = 28.8 min, D(65 °C) = 5.0 min and z-value = 21.3 °C. At 600 MPa, D(45 °C) = 12.9 min, D(55 °C) = 7.0 min, D(65 °C) = 3.4 min and z-value = 34.4 °C. Spores were inactivated at 45 °C and 600 MPa, and at 65 °C only 200 MPa was needed to achieve reduction in spore numbers. Results demonstrated that HPP allowed A. acidoterrestris spore inactivation at lower temperatures (45-65 °C) than conventional thermal processing (85-95 °C) without pressure, yielding a fresher and higher quality preserved food. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Progress in a novel architecture for high performance processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhiwei; Liu, Meng; Liu, Zijun; Du, Xueliang; Xie, Shaolin; Ma, Hong; Ding, Guangxin; Ren, Weili; Zhou, Fabiao; Sun, Wenqin; Wang, Huijuan; Wang, Donglin

2018-04-01

The high performance processing (HPP) is an innovative architecture which targets on high performance computing with excellent power efficiency and computing performance. It is suitable for data intensive applications like supercomputing, machine learning and wireless communication. An example chip with four application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) cores which is the first generation of HPP cores has been taped out successfully under Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) 40 nm low power process. The innovative architecture shows great energy efficiency over the traditional central processing unit (CPU) and general-purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU). Compared with MaPU, HPP has made great improvement in architecture. The chip with 32 HPP cores is being developed under TSMC 16 nm field effect transistor (FFC) technology process and is planed to use commercially. The peak performance of this chip can reach 4.3 teraFLOPS (TFLOPS) and its power efficiency is up to 89.5 gigaFLOPS per watt (GFLOPS/W).

The essential elements of health impact assessment and healthy public policy: a qualitative study of practitioner perspectives.

PubMed

Harris, Patrick John; Kemp, Lynn Amanda; Sainsbury, Peter

2012-01-01

This study uses critical realist methodology to identify the essential and contingent elements of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Healthy Public Policy (HPP) as operationalised by practitioners. Data collection-qualitative interviews and a workshop were conducted with HIA and HPP practitioners working in differing contexts. Critical realist analytical questions identified the essential elements of HIA and HPP, the relationship between them, and the influences of public policy and other contingencies on the practice of both. Nine interviews were conducted with purposively sampled participants working in Europe, USA and Australasia. 17 self-selected participants who worked in Europe, South East Asia and Australasia attended the workshop. The results clarify that HIA and HPP are different but mutually supporting. HIA has four characteristics: assessing a policy proposal to predict population health and equity impacts, a structured process for stakeholder dialogue, making recommendations and flexibly adapting to the policy process. HPP has four characteristics: concern with a broad definition of health, designing policy to improve people's health and reduce health inequities, intersectoral collaboration and influencing the policy cycle from inception to completion. HIA brings to HPP prediction about a policy's broad health impacts, and a structured space for intersectoral engagement, but is one approach within a broader suite of HPP activities. Five features of public policy and seven contingent influences on HIA and HPP practice are identified. This study clarifies the core attributes of HIA and HPP as separate yet overlapping while subject to wider influences. This provides the necessary common language to describe the application of both and avoid conflated expectations of either. The findings present the conceptual importance of public policy and the institutional role of public health as distinct and important influences on the practice of HIA and HPP.

Bacteria, mould and yeast spore inactivation studies by scanning electron microscope observations.

PubMed

Rozali, Siti N M; Milani, Elham A; Deed, Rebecca C; Silva, Filipa V M

2017-12-18

Spores are the most resistant form of microbial cells, thus difficult to inactivate. The pathogenic or food spoilage effects of certain spore-forming microorganisms have been the primary basis of sterilization and pasteurization processes. Thermal sterilization is the most common method to inactivate spores present on medical equipment and foods. High pressure processing (HPP) is an emerging and commercial non-thermal food pasteurization technique. Although previous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of thermal and non-thermal spore inactivation, the in-depth mechanisms of spore inactivation are as yet unclear. Live and dead forms of two food spoilage bacteria, a mould and a yeast were examined using scanning electron microscopy before and after the inactivation treatment. Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris and Geobacillus stearothermophilus bacteria are indicators of acidic foods pasteurization and sterilization processes, respectively. Neosartorya fischeri is a phyto-pathogenic mould attacking fruits. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a yeast with various applications for winemaking, brewing, baking and the production of biofuel from crops (e.g. sugar cane). Spores of the four microbial species were thermally inactivated. Spores of S. cerevisiae were observed in the ascus and free form after thermal and HPP treatments. Different forms of damage and cell destruction were observed for each microbial spore. Thermal treatment inactivated bacterial spores of A. acidoterrestris and G. stearothermophilus by attacking the inner core of the spore. The heat first altered the membrane permeability allowing the release of intracellular components. Subsequently, hydration of spores, physicochemical modifications of proteins, flattening and formation of indentations occurred, with subsequent spore death. Regarding N. fischeri, thermal inactivation caused cell destruction and leakage of intracellular components. Both thermal and HPP treatments of S. cerevisiae free spores attacked the inner membrane, altering its permeability, and allowing in final stages the transfer of intracellular components to the outside. The spore destruction caused by thermal treatment was more severe than HPP, as HPP had less effect on the spore core. All injured spores have undergone irreversible volume and shape changes. While some of the leakage of spore contents is visible around the deformed but fully shaped spore, other spores exhibited large indentations and were completely deformed, apparently without any contents inside. This current study contributed to the understanding of spore inactivation by thermal and non-thermal processes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The essential elements of health impact assessment and healthy public policy: a qualitative study of practitioner perspectives

PubMed Central

Harris, Patrick John; Kemp, Lynn Amanda; Sainsbury, Peter

2012-01-01

Objectives This study uses critical realist methodology to identify the essential and contingent elements of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Healthy Public Policy (HPP) as operationalised by practitioners. Design Data collection—qualitative interviews and a workshop were conducted with HIA and HPP practitioners working in differing contexts. Data analysis Critical realist analytical questions identified the essential elements of HIA and HPP, the relationship between them, and the influences of public policy and other contingencies on the practice of both. Participants Nine interviews were conducted with purposively sampled participants working in Europe, USA and Australasia. 17 self-selected participants who worked in Europe, South East Asia and Australasia attended the workshop. Results The results clarify that HIA and HPP are different but mutually supporting. HIA has four characteristics: assessing a policy proposal to predict population health and equity impacts, a structured process for stakeholder dialogue, making recommendations and flexibly adapting to the policy process. HPP has four characteristics: concern with a broad definition of health, designing policy to improve people's health and reduce health inequities, intersectoral collaboration and influencing the policy cycle from inception to completion. HIA brings to HPP prediction about a policy's broad health impacts, and a structured space for intersectoral engagement, but is one approach within a broader suite of HPP activities. Five features of public policy and seven contingent influences on HIA and HPP practice are identified. Conclusions This study clarifies the core attributes of HIA and HPP as separate yet overlapping while subject to wider influences. This provides the necessary common language to describe the application of both and avoid conflated expectations of either. The findings present the conceptual importance of public policy and the institutional role of public health as distinct and important influences on the practice of HIA and HPP. PMID:23166121

High pressure effects on the structural functionality of condensed globular-protein matrices.

PubMed

Savadkoohi, Sobhan; Kasapis, Stefan

2016-07-01

High pressure technology is the outcome of consumer demand for better quality control of processed foods. There is great potential to apply HPP to condensed systems of globular proteins for the generation of industry-relevant biomaterials with advanced techno- and biofunctionality. To this end, research demonstrates that application of high hydrostatic pressure generates a coherent structure and preserves the native conformation in condensed globular proteins, which is an entirely unexpected but interesting outcome on both scientific and technological grounds. In microbiological challenge tests, high pressure at conventional commercial conditions, demonstrated to effectively reduce the concentration of typical Gram negative or Gram positive foodborne pathogens, and proteolytic enzymes in high-solid protein samples. This may have industrial significance in relation to the formulation and stabilisation of "functional food" products as well as in protein ingredients and concentrates by replacing spray dried powders with condensed HPP-treated pastes that maintain structure and bioactivity. Fundamental concepts and structural functionality of condensed matrices of globular proteins are the primary interest in this mini-review, which may lead to opportunities for industrial exploitation, but earlier work on low-solid systems is also summarised presently to put recent developments in context of this rapidly growing field. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Principles and application of high pressure-based technologies in the food industry.

PubMed

Balasubramaniam, V M Bala; Martínez-Monteagudo, Sergio I; Gupta, Rockendra

2015-01-01

High pressure processing (HPP) has emerged as a commercially viable food manufacturing tool that satisfies consumers' demand for mildly processed, convenient, fresh-tasting foods with minimal to no preservatives. Pressure treatment, with or without heat, inactivates pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, yeast, mold, viruses, and also spores and extends shelf life. Pressure treatment at ambient or chilled temperatures has minimal impact on product chemistry. The product quality and shelf life are often influenced more by storage conditions and packaging material barrier properties than the treatment itself. Application of pressure reduces the thermal exposure of the food during processing, thereby protecting a variety of bioactive compounds. This review discusses recent scientific advances of high pressure technology for food processing and preservation applications such as pasteurization, sterilization, blanching, freezing, and thawing. We highlight the importance of in situ engineering and thermodynamic properties of food and packaging materials in process design. Current and potential future promising applications of pressure technology are summarized.

Mutual interaction between high and low stereo-regularity components for crystallization and melting behaviors of polypropylene blend fibers

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

Kawai, Kouya; Takarada, Wataru; Kikutani, Takeshi, E-mail: kikutani.t.aa@m.titech.ac.jp

Crystallization and melting behaviors of blend fibers of two types of polypropylene (PP), i.e. high stereo-regularity/high molecular weight PP (HPP) and low stereo-regularity/low molecular weight PP (LPP), was investigated. Blend fibers consisting of various HPP/LPP compositions were prepared through the melt spinning process. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), temperature modulated DSC (TMDSC) and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis were applied for clarifying the crystallization and melting behaviors of individual components. In the DSC measurement of blend fibers with high LPP composition, continuous endothermic heat was detected between the melting peaks of LPP at around 40 °C and that of HPP atmore » around 160 °C. Such endothermic heat was more distinct for the blend fibers with higher LPP composition indicating that the melting of LPP in the heating process was hindered because of the presence of HPP crystals. On the other hand, heat of crystallization was detected at around 90 °C in the case of blend fibers with LPP content of 30 to 70 wt%, indicating that the crystallization of HPP component was taking place during the heating of as-spun blend fibers in the DSC measurement. Through the TMDSC analysis, re-organization of the crystalline structure through the simultaneous melting and re-crystallization was detected in the cases of HPP and blend fibers, whereas re-crystallization was not detected during the melting of LPP fibers. In the WAXD analysis during the heating of fibers, amount of a-form crystal was almost constant up to the melting in the case of single component HPP fibers, whereas there was a distinct increase of the intensity of crystalline reflections from around 100 °C, right after the melting of LPP in the case of blend fibers. These results suggested that the crystallization of HPP in the spinning process as well as during the conditioning process after spinning was hindered by the presence of LPP.« less

Model for the formation of the earth's core

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

McCammon, C.A.; Ringwood, A.E.; Jackson, I.

1983-02-15

The recent discovery of a phase transformation in Fe/sub 0.94/O by Jeanloz and Ahrens has allowed a more detailed development of a model for core formation involving oxygen as the principal light alloying element in the core. It is predicted, based on calculations, that an increasing pressure in the system FeO-MgO will result in a gradual exsolution of an almost pure high-pressure phase FeO(hpp), leaving an iron-depleted (Fe,Mg)O rocksalt (B1) phase. We also predict that FeO(hhp) will form a low-melting point alloy with Fe at high temperature and high pressure. On the basis of our interpretations, we have constructed amore » model for core segregation. Assuming the earth to have accreted from the primordial solar nebula as a relatively homogeneous mixture of metallic iron and silicate-oxide phases, core segregation involving oxygen would commence at a depth where pressure is sufficiently high to cause exsolution of FeO(hpp) from the rocksalt phase, and temperature is sufficiently high to allow formation of an Fe-FeO(hpp) melt. A gravitational instability arises, leading to vertical differentiation of the earth as molten blobs of the metal sink downwards to form the core and the residual depleted silicate material coalesces to form large bodies which rise diapirically upwards to form the mantle.« less

A Gnotobiotic Pig Model for Determining Human Norovirus Inactivation by High-Pressure Processing

PubMed Central

Lou, Fangfei; Ye, Mu; Ma, Yuanmei; Li, Xinhui; DiCaprio, Erin; Chen, Haiqiang; Krakowka, Steven; Hughes, John; Kingsley, David

2015-01-01

Human norovirus (NoV) is responsible for over 90% of outbreaks of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis worldwide and accounts for 60% of cases of foodborne illness in the United States. Currently, the infectivity of human NoVs is poorly understood due to the lack of a cell culture system. In this study, we determined the survival of a human NoV genogroup II, genotype 4 (GII.4) strain in seeded oyster homogenates after high-pressure processing (HPP) using a novel receptor binding assay and a gnotobiotic pig model. Pressure conditions of 350 MPa at 0°C for 2 min led to a 3.7-log10 reduction in the number of viral RNA copies in oysters, as measured by the porcine gastric mucin-conjugated magnetic bead (PGM-MB) binding assay and real-time RT-PCR, whereas pressure conditions of 350 MPa at 35°C for 2 min achieved only a 1-log10 reduction in the number of RNA copies. Newborn gnotobiotic piglets orally fed oyster homogenate treated at 350 MPa and 0°C for 2 min did not have viral RNA shedding in feces, histologic lesions, or viral replication in the small intestine. In contrast, gnotobiotic piglets fed oysters treated at 350 MPa and 35°C for 2 min had high levels of viral shedding in feces and exhibited significant histologic lesions and viral replication in the small intestine. Collectively, these data demonstrate that (i) human NoV survival estimated by an in vitro PGM-MB virus binding assay is consistent with the infectivity determined by an in vivo gnotobiotic piglet model and (ii) HPP is capable of inactivating a human NoV GII.4 strain at commercially acceptable pressure levels. PMID:26187968

Highlights of the Biology and Disease-driven Human Proteome Project, 2015-2016.

PubMed

Van Eyk, Jennifer E; Corrales, Fernando J; Aebersold, Ruedi; Cerciello, Ferdinando; Deutsch, Eric W; Roncada, Paola; Sanchez, Jean-Charles; Yamamoto, Tadashi; Yang, Pengyuan; Zhang, Hui; Omenn, Gilbert S

2016-11-04

The Biology and Disease-driven Human Proteome Project (B/D-HPP) is aimed at supporting and enhancing the broad use of state-of-the-art proteomic methods to characterize and quantify proteins for in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms of biological processes and human disease. Based on a foundation of the pre-existing HUPO initiatives begun in 2002, the B/D-HPP is designed to provide standardized methods and resources for mass spectrometry and specific protein affinity reagents and facilitate accessibility of these resources to the broader life sciences research and clinical communities. Currently there are 22 B/D-HPP initiatives and 3 closely related HPP resource pillars. The B/D-HPP groups are working to define sets of protein targets that are highly relevant to each particular field to deliver relevant assays for the measurement of these selected targets and to disseminate and make publicly accessible the information and tools generated. Major developments are the 2016 publications of the Human SRM Atlas and of "popular protein sets" for six organ systems. Here we present the current activities and plans of the BD-HPP initiatives as highlighted in numerous B/D-HPP workshops at the 14th annual HUPO 2015 World Congress of Proteomics in Vancouver, Canada.

Effective ways to modernize outdated coal heat power plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suchkov, S. I.; Kotler, V. R.; Batorshin, V. A.

2016-12-01

An analysis of the state of equipment of 72 outdated coal HPP (heat power plants) of a total capacity 14.3 GW with steam parameters before the turbines p before ≤ 9 MPa, t before = 420-540°C was performed. The equipment is characterized by a considerably low efficiency factor, even if it were converted to burning the natural gas, and by increased release of harmful substances. However, on the most part of the considered HPP, the steam turbines, unlike the boilers, have thus far retained the operation applicability and satisfactory reliability of performance. The analysis has shown that it makes sense to effectively modernize the outdated coal HPP by transformation of their equipment into combined-cycle plant (CCP) with coal gasification, which has high economic and ecological indicators due to thermodynamic advantage of the combined cycle and simpler purification of the generator gas in the process under pressure. As the most rational way of this transformation, the one was recognized wherein—instead of the existing boiler (boilers) or parallel to it—a gasification and gas turbine system is installed with a boiler-utilizer (BU), from which steam is fed to the HPP main steam pipe. In doing this, the basic part of the power station equipment persists. In the world, this kind of reconstruction of steam power equipment is applied widely and successfully, but it is by use of natural gas for the most part. It is reasonable to use the technology developed at Heat Engineering Research Institute (HERI) of hearth-steam gasification of coal and high-temperature purification of the generator gas. The basic scheme and measures on implementation of this method for modernization of outdated coal HPP is creation of CCP with blast-furnace of coal on the basis of accessible and preserved HPP equipment. CCP power is 120 MW, input-output ratio (roughly) 44%, emissions of hazardous substances are 5 mg/MJ dust, 20-60 mg/MJ SO2, and 50-100 mg/MJ NO x . A considerable decrease of specific CCP cost is expected: down to approximately half compared to that of CCP with coal gasification created elsewhere abroad. Verification and debugging of accepted solutions can be carried out at a small-scale pilot plant.

Inactivation of Anisakis simplex L3 in the flesh of white spotted conger (Conger myriaster) by high hydrostatic pressure and its effect on quality.

PubMed

Lee, Ki-Hoon; Park, Shin Young; Ha, Sang-Do

2016-06-01

Koreans consume much seafood; the country is surrounded on the east, west and south by the sea. Koreans have eaten raw sashimi for a long time. However, a concern in the raw sea food industry is that the parasitic nematode Anisakis simplex L3 occurs naturally in marine fish. Thus, the fishery industry needs a non-thermal processing method. High hydrostatic pressure (HPP) has been demonstrated to be effective. White spotted conger flesh containing 20 live larvae was exposed to different pressures (150 and 200 MPa for 1 and 5 min; 250 and 300 MPa each for 1 min). The viability of A. simplex L3 was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the flesh of white spotted conger by the stepwise increase of high pressure and time. The conditions required to eliminate A. simplex L3 were as follows: 200 MPa for 5 min or 300 MPa for 1 min. The flesh of the white spotted conger treated at 300 MPa for 1 min was whiter and yellower than untreated controls or that treated at 200 MPa for 5 min. No significant changes (p > 0.05) in any of the Hunter colour ('L', 'a' and 'b') values were found after HPP at 200 MPa for 5 min. The fresh treated at 300 MPa for 1 min scored < 4.0 (the defect limit of quality) of flavour, texture and overall acceptability in untrained sensory evaluation using a seven-point hedonic scale. However, the flesh treated at 200 MPa for 5 min scored > 5.0 ('like') for all sensory parameters. This study suggested that HPP at 200 MPa for 5 min could potentially be used for the inactivation of A. simplex L3 in raw fishery food products without any concomitant changes in their colour or sensory qualities.

Biomechanics of Pharyngeal Deglutitive Function following Total Laryngectomy.

PubMed

Zhang, Teng; Szczesniak, Michal; Maclean, Julia; Bertrand, Paul; Wu, Peter I; Omari, Taher; Cook, Ian J

2016-08-01

Postlaryngectomy, pharyngeal weakness, and pharyngoesophageal junction (PEJ) restriction are the candidate mechanisms of dysphagia. The aims were, in laryngectomees, whether (1) hypopharyngeal propulsion is reduced and/or PEJ resistance is increased, (2) dilatation improves dysphagia, and (3) whether symptomatic improvement correlates with reduced PEJ resistance. Multidisciplinary cross-sectional study. Tertiary academic hospital. Swallow biomechanics were assessed in 30 laryngectomees. Patients were stratified into severe dysphagia (Sydney Swallow Questionnaire >500) and mild/nil dysphagia (Sydney Swallow Questionnaire ≤500). Average hypopharyngeal peak (contractile) pressure (hPP) and hypopharyngeal intrabolus pressure (hIBP) were measured from high-resolution manometry with concurrent videofluoroscopy based on barium swallows (2.5 and 10 mL). In consecutive 5 patients, measurements were repeated after dilatation. Dysphagia was reported by 87%, and 57% had severe and 43% had mild/nil dysphagia. hIBP increased with larger bolus volumes (P < .0001), while hPP stayed stable and PEJ diameter plateaued at 9 mm. Laryngectomees had lower hPP (110 ± 14 vs 170 ± 15 mm Hg; P = .0162) and higher hIBP (29 ± 5 vs 6 ± 5 mm Hg; P = .156) than controls. There were no differences in hPP between patient groups. However, hIBP was higher in severe than in mild/nil dysphagia (41 ± 10 vs 13 ± 3 mm Hg; P = .02). Predilation hIBP (R(2) = 0.97) and its decrement postdilatation (R(2) = 0.98) well predicted symptomatic improvement. PEJ resistance correlates better with dysphagia severity than peak pharyngeal pressure and is more sensitive to bolus sizes than PEJ diameter. Both baseline PEJ resistance and its decrement following dilatation are strong predictors of treatment outcome. PEJ resistance is vital to detect, as it is reversible and can predict the response to dilatation regimens. © American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2016.

Highlights of B/D-HPP and HPP Resource Pillar Workshops at 12th Annual HUPO World Congress of Proteomics: September 14-18, 2013, Yokohama, Japan.

PubMed

Aebersold, Ruedi; Bader, Gary D; Edwards, Aled M; van Eyk, Jennifer; Kussman, Martin; Qin, Jun; Omenn, Gilbert S

2014-05-01

At the 12th Annual HUPO World Congress of Proteomics in Japan, the Human Proteome Project (HPP) presented 16 scientific workshop sessions. Here we summarize highlights of ten workshops from the Biology and Disease-driven HPP (B/D-HPP) teams and three from the HPP Resource Pillars. Highlights of the three Chromosome-centric HPP sessions appeared in the many articles of the 2014 C-HPP special issue of the Journal of Proteome Research . © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Gene expression profiling of a pressure-tolerant Listeria monocytogenes Scott A CtsR deletion mutant

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen of significant threat to public health. High hydrostatic pressure (HPP) treatment can be used to control Listeria monocytogenes in food. The CtsR (class three stress gene repressor) protein negatively regulates the expression of class III heat shock ...

Modeling the Inactivation of Intestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Uropathogenic E. coli in Ground Chicken by High Pressure Processing and Thymol

PubMed Central

Chien, Shih-Yung; Sheen, Shiowshuh; Sommers, Christopher H.; Sheen, Lee-Yan

2016-01-01

Disease causing Escherichia coli commonly found in meat and poultry include intestinal pathogenic E. coli (iPEC) as well as extraintestinal types such as the Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). In this study we compared the resistance of iPEC (O157:H7) to UPEC in chicken meat using High Pressure Processing (HPP) in with (the hurdle concept) and without thymol essential oil as a sensitizer. UPEC was found slightly more resistant than E. coli O157:H7 (iPEC O157:H7) at 450 and 500 MPa. A central composite experimental design was used to evaluate the effect of pressure (300–400 MPa), thymol concentration (100–200 ppm), and pressure-holding time (10–20 min) on the inactivation of iPEC O157:H7 and UPEC in ground chicken. The hurdle approach reduced the high pressure levels and thymol doses imposed on the food matrices and potentially decreased food quality damaged after treatment. The quadratic equations were developed to predict the impact (lethality) on iPEC O157:H7 (R2 = 0.94) and UPEC (R2 = 0.98), as well as dimensionless non-linear models [Pr > F (<0.0001)]. Both linear and non-linear models were validated with data obtained from separated experiment points. All models may predict the inactivation/lethality within the same order of accuracy. However, the dimensionless non-linear models showed potential applications with parameters outside the central composite design ranges. The results provide useful information of both iPEC O157:H7 and UPEC in regard to how they may survive HPP in the presence or absence of thymol. The models may further assist regulatory agencies and food industry to assess the potential risk of iPEC O157:H7 and UPEC in ground chicken. PMID:27379050

Continuous emission monitoring and accounting automated systems at an HPP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roslyakov, P. V.; Ionkin, I. L.; Kondrateva, O. E.; Borovkova, A. M.; Seregin, V. A.; Morozov, I. V.

2015-03-01

Environmental and industrial emission monitoring at HPP's is a very urgent task today. Industrial monitoring assumes monitoring of emissions of harmful pollutants and optimization of fuel combustion technological processes at HPP's. Environmental monitoring is a system to assess ambient air quality with respect to a number of separate sources of harmful substances in pollution of atmospheric air of the area. Works on creating an industrial monitoring system are carried out at the National Research University Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI) on the basis of the MPEI combined heat and power plant, and environmental monitoring stations are installed in Lefortovo raion, where the CHPP is located.

Inactivation of Viruses and Bacteriophages as Models for Swine Hepatitis E Virus in Food Matrices.

PubMed

Emmoth, Eva; Rovira, Jordi; Rajkovic, Andreja; Corcuera, Elena; Wilches Pérez, Diego; Dergel, Irene; Ottoson, Jakob R; Widén, Frederik

2017-03-01

Hepatitis E virus has been recognised as a food-borne virus hazard in pork products, due to its zoonotic properties. This risk can be reduced by adequate treatment of the food to inactivate food-borne viruses. We used a spectrum of viruses and bacteriophages to evaluate the effect of three food treatments: high pressure processing (HPP), lactic acid (LA) and intense light pulse (ILP) treatments. On swine liver at 400 MPa for 10 min, HPP gave log 10 reductions of ≥4.2, ≥5.0 and 3.4 for feline calicivirus (FCV) 2280, FCV wildtype (wt) and murine norovirus 1 (MNV 1), respectively. Escherichia coli coliphage ϕX174 displayed a lower reduction of 1.1, while Escherichia coli coliphage MS2 was unaffected. For ham at 600 MPa, the corresponding reductions were 4.1, 4.4, 2.9, 1.7 and 1.3 log 10 . LA treatment at 2.2 M gave log 10 reductions in the viral spectrum of 0.29-2.1 for swine liver and 0.87-3.1 for ham, with ϕX174 and MNV 1, respectively, as the most stable microorganisms. The ILP treatment gave log 10 reductions of 1.6-2.8 for swine liver, 0.97-2.2 for ham and 1.3-2.3 for sausage, at 15-60 J cm -2 , with MS2 as the most stable microorganism. The HPP treatment gave significantly (p < 0.05) greater virus reduction on swine liver than ham for the viruses at equivalent pressure/time combinations. For ILP treatment, reductions on swine liver were significantly (p < 0.05) greater than on ham for all microorganisms. The results presented here could be used in assessments of different strategies to protect consumers against virus contamination and in advice to food producers. Conservative model indicators for the pathogenic viruses could be suggested.

Automated System of Diagnostic Monitoring at Bureya HPP Hydraulic Engineering Installations: a New Level of Safety

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

Musyurka, A. V., E-mail: musyurkaav@burges.rushydro.ru

This article presents the design, hardware, and software solutions developed and placed in service for the automated system of diagnostic monitoring (ASDM) for hydraulic engineering installations at the Bureya HPP, and assuring a reliable process for monitoring hydraulic engineering installations. Project implementation represents a timely solution of problems addressed by the hydraulic engineering installation diagnostics section.

Beyond policy analysis: the raw politics behind opposition to healthy public policy.

PubMed

Raphael, Dennis

2015-06-01

Despite evidence that public policy that equitably distributes the prerequisites/social determinants of health (PrH/SDH) is a worthy goal, progress in achieving such healthy public policy (HPP) has been uneven. This has especially been the case in nations where the business sector dominates the making of public policy. In response, various models of the policy process have been developed to create what Kickbusch calls a health political science to correct this situation. In this article I examine an aspect of health political science that is frequently neglected: the raw politics of power and influence. Using Canada as an example, I argue that aspects of HPP related to the distribution of key PrH/SDH are embedded within issues of power, influence, and competing interests such that key sectors of society oppose and are successful in blocking such HPP. By identifying these opponents and understanding why and how they block HPP, these barriers can be surmounted. These efforts to identify opponents of HPP that provide an equitable distribution of the PrH/SDH will be especially necessary where a nation's political economy is dominated by the business and corporate sector. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Hypophosphatasia - pathophysiology and treatment.

PubMed

Millán, José Luis; Plotkin, Horacio

2012-09-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is the inborn-error-of-metabolism caused by loss-of-function mutation(s) in the gene that encodes the tissue-nonspecific isozyme of alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). The disease has been classified according to patient age when the first signs and symptoms manifest; i.e., perinatal, infantile, childhood, adult HPP. Other types include odonto HPP and perinatal benign. Babies with the perinatal/infantile forms of HPP often die with severe rickets and respiratory insufficiency and sometimes hypercalcemia and vitamin B 6 -responsive seizures. The primary biochemical defect in HPP is a deficiency of TNAP activity that leads to elevated circulating levels of substrates, in particular inorganic pyrophosphate (PP i ), a potent calcification inhibitor. To-date, the management of HPP has been essentially symptomatic or orthopedic. However, enzyme replacement therapy with mineral-targeting TNAP (sALP-FcD 10 , also known as ENB-0040 or asfotase alfa) has shown promising results in a mouse model of HPP ( Alpl -/- mice). Administration of mineral-targeting TNAP from birth increased survival and prevented the seizures, rickets, as well as all the tooth abnormalities, including dentin, acellular cementum, and enamel defects in this model of severe HPP. Clinical trials using mineral-targeting TNAP in children 3 years of age or younger with life-threatening HPP was associated with healing of the skeletal manifestations of HPP as well as improved respiratory and motor function. Improvement is still being observed in the patients receiving continued asfotase alfa therapy, with more than 3 years of treatment in some children. Enzyme replacement therapy with asfotase alfa has to-date been successful in patients with life-threatening HPP.

Hypophosphatasia - pathophysiology and treatment

PubMed Central

Millán, José Luis; Plotkin, Horacio

2013-01-01

English Summary Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is the inborn-error-of-metabolism caused by loss-of-function mutation(s) in the gene that encodes the tissue-nonspecific isozyme of alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). The disease has been classified according to patient age when the first signs and symptoms manifest; i.e., perinatal, infantile, childhood, adult HPP. Other types include odonto HPP and perinatal benign. Babies with the perinatal/infantile forms of HPP often die with severe rickets and respiratory insufficiency and sometimes hypercalcemia and vitamin B6-responsive seizures. The primary biochemical defect in HPP is a deficiency of TNAP activity that leads to elevated circulating levels of substrates, in particular inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a potent calcification inhibitor. To-date, the management of HPP has been essentially symptomatic or orthopedic. However, enzyme replacement therapy with mineral-targeting TNAP (sALP-FcD10, also known as ENB-0040 or asfotase alfa) has shown promising results in a mouse model of HPP (Alpl−/− mice). Administration of mineral-targeting TNAP from birth increased survival and prevented the seizures, rickets, as well as all the tooth abnormalities, including dentin, acellular cementum, and enamel defects in this model of severe HPP. Clinical trials using mineral-targeting TNAP in children 3 years of age or younger with life-threatening HPP was associated with healing of the skeletal manifestations of HPP as well as improved respiratory and motor function. Improvement is still being observed in the patients receiving continued asfotase alfa therapy, with more than 3 years of treatment in some children. Enzyme replacement therapy with asfotase alfa has to-date been successful in patients with life-threatening HPP. PMID:25254037

Characterization of Two Late-Stage Enzymes Involved in Fosfomycin Biosynthesis in Pseudomonads.

PubMed

Olivares, Philip; Ulrich, Emily C; Chekan, Jonathan R; van der Donk, Wilfred A; Nair, Satish K

2017-02-17

The broad-spectrum phosphonate antibiotic fosfomycin is currently in use for clinical treatment of infections caused by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative uropathogens. The antibiotic is biosynthesized by various streptomycetes, as well as by pseudomonads. Notably, the biosynthetic strategies used by the two genera share only two steps: the first step in which primary metabolite phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) is converted to phosphonopyruvate (PnPy) and the terminal step in which 2-hydroxypropylphosphonate (2-HPP) is converted to fosfomycin. Otherwise, distinct enzymatic paths are employed. Here, we biochemically confirm the last two steps in the fosfomycin biosynthetic pathway of Pseudomonas syringae PB-5123, showing that Psf3 performs the reduction of 2-oxopropylphosphonate (2-OPP) to (S)-2-HPP, followed by the Psf4-catalyzed epoxidation of (S)-2-HPP to fosfomycin. Psf4 can also accept (R)-2-HPP as a substrate but instead performs an oxidation to make 2-OPP. We show that the combined activities of Psf3 and Psf4 can be used to convert racemic 2-HPP to fosfomycin in an enantioconvergent process. X-ray structures of each enzyme with bound substrates provide insights into the stereospecificity of each conversion. These studies shed light on the reaction mechanisms of the two terminal enzymes in a distinct pathway employed by pseudomonads for the production of a potent antimicrobial agent.

Flavor characterization of sugar-added pennywort (Centella asiatica L.) juices treated with ultra-high pressure and thermal processes.

PubMed

Apichartsrangkoon, Arunee; Wongfhun, Pronprapa; Gordon, Michael H

2009-01-01

The flavor characteristics of pennywort juices with added sugar treated by ultra-high pressure, pasteurization, and sterilization were investigated using solid phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was found that sesquiterpene hydrocarbons comprised the major class of volatile components present and the juices had a characteristic aroma due to the presence of volatiles including beta-caryophyllene and humulene and alpha-copaene. In comparison with heated juices, HPP-treated samples could retain more volatile compounds such as linalool and geraniol similar to those present in fresh juice, whereas some volatiles such as alpha-terpinene and ketone class were apparently formed by thermal treatment. All processing operations produced juice that was not significantly different in the concentration of total volatiles. Practical Application: Pennywort juice is considered a nutraceutical drink for health benefits. Therefore, to preserve all aroma and active components in this juice, a nonthermal process such as ultra-high pressure should be a more appropriate technique for retention of its nutritive values than pasteurization and sterilization.

Protein gels and emulsions from mixtures of Cape hake and pea proteins.

PubMed

Tomé, Ana Sofia; Pires, Carla; Batista, Irineu; Sousa, Isabel; Raymundo, Anabela

2015-01-01

Portioning of frozen fish generates by-products such as fish 'sawdust' and cut-offs which can be further processed into protein concentrates and isolates. The objective of the present work was to produce gels and emulsions using recovered Cape hake protein powder (HPP). In previous works, the structures of the gels produced by HPP were found to be strong, with a high rubbery character. In this work, the addition of commercial pea proteins (PPC) to HPP gels and emulsions was studied. Physical properties of gels and emulsions prepared with different proportions of mixtures of PPC and HPP were evaluated. In general, gels and emulsions showed high values for whiteness and, as expected, the higher content of HPP in the protein mixtures led to higher firmness values of the gels. The gel network was rapidly formed upon heating due to the fish protein macromolecules and further reinforced by the pea protein macromolecules when cooled to 5 °C. Both visco-elastic parameters, storage and loss moduli, of the produced gels increased with the HPP proportion in the protein mixtures, corresponding to more structured systems. For the emulsions, two different pH environments were studied: 3.8 and 7.0. At neutral pH a synergy was found between the vegetable and fish protein, which is not so strong when pH is lowered to 3.8, near the isoelectric point of pea proteins (pI = 4.5). This evidence was supported by the results from the texture measurements, viscosity and visco-elastic parameters. Gels made from Cape hake proteins showed a softer texture and were less rubbery with the addition of pea proteins. Emulsions stabilised by these mixtures showed slightly different behaviour when produced at pH 7.0 or pH 3.8. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Human pancreatic polypeptide in children and young adults.

PubMed

Hanukoglu, A; Chalew, S; Kowarski, A A

1990-01-01

Measurement of human pancreatic polypeptide may be useful for assessment of gastrointestinal function, integrity of the parasympathetic nervous system or screening for endocrine neoplasia. In adults hPP levels have been reported to increase with age. However hPP levels throughout childhood have not been well characterized in comparison with the adult range. We studied fasting human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP) from 45 pediatric patients, from infancy - 15 years, and 18 older adolescents and adults aged 16-45 years. The mean hPP level of children (233 +/- 147 pg/ml) was significantly higher than that (113 +/- 35 pg/ml) of adults (P less than .0001). There was no difference in mean hPP levels of children with normal growth hormone secretion compared to growth hormone deficient patients. There was no effect of gender or body mass index on hPP levels. We conclude that fasting hPP levels must be interpreted with respect to the age of the subject, children particularly, in that preteens may have higher fasting levels than older teenagers and adults.

Propagational characteristics in a warm hybrid plasmonic waveguide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahmodi Moghadam, M.; Shahmansouri, M.; Farokhi, B.

2017-12-01

We theoretically analyze the properties of guided modes in a warm planar conductor-gap-dielectric (CGD) system. The latter consists of a high index dielectric, separated from a warm metallic plasma with a low index nano-sized dielectric layer (gap) by using the hydrodynamic model coupled to Maxwell's equations. The effects of thermal pressure on the confinement and the propagation losses of Hybrid Plasmon Polariton (HPP) modes are studied. We found that the thermal effect leads to a reduction in the effective refractive index as well as in the propagation losses of the HPP mode. Furthermore, the cutoff thickness in the warm CGD waveguide is found to be smaller than that in a cold CGD waveguide. The results may be useful in understanding the essential physics of active/passive Plasmonic devices and chip-scale systems.

Phase transformations in nanograin materials under high pressure and plastic shear: nanoscale mechanisms.

PubMed

Levitas, Valery I; Javanbakht, Mahdi

2014-01-07

There are two main challenges in the discovery of new high pressure phases (HPPs) and transforming this discovery into technologies: finding conditions to synthesize new HPPs and finding ways to reduce the phase transformation (PT) pressure to an economically reasonable level. Based on the results of pressure-shear experiments in the rotational diamond anvil cell (RDAC), superposition of plastic shear on high pressure is a promising way to resolve these problems. However, physical mechanisms behind these phenomena are not yet understood. Here, we elucidate generic mechanisms of coupled nucleation and evolution of dislocation and HPP structures in the nanograin material under pressure and shear utilizing the developed advanced phase field approach (PFA). Dislocations are generated at the grain boundaries and are densely piled up near them, creating a strong concentrator of the stress tensor. Averaged shear stress is essentially larger in the nanograin material due to grain boundary strengthening. This leads to the increase in the local thermodynamic driving force for PT, which allows one to significantly reduce the applied pressure. For all cases, the applied pressure is 3-20 times lower than the PT pressure and 2-12.5 times smaller than the phase equilibrium pressure. Interaction between nuclei leads sometimes to their coalescence and growth of the HPP away from stress concentrators. Plasticity plays a dual role: in addition to creating stress concentrators, it may relax stresses at other concentrators, thus competing with PT. Some ways to optimize the loading parameters have been found that lead to methods for controlling PT. Since such a local stress tensor with high shear stress component cannot be created without plastic deformations, this may lead to new transformation paths and phases, which are hidden during pressure induced PTs.

Comparison of Fasting Human Pancreatic Polypeptide Levels Among Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Chronic Pancreatitis, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

PubMed

Nagpal, Sajan Jiv Singh; Bamlet, William R; Kudva, Yogish C; Chari, Suresh T

2018-05-17

Human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP) is a hormone secreted by the ventral pancreas. While postprandial HPP levels have been studied in chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), there are limited data on fasting HPP in these diseases. Fasting serum HPP was measured in the following groups of patients: CP with diabetes mellitus (DM) (n = 16), CP without DM (n = 34), PDAC with new-onset DM (n = 50), PDAC without DM (n = 49), new-onset type 2 DM (n = 50), and controls without DM (n = 49). Sixty-six had type 3c DM (CP with DM, n = 16; PDAC with new-onset DM, n = 50). Median fasting HPP levels (in picograms per milliliter) were similar among all groups. Median (interquartile range) HPP levels in new-onset type 2 DM (n = 50; 288.3 [80.1-1072.1]) were similar to those in type 3c DM (n = 66; 242.3 [64.9-890.9]) (P = 0.71). In PDAC (n = 99), HPP values were similar in pancreatic head (n = 75) versus body/tail (n = 24) tumors (245.3 [64.3-1091.3] vs 334.7 [136.1-841.5]; P = 0.95), regardless of DM. Fasting HPP levels are similar in CP, PDAC, and controls regardless of glycemic status.

Brain Levels of the Neurotoxic Pyridinium Metabolite HPP+ and Extrapyramidal Symptoms in Haloperidol-Treated Mice

PubMed Central

Crowley, James J.; Ashraf-Khorassani, Mehdi; Castagnoli, Neal; Sullivan, Patrick F.

2013-01-01

The typical antipsychotic haloperidol is a highly effective treatment for schizophrenia but its use is limited by a number of serious, and often irreversible, motor side effects. These adverse drug reactions, termed extrapyramidal syndromes (EPS), result from an unknown pathophysiological mechanism. One theory relates to the observation that the haloperidol metabolite HPP+ (4-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutyl]-pyridinium) is structurally similar to MPP+ (1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium), a neurotoxin responsible for an irreversible neurodegenerative condition similar to Parkinson's disease. To determine whether HPP+ contributes to haloperidol-induced EPS, we measured brain HPP+ and haloperidol levels in strains of mice at high (C57BL/6J and NZO/HILtJ) and low (BALB/cByJ and PWK/PhJ) liability to haloperidol-induced EPS following chronic treatment (7–10 adult male mice per strain). Brain levels of HPP+ and the ratio of HPP+ to haloperidol were not significantly different between the haloperidol-sensitive and haloperidol-resistant strain groups (P = 0.50). Within each group, however, strain differences were seen (P < 0.01), indicating that genetic variation regulating steady-state HPP+ levels exists. Since the HPP+ levels that we observed in mouse brain overlap the range of those detected in post-mortem human brains following chronic haloperidol treatment, the findings from this study are physiologically relevant to humans. The results suggest that strain differences in steady-state HPP+ levels do not explain sensitivity to haloperidol-induced EPS in the mice we studied. PMID:24107597

Improving the Investment Potential of the Evenkiiskaya HPP When Working Jointly with HPPS of the Volga – Kama Cascade

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

Aleksandrovskii, A. Yu., E-mail: ayaleksand@mail.ru; Soldatkin, A. Yu.; Volkov, D. M.

The capability is studied of improving the investment potential of the Evenkiiskaya HPP by using the power it generates in the United Power System of the European part of Russia by transitioning to a compensated electrical regime of water reservoir resource usage. A quantitative assessment of Evenkiiskaya HPP usage is presented using daily load demand. Increasing the guaranteed HPP power is proposed as an alternative to new nuclear power stations.

Residues of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpyrazine, a degradation product of some β-lactam antibiotics, in environmental water in Vietnam.

PubMed

Sy, Nguyen Van; Harada, Kazuo; Asayama, Megumi; Warisaya, Minae; Dung, Le Hong; Sumimura, Yoshinori; Diep, Khong Thi; Ha, Le Viet; Thang, Nguyen Nam; Hoa, Tran Thi Tuyet; Phu, Tran Minh; Khai, Pham Ngoc; Phuong, Nguyen Thanh; Tuyen, Le Danh; Yamamoto, Yoshimasa; Hirata, Kazumasa

2017-04-01

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a serious problem worldwide, caused in part by the excessive use and discharge of antibiotics into the environment. Ampicillin (ABPC) is a widely used antibiotic. However, this chemical rapidly decomposes in water containing divalent cations like Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ , thus, detection of ABPC in environmental water is difficult. This study was carried out to evaluate the presence of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpyrazine (HPP), one of the degradation products of ABPC and β-lactam antibiotics with an ABPC substructure, in environmental water. An analytical method for HPP monitoring in environmental water was developed using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The analyte was extracted from water samples and enriched using a solid-phase extraction cartridge. The quantification limit was 1 ng L -1 . The HPP recovery rates from spiked water samples of 25 and 125 ng L -1 were 84.1 and 86.1%, respectively. The method was then used to determine HPP residue levels in 98 environmental water samples from rivers, household ponds, and aquacultural ponds in Vietnam. HPP residues were detected in 60 samples. The HPP detection rates in rivers and household ponds were 42 and 79%, respectively. HPP was not detected in aquacultural ponds. HPP residue concentrations in the samples ranged from 1.3 to 413.3 ng L -1 . The residue levels in rivers flowing through city centres were higher than levels in other sampling locations. The findings of this study suggest that HPP is a promising marker for assessing the discharge of ABPC and β-lactam antibiotics with an ABPC substructure into the environment around sampling sites. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The hppA gene of Helicobacter pylori encodes the class C acid phosphatase precursor.

PubMed

Godlewska, Renata; Bujnicki, Janusz M; Ostrowski, Jerzy; Jagusztyn-Krynicka, Elzbieta K

2002-08-14

Screening of the Helicobacter pylori genomic library with sera from infected humans and from immunized rabbits resulted in identification of the 25 kDa protein cell envelope (HppA) which exhibits acid phosphatase activity. Enzyme activity was demonstrated by specific enzymatic assays with whole-cell protein preparations of H. pylori strain N6 and from Escherichia coli carrying the hppA gene (pUWM192). HppA showed optimum activity at pH 5.6 and was resistant to inhibition by EDTA. Bioinformatics analysis and site-directed mutagenesis of two putative active site residues (D73 and D192) provide further insight into the sequence-structure-function relationships of HppA as a member of the DDDD phosphohydrolase superfamily.

Quest for Missing Proteins: Update 2015 on Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project.

PubMed

Horvatovich, Péter; Lundberg, Emma K; Chen, Yu-Ju; Sung, Ting-Yi; He, Fuchu; Nice, Edouard C; Goode, Robert J; Yu, Simon; Ranganathan, Shoba; Baker, Mark S; Domont, Gilberto B; Velasquez, Erika; Li, Dong; Liu, Siqi; Wang, Quanhui; He, Qing-Yu; Menon, Rajasree; Guan, Yuanfang; Corrales, Fernando J; Segura, Victor; Casal, J Ignacio; Pascual-Montano, Alberto; Albar, Juan P; Fuentes, Manuel; Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Maria; Diez, Paula; Ibarrola, Nieves; Degano, Rosa M; Mohammed, Yassene; Borchers, Christoph H; Urbani, Andrea; Soggiu, Alessio; Yamamoto, Tadashi; Salekdeh, Ghasem Hosseini; Archakov, Alexander; Ponomarenko, Elena; Lisitsa, Andrey; Lichti, Cheryl F; Mostovenko, Ekaterina; Kroes, Roger A; Rezeli, Melinda; Végvári, Ákos; Fehniger, Thomas E; Bischoff, Rainer; Vizcaíno, Juan Antonio; Deutsch, Eric W; Lane, Lydie; Nilsson, Carol L; Marko-Varga, György; Omenn, Gilbert S; Jeong, Seul-Ki; Lim, Jong-Sun; Paik, Young-Ki; Hancock, William S

2015-09-04

This paper summarizes the recent activities of the Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) consortium, which develops new technologies to identify yet-to-be annotated proteins (termed "missing proteins") in biological samples that lack sufficient experimental evidence at the protein level for confident protein identification. The C-HPP also aims to identify new protein forms that may be caused by genetic variability, post-translational modifications, and alternative splicing. Proteogenomic data integration forms the basis of the C-HPP's activities; therefore, we have summarized some of the key approaches and their roles in the project. We present new analytical technologies that improve the chemical space and lower detection limits coupled to bioinformatics tools and some publicly available resources that can be used to improve data analysis or support the development of analytical assays. Most of this paper's content has been compiled from posters, slides, and discussions presented in the series of C-HPP workshops held during 2014. All data (posters, presentations) used are available at the C-HPP Wiki (http://c-hpp.webhosting.rug.nl/) and in the Supporting Information.

Lactate and acid base changes during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

PubMed

Ibraheim, Osama A; Samarkandi, Abdulhamid H; Alshehry, Hassan; Faden, Awatif; Farouk, Eltinay Omar

2006-02-01

The observation of hemodynamic and metabolic impairment related to CO2 pneumoperitoneum and postoperative mesenteric ischemia reports following laparoscopic procedures have raised concern about local and systemic effects of increase intraabdominal pressure during laparoscopic procedures. The present study aims to evaluate the metabolic and acid base responses of using high pressure versus low pressure pneumoperitonium in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a prospective randomized clinical trial. 20 ASA I-II patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly allocated to one of two study groups; high pressure pneumoperitoneum 12-14mmHg (HPP, n=10) versus low pressure pneumoperitoneum 6-8mmHg (LPP, n=10) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Arterial blood gases and lactate levels were determined after induction of anesthesia (before pneumoperitonium), then after 10 min, then 30 min after insufflations and at the end of surgery and 1 hour postoperatively. Nurses in recovery unit reported pain assessment starting postoperatively until 3 hours on a 10mm VAS (0-10). Statistical significant was established at P<0.05. Bicarbonate was significantly (P>0.0412) lower in high pressure group at 30 min and 60 min after insufflations. In high pressure group lactate levels increased significantly as compared to low pressure group, (at 30 minutes after the establishment of abdominal pneumatic inflation P<0.006 and remained significantly increased (P<0.001) until the end of surgery and one hour thereafter) (P<0.001). The mean postoperative pain score during second hour (VAS) at HPP group was 7.4 +/- 1.17 which is significantly (P < or = 0.006) higher than pain score in LPP group 5.0 +/- 1.886. Shoulder tip pain was reported in 3 patients in the high pressure group and only one patient in the lower pressure group. High-pressure pneumoperitonium causes statistically significant elevation in the arterial lactate level intraoperatively until one hour post operatively. It also causes higher pain score and shoulder tip pain.

neXtProt: organizing protein knowledge in the context of human proteome projects.

PubMed

Gaudet, Pascale; Argoud-Puy, Ghislaine; Cusin, Isabelle; Duek, Paula; Evalet, Olivier; Gateau, Alain; Gleizes, Anne; Pereira, Mario; Zahn-Zabal, Monique; Zwahlen, Catherine; Bairoch, Amos; Lane, Lydie

2013-01-04

About 5000 (25%) of the ~20400 human protein-coding genes currently lack any experimental evidence at the protein level. For many others, there is only little information relative to their abundance, distribution, subcellular localization, interactions, or cellular functions. The aim of the HUPO Human Proteome Project (HPP, www.thehpp.org ) is to collect this information for every human protein. HPP is based on three major pillars: mass spectrometry (MS), antibody/affinity capture reagents (Ab), and bioinformatics-driven knowledge base (KB). To meet this objective, the Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) proposes to build this catalog chromosome-by-chromosome ( www.c-hpp.org ) by focusing primarily on proteins that currently lack MS evidence or Ab detection. These are termed "missing proteins" by the HPP consortium. The lack of observation of a protein can be due to various factors including incorrect and incomplete gene annotation, low or restricted expression, or instability. neXtProt ( www.nextprot.org ) is a new web-based knowledge platform specific for human proteins that aims to complement UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot ( www.uniprot.org ) with detailed information obtained from carefully selected high-throughput experiments on genomic variation, post-translational modifications, as well as protein expression in tissues and cells. This article describes how neXtProt contributes to prioritize C-HPP efforts and integrates C-HPP results with other research efforts to create a complete human proteome catalog.

Four Novel Mutations in the ALPL Gene in Chinese patients with Odonto, Childhood and Adult Hypophosphatasia.

PubMed

Xu, Lijun; Pang, Qianqian; Jiang, Yan; Wang, Ou; Li, Mei; Xing, Xiaoping; Xia, Weibo

2018-05-03

Background and purpose: Hypophosphatasiais (HPP) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by defective bone and/or dental mineralization, and decreased serum alkaline phosphatase activity. ALPL , the only gene related with HPP, encodes tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). Few studies were carried out in ALPL gene mutations in the Chinese population with HPP. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the clinical and genetic characteristics of HPP in 5 unrelated Chinese families and 2 sporadic patients. Methods : 10 clinically diagnosed HPP patients from 5 unrelated Chinese families and 2 sporadic patients and 50 healthy controls were genetic investigated. All 12 exons and exon-intron boundaries of the ALPL gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced. The laboratory and radiological investigations were conducted simultaneously in these 10 HPP patients. A three-dimensional model of the TNSALP was used to predict the dominant negative effect of identified missense mutations. Results : 3 odonto, 3 childhood and 4 adult types of HPP were clinically diagnosed. 10 mutations were identified in 5 unrelated Chinese families and 2 sporadic patients, including 8 missense mutations and 2 frameshift mutations. Of which, 4 were novel: 1 frameshift mutation (p.R138Pfsx45); 3 missense mutations (p.C201R, p.V459A, p.C497S). No identical mutations and any other new ALPL mutations were found in unrelated 50 healthy controls. Conclusions : Our study demonstrated that the ALPL  gene mutations are responsible for HPP in these Chinese families. These findings will be useful for clinicians to improve understanding of this heritable bone disorder. ©2018 The Author(s).

Rare Variants in the Gene ALPL That Cause Hypophosphatasia Are Strongly Associated With Ovarian and Uterine Disorders.

PubMed

Dahir, Kathryn M; Tilden, Daniel R; Warner, Jeremy L; Bastarache, Lisa; Smith, Derek K; Gifford, Aliya; Ramirez, Andrea H; Simmons, Jill S; Black, Margo M; Newman, John H; Denny, Josh C

2018-06-01

Mutations in alkaline phosphatase (AlkP), liver/bone/kidney (ALPL), which encodes tissue-nonspecific isozyme AlkP, cause hypophosphatasia (HPP). HPP is suspected by a low-serum AlkP. We hypothesized that some patients with bone or dental disease have undiagnosed HPP, caused by ALPL variants. Our objective was to discover the prevalence of these gene variants in the Vanderbilt University DNA Biobank (BioVU) and to assess phenotypic associations. We identified subjects in BioVU, a repository of DNA, that had at least one of three known, rare HPP disease-causing variants in ALPL: rs199669988, rs121918007, and/or rs121918002. To evaluate for phenotypic associations, we conducted a sequential phenome-wide association study of ALPL variants and then performed a de-identified manual record review to refine the phenotype. Out of 25,822 genotyped individuals, we identified 52 women and 53 men with HPP disease-causing variants in ALPL, 7/1000. None had a clinical diagnosis of HPP. For patients with ALPL variants, the average serum AlkP levels were in the lower range of normal or lower. Forty percent of men and 62% of women had documented bone and/or dental disease, compatible with the diagnosis of HPP. Forty percent of the female patients had ovarian pathology or other gynecological abnormalities compared with 15% seen in controls. Variants in the ALPL gene cause bone and dental disease in patients with and without the standard biomarker, low plasma AlkP. ALPL gene variants are more prevalent than currently reported and underdiagnosed. Gynecologic disease appears to be associated with HPP-causing variants in ALPL.

Correction of hypophosphatasia (HPP) associated mineralization deficiencies in vitro by phosphate/pyrophosphate modulation in periodontal ligament cells

PubMed Central

Rodrigues, Thaisângela L.; Foster, Brian L.; Silverio, Karina G.; Martins, Luciane; Casati, Marcio Z.; Sallum, Enilson A.; Somerman, Martha J.; Nociti, Francisco H.

2013-01-01

Background Mutations in the Alpl gene in hypophosphatasia (HPP) reduce the function of tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), resulting in increased pyrophosphate (PPi) and a severe deficiency in acellular cementum. We hypothesized that exogenous phosphate (Pi) would rescue the in vitro mineralization capacity of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells harvested from HPP-diagnosed subjects, by correcting Pi/PPi ratio and modulating expression of genes involved with Pi/PPi metabolism. Methods Ex vivo and in vitro analyses were employed to identify mechanisms involved in HPP-associated PDL/tooth root deficiencies. Constitutive expression of PPi-associated genes was contrasted in PDL versus pulp tissues obtained from healthy subjects. Primary PDL cell cultures from HPP subjects (monozygotic twin males) were established to assay alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), in vitro mineralization, and gene expression. Exogenous Pi was provided to correct Pi/PPi ratio. Results PDL tissues obtained from healthy individuals featured higher basal expression of key PPi regulators, genes Alpl, progressive ankylosis protein (Ankh) and ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (Enpp1), versus paired pulp tissues. A novel Alpl mutation was identified in the twin HPP subjects enrolled in this study. Compared to controls, HPP-PDL cells exhibited significantly reduced ALP and mineralizing capacity, which were rescued by addition of 1mM Pi. Dysregulated expression of PPi regulatory genes Alpl, Ankh, and Enpp1 was also corrected by adding Pi, though other matrix markers evaluated in our study remained down-regulated. Conclusions These findings underscore the importance of controlling Pi/PPi ratio toward development of a functional periodontal apparatus, and support Pi/PPi imbalance as the etiology of HPP-associated cementum defects. PMID:22014174

mhpT encodes an active transporter involved in 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)propionate catabolism by Escherichia coli K-12.

PubMed

Xu, Ying; Chen, Bing; Chao, Hongjun; Zhou, Ning-Yi

2013-10-01

Escherichia coli K-12 utilizes 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (3HPP) as a sole carbon and energy source. Among the genes in its catabolic cluster in the genome, mhpT was proposed to encode a hypothetical transporter. Since no transporter for 3HPP uptake has been identified, we investigated whether MhpT is responsible for 3HPP uptake. MhpT fused with green fluorescent protein was found to be located at the periphery of cells by confocal microscopy, consistent with localization to the cytoplasmic membrane. Gene knockout and complementation studies clearly indicated that mhpT is essential for 3HPP catabolism in E. coli K-12 W3110 at pH 8.2. Uptake assays with (14)C-labeled substrates demonstrated that strain W3110 and strain W3110ΔmhpT containing recombinant MhpT specifically transported 3HPP but not benzoate, 3-hydroxybenzoate, or gentisate into cells. Energy dependence assays suggested that MhpT-mediated 3HPP transport was driven by the proton motive force. The change of Ala-272 of MhpT to a histidine, surprisingly, resulted in enhanced transport activity, and strain W3110ΔmhpT containing the MhpT A272H mutation had a slightly higher growth rate than the wild-type strain at pH 8.2. Hence, we demonstrated that MhpT is a specific 3HPP transporter and vital for E. coli K-12 W3110 growth on this substrate under basic conditions.

Sojourning with the Homogeneous Poisson Process.

PubMed

Liu, Piaomu; Peña, Edsel A

2016-01-01

In this pedagogical article, distributional properties, some surprising, pertaining to the homogeneous Poisson process (HPP), when observed over a possibly random window, are presented. Properties of the gap-time that covered the termination time and the correlations among gap-times of the observed events are obtained. Inference procedures, such as estimation and model validation, based on event occurrence data over the observation window, are also presented. We envision that through the results in this paper, a better appreciation of the subtleties involved in the modeling and analysis of recurrent events data will ensue, since the HPP is arguably one of the simplest among recurrent event models. In addition, the use of the theorem of total probability, Bayes theorem, the iterated rules of expectation, variance and covariance, and the renewal equation could be illustrative when teaching distribution theory, mathematical statistics, and stochastic processes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This article is targeted towards both instructors and students.

Uncertainty in the Himalayan energy-water nexus: estimating regional exposure to glacial lake outburst floods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwanghart, Wolfgang; Worni, Raphael; Huggel, Christian; Stoffel, Markus; Korup, Oliver

2016-07-01

Himalayan water resources attract a rapidly growing number of hydroelectric power projects (HPP) to satisfy Asia’s soaring energy demands. Yet HPP operating or planned in steep, glacier-fed mountain rivers face hazards of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) that can damage hydropower infrastructure, alter water and sediment yields, and compromise livelihoods downstream. Detailed appraisals of such GLOF hazards are limited to case studies, however, and a more comprehensive, systematic analysis remains elusive. To this end we estimate the regional exposure of 257 Himalayan HPP to GLOFs, using a flood-wave propagation model fed by Monte Carlo-derived outburst volumes of >2300 glacial lakes. We interpret the spread of thus modeled peak discharges as a predictive uncertainty that arises mainly from outburst volumes and dam-breach rates that are difficult to assess before dams fail. With 66% of sampled HPP are on potential GLOF tracks, up to one third of these HPP could experience GLOF discharges well above local design floods, as hydropower development continues to seek higher sites closer to glacial lakes. We compute that this systematic push of HPP into headwaters effectively doubles the uncertainty about GLOF peak discharge in these locations. Peak discharges farther downstream, in contrast, are easier to predict because GLOF waves attenuate rapidly. Considering this systematic pattern of regional GLOF exposure might aid the site selection of future Himalayan HPP. Our method can augment, and help to regularly update, current hazard assessments, given that global warming is likely changing the number and size of Himalayan meltwater lakes.

Pharmacokinetic behavior of intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide prepared by a hospital pharmacy.

PubMed

Oishi, Masako; Maeda, Shinichiro; Hashida, Noriyasu; Ohguro, Nobuyuki; Tano, Yasuo; Kurokawa, Nobuo

2008-01-01

We developed a new hospital pharmaceutical preparation of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for intravitreal injections using sodium hyaluronate as the vehicle. The purpose of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic behavior of this hospital pharmacy preparation of TA (HPP-TA) to that of a commercial preparation of TA (CP-TA) in rats. We injected the two preparations of TA into the vitreous humor of male Wistar rats. The rats were killed between days 1 and 21, and the concentration of TA in the vitreous was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters. We also examined the microscopic appearance of the TA particles in these preparations. The elimination half-life was 6.08 days for the CP-TA and 5.78 days for the HPP-TA. A two-compartment model was suitable to approximate the pharmacokinetic behavior of HPP-TA in the vitreous body, but this model was not suitable for CP-TA, because its pharmacokinetic behavior was not sufficiently stable. The particle size of CP-TA was largest, followed by TA powder and HPP-TA. Many particles were agglutinated in the CP-TA preparation, whereas the TA particles were fine and dispersed in the HPP-TA medium. The TA particle size and the suspension medium are likely important factors in the preparation of a safe and stable suspension of TA. HPP-TA satisfied these requirements and should be suitable for clinical use.

[Response of pancreatic polypeptide to a protein rich meal in insulin non dependent diabetes melitus and autonomic neuropathy].

PubMed

Kostić, N; Zamaklar, M; Novaković, R; Stajić, S

1994-01-01

Parasympathetic function and plasma hPP response to a protein rich meal were evaluated in 105 insulin non-dependent diabetic patients: 20 with autonomic neuropathy (group A), diagnosed by Clonidin test; 35 patients with neurophysiological evidence of polyneuropath (group B); 30 patients with autonomic neuropathy and polineuropathy (group C), and 20 patients without any sign of neuropathy (group D). Plasma hPP levels were determined by RIA using an anti-hPP antiserum, kindly provided by Prof. S. R. Bloom (Hammersmith Hospital, London). Blood was taken at 0. 45 and 60 minutes after the beginning of the meal. In groups A and C, the meal induced hPP increase was significantly lower than in group D (p 0.001). All group B patients had a marked increase in the peptide, similar to that in diabetics without neuropathy. These result ssuggest that diabetic autonomic neuropathy is associated with dysfunction of hPP secretion, and that the evaluation of hPP response to test meal may be a sensitive and simple method for the assessment of paraympathetic impairment in diabetes.

Human Proteome Project Mass Spectrometry Data Interpretation Guidelines 2.1.

PubMed

Deutsch, Eric W; Overall, Christopher M; Van Eyk, Jennifer E; Baker, Mark S; Paik, Young-Ki; Weintraub, Susan T; Lane, Lydie; Martens, Lennart; Vandenbrouck, Yves; Kusebauch, Ulrike; Hancock, William S; Hermjakob, Henning; Aebersold, Ruedi; Moritz, Robert L; Omenn, Gilbert S

2016-11-04

Every data-rich community research effort requires a clear plan for ensuring the quality of the data interpretation and comparability of analyses. To address this need within the Human Proteome Project (HPP) of the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO), we have developed through broad consultation a set of mass spectrometry data interpretation guidelines that should be applied to all HPP data contributions. For submission of manuscripts reporting HPP protein identification results, the guidelines are presented as a one-page checklist containing 15 essential points followed by two pages of expanded description of each. Here we present an overview of the guidelines and provide an in-depth description of each of the 15 elements to facilitate understanding of the intentions and rationale behind the guidelines, for both authors and reviewers. Broadly, these guidelines provide specific directions regarding how HPP data are to be submitted to mass spectrometry data repositories, how error analysis should be presented, and how detection of novel proteins should be supported with additional confirmatory evidence. These guidelines, developed by the HPP community, are presented to the broader scientific community for further discussion.

Understanding the “black box” of a health-promotion program: Keys to enable health among older persons aging in the context of migration

PubMed Central

Barenfeld, Emmelie; Gustafsson, Susanne; Wallin, Lars; Dahlin-Ivanoff, Synneve

2015-01-01

Although the need to make health services more accessible to persons who have migrated has been identified, knowledge about health-promotion programs (HPPs) from the perspective of older persons born abroad is lacking. This study explores the design experiences and content implemented in an adapted version of a group-based HPP developed in a researcher–community partnership. Fourteen persons aged 70–83 years or older who had migrated to Sweden from Finland or the Balkan Peninsula were included. A grounded theory approach guided the data collection and analysis. The findings showed how participants and personnel jointly helped raise awareness. The participants experienced three key processes that could open doors to awareness: enabling community, providing opportunities to understand and be understood, and confirming human values and abilities. Depending on how the HPP content and design are being shaped by the group, the key processes could both inhibit or encourage opening doors to awareness. Therefore, this study provides key insights into how to enable health by deepening the understanding of how the exchange of health-promoting messages is experienced to be facilitated or hindered. This study adds to the scientific knowledge base of how the design and content of HPP may support and recognize the capabilities of persons aging in the context of migration. PMID:26654636

Understanding the "black box" of a health-promotion program: Keys to enable health among older persons aging in the context of migration.

PubMed

Barenfeld, Emmelie; Gustafsson, Susanne; Wallin, Lars; Dahlin-Ivanoff, Synneve

2015-01-01

Although the need to make health services more accessible to persons who have migrated has been identified, knowledge about health-promotion programs (HPPs) from the perspective of older persons born abroad is lacking. This study explores the design experiences and content implemented in an adapted version of a group-based HPP developed in a researcher-community partnership. Fourteen persons aged 70-83 years or older who had migrated to Sweden from Finland or the Balkan Peninsula were included. A grounded theory approach guided the data collection and analysis. The findings showed how participants and personnel jointly helped raise awareness. The participants experienced three key processes that could open doors to awareness: enabling community, providing opportunities to understand and be understood, and confirming human values and abilities. Depending on how the HPP content and design are being shaped by the group, the key processes could both inhibit or encourage opening doors to awareness. Therefore, this study provides key insights into how to enable health by deepening the understanding of how the exchange of health-promoting messages is experienced to be facilitated or hindered. This study adds to the scientific knowledge base of how the design and content of HPP may support and recognize the capabilities of persons aging in the context of migration.

The Hpp Rule with Memory and the Density Classification Task

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alonso-Sanz, Ramón

This article considers an extension to the standard framework of cellular automata by implementing memory capability in cells. It is shown that the important block HPP rule behaves as an excellent classifier of the density in the initial configuration when applied to cells endowed with pondered memory of their previous states. If the weighing is made so that the most recent state values are assigning the highest weights, the HPP rule surpasses the performance of the best two-dimensional density classifiers reported in the literature.

Instrument-Aided Assessment of the Effect of Natural and Technogenic Factors on the Geomechanical State of a Massif Enclosing an HPP Turbine Room

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

Abramov, N. N., E-mail: Abramov@goi.kolasc.net.ru; Epimakhov, Yu. A.

2016-05-15

A package of geophysical criteria has been developed using seismic spatiotemporal tomography (SST) of a rock massif to perform an instrument-aided assessment of the effect of natural and technogenic factors on the geomechanical state of a rock massif enclosing an underground turbine room at an HPP. Results are presented for a detailed assessment for the underground turbine room at the Verkhnyaya Tuloma HPP on the Kola peninsula.

Administrative Preparedness Strategies: Expediting Procurement and Contracting Cycle Times During an Emergency.

PubMed

Hurst, David; Sharpe, Sharon; Yeager, Valerie A

We assessed whether administrative preparedness processes that were intended to expedite the acquisition of goods and services during a public health emergency affect estimated procurement and contracting cycle times. We obtained data from 2014-2015 applications to the Hospital Preparedness Program and Public Health Emergency Preparedness (HPP-PHEP) cooperative agreements. We compared the estimated procurement and contracting cycle times of 61 HPP-PHEP awardees that did and did not have certain administrative processes in place. Certain processes, such as statutes allowing for procuring and contracting on the open market, had an effect on reducing the estimated cycle times for obtaining goods and services. Other processes, such as cooperative purchasing agreements, also had an effect on estimated procurement time. For example, awardees with statutes that permitted them to obtain goods and services in the open market had an average procurement cycle time of 6 days; those without such statutes had a cycle time of 17 days ( P = .04). PHEP awardees should consider adopting these or similar processes in an effort to reduce cycle times.

Effects of pre- or post-processing storage conditions on high-hydrostatic pressure inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in oysters.

PubMed

Ye, Mu; Huang, Yaoxin; Gurtler, Joshua B; Niemira, Brendan A; Sites, Joseph E; Chen, Haiqiang

2013-05-15

The effects of storage conditions on subsequent high-hydrostatic pressure (HHP) inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus in oysters were investigated. Live oysters were inoculated with V. parahaemolyticus or V. vulnificus to ca. 7-8 log MPN/g by feeding and stored at varying conditions (i.e., 21 or 35 °C for 5h, 4 or 10 °C for 1 and 2 days and -18 °C for 2 weeks). Oyster meats were then treated at 225-300 MPa for 2 min at 4, 21 or 35 °C. HHP at 300 MPa for 2 min achieved a >5-log MPN/g reduction of V. parahaemolyticus, completely inactivating V. vulnificus (negative by enrichment) in oysters. Treatment temperatures of 4, 21 and 35 °C did not significantly affect pressure inactivation of V. parahaemolyticus or V. vulnificus (P>0.05). Cold storage at -18, 4 and 10 °C, prior to HHP, decreased V. parahaemolyticus or V. vulnificus populations by 1.5-3.0 log MPN/g, but did not increase their sensitivity to subsequent HHP treatments. The effects of cold storage after HHP on inactivation of V. parahaemolyticus in oysters were also determined. Oysters were inoculated with V. parahaemolyticus and stored at 21 °C for 5h or 4 °C for 1 day. Oyster meats were then treated at 250-300 MPa for 2 min at 21 or 35 °C and stored for 15 days in ice or in a freezer. V. parahaemolyticus populations in HHP-treated oysters gradually decreased during post-HHP ice or frozen storage. A validation study using whole-shell oysters was conducted to determine whether the presence of oyster shells influenced HHP inactivation of V. parahaemolyticus. No appreciable differences in inactivation between shucked oyster meat and whole-shell oysters were observed. HPP at 300 MPa for 2 min at 21 °C, followed by 5-day ice storage or 7-day frozen storage, and HPP at 250 MPa for 2 min at 21 °C, followed by 10-day ice or 7-day frozen storage, completely inactivated V. parahaemolyticus in whole-shell oysters (>7 log reductions). The combination of HHP at a relatively low pressure (e.g., 250 MPa) followed by short-term frozen storage (7 days) could potentially be applied by the shellfish industry as a post-harvest process to eliminate V. parahaemolyticus in oysters. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Infantile hypophosphatasia combined with vitamin B6-responsive seizures and reticular formation lesions on magnetic resonance imaging: A case report.

PubMed

Fukazawa, Mitsuharu; Tezuka, Junichiro; Sasazuki, Momoko; Masumoto, Natsuko; Baba, Haruhisa; Doi, Takehiko; Tsutsumi, Yasushi; Mizuno, Yuji; Mihara, Futoshi; Nakayama, Hideki

2018-02-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by rachitic bone manifestations and a low serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level. It is caused by mutations in the tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene, which encodes the tissue non-specific isozyme of ALP. HPP patients exhibit various presentations depending on their age at onset, such as infantile HPP combined with vitamin B6-responsive seizures. A newborn with infantile HPP presented with tonic convulsions from day 5 after birth and received intravenous vitamin B6 (10mg/kg/day pyridoxal phosphate). Eleven days later, frequent apneic episodes occurred, and head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bilateral reticular formation lesions in the brain stem, including the medulla oblongata. After the pyridoxal phosphate dose was increased (to 40mg/kg/day), the patient's seizures and apnea resolved, and her MRI findings also improved. Genetic testing revealed that she was homozygous for the 1559delT mutation of TNSALP. High-dose pyridoxal phosphate is a useful treatment for HPP-induced seizures and might improve reticular formation lesions. Copyright © 2017 The Japanese Society of Child Neurology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure on the enzymatic hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin.

PubMed

De Maria, Serena; Ferrari, Giovanna; Maresca, Paola

2017-08-01

The extent of enzymatic proteolysis mainly depends on accessibility of the peptide bonds, which stabilize the protein structure. The high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) process is able to induce, at certain operating conditions, protein displacement, thus suggesting that this technology can be used to modify protein resistance to the enzymatic attack. This work aims at investigating the mechanism of enzymatic hydrolysis assisted by HHP performed under different processing conditions (pressure level, treatment time). Bovine serum albumin was selected for the experiments, solubilized in sodium phosphate buffer (25 mg mL -1 , pH 7.5) with α-chymotrypsin or trypsin (E/S ratio = 1/10) and HPP treatment (100-500 MPa, 15-25 min). HHP treatment enhanced the extent of the hydrolysis reaction of globular proteins, being more effective than conventional hydrolysis. At HHP treatment conditions maximizing the protein unfolding, the hydrolysis degree of proteins was increased as a consequence of the increased exposure of peptide bonds to the attack of proteolytic enzymes. The maximum hydrolysis degree (10% and 7% respectively for the samples hydrolyzed with α-chymotrypsin and trypsin) was observed for the samples processed at 400 MPa for 25 min. At pressure levels higher than 400 MPa the formation of aggregates was likely to occur; thus the degree of hydrolysis decreased. Protein unfolding represents the key factor controlling the efficiency of HHP-assisted hydrolysis treatments. The peptide produced under high pressure showed lower dimensions and a different structure with respect to those of the hydrolysates obtained when the hydrolysis was carried out at atmospheric pressure, thus opening new frontiers of application in food science and nutrition. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Impact evaluation of the Royal Australian Air Force health promotion program.

PubMed

Peel, G R; Booth, M L

2001-01-01

In 1981, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) introduced an intensive health promotion program (HPP), the purpose of which was to control preventable diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), linked to lifestyle-related risk factors. However, the RAAF HPP's effectiveness had not been appropriately evaluated since its implementation. The RAAF HPP's interventions have reduced, beyond secular trends, the prevalence of lifestyle-related CVD risk factors. Retrospective cross-sectional risk factor prevalence surveys of randomly selected RAAF pilots and navigators were conducted for the years 1980, 1983 and 1989. The survey results for RAAF subjects were compared with the results obtained for demographically similar subjects participating in National Heart Foundation (NHF) Risk Factor Prevalence Study (RFPS) surveys for the same periods, using chi2 and Mantel-Haenszel (M-H) chi2 tests, and 1-way and 2-way ANOVA. Over the survey periods, the prevalence of overweight and obesity decreased by 8% in RAAF subjects and increased by 7% in NHF subjects, and mean total serum cholesterol decreased by 8% in RAAF subjects while remaining static in NHF subjects. Participation in vigorous physical activity increased among RAAF, but not NHF, subjects. The results for most other risk factors showed significant differences between RAAF and NHF subjects, but trends were comparable over survey periods. On balance, reductions in the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and mean serum cholesterol in RAAF subjects were probable effects of the RAAF HPP. Other observed differences in CVD risk factors between RAAF and NHF groups were attributable to the RAAF aircrew selection process, or other RAAF-specific influences. The study thus provides qualified support for the hypothesis, although effects were less evident in older RAAF subjects.

Effects of High Hydrostatic Pressure on Bacterial Growth on Human Ossicles Explanted from Cholesteatoma Patients

PubMed Central

Ostwald, Jürgen; Lindner, Tobias; Zautner, Andreas Erich; Arndt, Kathleen; Pau, Hans Wilhelm; Podbielski, Andreas

2012-01-01

Background High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment can eliminate cholesteatoma cells from explanted human ossicles prior to re-insertion. We analyzed the effects of HHP treatment on the microbial flora on ossicles and on the planktonic and biofilm states of selected isolates. Methodology Twenty-six ossicles were explanted from cholesteatoma patients. Five ossicles were directly analyzed for microbial growth without further treatment. Fifteen ossicles were cut into two pieces. One piece was exposed to HHP of 350 MPa for 10 minutes. Both the treated and untreated (control) pieces were then assessed semi-quantitatively. Three ossicles were cut into two pieces and exposed to identical pressure conditions with or without the addition of one of two different combinations of antibiotics to the medium. Differential effects of 10-minute in vitro exposure of planktonic and biofilm bacteria to pressures of 100 MPa, 250 MPa, 400 MPa and 540 MPa in isotonic and hypotonic media were analyzed using two patient isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Neisseria subflava. Bacterial cell inactivation and biofilm destruction were assessed by colony counting and electron microscopy. Principal Findings A variety of microorganisms were isolated from the ossicles. Irrespective of the medium, HHP treatment at 350 MPa for 10 minutes led to satisfying but incomplete inactivation especially of Gram-negative bacteria. The addition of antibiotics increased the efficacy of elimination. A comparison of HHP treatment of planktonic and biofilm cells showed that the effects of HPP were reduced by about one decadic logarithmic unit when HPP was applied to biofilms. High hydrostatic pressure conditions that are suitable to inactivate cholesteatoma cells fail to completely sterilize ossicles even if antibiotics are added. As a result of the reduced microbial load and the viability loss of surviving bacteria, however, there is a lower risk of re-infection after re-insertion. PMID:22291908

Physics Achievement Test.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA. Harvard Project Physics.

This document is an evaluation instrument developed as a part of Harvard Project Physics (HPP). It consists of a 36-item, multiple choice (five options) Physics Achievement Test (PAT) designed to measure general knowledge of physics as well as the material emphasized in HPP. (PEB)

Solution of basic operational problems of water-development works at the Votkinsk hydroproject

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

Deev, A. P.; Borisevich, L. A.; Fisenko, V. F.

2012-11-15

Basic operational problems of water-development works at the Votkinsk HPP are examined. Measures for restoration of normal safety conditions for the water-development works at the HPP, which had been taken during service, are presented.

[The therapeutic use of iodide-bromide-sodium chloride baths combined with hydrocortisone phonophoresis in patients with osteoarthrosis and gout].

PubMed

Kamenskaia, N S; Fedorova, N E

1990-01-01

Hydrocortisone phonophoresis (HPP) on the affected joints or balneotherapy with iodine bromine baths as well as the complex of these two modalities were used to treat 197 patients with osteoarthrosis. Thirty-one of the patients had secondary arthrosis due to recurrent gout attacks. Monotherapy with HPP proved beneficial in affection of 1-2 joints whereas the baths appeared preferable in polyosteoarthrosis, its association with spinal osteoarthrosis, arterial hypertension. Combined application of HPP and the baths produced more pronounced and stable effect with the best relief recorded in polyosteoarthrosis, its progression, secondary synovitis.

Physical therapy management of infants and children with hypophosphatasia.

PubMed

Phillips, Dawn; Case, Laura E; Griffin, Donna; Hamilton, Kim; Lara, Sergio Lerma; Leiro, Beth; Monfreda, Jessica; Westlake, Elaine; Kishnani, Priya S

2016-09-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare inborn error of metabolism resulting in undermineralization of bone and subsequent skeletal abnormalities. The natural history of HPP is characterized by rickets and osteomalacia, increased propensity for bone fracture, early loss of teeth in childhood, and muscle weakness. There is a wide heterogeneity in disease presentation, and the functional impact of the disease can vary from perinatal death to gait abnormalities. Recent clinical trials of enzyme replacement therapy have begun to offer an opportunity for improvement in survival and function. The role of physical therapy in the treatment of the underlying musculoskeletal dysfunction in HPP is underrecognized. It is important for physical therapists to understand the disease characteristics of the natural history of a rare disease like HPP and how the impairment and activity limitations may change in response to medical interventions. An understanding of when and how to intervene is also important in order to optimally impact body function, lessen structural impairment, and facilitate increased functional independence in mobility and activities of daily living. Individualizing treatment to the child's needs, medical fragility, and setting (home/school/hospital), while educating parents, caregivers, and school staff regarding approved activities and therapy frequency, may improve function and development in children with HPP. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Developing a lower-cost atmospheric CO2 monitoring system using commercial NDIR sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arzoumanian, E.; Bastos, A.; Gaynullin, B.; Laurent, O.; Vogel, F. R.

2017-12-01

Cities release to the atmosphere about 44 % of global energy-related CO2. It is clear that accurate estimates of the magnitude of anthropogenic and natural urban emissions are needed to assess their influence on the carbon balance. A dense ground-based CO2 monitoring network in cities would potentially allow retrieving sector specific CO2 emission estimates when combined with an atmospheric inversion framework using reasonably accurate observations (ca. 1 ppm for hourly means). One major barrier for denser observation networks can be the high cost of high precision instruments or high calibration cost of cheaper and unstable instruments. We have developed and tested a novel inexpensive NDIR sensors for CO2 measurements which fulfils cost and typical parameters requirements (i.e. signal stability, efficient handling, and connectivity) necessary for this task. Such sensors are essential in the market of emissions estimates in cities from continuous monitoring networks as well as for leak detection of MRV (monitoring, reporting, and verification) services for industrial sites. We conducted extensive laboratory tests (short and long-term repeatability, cross-sensitivities, etc.) on a series of prototypes and the final versions were also tested in a climatic chamber. On four final HPP prototypes the sensitivity to pressure and temperature were precisely quantified and correction&calibration strategies developed. Furthermore, we fully integrated these HPP sensors in a Raspberry PI platform containing the CO2 sensor and additional sensors (pressure, temperature and humidity sensors), gas supply pump and a fully automated data acquisition unit. This platform was deployed in parallel to Picarro G2401 instruments in the peri-urban site Saclay - next to Paris, and in the urban site Jussieu - Paris, France. These measurements were conducted over several months in order to characterize the long-term drift of our HPP instruments and the ability of the correction and calibration scheme to provide bias free observations. From the lessons learned in the laboratory tests and field measurements, we developed a specific correction and calibration strategy for our NDIR sensors. Latest results and calibration strategies will be shown.

Could Alerting Physicians for Low Alkaline Phosphatase Levels Be Helpful in Early Diagnosis of Hypophosphatasia?

PubMed

Deeb, Asma; Elfatih, Abubaker

2018-03-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inborn error of metabolism with significant morbidity and mortality. Its presentation is nonspecific leading to delayed or missed diagnosis. Low alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a diagnostic test. Unlike high ALP, low level is commonly not flagged by laboratories as abnormal. A new treatment was shown to be effective in HPP. In this study we aimed to establish the frequency of low ALP levels requiring notification to physicians by the laboratory and also to describe the clinical manifestations of patients presenting with low ALP for a possible diagnosis of HPP. Patients under age 18 years with low ALP levels were identified from biochemistry records over a period of 6 months. Reference ranges were used as per the Associated Regional and University Pathologists Reference Laboratory (Utah, USA). Electronic results for patients with low levels were checked for flagging as abnormal/low ALP results. Charts of identified patients were reviewed. Presenting features were categorized under groups of disorders. ALP levels were tested in 2890 patients. 702 had values less than 160 U/L. Of these patients, 226 (32%) had age/gender specific low ALP. None of the low ALP results was flagged as low. Twenty-one had more than one low reading and their charts were reviewed. Four patients in the neuromuscular and four in the miscellaneous group presented with features consistent with HPP despite these patients having no specific diagnoses. Laboratories do not alert physicians in cases with low ALP levels. A persistently low level in patients with unspecified diagnoses could be a key to diagnose HPP. Implementing lab-specific ranges and alerting for low levels could prompt physicians to investigate for undiagnosed HPP.

Asfotase Alfa Treatment Improves Survival for Perinatal and Infantile Hypophosphatasia

PubMed Central

Rockman-Greenberg, Cheryl; Ozono, Keiichi; Riese, Richard; Moseley, Scott; Melian, Agustin; Thompson, David D.; Bishop, Nicholas; Hofmann, Christine

2016-01-01

Context: Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inborn error of metabolism that, in its most severe perinatal and infantile forms, results in 50–100% mortality, typically from respiratory complications. Objectives: Our objective was to better understand the effect of treatment with asfotase alfa, a first-in-class enzyme replacement therapy, on mortality in neonates and infants with severe HPP. Design/Setting: Data from patients with the perinatal and infantile forms of HPP in two ongoing, multicenter, multinational, open-label, phase 2 interventional studies of asfotase alfa treatment were compared with data from similar patients from a retrospective natural history study. Patients: Thirty-seven treated patients (median treatment duration, 2.7 years) and 48 historical controls of similar chronological age and HPP characteristics. Interventions: Treated patients received asfotase alfa as sc injections either 1 mg/kg six times per week or 2 mg/kg thrice weekly. Main Outcome Measures: Survival, skeletal health quantified radiographically on treatment, and ventilatory status were the main outcome measures for this study. Results: Asfotase alfa was associated with improved survival in treated patients vs historical controls: 95% vs 42% at age 1 year and 84% vs 27% at age 5 years, respectively (P < .0001, Kaplan-Meier log-rank test). Whereas 5% (1/20) of the historical controls who required ventilatory assistance survived, 76% (16/21) of the ventilated and treated patients survived, among whom 75% (12/16) were weaned from ventilatory support. This better respiratory outcome accompanied radiographic improvements in skeletal mineralization and health. Conclusions: Asfotase alfa mineralizes the HPP skeleton, including the ribs, and improves respiratory function and survival in life-threatening perinatal and infantile HPP. PMID:26529632

Microgravity

NASA Image and Video Library

2000-11-03

On the Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis' middeck, Astronaut Donald R. McMonagle, mission commander, works with the Heat Pipe Performance (HPP-2) experiment during STS-66 mission. HPP-2 was flown to investigate the thermal performance and fluid dynamics of heat pipes operating with asymmetric and multiple heating zones under microgravity condition.

Expanding the Chemistry of Rhenium Metal–Metal Bonded Fluoro Complexes: Facile Preparation and Characterization of Paddlewheel Complexes

DOE PAGES

Balasekaran, Samundeeswari Mariappan; Sattelberger, Alfred P.; Hagenbach, Adelheid; ...

2017-12-08

Quadruply bonded rhenium(III) dimers with the stoichiometry Re 2L 4F 2 (1, L = hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2a]pyrimidinate (hpp –); 2, L = diphenyl formamidinate (dpf –)) were prepared from the solid-state melt reactions (SSMRs) between (NH 4) 2[Re 2F 8]·2H 2O and HL. Then those compounds were characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and in solution by UV–visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The compound [Re 2(hpp) 4F 2]PF 6 (3) was prepared from the one-electron oxidation of Re 2(hpp) 4F 2 with [Cp 2Fe]PF 6. Compounds 1–3 are isostructural with the corresponding chloro derivatives. In summation, compound 1 undergoesmore » two one-electron oxidations. Comparison with its higher halogen homologues reveals that Re 2(hpp) 4F 2 (1) is more easily oxidized than its chloro and bromo analogues.« less

Expanding the Chemistry of Rhenium Metal–Metal Bonded Fluoro Complexes: Facile Preparation and Characterization of Paddlewheel Complexes

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

Balasekaran, Samundeeswari Mariappan; Sattelberger, Alfred P.; Hagenbach, Adelheid

Quadruply bonded rhenium(III) dimers with the stoichiometry Re 2L 4F 2 (1, L = hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2a]pyrimidinate (hpp –); 2, L = diphenyl formamidinate (dpf –)) were prepared from the solid-state melt reactions (SSMRs) between (NH 4) 2[Re 2F 8]·2H 2O and HL. Then those compounds were characterized in the solid state by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and in solution by UV–visible spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The compound [Re 2(hpp) 4F 2]PF 6 (3) was prepared from the one-electron oxidation of Re 2(hpp) 4F 2 with [Cp 2Fe]PF 6. Compounds 1–3 are isostructural with the corresponding chloro derivatives. In summation, compound 1 undergoesmore » two one-electron oxidations. Comparison with its higher halogen homologues reveals that Re 2(hpp) 4F 2 (1) is more easily oxidized than its chloro and bromo analogues.« less

The Harvard Project Physics Film Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bork, Alfred M.

1970-01-01

States the philosophy behind the Harvard Project Physics (HPP) film program. Describes the three long HPP films. Lists the 48 color film loops covering six broad topics, primarily motion and energy. The 8-mm silent loops are synchronized with the text materials. Explains some of the pedagogical possibilities of these film loops. (RR)

Model citizens. Outsourcing helps start-up Medicare HMO.

PubMed

Slavic, B; Adami, S

1999-04-01

Health Plans of Pennsylvania (HPP), the managed care arm of Crozer-Keystone Health System, in Media, Pa. Selecting the information systems and building the infrastructure to support the start-up of a new Medicare HMO product. HPP chose to outsource the information systems needed to integrate all the components of managed care administration into a cost-effective and cohesive program. Because of its aggressive programming and start-up of the MedCarePlus product offering, HPP became the first plan in the country to submit Medicare claims data electronically for encounter reporting to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). "Through an integrated team approach, an organization truly can benefit from the economies of scale gained through outsourcing."

Effect of diet textural characteristics on the temporal rhythms of feeding in rats.

PubMed

Mok, E; Thibault, L

To examine whether the diurnal rhythms of protein-rich and carbohydrate-rich diet ingestion can be altered by presenting the diets in different textural forms, adult male Wistar rats were assigned to two dietary groups. One group received a two-way choice between high-protein powder and high-carbohydrate granular (HPP-HCG) diets. In the other group the textures were reversed [high-protein granular and high-carbohydrate powder (HPG-HCP) diets]. Rats fed HPP-HCG diets selected significantly less protein (kcal) vs. rats fed HPG-HCP diets, during the 24-h and 12-h dark phase and during the 4-h early and late dark phases. Carbohydrate intakes of the two dietary groups were not significantly different. Total caloric intake for the HPG-HCP dietary group was significantly higher than that of the HPP-HCG dietary group during the 24-h and 12-h dark phase. Body weight was significantly lower in rats fed HPP-HCG diets. In conclusion, macronutrient-rich diets presented in different textural forms alter protein-rich diet ingestion and total energy intake.

Novel Control Strategy for Multiple Run-of-the-River Hydro Power Plants to Provide Grid Ancillary Services

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

Mohanpurkar, Manish; Luo, Yusheng; Hovsapian, Rob

Hydropower plant (HPP) generation comprises a considerable portion of bulk electricity generation and is delivered with a low-carbon footprint. In fact, HPP electricity generation provides the largest share from renewable energy resources, which include wind and solar. Increasing penetration levels of wind and solar lead to a lower inertia on the electric grid, which poses stability challenges. In recent years, breakthroughs in energy storage technologies have demonstrated the economic and technical feasibility of extensive deployments of renewable energy resources on electric grids. If integrated with scalable, multi-time-step energy storage so that the total output can be controlled, multiple run-of-the-river (ROR)more » HPPs can be deployed. Although the size of a single energy storage system is much smaller than that of a typical reservoir, the ratings of storages and multiple ROR HPPs approximately equal the rating of a large, conventional HPP. This paper proposes cohesively managing multiple sets of energy storage systems distributed in different locations. This paper also describes the challenges associated with ROR HPP system architecture and operation.« less

Polyphenols from hawthorn peels and fleshes differently mitigate dyslipidemia, inflammation and oxidative stress in association with modulation of liver injury in high fructose diet-fed mice.

PubMed

Han, Xiao; Li, Wenfeng; Huang, Di; Yang, Xingbin

2016-09-25

Hawthorn ingestion is linked to health benefits due to the various polyphenols. The present study investigated the differential effects of polyphenols-enriched extracts from hawthorn fruit peels (HPP) and fleshes (HFP) against liver injury induced by high-fructose diet in mice. It was found that the main species of polyphenols in hawthorn was chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, rutin and hyperoside, and their contents in HPP were all higher than those in HFP. Administration of HPP was better than HFP to alleviate liver injury and hepatocyte apoptosis, reflected by the reduction of ALT, AST and ALP activities, as well as the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in mice. Meanwhile, HPP was also more effective than HFP to mitigate liver inflammation and oxidative stress by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6) release, and elevating antioxidant enzyme activities and PPARα expression, while reducing Nrf-2 and ARE expression in mice. Interestingly, HPP-treated mice also showed the lower levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, VLDL-C and Apo-B, and the higher levels of HDL-C and Apo-A1 than HFP-treated mice via reducing FAS express. These results together with the histopathology of the liver with H&E and oil red O staining suggest that hawthorn fruit, especially its peel, is an excellent source of natural polyphenolic chemopreventive agents in the treatment of liver disorders. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

"Teaching Physics as one of the humanities": The history of (harvard) project Physics, 1961-1970

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meshoulam, David

In the United States after World War II, science had come to occupy a central place in the minds of policy makers, scientists, and the public. Negotiating different views between these groups proved a difficult task and spilled into debates over the role and scope of science education. To examine this process, this dissertation traces the history of Harvard Project Physics (HPP), a high-school physics curriculum from the 1960s that incorporated a humanistic and historical approach to teaching science. The narrative begins with the rise of General Education in the 1940s. Under the leadership of Harvard president James Conant, faculty at Harvard developed several Natural Science courses that connected science to history as a way to teach students about science and its relationship to culture. By the late 1950s this historical approach faced resistance from scientists who viewed it as misrepresenting their disciplines and called for students to learn specialized subject matter. With the support of the National Science Foundation (NSF), in the early 1960s scientists' vision of science education emerged in high-school classrooms across the country. By the mid 1960s, with the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the Daddario Amendment to the NSF, the political and education landscape began to change. These laws transformed the goals of two of the NSF and the Office of Education (USOE). These organizations faced demands to work together to develop projects that would speak to domestic concerns over equity and diversity. Their first joint educational venture was HPP. In order to succeed, HPP had to speak to the needs of disciplinary-minded scientists at the NSF, equity-minded educators at the USOE, and results-focused politicians in Congress. This work argues that HPP succeeded because it met the needs of these various stakeholders regarding the roles of science and education in American society.

Evaluation of a Dining Facility Intervention on U.S. Army Special Operations Soldiers’ Meal Quality, Dining Satisfaction, and Cost Effectiveness

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-18

Eating Index (HEI) scores were computed. Descriptive and independent t-test analyses were performed pre to post HPP implementation ( =0.05; 80% power...Appendix B: HPP THOR3 Point-of-Service Label Examples ....................................... 77 Appendix C: Demographic & Lifestyle Survey ...78 Appendix D: Dining Facility Satisfaction Survey

76 FR 71035 - Agency Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-16

.... This data collection effort is crucial to HPP's decision-making process regarding the continued... visits by project and field officers (e.g. pre- populating some elements of the mid-year and end- of-year... Information Collection Request. 30-Day Public Comment Request AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS. In...

Identification of Natural Oscillation Modes for Purposes of Seismic Assessment and Monitoring of HPP Dams

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

Kuz’menko, A. P., E-mail: apkuzm@gmail.com; Saburov, S. V., E-mail: saburov58@yandex.ru

2016-07-15

The paper puts forward a method for processing data from detailed seismic assessments of HPP dams (dynamic tests). A detailed assessment (hundreds of observation points in dam galleries) is performed with consideration of operating dam equipment and the microseismic noise. It is shown that dynamic oscillation characteristics (natural oscillation frequencies and modes in the main dam axes, the velocities of propagation of elastic waves with given polarization, and so on.) can be determined with sufficient accuracy by using complex transfer functions and pulse characteristics. Monitoring data is processed using data from a detailed assessment, taking account of identified natural oscillationmore » modes and determined ranges of natural frequencies. The spectra of characteristic frequencies thus obtained are used to choose substitution models and estimate the elastic characteristics of the “dam – rock bed” construction system, viz., the modulus of elasticity (the Young modulus), the Poisson ratio, the dam section stiffness with respect to shear, tension and compression and the elastic characteristics of the rock foundation.« less

Laryngeal and pharyngeal dysfunction in horses homozygous for hyperkalemic periodic paralysis.

PubMed

Carr, E A; Spier, S J; Kortz, G D; Hoffman, E P

1996-08-15

Evaluate histories, clinical signs, and laboratory data of 69 horses homozygous by DNA testing for hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HPP). Cohort study. 69 of 189 horses testing homozygous for HPP between October 1992 and November 1994. Questionnaires addressing signalment, training regimes, medical history, and current status of affected horses were sent to owners, trainers, or attending veterinarians. Data from completed questionnaires were tabulated and evaluated, using descriptive statistics. Sixty-nine (37%) of 189 questionnaires were completed and returned. Clinical episodes of muscle weakness or paralysis varied in severity and frequency from mild muscle fasciculations to recumbency and death. Sixty-three of 68 HPP-affected horses were reported to have had stridor associated with exercise, excitement, stress, or episodes of muscle paralysis. Common endoscopic findings in affected horses included pharyngeal collapse, pharyngeal edema, laryngopalatal dislocation, and laryngeal paralysis. Twelve of 27 horses receiving acetazolamide had decreases in stridor while receiving medication. Most horses testing homozygous for HPP had clinical signs associated with pharyngeal and laryngeal dysfunction. Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis should be included on a differential list for horses examined for signs of laryngeal or pharyngeal dysfunction or stridor. Treatment with acetazolamide may help to control respiratory tract signs associated with this disease.

A Cognitive Architecture for Human Performance Process Model Research

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-11-01

individually defined, updatable world representation which is a description of the world as the operator knows it. It contains rules for decisions, an...operate it), and rules of engagement (knowledge about the operator’s expected behavior). The HPP model works in the following way. Information enters...based models depict the problem-solving processes of experts. The experts’ knowledge is represented in symbol structures, along with rules for

Mining protein phosphorylation information from biomedical literature using NLP parsing and Support Vector Machines.

PubMed

Raja, Kalpana; Natarajan, Jeyakumar

2018-07-01

Extraction of protein phosphorylation information from biomedical literature has gained much attention because of the importance in numerous biological processes. In this study, we propose a text mining methodology which consists of two phases, NLP parsing and SVM classification to extract phosphorylation information from literature. First, using NLP parsing we divide the data into three base-forms depending on the biomedical entities related to phosphorylation and further classify into ten sub-forms based on their distribution with phosphorylation keyword. Next, we extract the phosphorylation entity singles/pairs/triplets and apply SVM to classify the extracted singles/pairs/triplets using a set of features applicable to each sub-form. The performance of our methodology was evaluated on three corpora namely PLC, iProLink and hPP corpus. We obtained promising results of >85% F-score on ten sub-forms of training datasets on cross validation test. Our system achieved overall F-score of 93.0% on iProLink and 96.3% on hPP corpus test datasets. Furthermore, our proposed system achieved best performance on cross corpus evaluation and outperformed the existing system with recall of 90.1%. The performance analysis of our unique system on three corpora reveals that it extracts protein phosphorylation information efficiently in both non-organism specific general datasets such as PLC and iProLink, and human specific dataset such as hPP corpus. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pathophysiology of hypophosphatasia and the potential role of asfotase alfa.

PubMed

Orimo, Hideo

2016-01-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inherited systemic bone disease that is characterized by bone hypomineralization. HPP is classified into six forms according to the age of onset and severity as perinatal (lethal), perinatal benign, infantile, childhood, adult, and odontohypophosphatasia. The causative gene of the disease is the ALPL gene that encodes tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). TNAP is expressed ubiquitously, and its physiological role is apparent in bone mineralization. A defect in bone mineralization can manifest in several ways, including rickets or osteomalacia in HPP patients. Patients with severe forms suffer from respiratory failure because of hypoplastic chest, which is the main cause of death. They sometimes present with seizures due to a defect in vitamin B6 metabolism resulting from the lack of alkaline phosphatase activity in neuronal cells, which is also lethal. Patients with a mild form of the disease exhibit rickets or osteomalacia and a functional defect of exercise. Odontohypophosphatasia shows only dental manifestations. To date, 302 mutations in the ALPL gene have been reported, mainly single-nucleotide substitutions, and the relationships between phenotype and genotype have been partially elucidated. An established treatment for HPP was not available until the recent development of enzyme replacement therapy. The first successful enzyme replacement therapy in model mice using a modified human TNAP protein (asfotase alfa) was reported in 2008, and subsequently success in patients with severe form of the disease was reported in 2012. In 2015, asfotase alfa was approved in Japan in July, followed by in the EU and Canada in August, and then by the US Food and Drug Administration in the USA in October. It is expected that therapy with asfotase alfa will drastically change treatments and prognosis of HPP.

Monitoring guidance for patients with hypophosphatasia treated with asfotase alfa.

PubMed

Kishnani, Priya S; Rush, Eric T; Arundel, Paul; Bishop, Nick; Dahir, Kathryn; Fraser, William; Harmatz, Paul; Linglart, Agnès; Munns, Craig F; Nunes, Mark E; Saal, Howard M; Seefried, Lothar; Ozono, Keiichi

2017-09-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a rare, inherited, systemic, metabolic disorder caused by autosomal recessive mutations or a single dominant-negative mutation in the gene encoding tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP). The disease is associated with a broad range of signs, symptoms, and complications, including impaired skeletal mineralization, altered calcium and phosphate metabolism, recurrent fractures, pain, respiratory problems, impaired growth and mobility, premature tooth loss, developmental delay, and seizures. Asfotase alfa is a human, recombinant enzyme replacement therapy that is approved in many countries for the treatment of patients with HPP. To address the unmet need for guidance in the monitoring of patients receiving asfotase alfa, an international panel of physicians with experience in diagnosing and managing HPP convened in May 2016 to discuss treatment monitoring parameters. The panel discussions focused on recommendations for assessing and monitoring patients after the decision to treat with asfotase alfa had been made and did not include recommendations for whom to treat. Based on the consensus of panel members, this review provides guidance on the monitoring of patients with HPP during treatment with asfotase alfa, including recommendations for laboratory, efficacy, and safety assessments and the frequency with which these should be performed during the course of treatment. Recommended assessments are based on patient age and include regular monitoring of biochemistry, skeletal radiographs, respiratory function, growth, pain, mobility and motor function, and quality of life. Because of the systemic presentation of HPP, a coordinated, multidisciplinary, team-based, patient-focused approach is recommended in the management of patients receiving asfotase alfa. Monitoring of efficacy and safety outcomes must be tailored to the individual patient, depending on medical history, clinical manifestations, availability of resources in the clinical setting, and the clinician's professional judgment. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Purification and characterization of human pancreatic polypeptide expressed in E. coli.

PubMed

Griko, Y V; Kapanadze, M D

1995-08-04

The region of cDNA encoding human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP) was obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subcloned into an expression vector. The pancreatic polypeptide gene was expressed in Escherichia coli in two versions: as a cleavable fusion protein with IgG-binding synthetic ZZ domains of protein A from Staphylococcus aureus or with the 1-48 fragment of lambda Cro repressor. Site-specific hydrolysis by hydroxylamine was used to cleave the fusion protein, releasing the human polypeptide. The structure of the obtained hPP has been studied by scanning microcalorimetry and circular dichroism spectrometry. It has been shown that hPP in solutions close to neutral has a compact and unique spatial structure with an extended hydrophobic core. This structure is stable at 20 degrees C and co-operatively breaks down upon heating from this temperature.

Density functional calculations on the effect of sulfur substitution for 2'-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate: C-O vs. P-O bond cleavage.

PubMed

Xia, Futing; Zhu, Hua

2012-02-01

Density functional theory calculations have been used to investigate the intra-molecular attack of 2'-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPpNP) and its analogous compound 2-thiouridyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (s-2'pNP). Bulk solvent effect has been tested at the geometry optimization level with the polarized continuum model. It is found that the P-path involving the intra-molecular attack at the phosphorus atom and C-path involving the attack at the beta carbon atom proceed through the S(N)2-type mechanism for HPpNP and s-2'pNP. The calculated results indicate that the P-path with the free energy barrier of about 11 kcal/mol is more accessible than the C-path for the intra-molecular attack of HPpNP, which favors the formation of the five-membered phosphate diester. While for s-2'pNP, the C-path with the free energy barrier of about 21 kcal/mol proceeds more favorably than the P-path. The calculated energy barriers of the favorable pathways for HPpNP and s-2'pNP are both in agreement with the experimental results. Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

CAPER 3.0: A Scalable Cloud-Based System for Data-Intensive Analysis of Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project Data Sets.

PubMed

Yang, Shuai; Zhang, Xinlei; Diao, Lihong; Guo, Feifei; Wang, Dan; Liu, Zhongyang; Li, Honglei; Zheng, Junjie; Pan, Jingshan; Nice, Edouard C; Li, Dong; He, Fuchu

2015-09-04

The Chromosome-centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) aims to catalog genome-encoded proteins using a chromosome-by-chromosome strategy. As the C-HPP proceeds, the increasing requirement for data-intensive analysis of the MS/MS data poses a challenge to the proteomic community, especially small laboratories lacking computational infrastructure. To address this challenge, we have updated the previous CAPER browser into a higher version, CAPER 3.0, which is a scalable cloud-based system for data-intensive analysis of C-HPP data sets. CAPER 3.0 uses cloud computing technology to facilitate MS/MS-based peptide identification. In particular, it can use both public and private cloud, facilitating the analysis of C-HPP data sets. CAPER 3.0 provides a graphical user interface (GUI) to help users transfer data, configure jobs, track progress, and visualize the results comprehensively. These features enable users without programming expertise to easily conduct data-intensive analysis using CAPER 3.0. Here, we illustrate the usage of CAPER 3.0 with four specific mass spectral data-intensive problems: detecting novel peptides, identifying single amino acid variants (SAVs) derived from known missense mutations, identifying sample-specific SAVs, and identifying exon-skipping events. CAPER 3.0 is available at http://prodigy.bprc.ac.cn/caper3.

A Framework for a Decision Support System in a Hierarchical Extended Enterprise Decision Context

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boza, Andrés; Ortiz, Angel; Vicens, Eduardo; Poler, Raul

Decision Support System (DSS) tools provide useful information to decision makers. In an Extended Enterprise, a new goal, changes in the current objectives or small changes in the extended enterprise configuration produce a necessary adjustment in its decision system. A DSS in this context must be flexible and agile to make suitable an easy and quickly adaptation to this new context. This paper proposes to extend the Hierarchical Production Planning (HPP) structure to an Extended Enterprise decision making context. In this way, a framework for DSS in Extended Enterprise context is defined using components of HPP. Interoperability details have been reviewed to identify the impact in this framework. The proposed framework allows overcoming some interoperability barriers, identifying and organizing components for a DSS in Extended Enterprise context, and working in the definition of an architecture to be used in the design process of a flexible DSS in Extended Enterprise context which can reuse components for futures Extended Enterprise configurations.

Formal intervention in employee health: comparisons of the nature and structure of employee assistance programs and health promotion programs.

PubMed

Roman, P M; Blum, T C

1988-01-01

Health promotion programs (HPP) and employee assistance programs (EAP) are compared in terms of their structure and process. Two common themes are extracted: a belief that both are beneficial to both employers and employees, and a sense of 'mission'. The technology of HPP and EAP are examined and compared. EAPs' stimulation from Federal funding is contrasted with the more indigenous roots of HPPs. Examination of empirical data comparing organizations with EAPs which have and have not adopted HPPs indicate the former tend to be somewhat more 'caring' toward employees. An examination of program ingredients indicates much greater commonality of structural and processual ingredients within EAPs as compared to HPPs. The extent to which each program type has become more 'populist' in orientation and the implications of these changes for program technology are considered. Finally the paper describes differences in program evaluation stemming from target group definitions in the two types of programs.

The Health Promoting Prison (HPP) and its imperative for nursing.

PubMed

Whitehead, Dean

2006-01-01

The World Health Organisation's (WHO) Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion in 1986 provided the catalyst from which the Health Promoting Prison (HPP) movement emerged. Here, an extensive review of the available prison-related health literature provides the basis for critical discussion and recommendations for nursing services and prison-related health care. The findings suggest that current prison-based nursing services are seriously neglected and woefully lacking in structure and resources. This article recommends strategies for reform that includes nurses who practice in all settings, and not just prison-based nurses. If nurses wish to be at the forefront of future HPP strategies, they must first embrace the radical health promotion reforms that are emerging from the current literature. Building sustainable group capacity into prison-based health care, through developing social interaction, cohesion, participation and political action can only benefit the community at large and further emphasise the health promotion role of nursing.

Clinical Outcome Assessments: Use of Normative Data in a Pediatric Rare Disease.

PubMed

Phillips, Dawn; Leiro, Beth

2018-05-01

Pediatric rare diseases present unique challenges in clinical trial design and in selection of clinical outcome assessments (COAs) used to support claims in medical product labeling. COAs that discriminate level of function relative to a normative sample are particularly important in the pediatric rare disease setting because the literature is often void of natural history data. Pediatric rare disease clinical trials will often include a wide age distribution. Gross and fine motor skills, communication, cognition, and independence in activities of daily living vary by age, and it may be difficult to distinguish between treatment effect and change due to developmental maturation. Asfotase alfa was granted breakthrough therapy designation and subsequently approved for the treatment of hypophosphatasia (HPP; a genetic metabolic musculoskeletal disorder) and is used in this discussion to illustrate COA selection in a pediatric rare disease. Multiple COAs with normative data in HPP clinical trials for asfotase alfa are presented. The assessment instruments included the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition, the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition, the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire, the Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument, handheld dynamometry, the 6-minute walk test, and the Modified Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment-Gait scale. Multiple end points were required to adequately capture the impact of asfotase alfa treatment on the multiple systems affected in HPP. These data illustrate the importance of using multiple COAs that provide normative data and to use COAs early in the drug development process for rare pediatric disease. Copyright © 2018 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Efficiency of hydrogen peroxide in improving disinfection of ICU rooms.

PubMed

Blazejewski, Caroline; Wallet, Frédéric; Rouzé, Anahita; Le Guern, Rémi; Ponthieux, Sylvie; Salleron, Julia; Nseir, Saad

2015-02-02

The primary objective of this study was to determine the efficiency of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) techniques in disinfection of ICU rooms contaminated with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) after patient discharge. Secondary objectives included comparison of the efficiency of a vaporizator (HPV, Bioquell) and an aerosolizer using H₂O₂, and peracetic acid (aHPP, Anios) in MDRO environmental disinfection, and assessment of toxicity of these techniques. This prospective cross-over study was conducted in five medical and surgical ICUs located in one University hospital, during a 12-week period. Routine terminal cleaning was followed by H₂O₂ disinfection. A total of 24 environmental bacteriological samplings were collected per room, from eight frequently touched surfaces, at three time-points: after patient discharge (T0), after terminal cleaning (T1) and after H₂O₂ disinfection (T2). In total 182 rooms were studied, including 89 (49%) disinfected with aHPP and 93 (51%) with HPV. At T0, 15/182 (8%) rooms were contaminated with at least 1 MDRO (extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacilli 50%, imipenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii 29%, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 17%, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistant to ceftazidime or imipenem 4%). Routine terminal cleaning reduced environmental bacterial load (P <0.001) without efficiency on MDRO (15/182 (8%) rooms at T0 versus 11/182 (6%) at T1; P = 0.371). H₂O₂ technologies were efficient for environmental MDRO decontamination (6% of rooms contaminated with MDRO at T1 versus 0.5% at T2, P = 0.004). Patient characteristics were similar in aHPP and HPV groups. No significant difference was found between aHPP and HPV regarding the rate of rooms contaminated with MDRO at T2 (P = 0.313). 42% of room occupants were MDRO carriers. The highest rate of rooms contaminated with MDRO was found in rooms where patients stayed for a longer period of time, and where a patient with MDRO was hospitalized. The residual concentration of H₂O₂ appears to be higher using aHPP, compared with HPV. H₂O₂ treatment is efficient in reducing MDRO contaminated rooms in the ICU. No significant difference was found between aHPP and HPV regarding their disinfection efficiency.

How needs and preferences of employees influence participation in health promotion programs: a six-month follow-up study.

PubMed

Rongen, Anne; Robroek, Suzan J W; van Ginkel, Wouter; Lindeboom, Dennis; Pet, Martin; Burdorf, Alex

2014-12-15

Low participation in health promotion programs (HPPs) might hamper their effectiveness. A potential reason for low participation is disagreement between needs and preferences of potential participants and the actual HPPs offered. This study aimed to investigate employees' need and preferences for HPPs, whether these are matched by what their employers provide, and whether a higher agreement enhanced participation. Employees of two organizations participated in a six-month follow-up study (n = 738). At baseline, information was collected on employees' needs and preferences for the topic of the HPP (i.e. physical activity, healthy nutrition, smoking cessation, stress management, general health), whether they favored a HPP via their employer or at their own discretion, and their preferred HPP regarding three components with each two alternatives: mode of delivery (individual vs. group), intensity (single vs. multiple meetings), and content (assignments vs. information). Participation in HPPs was assessed at six-month follow-up. In consultation with occupational health managers (n = 2), information was gathered on the HPPs the employers provided. The level of agreement between preferred and provided HPPs was calculated (range: 0-1) and its influence on participation was studied using logistic regression analyses. Most employees reported needing a HPP addressing physical activity (55%) and most employees preferred HPPs organized via their employer. The mean level of agreement between the preferred and offered HPPs ranged from 0.71 for mode of delivery to 0.84 for intensity, and was 0.47 for all three HPP components within a topic combined. Employees with a higher agreement on mode of delivery (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 0.87-3.39) and all HPP components combined (OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 0.68-8.17) seemed to be more likely to participate in HPPs, but due to low participation these associations were not statistically significant. HPPs aimed at physical activity were most needed by employees. The majority of employees favor HPPs organized via the employer above those at their own discretion, supporting the provision of HPPs at the workplace. This study provides some indications that a higher agreement between employees' needs and preferences and HPPs made available by their employers will enhance participation.

Validation of a Novel Scoring System for Changes in Skeletal Manifestations of Hypophosphatasia in Newborns, Infants, and Children: The Radiographic Global Impression of Change Scale.

PubMed

Whyte, Michael P; Fujita, Kenji P; Moseley, Scott; Thompson, David D; McAlister, William H

2018-05-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is the heritable metabolic disease characterized by impaired skeletal mineralization due to low activity of the tissue-nonspecific isoenzyme of alkaline phosphatase. Although HPP during growth often manifests with distinctive radiographic skeletal features, no validated method was available to quantify them, including changes over time. We created the Radiographic Global Impression of Change (RGI-C) scale to assess changes in the skeletal burden of pediatric HPP. Site-specific pairs of radiographs of newborns, infants, and children with HPP from three clinical studies of asfotase alfa, an enzyme replacement therapy for HPP, were obtained at baseline and during treatment. Each pair was scored by three pediatric radiologists ("raters"), with nine raters across the three studies. Intrarater and interrater agreement was determined by weighted Kappa coefficients. Interrater reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and by two-way random effects analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a mixed-model repeated measures ANOVA. Pearson correlation coefficients evaluated relationships of the RGI-C to the Rickets Severity Scale (RSS), Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument Global Function Parent Normative Score, Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, 6-Minute Walk Test percent predicted, and Z-score for height in patients aged 6 to 12 years at baseline. Eighty-nine percent (8/9) of raters showed substantial or almost perfect intrarater agreement of sequential RGI-C scores (weighted Kappa coefficients, 0.72 to 0.93) and moderate or substantial interrater agreement (weighted Kappa coefficients, 0.53 to 0.71) in patients aged 0 to 12 years at baseline. Moderate-to-good interrater reliability was observed (ICC, 0.57 to 0.65). RGI-C scores were significantly (p ≤ 0.0065) correlated with the RSS and with measures of global function, disability, endurance, and growth in the patients aged 6 to 12 years at baseline. Thus, the RGI-C is valid and reliable for detecting clinically important changes in skeletal manifestations of severe HPP in newborns, infants, and children, including during asfotase alfa treatment. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Published by Wiley Periodicals Inc. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Published by Wiley Periodicals Inc.

Hand Hygiene Practices and Microbial Investigation of Hand Contact Swab among Physiotherapists in an Ebola Endemic Region: Implications for Public Health.

PubMed

Ibeneme, S; Maduako, V; Ibeneme, G C; Ezuma, A; Ettu, T U; Onyemelukwe, N F; Limaye, D; Fortwengel, G

2017-01-01

Hand hygiene practices (HHP), as a critical component of infection prevention/control, were investigated among physiotherapists in an Ebola endemic region. A standardized instrument was administered to 44 randomly selected physiotherapists (23 males and 21 females), from three tertiary hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria. Fifteen participants (aged 22-59 years) participated in focus group discussions (FGDs) and comprised 19 participants in a subsequent laboratory study. After treatment, the palms/fingers of physiotherapists were swabbed and cultured, then incubated aerobically overnight at 37°C, and examined for microbial growths. An antibiogram of the bacterial isolates was obtained. The majority (34/77.3%) of physiotherapists were aware of the HHP protocol, yet only 15/44.1% rated self-compliance at 71-100%. FGDs identified forgetfulness/inadequate HHP materials/infrastructure as the major barriers to HHP. Staphylococcus aureus were the most prevalent organisms, prior to (8/53.33%) and after (4/26.67%) HPP, while Pseudomonas spp. were acquired thereafter. E. coli were the most antibiotic resistant microbes but were completely removed after HHP. Ciprofloxacin and streptomycin were the most effective antibiotics. Poor implementation of HPP was observed due to inadequate materials/infrastructure/poor behavioral orientation. Possibly, some HPP materials were contaminated; hence, new microbes were acquired. Since HPP removed the most antibiotic resistant microbes, it might be more effective in infection control than antibiotic medication.

Cargo systems manual: Heat Pipe Performance (HPP) STS-66

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Napp, Robert

1994-01-01

The purpose of the cargo systems manual (CSM) is to provide a payload reference document for payload and shuttle flight operations personnel during shuttle mission planning, training, and flight operations. It includes orbiter-to-payload interface information and payload system information (including operationally pertinent payload safety data) that is directly applicable to the Mission Operations Directorate (MOD) role in the payload mission. The primary objectives of the heat pipe performance (HPP) are to obtain quantitative data on the thermal performance of heat pipes in a microgravity environment. This information will increase understanding of the behavior of heat pipes in space and be useful for application to design improvements in heat pipes and associated systems. The purpose of HPP-2 is to establish a complete one-g and zero-g data base for axial groove heat pipes. This data will be used to update and correlate data generated from a heat pipe design computer program called Grooved Analysis Program (GAP). The HPP-2 objectives are to: determine heat transport capacity and conductance for open/closed grooved heat pipes and different Freon volumes (nominal, under, and overcharged) using a uniform heat load; determine heat transport capacity and conductance for single/multiple evaporators using asymmetric heat loads; obtain precise static, spin, and rewicking data points for undercharged pipes; investigate heat flux limits (asymmetric heat loads); and determine effects of positive body force on thermal performance.

Enzyme replacement prevents enamel defects in hypophosphatasia mice

PubMed Central

Yadav, Manisha C.; de Oliveira, Rodrigo Cardoso; Foster, Brian L.; Fong, Hanson; Cory, Esther; Narisawa, Sonoko; Sah, Robert L.; Somerman, Martha; Whyte, Michael P.; Millán, José Luis

2012-01-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is the inborn error of metabolism characterized by deficiency of alkaline phosphatase activity leading to rickets or osteomalacia and to dental defects. HPP occurs from loss-of-function mutations within the gene that encodes the tissue-nonspecific isozyme of alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). TNAP knockout (Alpl−/−, a.k.a. Akp2−/−) mice closely phenocopy infantile HPP, including the rickets, vitamin B6-responsive seizures, improper dentin mineralization, and lack of acellular cementum. Here, we report that lack of TNAP in Alpl−/− mice also causes severe enamel defects, which are preventable by enzyme replacement with mineral-targeted TNAP (ENB-0040). Immunohistochemistry was used to map the spatiotemporal expression of TNAP in the tissues of the developing enamel organ of healthy mouse molars and incisors. We found strong, stage-specific expression of TNAP in ameloblasts. In the Alpl−/− mice, histological, μCT, and scanning electron microscopy analysis showed reduced mineralization and disrupted organization of the rods and inter-rod structures in enamel of both the molars and incisors. All of these abnormalities were prevented in mice receiving from birth daily subcutaneous injections of mineral-targeting, human TNAP (sALP-FcD10, a.k.a. ENB-0040) at 8.2 mg/kg/day for up to 44 days. These data reveal an important role for TNAP in enamel mineralization, and demonstrate the efficacy of mineral-targeted TNAP to prevent enamel defects in HPP. PMID:22461224

The role of glaciers for Swiss hydropower production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaefli, Bettina; Manso, Pedro; Fischer, Mauro; Huss, Matthias

2016-04-01

In Switzerland, hydropower represents over 50% of the total annual electricity production. Given the Alpine setting of the country, this hydropower production (HPP) strongly relies on the natural storage of discharge in form of ice and snow over months to decades. The sensitivity of glacier-fed HPP systems with respect to climate change depends on how the today's production and the infrastructure design relies on the seasonal streamflow delay expected from the natural storage effect of snow and ice. For low-head run-of-river HPP plants built on large lowland rivers, the ongoing glacier retreat (resulting in strong summer melt) currently sustains higher flows during summer months, an effect that will certainly be reduced once the glaciers will have reached a critical size. This effect will also modify the inflow to the large storage HPP plants that have been designed to shift large amounts of meltwater inflows from summer to winter. The management of these reservoirs will certainly have to be adapted to future inflow patterns. An interesting case are high-head run-of-river plants (with heads from 100 to 1100 m) that short-circuit a given river reach. Future regime shifts with less sustained summer flow and more concentrated spring melt flows might critically reduce the annual production due to intake overflow during spring and reduced flow during summer. In this work, we discuss the role of glaciers for these different HPP types in detail, including an overview of how glacier retreat might influence their production. This comprehensive study synthesizes up-to-date estimations of glacier mass change since the 1980s and its influence on high Alpine discharge regimes and state-of-the art simulations of potential future glacier discharge regimes. We also attempt an extrapolation to the country level based on a hydropower GIS database that has been developed for economic purposes. Ongoing Swiss research on sediment production and management might complete this picture with the role of glacier sediment delivery for hydropower operation.

Periodontal Defects in the A116T Knock-in Murine Model of Odontohypophosphatasia.

PubMed

Foster, B L; Sheen, C R; Hatch, N E; Liu, J; Cory, E; Narisawa, S; Kiffer-Moreira, T; Sah, R L; Whyte, M P; Somerman, M J; Millán, J L

2015-05-01

Mutations in ALPL result in hypophosphatasia (HPP), a disease causing defective skeletal mineralization. ALPL encodes tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an enzyme that promotes mineralization by reducing inorganic pyrophosphate, a mineralization inhibitor. In addition to skeletal defects, HPP causes dental defects, and a mild clinical form of HPP, odontohypophosphatasia, features only a dental phenotype. The Alpl knockout (Alpl (-/-)) mouse phenocopies severe infantile HPP, including profound skeletal and dental defects. However, the severity of disease in Alpl (-/-) mice prevents analysis at advanced ages, including studies to target rescue of dental tissues. We aimed to generate a knock-in mouse model of odontohypophosphatasia with a primarily dental phenotype, based on a mutation (c.346G>A) identified in a human kindred with autosomal dominant odontohypophosphatasia. Biochemical, skeletal, and dental analyses were performed on the resulting Alpl(+/A116T) mice to validate this model. Alpl(+/A116T) mice featured 50% reduction in plasma ALP activity compared with wild-type controls. No differences in litter size, survival, or body weight were observed in Alpl(+/A116T) versus wild-type mice. The postcranial skeleton of Alpl(+/A116T) mice was normal by radiography, with no differences in femur length, cortical/trabecular structure or mineral density, or mechanical properties. Parietal bone trabecular compartment was mildly altered. Alpl(+/A116T) mice featured alterations in the alveolar bone, including radiolucencies and resorptive lesions, osteoid accumulation on the alveolar bone crest, and significant differences in several bone properties measured by micro-computed tomography. Nonsignificant changes in acellular cementum did not appear to affect periodontal attachment or function, although circulating ALP activity was correlated significantly with incisor cementum thickness. The Alpl(+/A116T) mouse is the first model of odontohypophosphatasia, providing insights on dentoalveolar development and function under reduced ALP, bringing attention to direct effects of HPP on alveolar bone, and offering a new model for testing potential dental-targeted therapies in future studies. © International & American Associations for Dental Research 2015.

Effect of high pressure treatment on liquid whole egg

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Németh, Csaba; Dalmadi, István; Mráz, Balázs; Friedrich, László; Zeke, Ildikó; Juhász, Réka; Suhajda, Ágnes; Balla, Csaba

2012-06-01

In our tests, we artificially infected liquid whole egg samples with Salmonella enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, and then treated the samples in "Food Lab900" high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) instrument for 3-17 min at 200-400 MPa. Subsequently, the change of the viable cell count of the specific bacteria has been tested. In addition to the samples infected with various bacteria, non-infected samples were also treated in each test and the change in viable cell count, colour and viscosity of the samples upon the effect of the treatment. In summary, it can be concluded that in each test of our investigations, the viable cell count of S. enteritidis critical for egg products is reduced significantly, while the reduction of the total viable cell count was around two magnitudes. Additionally, based on our results, microbial destruction, reduction of enthalpy (denaturation of egg white) caused by the treatment at HPP, and colour change are primarily affected by the pressure level, while the changes in rheological properties are also significantly affected by the duration of high pressure treatment (p<0.05).

A three-component signalling system fine-tunes expression kinetics of HPPK responsible for folate synthesis by positive feedback loop during stress response of Xanthomonas campestris.

PubMed

Wang, Fang-Fang; Deng, Chao-Ying; Cai, Zhen; Wang, Ting; Wang, Li; Wang, Xiao-Zheng; Chen, Xiao-Ying; Fang, Rong-Xiang; Qian, Wei

2014-07-01

During adaptation to environments, bacteria employ two-component signal transduction systems, which contain histidine kinases and response regulators, to sense and respond to exogenous and cellular stimuli in an accurate spatio-temporal manner. Although the protein phosphorylation process between histidine kinase and response regulator has been well documented, the molecular mechanism fine-tuning phosphorylation levels of response regulators is comparatively less studied. Here we combined genetic and biochemical approaches to reveal that a hybrid histidine kinase, SreS, is involved in the SreK-SreR phosphotransfer process to control salt stress response in the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris. The N-terminal receiver domain of SreS acts as a phosphate sink by competing with the response regulator SreR to accept the phosphoryl group from the latter's cognate histidine kinase SreK. This regulatory process is critical for bacterial survival because the dephosphorylated SreR protein participates in activating one of the tandem promoters (P2) at the 5' end of the sreK-sreR-sreS-hppK operon, and then modulates a transcriptional surge of the stress-responsive gene hppK, which is required for folic acid synthesis. Therefore, our study dissects the biochemical process of a positive feedback loop in which a 'three-component' signalling system fine-tunes expression kinetics of downstream genes. © 2013 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Ferromagnetic resonance in bulk nanocrystalline Ni

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash Madduri, P. V.; Mathew, S. P.; Kaul, S. N.

2018-03-01

A detailed lineshape analysis of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra taken on pulse electrodeposited nanocrystalline (nc-) Ni sheets (with the average crystallite size, d, varying from 10 nm to 40 nm) at temperatures ranging from 113 K to 325 K yield accurate values for saturation magnetization, Ms (T), Landé splitting factor, g, anisotropy field, Hk (T) , resonance field, Hres , and FMR linewidth, ΔHpp (T) . Thermally-excited spin-wave (SW) excitations completely account for Ms (T) and the SW description of Ms (T) gives the values for the saturation magnetization and spin-wave stiffness at absolute zero of temperature, i.e., Ms (0) and D0 , for nc-Ni samples of different d that are in excellent agreement with the corresponding values deduced previously from an elaborate SW analysis of the bulk magnetization data. While Ms (0) varies with d as Ms (0) d - 3 / 2,D0 follows the power law D0 ∼d 4 / 3 . The angular variations of Hres in the 'in-plane' as well as 'out-of-plane' sample configurations, demonstrate that the main contribution to Hk (T) comes from the cubic magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The exchange-conductivity mechanism describes the observed thermal decline of ΔHpp reasonably well but fails to explain the very large magnitude of ΔHpp at any given temperature. By comparison, the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) damping gives a much greater contribution to ΔHpp but the LLG contribution is relatively insensitive to temperature.

Hand Hygiene Practices and Microbial Investigation of Hand Contact Swab among Physiotherapists in an Ebola Endemic Region: Implications for Public Health

PubMed Central

Maduako, V.; Ibeneme, G. C.; Ezuma, A.; Ettu, T. U.; Onyemelukwe, N. F.; Fortwengel, G.

2017-01-01

Background Hand hygiene practices (HHP), as a critical component of infection prevention/control, were investigated among physiotherapists in an Ebola endemic region. Method A standardized instrument was administered to 44 randomly selected physiotherapists (23 males and 21 females), from three tertiary hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria. Fifteen participants (aged 22–59 years) participated in focus group discussions (FGDs) and comprised 19 participants in a subsequent laboratory study. After treatment, the palms/fingers of physiotherapists were swabbed and cultured, then incubated aerobically overnight at 37°C, and examined for microbial growths. An antibiogram of the bacterial isolates was obtained. Results The majority (34/77.3%) of physiotherapists were aware of the HHP protocol, yet only 15/44.1% rated self-compliance at 71–100%. FGDs identified forgetfulness/inadequate HHP materials/infrastructure as the major barriers to HHP. Staphylococcus aureus were the most prevalent organisms, prior to (8/53.33%) and after (4/26.67%) HPP, while Pseudomonas spp. were acquired thereafter. E. coli were the most antibiotic resistant microbes but were completely removed after HHP. Ciprofloxacin and streptomycin were the most effective antibiotics. Conclusion Poor implementation of HPP was observed due to inadequate materials/infrastructure/poor behavioral orientation. Possibly, some HPP materials were contaminated; hence, new microbes were acquired. Since HPP removed the most antibiotic resistant microbes, it might be more effective in infection control than antibiotic medication. PMID:28691027

High Pressure Burn Rate Measurements on an Ammonium Perchlorate Propellant

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

Glascoe, E A; Tan, N

2010-04-21

High pressure deflagration rate measurements of a unique ammonium perchlorate (AP) based propellant are required to design the base burn motor for a Raytheon weapon system. The results of these deflagration rate measurements will be key in assessing safety and performance of the system. In particular, the system may experience transient pressures on the order of 100's of MPa (10's kPSI). Previous studies on similar AP based materials demonstrate that low pressure (e.g. P < 10 MPa or 1500 PSI) burn rates can be quite different than the elevated pressure deflagration rate measurements (see References and HPP results discussed herein),more » hence elevated pressure measurements are necessary in order understand the deflagration behavior under relevant conditions. Previous work on explosives have shown that at 100's of MPa some explosives will transition from a laminar burn mechanism to a convective burn mechanism in a process termed deconsolidative burning. The resulting burn rates that are orders-of-magnitude faster than the laminar burn rates. Materials that transition to the deconsolidative-convective burn mechanism at elevated pressures have been shown to be considerably more violent in confined heating experiments (i.e. cook-off scenarios). The mechanisms of propellant and explosive deflagration are extremely complex and include both chemical, and mechanical processes, hence predicting the behavior and rate of a novel material or formulation is difficult if not impossible. In this work, the AP/HTPB based material, TAL-1503 (B-2049), was burned in a constant volume apparatus in argon up to 300 MPa (ca. 44 kPSI). The burn rate and pressure were measured in-situ and used to calculate a pressure dependent burn rate. In general, the material appears to burn in a laminar fashion at these elevated pressures. The experiment was reproduced multiple times and the burn rate law using the best data is B = (0.6 {+-} 0.1) x P{sup (1.05{+-}0.02)} where B is the burn rate in mm/s and P is the pressure in units of MPa. Details of the experimental method, results and data analysis are discussed herein and briefly compared to other AP based materials that have been measured in this apparatus.« less

Continuous measurements of suspended sediment loads using dual frequency acoustic Doppler profile signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antonini, Alessandro; Guerrero, Massimo; Rüther, Nils; Stokseth, Siri

2016-04-01

A huge thread to Hydropower plants (HPP) is incoming sediments in suspension from the rivers upstream. The sediments settle in the reservoir and reduce the effective head as well as the volume and reduce consequently the lifetime of the reservoir. In addition are the fine sediments causing severe damages to turbines and infrastructure of a HPP. For estimating the amount of in-coming sediments in suspension and the consequent planning of efficient counter measures, it is essential to monitor the rivers within the catchment of the HPP for suspended sediments. This work is considerably time consuming and requires highly educated personnel and is therefore expensive. Surrogate-indirect methods using acoustic and optic devices have bee developed since the last decades that may be efficiently applied for the continuous monitoring of suspended sediment loads. The presented study proposes therefore to establish a research station at a cross section of a river which is the main tributary to a reservoir of a HPP and equip this station with surrogate as well as with common method of measuring suspended load concentrations and related flow discharge and level. The logger at the research station delivers data automatically to a server. Therefore it is ensured that also large flood events are covered. Data during flood are of high interest to the HPP planners since they carried the most part of the sediment load in a hydrological year. Theses peaks can hardly be measured with common measurement methods. Preliminary results of the wet season 2015/2016 are presented. The data gives insight in the applicable range, in terms of scattering particles concentration-average size and corresponding flow discharge and level, eventually enabling the study of suspended sediment load-water flow correlations during peak events. This work is carried out as part of a larger research project on sustainable hydro power plants exposed to high sediment yield, SediPASS. SediPASS is funded by the Norwegian Research council and Statkraft AS. Statkraft is supporting this project in the framework of a large R&D project on future handling strategies of sediments at hydro power plants.

Biochemical properties and subcellular localization of tyrosine aminotransferases in Arabidopsis thaliana.

PubMed

Wang, Minmin; Toda, Kyoko; Maeda, Hiroshi A

2016-12-01

Plants produce various L-tyrosine (Tyr)-derived compounds that are of pharmaceutical or nutritional importance to humans. Tyr aminotransferase (TAT) catalyzes the reversible transamination between Tyr and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPP), the initial step in the biosynthesis of many Tyr-derived plant natural products. Herein reported is the biochemical characterization and subcellular localization of TAT enzymes from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Arabidopsis has at least two homologous TAT genes, At5g53970 (AtTAT1) and At5g36160 (AtTAT2). Their recombinant enzymes showed distinct biochemical properties: AtTAT1 had the highest activity towards Tyr, while AtTAT2 exhibited a broad substrate specificity for both amino and keto acid substrates. Also, AtTAT1 favored the direction of Tyr deamination to HPP, whereas AtTAT2 preferred transamination of HPP to Tyr. Subcellular localization analysis using GFP-fusion proteins and confocal microscopy showed that AtTAT1, AtTAT2, and HPP dioxygenase (HPPD), which catalyzes the subsequent step of TAT, are localized in the cytosol, unlike plastid-localized Tyr and tocopherol biosynthetic enzymes. Furthermore, subcellular fractionation indicated that, while HPPD activity is restricted to the cytosol, TAT activity is detected in both cytosolic and plastidic fractions of Arabidopsis leaf tissue, suggesting that an unknown aminotransferase(s) having TAT activity is also present in the plastids. Biochemical and cellular analyses of Arabidopsis TATs provide a fundamental basis for future in vivo studies and metabolic engineering for enhanced production of Tyr-derived phytochemicals in plants. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Spanish biology/disease initiative within the human proteome project: Application to rheumatic diseases.

PubMed

Ruiz-Romero, Cristina; Calamia, Valentina; Albar, Juan Pablo; Casal, José Ignacio; Corrales, Fernando J; Fernández-Puente, Patricia; Gil, Concha; Mateos, Jesús; Vivanco, Fernando; Blanco, Francisco J

2015-09-08

The Spanish Chromosome 16 consortium is integrated in the global initiative Human Proteome Project, which aims to develop an entire map of the proteins encoded following a gene-centric strategy (C-HPP) in order to make progress in the understanding of human biology in health and disease (B/D-HPP). Chromosome 16 contains many genes encoding proteins involved in the development of a broad range of diseases, which have a significant impact on the health care system. The Spanish HPP consortium has developed a B/D platform with five programs focused on selected medical areas: cancer, obesity, cardiovascular, infectious and rheumatic diseases. Each of these areas has a clinical leader associated to a proteomic investigator with the responsibility to get a comprehensive understanding of the proteins encoded by Chromosome 16 genes. Proteomics strategies have enabled great advances in the area of rheumatic diseases, particularly in osteoarthritis, with studies performed on joint cells, tissues and fluids. In this manuscript we describe how the Spanish HPP-16 consortium has developed a B/D platform with five programs focused on selected medical areas: cancer, obesity, cardiovascular, infectious and rheumatic diseases. Each of these areas has a clinical leader associated to a proteomic investigator with the responsibility to get a comprehensive understanding of the proteins encoded by Chromosome 16 genes. We show how the Proteomic strategy has enabled great advances in the area of rheumatic diseases, particularly in osteoarthritis, with studies performed on joint cells, tissues and fluids. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: HUPO 2014. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Hypoglycaemic periodic paralysis in hyperthyroidism patients].

PubMed

Kratochvíl, J; Masopust, J; Martínková, V; Charvát, J

2008-11-01

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HPP) is a rare disorder characterised by acute, potentially fatal atacks of muscle weakness or paralysis. Massive shift of potassium into cells is caused by elevated levels of insulin and catecholamines in the blood. Hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesemia may be also present. Acidobasic status usually is not impaired. HPP occurs as familiar (caused by ion channels inherited defects) or acquired (in patients with hyperthyroidism). On the basis of two clinical cases we present a review of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in hyperthyroid patients. We discuss patogenesis, clinical and laboratory findings as well as the principles of prevention and treatment of this rare disorder.

Enzyme replacement therapy on hypophosphatasia mouse model

PubMed Central

Montaño, Adriana M.; Shimada, Tsutomu; Sly, William S.

2013-01-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by deficiency of the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP), resulting in a defect of bone mineralization. Natural substrates for this ectoenzyme accumulate extracellulary including inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), an inhibitor of mineralization, and pyridoxal 5-phosphate (PLP), a co-factor form of vitamin B6. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for HPP by functional TNSALP is one of the therapeutic options. The C-terminal-anchorless human recombinant TNSALP derived from Chinese hamster ovary cell lines was purified. TNSALP-null mice (Akp2−/−), an infantile model of HPP, were treated from birth using TNSALP and vitamin B6 diet. Long-term efficacy studies of ERT consisted of every 3 days subcutaneous or intravenous injections till 28 days old (dose 20 U/g) and subsequently every 3 days intravenous injections for 6 months (dose 10 U/g). We assessed therapeutic effect by growth and survival rates, fertility, skeletal manifestations, and radiographic and pathological finding. Treated Akp2−/− mice grew normally till 4 weeks and appeared well with a minimum skeletal abnormality as well as absence of epilepsy, compared with untreated mice which died by 3 weeks old. The prognosis of TNSALP-treated Akp2−/− mice was improved substantially: 1) prolonged life span over 6 months, 2) improvement of the growth, and 3) normal fertility. After 6 months of treatment, we found moderate hypomineralization with abnormal proliferative chondrocytes in growth plate and articular cartilage. In conclusion, ERT with human native TNSALP improves substantial clinical manifestations in Akp2−/− mice, suggesting that ERT with anchorless TNSALP is also a potential therapy for HPP. PMID:23978959

Differentiation stage-specific regulation of primitive human hematopoietic progenitor cycling by exogenous and endogenous inhibitors in an in vivo model.

PubMed

Cashman, J D; Clark-Lewis, I; Eaves, A C; Eaves, C J

1999-12-01

Nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice transplanted with human cord blood or adult marrow cells and injected 6 weeks posttransplant with 2 daily doses of transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), or a nonaggregating form of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) showed unique patterns of inhibition of human progenitor proliferation 1 day later. TGF-beta(1) was active on long-term culture initiating cells (LTC-IC) and on primitive erythroid and granulopoietic colony-forming cells (HPP-CFC), but had no effect on mature CFC. MCP-1 inhibited the cycling of both types of HPP-CFC but not LTC-IC. MIP-1alpha did not inhibit either LTC-IC or granulopoietic HPP-CFC but was active on erythroid HPP-CFC and mature granulopoietic CFC. All of these responses were independent of the source of human cells transplanted. LTC-IC of either human cord blood or adult marrow origin continue to proliferate in NOD/SCID mice for many weeks, although the turnover of all types of human CFC in mice transplanted with adult human marrow (but not cord blood) is downregulated after 6 weeks. Interestingly, administration of either MIP-1beta, an antagonist of both MIP-1alpha and MCP-1 or MCP-1(9-76), an antagonist of MCP-1 (and MCP-2 and MCP-3), into mice in which human marrow-derived CFC had become quiescent, caused the rapid reactivation of these progenitors in vivo. These results provide the first definition of stage-specific inhibitors of human hematopoietic progenitor cell cycling in vivo. In addition they show that endogenous chemokines can contribute to late graft failure, which can be reversed by the administration of specific antagonists.

Enzyme replacement therapy for murine hypophosphatasia.

PubMed

Millán, José Luis; Narisawa, Sonoko; Lemire, Isabelle; Loisel, Thomas P; Boileau, Guy; Leonard, Pierre; Gramatikova, Svetlana; Terkeltaub, Robert; Camacho, Nancy Pleshko; McKee, Marc D; Crine, Philippe; Whyte, Michael P

2008-06-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is the inborn error of metabolism that features rickets or osteomalacia caused by loss-of-function mutation(s) within the gene that encodes the tissue-nonspecific isozyme of alkaline phosphatase (TNALP). Consequently, natural substrates for this ectoenzyme accumulate extracellulary including inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), an inhibitor of mineralization, and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), a co-factor form of vitamin B6. Babies with the infantile form of HPP often die with severe rickets and sometimes hypercalcemia and vitamin B6-dependent seizures. There is no established medical treatment. Human TNALP was bioengineered with the C terminus extended by the Fc region of human IgG for one-step purification and a deca-aspartate sequence (D10) for targeting to mineralizing tissue (sALP-FcD10). TNALP-null mice (Akp2-/-), an excellent model for infantile HPP, were treated from birth using sALP-FcD10. Short-term and long-term efficacy studies consisted of once daily subcutaneous injections of 1, 2, or 8.2 mg/kg sALP-FcD10 for 15, 19, and 15 or 52 days, respectively. We assessed survival and growth rates, circulating levels of sALP-FcD10 activity, calcium, PPi, and pyridoxal, as well as skeletal and dental manifestations using radiography, microCT, and histomorphometry. Akp2-/- mice receiving high-dose sALP-FcD10 grew normally and appeared well without skeletal or dental disease or epilepsy. Plasma calcium, PPi, and pyridoxal concentrations remained in their normal ranges. We found no evidence of significant skeletal or dental disease. Enzyme replacement using a bone-targeted, recombinant form of human TNALP prevents infantile HPP in Akp2-/- mice.

Dose response of bone-targeted enzyme replacement for murine hypophosphatasia.

PubMed

Yadav, Manisha C; Lemire, Isabelle; Leonard, Pierre; Boileau, Guy; Blond, Laurent; Beliveau, Martin; Cory, Esther; Sah, Robert L; Whyte, Michael P; Crine, Philippe; Millán, José Luis

2011-08-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) features rickets or osteomalacia from tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) deficiency due to deactivating mutations within the ALPL gene. Enzyme replacement therapy with a bone-targeted, recombinant TNSALP (sALP-FcD(10), renamed ENB-0040) prevents manifestations of HPP when initiated at birth in TNSALP knockout (Akp2(-/-)) mice. Here, we evaluated the dose-response relationship of ENB-0040 to various phenotypic traits of Akp2(-/-) mice receiving daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of ENB-0040 from birth at 0.5, 2.0, or 8.2mg/kg for 43days. Radiographs, μCT, and histomorphometric analyses documented better bone mineralization with increasing doses of ENB-0040. We found a clear, positive correlation between ENB-0040 dose and prevention of mineralization defects of the feet, rib cage, lower limbs, and jaw bones. According to a dose-response model, the ED(80) (the dose that prevents bone defects in 80% of mice) was 3.2, 2.8 and 2.9mg/kg/day for these sites, respectively. Long bones seemed to respond to lower daily doses of ENB-0040. There was also a positive relationship between ENB-0040 dose and survival. Median survival, body weight, and bone length all improved with increasing doses of ENB-0040. Urinary PP(i) concentrations remained elevated in all treatment groups, indicating that while this parameter is a good biochemical marker for diagnosing HPP in patients, it may not be a good follow up marker for evaluating response to treatment when administering bone-targeted TNSALP to mice. These dose-response relationships strongly support the pharmacological efficacy of ENB-0040 for HPP, and provide the experimental basis for the therapeutic range of ENB-0040 chosen for clinical trials. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dose response of bone-targeted enzyme replacement for murine hypophosphatasia

PubMed Central

Yadav, Manisha C.; Lemire, Isabelle; Leonard, Pierre; Boileau, Guy; Blond, Laurent; Beliveau, Martin; Cory, Esther; Sah, Robert L.; Whyte, Michael P.; Crine, Philippe; Millán, José Luis

2011-01-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) features rickets or osteomalacia from tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) deficiency due to deactivating mutations within the ALPL gene. Enzyme replacement therapy with a bone-targeted, recombinant TNSALP (sALP-FcD10, renamed ENB-0040) prevents manifestations of HPP when initiated at birth in TNSALP knockout (Akp2−/−) mice. Here, we evaluated the dose-response relationship of ENB-0040 to various phenotypic traits of Akp2−/− mice receiving daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of ENB-0040 from birth at 0.5, 2.0, or 8.2 mg/kg for 43 days. Radiographs, μCT, and histomorphometric analyses documented better bone mineralization with increasing doses of ENB-0040. We found a clear, positive correlation between ENB-0040 dose and prevention of mineralization defects of the feet, rib cage, lower limbs, and jaw bones. According to a dose-response model, the ED80 (the dose prevents the bone defects in 80% of mice) was 3.2, 2.8 and 2.9 mg/kg/day for these sites, respectively. Long bones seemed to respond to lower daily doses of ENB-0040. There was also a positive relationship between ENB-0040 dose and survival. Median survival, body weight, and bone length all improved with increasing doses of ENB-0040. Urinary PPi concentrations remained elevated in all treatment groups, indicating that while this parameter is a good biochemical marker for diagnosing HPP, it may not be a good follow up marker for evaluating response to treatment when administering bone-targeted TNSALP. These dose-response relationships strongly support the pharmacological efficacy of ENB-0040 for HPP, and provide the experimental basis for the therapeutic range of ENB-0040 chosen for clinical trials. PMID:21458605

Enzyme Replacement Therapy for Murine Hypophosphatasia*

PubMed Central

Millán, José Luis; Narisawa, Sonoko; Lemire, Isabelle; Loisel, Thomas P; Boileau, Guy; Leonard, Pierre; Gramatikova, Svetlana; Terkeltaub, Robert; Camacho, Nancy Pleshko; McKee, Marc D; Crine, Philippe; Whyte, Michael P

2008-01-01

Introduction Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is the inborn error of metabolism that features rickets or osteomalacia caused by loss-of-function mutation(s) within the gene that encodes the tissue-nonspecific isozyme of alkaline phosphatase (TNALP). Consequently, natural substrates for this ectoenzyme accumulate extracellulary including inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), an inhibitor of mineralization, and pyridoxal 5`-phosphate (PLP), a co-factor form of vitamin B6. Babies with the infantile form of HPP often die with severe rickets and sometimes hypercalcemia and vitamin B6-dependent seizures. There is no established medical treatment. Materials and Methods Human TNALP was bioengineered with the C terminus extended by the Fc region of human IgG for one-step purification and a deca-aspartate sequence (D10) for targeting to mineralizing tissue (sALP-FcD10). TNALP-null mice (Akp2−/−), an excellent model for infantile HPP, were treated from birth using sALP-FcD10. Short-term and long-term efficacy studies consisted of once daily subcutaneous injections of 1, 2, or 8.2 mg/kg sALP-FcD10 for 15, 19, and 15 or 52 days, respectively. We assessed survival and growth rates, circulating levels of sALP-FcD10 activity, calcium, PPi, and pyridoxal, as well as skeletal and dental manifestations using radiography, μCT, and histomorphometry. Results Akp2−/− mice receiving high-dose sALP-FcD10 grew normally and appeared well without skeletal or dental disease or epilepsy. Plasma calcium, PPi, and pyridoxal concentrations remained in their normal ranges. We found no evidence of significant skeletal or dental disease. Conclusions Enzyme replacement using a bone-targeted, recombinant form of human TNALP prevents infantile HPP in Akp2−/− mice. PMID:18086009

Recruitment and enrollment of African Americans into health promoting programs: the effects of health promoting programs on cardiovascular disease risk study.

PubMed

Okhomina, Victoria I; Seals, Samantha R; Marshall, Gailen D

2018-04-03

Randomized controlled trials (RCT) often employ multiple recruitment methods to attract participants, however, special care must be taken to be inclusive of under-represented populations. We examine how recruiting from an existing observational study affected the recruitment of African Americans into a RCT that included yoga-based interventions. In particular, we report the recruitment success of The Effects of Health Promoting Programs (HPP) on Cardiovascular Disease Risk (NCT02019953), the first yoga-based clinical trial to focus only on African Americans. To recruit participants, a multifaceted recruitment strategy was implemented exclusively in the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) cohort. The HPP recruited from the JHS cohort using direct mailings, signs and flyers placed around JHS study facilities, and through JHS annual follow-up interviews. Enrollment into HPP was open to all active JHS participants that were eligible to return for the third clinic exam (n = 4644). The target sample size was 375 JHS participants over a 24 month recruitment and enrollment period. From the active members of the JHS cohort, 503 were pre-screened for eligibility in HPP. More than 90% of those pre-screened were provisionally eligible for the study. The enrollment goal of 375 was completed after a 16-month enrollment period with over 25% (n = 97) of the required sample size enrolling during the second month of recruitment. The findings show that participants in observational studies can be successfully recruited into RCT. Observational studies provide researchers with a well-defined population that may be of interest when designing clinical trials. This is particularly useful in the recruitment of a high-risk, traditionally underrepresented populations for non-pharmacological clinical trials where traditional recruitment methods may prolong enrollment periods and extend study budgets.

Enhanced Missing Proteins Detection in NCI60 Cell Lines Using an Integrative Search Engine Approach.

PubMed

Guruceaga, Elizabeth; Garin-Muga, Alba; Prieto, Gorka; Bejarano, Bartolomé; Marcilla, Miguel; Marín-Vicente, Consuelo; Perez-Riverol, Yasset; Casal, J Ignacio; Vizcaíno, Juan Antonio; Corrales, Fernando J; Segura, Victor

2017-12-01

The Human Proteome Project (HPP) aims deciphering the complete map of the human proteome. In the past few years, significant efforts of the HPP teams have been dedicated to the experimental detection of the missing proteins, which lack reliable mass spectrometry evidence of their existence. In this endeavor, an in depth analysis of shotgun experiments might represent a valuable resource to select a biological matrix in design validation experiments. In this work, we used all the proteomic experiments from the NCI60 cell lines and applied an integrative approach based on the results obtained from Comet, Mascot, OMSSA, and X!Tandem. This workflow benefits from the complementarity of these search engines to increase the proteome coverage. Five missing proteins C-HPP guidelines compliant were identified, although further validation is needed. Moreover, 165 missing proteins were detected with only one unique peptide, and their functional analysis supported their participation in cellular pathways as was also proposed in other studies. Finally, we performed a combined analysis of the gene expression levels and the proteomic identifications from the common cell lines between the NCI60 and the CCLE project to suggest alternatives for further validation of missing protein observations.

Enhanced Missing Proteins Detection in NCI60 Cell Lines Using an Integrative Search Engine Approach

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The Human Proteome Project (HPP) aims deciphering the complete map of the human proteome. In the past few years, significant efforts of the HPP teams have been dedicated to the experimental detection of the missing proteins, which lack reliable mass spectrometry evidence of their existence. In this endeavor, an in depth analysis of shotgun experiments might represent a valuable resource to select a biological matrix in design validation experiments. In this work, we used all the proteomic experiments from the NCI60 cell lines and applied an integrative approach based on the results obtained from Comet, Mascot, OMSSA, and X!Tandem. This workflow benefits from the complementarity of these search engines to increase the proteome coverage. Five missing proteins C-HPP guidelines compliant were identified, although further validation is needed. Moreover, 165 missing proteins were detected with only one unique peptide, and their functional analysis supported their participation in cellular pathways as was also proposed in other studies. Finally, we performed a combined analysis of the gene expression levels and the proteomic identifications from the common cell lines between the NCI60 and the CCLE project to suggest alternatives for further validation of missing protein observations. PMID:28960077

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase Catalysis

PubMed Central

Raspail, Corinne; Graindorge, Matthieu; Moreau, Yohann; Crouzy, Serge; Lefèbvre, Bertrand; Robin, Adeline Y.; Dumas, Renaud; Matringe, Michel

2011-01-01

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) catalyzes the conversion of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPP) into homogentisate. HPPD is the molecular target of very effective synthetic herbicides. HPPD inhibitors may also be useful in treating life-threatening tyrosinemia type I and are currently in trials for treatment of Parkinson disease. The reaction mechanism of this key enzyme in both plants and animals has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, using site-directed mutagenesis supported by quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical theoretical calculations, we investigated the role of catalytic residues potentially interacting with the substrate/intermediates. These results highlight the following: (i) the central role of Gln-272, Gln-286, and Gln-358 in HPP binding and the first nucleophilic attack; (ii) the important movement of the aromatic ring of HPP during the reaction, and (iii) the key role played by Asn-261 and Ser-246 in C1 hydroxylation and the final ortho-rearrangement steps (numbering according to the Arabidopsis HPPD crystal structure 1SQD). Furthermore, this study reveals that the last step of the catalytic reaction, the 1,2 shift of the acetate side chain, which was believed to be unique to the HPPD activity, is also catalyzed by a structurally unrelated enzyme. PMID:21613226

Metrics for the Human Proteome Project 2016: Progress on Identifying and Characterizing the Human Proteome, Including Post-Translational Modifications.

PubMed

Omenn, Gilbert S; Lane, Lydie; Lundberg, Emma K; Beavis, Ronald C; Overall, Christopher M; Deutsch, Eric W

2016-11-04

The HUPO Human Proteome Project (HPP) has two overall goals: (1) stepwise completion of the protein parts list-the draft human proteome including confidently identifying and characterizing at least one protein product from each protein-coding gene, with increasing emphasis on sequence variants, post-translational modifications (PTMs), and splice isoforms of those proteins; and (2) making proteomics an integrated counterpart to genomics throughout the biomedical and life sciences community. PeptideAtlas and GPMDB reanalyze all major human mass spectrometry data sets available through ProteomeXchange with standardized protocols and stringent quality filters; neXtProt curates and integrates mass spectrometry and other findings to present the most up to date authorative compendium of the human proteome. The HPP Guidelines for Mass Spectrometry Data Interpretation version 2.1 were applied to manuscripts submitted for this 2016 C-HPP-led special issue [ www.thehpp.org/guidelines ]. The Human Proteome presented as neXtProt version 2016-02 has 16,518 confident protein identifications (Protein Existence [PE] Level 1), up from 13,664 at 2012-12, 15,646 at 2013-09, and 16,491 at 2014-10. There are 485 proteins that would have been PE1 under the Guidelines v1.0 from 2012 but now have insufficient evidence due to the agreed-upon more stringent Guidelines v2.0 to reduce false positives. neXtProt and PeptideAtlas now both require two non-nested, uniquely mapping (proteotypic) peptides of at least 9 aa in length. There are 2,949 missing proteins (PE2+3+4) as the baseline for submissions for this fourth annual C-HPP special issue of Journal of Proteome Research. PeptideAtlas has 14,629 canonical (plus 1187 uncertain and 1755 redundant) entries. GPMDB has 16,190 EC4 entries, and the Human Protein Atlas has 10,475 entries with supportive evidence. neXtProt, PeptideAtlas, and GPMDB are rich resources of information about post-translational modifications (PTMs), single amino acid variants (SAAVSs), and splice isoforms. Meanwhile, the Biology- and Disease-driven (B/D)-HPP has created comprehensive SRM resources, generated popular protein lists to guide targeted proteomics assays for specific diseases, and launched an Early Career Researchers initiative.

Barriers and facilitators for participation in health promotion programs among employees: a six-month follow-up study.

PubMed

Rongen, Anne; Robroek, Suzan J W; van Ginkel, Wouter; Lindeboom, Dennis; Altink, Bibiëlle; Burdorf, Alex

2014-06-09

Health promotion programs (HPPs) are thought to improve health behavior and health, and their effectiveness is increasingly being studied. However, participation in HPPs is usually modest and effect sizes are often small. This study aims to (1) gain insight into the degree of participation of employees in HPPs, and (2) identify factors among employees that are associated with both their intention to participate and actual participation in HPPs. Employees of two organizations were invited to participate in a six-month follow-up study (n = 744). Using questionnaires, information on participation in HPPs was collected in two categories: employees' intention at baseline to participate and their actual participation in a HPP during the follow-up period. The following potential determinants were assessed at baseline: social-cognitive factors, perceived barriers and facilitators, beliefs about health at work, health behaviors, and self-perceived health. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for demographics and organization, were used to examine associations between potential determinants and intention to participate, and to examine the effect of these determinants on actual participation during follow-up. At baseline, 195 employees (26%) expressed a positive intention towards participation in a HPP. During six months of follow-up, 83 employees (11%) actually participated. Participants positively inclined at baseline to participate in a HPP were more likely to actually participate (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.88-4.83). Privacy-related barriers, facilitators, beliefs about health at work, social-cognitive factors, and poor self-perceived health status were significantly associated with intention to participate. The odds of employees actually participating in a HPP were higher among participants who at baseline perceived participation to be expected by their colleagues and supervisor (OR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.17-7.02) and among those who said they found participation important (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.76-4.49). Participation in HPPs among employees is limited. Intention to participate predicted actual participation in a HPP after six months of follow-up. However, only 21% of employees with a positive intention actually participated during follow-up. Barriers, facilitators, beliefs about health at work, social-cognitive factors, and a poor self-perceived health status were associated with intention to participate, but hardly influenced actual participation during follow-up.

Barriers and facilitators for participation in health promotion programs among employees: a six-month follow-up study

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Health promotion programs (HPPs) are thought to improve health behavior and health, and their effectiveness is increasingly being studied. However, participation in HPPs is usually modest and effect sizes are often small. This study aims to (1) gain insight into the degree of participation of employees in HPPs, and (2) identify factors among employees that are associated with both their intention to participate and actual participation in HPPs. Methods Employees of two organizations were invited to participate in a six-month follow-up study (n = 744). Using questionnaires, information on participation in HPPs was collected in two categories: employees’ intention at baseline to participate and their actual participation in a HPP during the follow-up period. The following potential determinants were assessed at baseline: social-cognitive factors, perceived barriers and facilitators, beliefs about health at work, health behaviors, and self-perceived health. Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for demographics and organization, were used to examine associations between potential determinants and intention to participate, and to examine the effect of these determinants on actual participation during follow-up. Results At baseline, 195 employees (26%) expressed a positive intention towards participation in a HPP. During six months of follow-up, 83 employees (11%) actually participated. Participants positively inclined at baseline to participate in a HPP were more likely to actually participate (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.88-4.83). Privacy-related barriers, facilitators, beliefs about health at work, social-cognitive factors, and poor self-perceived health status were significantly associated with intention to participate. The odds of employees actually participating in a HPP were higher among participants who at baseline perceived participation to be expected by their colleagues and supervisor (OR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.17-7.02) and among those who said they found participation important (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.76-4.49). Conclusions Participation in HPPs among employees is limited. Intention to participate predicted actual participation in a HPP after six months of follow-up. However, only 21% of employees with a positive intention actually participated during follow-up. Barriers, facilitators, beliefs about health at work, social-cognitive factors, and a poor self-perceived health status were associated with intention to participate, but hardly influenced actual participation during follow-up. PMID:24909151

Overexpression of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase increases the expression of neurogenic differentiation markers in the human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line.

PubMed

Graser, Stephanie; Mentrup, Birgit; Schneider, Doris; Klein-Hitpass, Ludger; Jakob, Franz; Hofmann, Christine

2015-10-01

Patients suffering from the rare hereditary disease hypophosphatasia (HPP), which is based on mutations in the ALPL gene, tend to develop central nervous system (CNS) related issues like epileptic seizures and neuropsychiatric illnesses such as anxiety and depression, in addition to well-known problems with the mineralization of bones and teeth. Analyses of the molecular role of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) in transgenic SH-SY5Y(TNAPhigh) neuroblastoma cells compared to SH-SY5Y(TNAPlow) cells indicate that the enzyme influences the expression levels of neuronal marker genes like RNA-binding protein, fox-1 homolog 3 (NEUN) and enolase 2, gamma neuronal (NSE) as well as microtubule-binding proteins like microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and microtubule-associated protein tau (TAU) during neurogenic differentiation. Fluorescence staining of SH-SY5Y(TNAPhigh) cells reveals TNAP localization throughout the whole length of the developed projection network and even synapsin Ι co-localization with strong TNAP signals at some spots at least at the early time points of differentiation. Additional immunocytochemical staining shows higher MAP2 expression in SH-SY5Y(TNAPhigh) cells and further a distinct up-regulation of tau and MAP2 in the course of neurogenic differentiation. Interestingly, transgenic SH-SY5Y(TNAPhigh) cells are able to develop longer cellular processes compared to control cells after stimulation with all-trans retinoic acid (RA). Current therapies for HPP prioritize improvement of the bone phenotype. Unraveling the molecular role of TNAP in extraosseous tissues, like in the CNS, will help to improve treatment strategies for HPP patients. Taking this rare disease as a model may also help to dissect TNAP's role in neurodegenerative diseases and even improve future treatment of common pathologies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pancreatic polypeptide and its central Y4 receptors are essential for cued fear extinction and permanent suppression of fear

PubMed Central

Verma, D; Hörmer, B; Bellmann‐Sickert, K; Thieme, V; Beck‐Sickinger, A G; Herzog, H; Sperk, G

2016-01-01

Background and purpose Avoiding danger and finding food are closely related behaviours that are essential for surviving in a natural environment. Growing evidence supports an important role of gut‐brain peptides in modulating energy homeostasis and emotional‐affective behaviour. For instance, postprandial release of pancreatic polypeptide (PP) reduced food intake and altered stress‐induced motor activity and anxiety by activating central Y4 receptors. Experimental approach We characterized [K30(PEG2)]hPP2‐36 as long‐acting Y4 receptor agonist and injected it peripherally into wildtype and Y4 receptor knockout (Y4KO) C57Bl/6NCrl mice to investigate the role of Y4 receptors in fear conditioning. Extinction and relapse after extinction was measured by spontaneous recovery and renewal. Key results The Y4KO mice showed impaired cued and context fear extinction without affecting acquisition, consolidation or recall of fear. Correspondingly, peripheral injection of [K30(PEG2)]hPP2‐36 facilitated extinction learning upon fasting, an effect that was long‐lasting and generalized. Furthermore, peripherally applied [K30(PEG2)]hPP2‐36 before extinction inhibited the activation of orexin‐expressing neurons in the lateral hypothalamus in WT, but not in Y4KO mice. Conclusions and implications Our findings suggests suppression of excessive arousal as a possible mechanism for the extinction‐promoting effect of central Y4 receptors and provide strong evidence that fear extinction requires integration of vegetative stimuli with cortical and subcortical information, a process crucially depending on Y4 receptors. Importantly, in the lateral hypothalamus two peptide systems, PP and orexin, interact to generate an emotional response adapted to the current homeostatic state. Detailed investigations of feeding‐relevant genes may thus deliver multiple intervention points for treating anxiety‐related disorders. PMID:26844810

The Effect of Hydroelectric Power Plants (hpp) on Agro-Life at Rural Land Regulation in Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Onursal Denli, G.; Denli, H. H.; Seker, D. Z.; Bitik, E.; Cetin, S.

2014-12-01

Turkey is one of the self-sufficient in foodstuffs and globally ranks as 7th significant agricultural exporter in the world. Main trading partners are the European Union, the United States and the Middle East. As known, agricultural production is dependent on factors including efficient and effective use of all inputs ranging from those natural resources as in land and water to well-trained human resources as labour at the production. The socio-economic aspects of this sector take several forms ranging from the incomes of the primary producers. Rural land regulation is a necessity for rural areas and is regarded as a useful instrument for improving farmer's incomes and life standards. The irrigation system, established during the rural regulation/land consolidation period of large-scale farming, is insufficiently adjusted to the new land tenure structures. The government is especially in the process of water management with hydroelectric power plants. This process produces energy that is required but effects negatively the rivers and agricultural, environmental, climatic conditions. Rivers are vessels of the nature. Free flowing rivers give life to all nature. Most of the studies indicate that Hydroelectric Power Plants (HPP) affects the surface and ground-water management, natural life, agricultural productivity, socio-economic situation at agricultural regions and agro-life related with immigration. This study emphasizes the effect of Hydroelectric Power Plants which are used in transformation of water as a renewable natural resource into electricity power from the perspective of environmental policies and rural regulation.

Erosion of Pelton buckets and changes in turbine efficiency measured in the HPP Fieschertal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abgottspon, A.; Staubli, T.; Felix, D.

2016-11-01

Geometrical changes and material loss of Pelton turbine runners as well as changes in turbine efficiency were measured at HPP Fieschertal in Valais, Switzerland. The HPP is equipped with two horizontal axis Pelton units, with each 32 MW nominal power, 7.5 m3/s design discharge, 515 m head and two injectors. The injectors and the buckets are hard-coated. Hydro-abrasive erosion was quantified based on repeated measurements on two runner buckets using (i) 3d-scanning and (ii) a coating thickness gauge. Changes in efficiency were measured by applying the sliding needle procedure. In addition to these periodically performed measurements, efficiency was also continuously monitored. The highest erosion rate was measured during the first half of the sediment season 2012 including a major sediment transport event. Because the runner was not fully reconditioned at the beginning of this season, progressive damages occurred. After the event, a splitter width of 10 mm was measured, corresponding to 1.5 % of the inner bucket width. The cut-outs were eroded by up to 9 mm towards the axis. The efficiency reductions ranged from 1 % in the year with the major sediment transport event to insignificant differences in 2014, when the sediment load was small and only little hydro-abrasive erosion occurred.

Evaluation of melioration area damage on the river Danube caused by the hydroelectric power plant 'Djerdap 1' backwater.

PubMed

Pajic, P; Andjelic, L; Urosevic, U; Polomcic, D

2014-01-01

Construction of the hydroelectric power plant (HPP) 'Djerdap 1' formed a backwater effect on the Danube and its tributaries, which had an inevitable influence on groundwater level, causing it to rise and thus creating additional threats to all melioration areas on more than 300 km of the Danube riversides, as well as on the riversides of its tributaries: the Sava (100 km) and the Tisa (60 km). In this paper, the HPP 'Djerdap 1' backwater effect on some characteristic melioration areas (34 in all) has been analyzed. In most of these areas intensive agricultural activity has always been present. An assessment of agricultural production damage was carried out by complex hydrodynamic calculations (60 calculation profiles) for different backwater regimes, with the aim to precisely quantify the HPP 'Djerdap 1' backwater effect on groundwater piezometric levels. Combining them with complex agroeconomic analyses, the aim is to quantify agricultural production damage and to consider the perspective of melioration area users. This method, which combines two different, but compatible, aspects of the melioration area threat assessment (hydrodynamic and agroeconomic), may present a quality base for further agricultural production threat assessment on all melioration areas on the Danube riversides, with the final aim to consider the economic effects and the importance of its further protection.

Suspended sediment measurements and calculation of the particle load at HPP Fieschertal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Felix, D.; Albayrak, I.; Abgottspon, A.; Boes, R. M.

2016-11-01

In the scope of a research project on hydro-abrasive erosion of Pelton turbines, a field study was conducted at the high-head HPP Fieschertal in Valais, Switzerland. The suspended sediment mass concentration (SSC) and particle size distribution (PSD) in the penstock have been continuously measured since 2012 using a combination of six measuring techniques. The SSC was on average 0.52 g/l and rose to 50 g/l in a major flood event in July 2012. The median particle size d 50 was usually 15 pm, rising up to 100 μm when particles previously having settled in the headwater storage tunnel were re-suspended at low water levels. The annual suspended sediment loads (SSL) varied considerably depending on flood events. Moreover, so-called particle loads (PLs) according to the relevant guideline of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC 62364) were calculated using four relations between particle size and the relative abrasion potential. For the investigated HPP, the time series of the SSL and the PLs had generally similar shapes over the three years. The largest differences among the PLs were observed during re-suspension events when the particles were considerably coarser than usual. Further investigations on the effects of particle sizes on hydroabrasive erosion of splitters and cut-outs of coated Pelton turbines are recommended.

Hepatic parenchymal preserving technique in the management of diffuse bilateral neuroendocrine tumour liver metastases: a feasible approach

PubMed Central

Nadler, Ashlie; Cukier, Moises; Milot, Laurent; Singh, Simron; Law, Calvin H.

2014-01-01

Background Aggressive surgical resection of neuroendocrine tumour liver metastases (NET-LM) is associated with symptomatic relief. Debulking up to 90% of tumour burden, even with positive margins, may be beneficial. However, patients with diffuse hepatic metastases may not qualify for resection owing to associated insufficient remnant liver parenchyma. The purpose of this study is to describe an early experience with a hepatic parenchymal preserving (HPP) approach. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our institutional neuroendocrine tumours database to identify patients with NET-LM, including symptomatic patients with extensive bilobar involvement, who underwent virtual volumetric assessment (VVA) combined with HPP resection between October 2008 and July 2011. Results Our study involved 9 patients. The median number of liver metastases resected was 10 (range 4–50). Symptomatic improvement was observed in all patients. Immediate postoperative normalization of 5-HIAA 24-hour urine levels occurred in 89% of patients. Symptomatic and biochemical response remained stable or improved in 75% of patients at 12 months of follow-up. Four patients had postoperative complications. There was no 90-day mortality. Conclusion The described HPP approach is feasible and safe. Most patients experienced symptomatic and biochemical improvement. This reproducible approach could expand surgical resection options for patients with NET-LM and diffuse bilobar involvement. PMID:24666455

Proteogenomics Dashboard for the Human Proteome Project.

PubMed

Tabas-Madrid, Daniel; Alves-Cruzeiro, Joao; Segura, Victor; Guruceaga, Elizabeth; Vialas, Vital; Prieto, Gorka; García, Carlos; Corrales, Fernando J; Albar, Juan Pablo; Pascual-Montano, Alberto

2015-09-04

dasHPPboard is a novel proteomics-based dashboard that collects and reports the experiments produced by the Spanish Human Proteome Project consortium (SpHPP) and aims to help HPP to map the entire human proteome. We have followed the strategy of analog genomics projects like the Encyclopedia of DNA Elements (ENCODE), which provides a vast amount of data on human cell lines experiments. The dashboard includes results of shotgun and selected reaction monitoring proteomics experiments, post-translational modifications information, as well as proteogenomics studies. We have also processed the transcriptomics data from the ENCODE and Human Body Map (HBM) projects for the identification of specific gene expression patterns in different cell lines and tissues, taking special interest in those genes having little proteomic evidence available (missing proteins). Peptide databases have been built using single nucleotide variants and novel junctions derived from RNA-Seq data that can be used in search engines for sample-specific protein identifications on the same cell lines or tissues. The dasHPPboard has been designed as a tool that can be used to share and visualize a combination of proteomic and transcriptomic data, providing at the same time easy access to resources for proteogenomics analyses. The dasHPPboard can be freely accessed at: http://sphppdashboard.cnb.csic.es.

Mobilization of primitive and committed hematopoietic progenitors in nonhuman primates treated with defibrotide and recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor.

PubMed

Carlo-Stella, Carmelo; Di Nicola, Massimo; Longoni, Paolo; Milani, Raffaella; Milanesi, Marco; Guidetti, Anna; Haanstra, Krista; Jonker, Margaret; Cleris, Loredana; Magni, Michele; Formelli, Franca; Gianni, Alesssandro M

2004-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of defibrotide in enhancing cytokine-induced hematopoietic mobilization in rhesus monkeys. Animals received recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF, 100 microg/kg/day SC for 5 days) and, after a 4- to 6-week washout period, were remobilized with defibrotide (15 mg/kg/hour continuous intravenous for 5 days) plus rhG-CSF. Hematopoietic mobilization was evaluated by complete blood counts, differential counts, as well as frequency and absolute numbers of colony-forming cells (CFCs), high-proliferative potential CFCs (HPP-CFCs), and long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs). Compared to baseline values, rhG-CSF increased circulating CFCs, HPP-CFCs, and LTC-ICs by 158-, 125-, and 67-fold, respectively; the same figures for defibrotide/rhG-CSF were 299-, 1452-, and 295-fold, respectively. Defibrotide/rhG-CSF treatment compared to rhG-CSF alone increased CFCs, HPP-CFCs, and LTC-ICs by 1.4- (35,089 vs 25,825, p< or =0.02), 6- (4358 vs 748, p< or =0.02), and 5-fold (884 vs 168, p< or =0.04), respectively. We then evaluated the effects of a 2-day defibrotide treatment associated with a 5-day rhG-CSF treatment. Compared to rhG-CSF, defibrotide/rhG-CSF increased the mobilization of CFCs, HPP-CFCs, and LTC-ICs by 2- (31,128 vs 15,527, p< or =0.05), 8- (5361 vs 660, p< or =0.01), and 8-fold (954 vs 119, p< or =0.01), respectively. Our data demonstrate that in nonhuman primates: 1) defibrotide enhances rhG-CSF-elicited mobilization of primitive and committed progenitors; and 2) a 2-day defibrotide injection is as effective as a 5-day injection.

Distribution and release of human pancreatic polypeptide.

PubMed

Adrian, T E; Bloom, S R; Bryant, M G; Polak, J M; Heitz, P H; Barnes, A J

1976-12-01

A simple and reliable radioimmunoassay has been developed for a new gut hormone, HPP. In the primate 93% of the total PP was found in the pancreas with a small amount throughout the remaining gastrointestinal tract. HPP has been shown to be produced by a number of pancreatic apudomas and their metastases. The immunoreactive PP from these tumours and from normal pancreas was chromatographically indistinguishable from the pure peptide. The plasma PP concentration rose rapidly after a meal in normal subjects and was still raised six hours later. Fasting plasma PP levels in patients with PP cell containing pancreatic endocrine tumours were higher than even the postprandial level in normal subjects. PP measurements is thus useful in diagnosis of pancreatic endocrine tumours.

Distribution and release of human pancreatic polypeptide.

PubMed Central

Adrian, T E; Bloom, S R; Bryant, M G; Polak, J M; Heitz, P H; Barnes, A J

1976-01-01

A simple and reliable radioimmunoassay has been developed for a new gut hormone, HPP. In the primate 93% of the total PP was found in the pancreas with a small amount throughout the remaining gastrointestinal tract. HPP has been shown to be produced by a number of pancreatic apudomas and their metastases. The immunoreactive PP from these tumours and from normal pancreas was chromatographically indistinguishable from the pure peptide. The plasma PP concentration rose rapidly after a meal in normal subjects and was still raised six hours later. Fasting plasma PP levels in patients with PP cell containing pancreatic endocrine tumours were higher than even the postprandial level in normal subjects. PP measurements is thus useful in diagnosis of pancreatic endocrine tumours. Images Fig. 2 PMID:828120

Domestic atmospheric pressure thermal deaerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Egorov, P. V.; Gimmelberg, A. S.; Mikhailov, V. G.; Baeva, A. N.; Chuprakov, M. V.; Grigoriev, G. V.

2016-04-01

Based on many years of experience and proven technical solutions, modern atmospheric pressure deaerators of the capacity of 0.4 to 800 t/h were designed and developed. The construction of such deaerators is based on known and explored technical solutions. A two-stage deaeration scheme is applied where the first stage is a jet dripping level (in a column) and the second one is a bubble level (in a tank). In the design of deaeration columns, low-pressure hydraulic nozzles (Δ p < 0.15 MPa) and jet trays are used, and in deaerator tank, a developed "flooded" sparger is applied, which allows to significantly increase the intensity of the heat and mass exchange processes in the apparatus. The use of the two efficient stages in a column and a "flooded" sparger in a tank allows to reliably guarantee the necessary water heating and deaeration. Steam or "superheated" water of the temperature of t ≥ 125°C can be used as the coolant in the deaerators. The commissioning tests of the new deaerator prototypes of the capacity of 800 and 500 t/h in the HPP conditions showed their sustainable, reliable, and efficient work in the designed range of hydraulic and thermal loads. The content of solved oxygen and free carbon dioxide in make-up water after deaerators meets the requirements of State Standard GOST 16860-88, the operating rules and regulations, and the customer's specifications. Based on these results, the proposals were developed on the structure and the design of deaerators of the productivity of more than 800 t/h for the use in circuits of large heating systems and the preparation of feed water to the TPP at heating and industrial-heating plants. The atmospheric pressure thermal deaerators developed at NPO TsKTI with consideration of the current requirements are recommended for the use in water preparation schemes of various power facilities.

Enzyme Replacement for Craniofacial Skeletal Defects and Craniosynostosis in Murine Hypophosphatasia

PubMed Central

Liu, Jin; Campbell, Cassie; Nam, Hwa Kyung; Caron, Alexandre; Yadav, Manisha C; Millán, José Luis; Hatch, Nan E.

2015-01-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inborn-error-of-metabolism disorder characterized by deficient bone and tooth mineralization due to loss-of function mutations in the gene (Alpl) encoding tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP). Alpl−/− mice exhibit many characteristics seen in infantile HPP including long bone and tooth defects, vitamin B6 responsive seizures and craniosynostosis. Previous reports demonstrated that a mineral-targeted form of TNAP rescues long bone, verterbral and tooth mineralization defects in Alpl−/− mice. Here we report that enzyme replacement with mineral-targeted TNAP (asfotase-alfa) also prevents craniosynostosis (the premature fusion of cranial bones) and additional craniofacial skeletal abnormalities in Alpl−/− mice. Craniosynostosis, cranial bone volume and density, and craniofacial shape abnormalities were assessed by microsocopy, histology, digital caliper measurements and micro CT. We found that craniofacial shape defects, cranial bone mineralization and craniosynostosis were corrected in Alpl−/− mice injected daily subcutaneously starting at birth with recombinant enzyme. Analysis of Alpl−/− calvarial cells indicates that TNAP deficiency leads to aberrant osteoblastic gene expression and diminished proliferation. Some but not all of these cellular abnormalities were rescued by treatment with inorganic phosphate. These results confirm an essential role for TNAP in craniofacial skeletal development and demonstrate the efficacy of early postnatal mineral-targeted enzyme replacement for preventing craniofacial abnormalities including craniosynostosis in murine infantile HPP. PMID:25959417

Osteoinductive potential of highly purified porous β-TCP in mice.

PubMed

Tsukanaka, Masako; Fujibayashi, Shunsuke; Otsuki, Bungo; Takemoto, Mitsuru; Matsuda, Shuichi

2015-03-01

Material-induced osteoinduction of calcium phosphate ceramics has been reported in specific animals. We previously reported that recruitment of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells might be one of the main factors responsible for the difference in the occurrence of material-induced osteoinduction between dogs and rats. In this study, we evaluated the osteoinductive potential of highly purified porous beta-tricalcium phosphate materials (HPP-β-TCP) with two different porosities, 75 and 60 % (Olympus Terumo Biomaterials, Tokyo, Japan), implanted into subcutaneous pockets of FVB and C57BL/6 mice. Twelve weeks after implantation, histological examination and gene expression analysis using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were performed. We observed osteoinduction in half of the HPP-β-TCP materials with 60 % porosity implanted into FVB mice. This group of mice also exhibited the most TRAP-positive cells. Significantly more vessels were found in FVB mice than in C57BL/6 mice, but the greatest number of vessels was counted in implants from materials with 75 % porosity implanted into FVB mice, which did not show osteoinduction. These results indicate that recruitment of TRAP-positive cells is one factor responsible for osteoinduction caused by HPP-β-TCP materials in both FVB mice and dogs. Vessel formation seems to be necessary but appears to be less influential for osteoinduction than TRAP-positive cell recruitment.

The State of the Human Proteome in 2013 as viewed through PeptideAtlas: Comparing the Kidney, Urine, and Plasma Proteomes for the Biology and Disease-driven Human Proteome Project

PubMed Central

Farrah, Terry; Deutsch, Eric W.; Omenn, Gilbert S.; Sun, Zhi; Watts, Julian D.; Yamamoto, Tadashi; Shteynberg, David; Harris, Micheleen M.; Moritz, Robert L.

2014-01-01

The kidney, urine, and plasma proteomes are intimately related: proteins and metabolic waste products are filtered from the plasma by the kidney and excreted via the urine, while kidney proteins may be secreted into the circulation or released into the urine. Shotgun proteomics datasets derived from human kidney, urine, and plasma samples were collated and processed using a uniform software pipeline, and relative protein abundances were estimated by spectral counting. The resulting PeptideAtlas builds yielded 4005, 2491, and 3553 nonredundant proteins at 1% FDR for the kidney, urine, and plasma proteomes, respectively—for kidney and plasma, the largest high-confidence protein sets to date. The same pipeline applied to all available human data yielded a 2013 Human PeptideAtlas build containing 12,644 nonredundant proteins and at least one peptide for each of ~14,000 Swiss-Prot entries, an increase over 2012 of ~7.5% of the predicted human proteome. We demonstrate that abundances are correlated between plasma and urine, examine the most abundant urine proteins not derived from either plasma or kidney, and consider the biomarker potential of proteins associated with renal decline. This analysis forms part of the Biology and Disease-driven Human Proteome Project (B/D-HPP) and a contribution to the Chromosome-centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) special issue. PMID:24261998

The Human Proteome Organization Chromosome 6 Consortium: integrating chromosome-centric and biology/disease driven strategies.

PubMed

Borchers, C H; Kast, J; Foster, L J; Siu, K W M; Overall, C M; Binkowski, T A; Hildebrand, W H; Scherer, A; Mansoor, M; Keown, P A

2014-04-04

The Human Proteome Project (HPP) is designed to generate a comprehensive map of the protein-based molecular architecture of the human body, to provide a resource to help elucidate biological and molecular function, and to advance diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Within this framework, the chromosome-based HPP (C-HPP) has allocated responsibility for mapping individual chromosomes by country or region, while the biology/disease HPP (B/D-HPP) coordinates these teams in cross-functional disease-based groups. Chromosome 6 (Ch6) provides an excellent model for integration of these two tasks. This metacentric chromosome has a complement of 1002-1034 genes that code for known, novel or putative proteins. Ch6 is functionally associated with more than 120 major human diseases, many with high population prevalence, devastating clinical impact and profound societal consequences. The unique combination of genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, phenomic and health services data being drawn together within the Ch6 program has enormous potential to advance personalized medicine by promoting robust biomarkers, subunit vaccines and new drug targets. The strong liaison between the clinical and laboratory teams, and the structured framework for technology transfer and health policy decisions within Canada will increase the speed and efficacy of this transition, and the value of this translational research. Canada has been selected to play a leading role in the international Human Proteome Project, the global counterpart of the Human Genome Project designed to understand the structure and function of the human proteome in health and disease. Canada will lead an international team focusing on chromosome 6, which is functionally associated with more than 120 major human diseases, including immune and inflammatory disorders affecting the brain, skeletal system, heart and blood vessels, lungs, kidney, liver, gastrointestinal tract and endocrine system. Many of these chronic and persistent diseases have a high population prevalence, devastating clinical impact and profound societal consequences. As a result, they impose a multi-billion dollar economic burden on Canada and on all advanced societies through direct costs of patient care, the loss of health and productivity, and extensive caregiver burden. There is no definitive treatment at the present time for any of these disorders. The manuscript outlines the research which will involve a systematic assessment of all chromosome 6 genes, development of a knowledge base, and development of assays and reagents for all chromosome 6 proteins. We feel that the informatic infrastructure and MRM assays developed will place the chromosome 6 consortium in an excellent position to be a leading player in this major international research initiative. This article is part of a Special Issue: Can Proteomics Fill the Gap Between Genomics and Phenotypes? © 2013.

Tissue-nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase Deficiency Causes Abnormal Craniofacial Bone Development in the Alpl−/− Mouse Model of Infantile Hypophosphatasia

PubMed Central

Liu, Jin; Nam, Hwa Kyung; Campbell, Cassie; Gasque, Kellen Cristina da Silva; Millán, José Luis; Hatch, Nan E.

2014-01-01

Tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) is an enzyme present on the surface of mineralizing cells and their derived matrix vesicles that promotes hydroxyapatite crystal growth. Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inborn-error-of-metabolism that, dependent upon age of onset, features rickets or osteomalacia due to loss-of function mutations in the gene (Alpl) encoding TNAP. Craniosynostosis is prevalent in infants with HPP and other forms of rachitic disease but how craniosynostosis develops in these disorders is unknown. Objectives: Because craniosynostosis carries high morbidity, we are investigating craniofacial skeletal abnormalities in Alpl−/− mice to establish these mice as a model of HPP-associated craniosynostosis and determine mechanisms by which TNAP influences craniofacial skeletal development. Methods: Cranial bone, cranial suture and cranial base abnormalities were analyzed by micro-CT and histology. Craniofacial shape abnormalities were quantified using digital calipers. TNAP expression was suppressed in MC3T3E1(C4) calvarial cells by TNAP-specific shRNA. Cells were analyzed for changes in mineralization, gene expression, proliferation, apoptosis, matrix deposition and cell adhesion. Results: Alpl−/− mice feature craniofacial shape abnormalities suggestive of limited anterior-posterior growth. Craniosynostosis in the form of bony coronal suture fusion is present by three weeks after birth. Alpl−/− mice also exhibit marked histologic abnormalities of calvarial bones and the cranial base involving growth plates, cortical and trabecular bone within two weeks of birth. Analysis of calvarial cells in which TNAP expression was suppressed by shRNA indicates that TNAP deficiency promotes aberrant osteoblastic gene expression, diminished matrix deposition, diminished proliferation, increased apoptosis and increased cell adhesion. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that Alpl−/− mice exhibit a craniofacial skeletal phenotype similar to that seen in infants with HPP, including true bony craniosynostosis in the context of severely diminished bone mineralization. Future studies will be required to determine if TNAP deficiency and other forms of rickets promote craniosynostosis directly through abnormal calvarial cell behavior, or indirectly due to deficient growth of the cranial base. PMID:25014884

Prevention of Lethal Murine Hypophosphatasia by Neonatal Ex Vivo Gene Therapy Using Lentivirally Transduced Bone Marrow Cells.

PubMed

Iijima, Osamu; Miyake, Koichi; Watanabe, Atsushi; Miyake, Noriko; Igarashi, Tsutomu; Kanokoda, Chizu; Nakamura-Takahashi, Aki; Kinoshita, Hideaki; Noguchi, Taku; Abe, Shinichi; Narisawa, Sonoko; Millán, José Luis; Okada, Takashi; Shimada, Takashi

2015-12-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inherited skeletal and dental disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene that encodes tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNALP). The major symptoms of severe forms of the disease are bone defects, respiratory insufficiency, and epileptic seizures. In 2015, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using recombinant bone-targeted TNALP with deca-aspartate (D10) motif was approved to treat pediatric HPP patients in Japan, Canada, and Europe. However, the ERT requires repeated subcutaneous administration of the enzyme because of the short half-life in serum. In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of neonatal ex vivo gene therapy in TNALP knockout (Akp2(-/-)) HPP mice using lentivirally transduced bone marrow cells (BMC) expressing bone-targeted TNALP in which a D10 sequence was linked to the C-terminus of soluble TNALP (TNALP-D10). The Akp2(-/-) mice usually die within 20 days because of growth failure, epileptic seizures, and hypomineralization. However, an intravenous transplantation of BMC expressing TNALP-D10 (ALP-BMC) into neonatal Akp2(-/-) mice prolonged survival of the mice with improved bone mineralization compared with untransduced BMC-transplanted Akp2(-/-) mice. The treated Akp2(-/-) mice were normal in appearance and experienced no seizures during the experimental period. The lentivirally transduced BMC were efficiently engrafted in the recipient mice and supplied TNALP-D10 continuously at a therapeutic level for at least 3 months. Moreover, TNALP-D10 overexpression did not affect multilineage reconstitution in the recipient mice. The plasma ALP activity was sustained at high levels in the treated mice, and tissue ALP activity was selectively detected on bone surfaces, not in the kidneys or other organs. No ectopic calcification was observed in the ALP-BMC-treated mice. These results indicate that lentivirally transduced BMC can serve as a reservoir for stem cell-based ERT to rescue the Akp2(-/-) phenotype. Neonatal ex vivo gene therapy thus appears to be a possible treatment option for treating severe HPP.

Prevention of Lethal Murine Hypophosphatasia by Neonatal Ex Vivo Gene Therapy Using Lentivirally Transduced Bone Marrow Cells

PubMed Central

Iijima, Osamu; Miyake, Koichi; Watanabe, Atsushi; Miyake, Noriko; Igarashi, Tsutomu; Kanokoda, Chizu; Nakamura-Takahashi, Aki; Kinoshita, Hideaki; Noguchi, Taku; Abe, Shinichi; Narisawa, Sonoko; Millán, José Luis; Okada, Takashi; Shimada, Takashi

2015-01-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is an inherited skeletal and dental disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene that encodes tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNALP). The major symptoms of severe forms of the disease are bone defects, respiratory insufficiency, and epileptic seizures. In 2015, enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) using recombinant bone-targeted TNALP with deca-aspartate (D10) motif was approved to treat pediatric HPP patients in Japan, Canada, and Europe. However, the ERT requires repeated subcutaneous administration of the enzyme because of the short half-life in serum. In the present study, we evaluated the feasibility of neonatal ex vivo gene therapy in TNALP knockout (Akp2−/−) HPP mice using lentivirally transduced bone marrow cells (BMC) expressing bone-targeted TNALP in which a D10 sequence was linked to the C-terminus of soluble TNALP (TNALP-D10). The Akp2−/− mice usually die within 20 days because of growth failure, epileptic seizures, and hypomineralization. However, an intravenous transplantation of BMC expressing TNALP-D10 (ALP-BMC) into neonatal Akp2−/− mice prolonged survival of the mice with improved bone mineralization compared with untransduced BMC-transplanted Akp2−/− mice. The treated Akp2−/− mice were normal in appearance and experienced no seizures during the experimental period. The lentivirally transduced BMC were efficiently engrafted in the recipient mice and supplied TNALP-D10 continuously at a therapeutic level for at least 3 months. Moreover, TNALP-D10 overexpression did not affect multilineage reconstitution in the recipient mice. The plasma ALP activity was sustained at high levels in the treated mice, and tissue ALP activity was selectively detected on bone surfaces, not in the kidneys or other organs. No ectopic calcification was observed in the ALP-BMC-treated mice. These results indicate that lentivirally transduced BMC can serve as a reservoir for stem cell-based ERT to rescue the Akp2−/− phenotype. Neonatal ex vivo gene therapy thus appears to be a possible treatment option for treating severe HPP. PMID:26467745

78 FR 67135 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-08

.... Docket Numbers: ER14-96-001. Applicants: Healthy Planet Partners Energy Company. Description: Healthy Planet Partners Energy Company submits tariff filing per 35.17(b): HPP--MBRA--Amendment to be effective 1...

Characterization of a new caged proton capable of inducing large pH jumps.

PubMed Central

Barth, Andreas; Corrie, John E T

2002-01-01

A new caged proton, 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl sulfate (caged sulfate), is characterized by infrared spectroscopy and compared with a known caged, proton 2-hydroxyphenyl 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl phosphate (caged HPP). In contrast to caged HPP, caged sulfate can induce large pH jumps and protonate groups that have pK values as low as 2.2. The photolysis mechanism of caged sulfate is analogous to that of P(3)-[1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl] ATP (caged ATP), and the photolysis efficiency is similar. The utility of this new caged compound for biological studies was demonstrated by its ability to drive the acid-induced conformational change of metmyoglobin. This transition from the native conformation to a partially unfolded form takes place near pH 4 and was monitored by near-UV absorption spectroscopy. PMID:12414718

78 FR 63175 - Combined Notice of Filings #1

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-23

...: 20131015-5367. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 11/5/13. Docket Numbers: ER14-96-000. Applicants: Healthy Planet Partners Energy Company, LLC. Description: Healthy Planet Partners Energy Company, LLC submits HPP MBRA...

Numerical and in-situ investigations of water hammer effects in Drava river Kaplan turbine hydropower plants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bergant, A.; Gregorc, B.; Gale, J.

2012-11-01

This paper deals with critical flow regimes that may induce unacceptable water hammer in Kaplan turbine hydropower plants. Water hammer analysis should be performed for normal, emergency and catastrophic operating conditions. Hydropower plants with Kaplan turbines are usually comprised of relatively short inlet and outlet conduits. The rigid water hammer theory can be used for this case. For hydropower plants with long penstocks the elastic water hammer should be used. Some Kaplan turbine units are installed in systems with long open channels. In this case, water level oscillations in the channels should be carefully investigated. Computational results are compared with results of measurements in recently rehabilitated seven Drava river hydroelectric power plants in Slovenia. Water hammer in the six power plants is controlled by appropriate adjustment of the wicket gates and runner blades closing/opening manoeuvres. Due to very long inflow and outflow open channels in Zlatoličje HPP a special vaned pressure regulating device attenuates extreme pressures in Kaplan turbine flow-passage system and controls unsteady flow in both open channels. Comparisons of results include normal operating regimes. The agreement between computed and measured results is reasonable.

Hyperbolic cooling of graphene Zener-Klein transistors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Wei; Berthou, Simon; Lu, Xiaobo; Baudin, Emmanuel; Wilmart, Quentin; Denis, Anne; Rosticher, Michael; Taniguchi, Takashi; Watanabe, Kenji; Feve, Gwendal; Berroir, Jean-Marc; Zhang, Guangyu; Voisin, Christophe; Placais, Bernard

Engineering of cooling mechanisms is a bottleneck in nanoelectroniscs. In graphene/hBN transistors, Wiedemann-Frantz cooling and supercollision-cooling prevails, and the latter is suppressed in high mobility graphene/hBN samples and substituted by the super-Planckian radiation of hyperbolic phonon-polaritons (HPPs) in the hBN substrate. Using electrical Joule heating and sensitive noise thermometry in several GHz range we report on prevailing HPP cooling in the upper Reststrahlen-band of hBN at high bias. We predict and observe its activation threshold, along with interband Zener-Klein tunneling. HPP cooling is able to evacuate at least several GW/m2 to the bottom gate, resulting in an unusual clipping of electronic temperature. As a scattering counterpart, HPPs of the lower Reststrahlen-band control current saturation at high doping. The combination of both mechanisms promotes graphene/hBN as a valuable nanotechnology for applications in the high power devices and radio frequency electronics.

Surface and Subsurface Geodesy Combined with Active Borehole Experimentation for the Advanced Characterization of EGS Reservoirs

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

Elsworth, Derek; Im, Kyungjae; Guglielmi, Yves

2016-11-14

We explore the utility of combining active downhole experimentation with borehole and surface geodesy to determine both the characteristics and evolving state of EGS reservoirs during stimulation through production. The study is divided into two parts. We demonstrate the feasibility of determining in situ reservoir characteristics of reservoir size, strain and fracture permeability and their dependence on feedbacks of stress and temperature using surface and borehole geodetic measurements (Part I). We then define the opportunity to apply the unique hydraulic pulse protocol (HPP) borehole tool to evaluate reservoir state. This can be accomplished by monitoring and co-inverting measured reservoir characteristicsmore » (from the HPP tool) with surface geodetic measurements of deformation, tilt and strain with continuous measurements of borehole-wall strain (via optical fiber and fiber Bragg gratings) and measured flow rates (Part II).« less

Non-linear multi-objective model for planning water-energy modes of Novosibirsk Hydro Power Plant

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alsova, O. K.; Artamonova, A. V.

2018-05-01

This paper presents a non-linear multi-objective model for planning and optimizing of water-energy modes for the Novosibirsk Hydro Power Plant (HPP) operation. There is a very important problem of developing a strategy to improve the scheme of water-power modes and ensure the effective operation of hydropower plants. It is necessary to determine the methods and criteria for the optimal distribution of water resources, to develop a set of models and to apply them to the software implementation of a DSS (decision-support system) for managing Novosibirsk HPP modes. One of the possible versions of the model is presented and investigated in this paper. Experimental study of the model has been carried out with 2017 data and the task of ten-day period planning from April to July (only 12 ten-day periods) was solved.

The strategy, organization, and progress of the HUPO Human Proteome Project.

PubMed

Omenn, Gilbert S

2014-04-04

The Human Proteome Project is a major, comprehensive initiative of the Human Proteome Organization. This global collaborative effort aims to identify and characterize at least one protein product and many PTM, SAP, and splice variant isoforms from the 20,300 human protein-coding genes. The deliverables are an extensive parts list and an array of technology platforms, reagents, spectral libraries, and linked knowledge bases that advance the field and facilitate the use of proteomics by a much wider community of life scientists. Such enablement will help address the Grand Challenge of using proteomics to bridge major gaps between evidence of genomic variation and diverse phenotypes. The HUPO Human Proteome Project (HPP) has made an outstanding launch, including a special issue of the Journal of Proteome Research on the Chromosome-centric HPP with a total of 48 articles. This article is part of a Special Issue: Can Proteomics Fill the Gap Between Genomics and Phenotypes? © 2013.

Novel Control Strategy for Multiple Run-of-the-River Hydro Power Plants to Provide Grid Ancillary Services

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

Mohanpurkar, Manish; Luo, Yusheng; Hovsapian, Rob

Electricity generated by Hydropower Plants (HPPs) contributes a considerable portion of bulk electricity generation and delivers it with a low carbon footprint. In fact, HPP electricity generation provides the largest share from renewable energy resources, which includes solar and wind energy. The increasing penetration of wind and solar penetration leads to a lowered inertia in the grid and hence poses stability challenges. In recent years, breakthrough in energy storage technologies have demonstrated the economic and technical feasibility of extensive deployments in power grids. Multiple ROR HPPs if integrated with scalable, multi time-step energy storage so that the total output canmore » be controlled. Although, the size of a single energy storage is far smaller than that of a typical reservoir, cohesively managing multiple sets of energy storage distributed in different locations is proposed. The ratings of storages and multiple ROR HPPs approximately equals the rating of a large, conventional HPP. The challenges associated with the system architecture and operation are described. Energy storage technologies such as supercapacitors, flywheels, batteries etc. can function as a dispatchable synthetic reservoir with a scalable size of energy storage will be integrated. Supercapacitors, flywheels, and battery are chosen to provide fast, medium, and slow responses to support grid requirements. Various dynamic and transient power grid conditions are simulated and performances of integrated ROR HPPs with energy storage is provided. The end goal of this research is to investigate the inertial equivalence of a large, conventional HPP with a unique set of multiple ROR HPPs and optimally rated energy storage systems.« less

Sediment transport monitoring for sustainable hydropower development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rüther, Nils; Guerrero, Massimo; Stokseth, Siri

2015-04-01

Due to the increasing demand of CO2 neutral energy not only in Europe but also in World, a relatively large amount of new hydro power plants (HPP) are built. In addition, will existing ones refurbished and renewed in order to run them more cost effective. A huge thread to HPPs is incoming sediments in suspension from the rivers upstream. The sediments settle in the reservoir and reduce the effective head and volume and reduce consequently the life time of the reservoir. In addition are the fine sediments causing severe damages to turbines and infrastructure of a HPP. For estimating the amount of incoming sediments in suspension and therefore planning efficient counter measures, it is essential to monitor the rivers within the catchment of the HPP for suspended sediments. This work is considerably time consuming and requires highly educated personnel and is therefore expensive. Consequently will this study present a method to measure suspended sediment concentrations and their grain size distribution with a dual frequency acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). This method is more cost effective and reliable in comparison to traditional measurement methods. Having more detailed information about the sediments being transported in a river, the hydro power plant can be planned, built, and operated much more efficiently and sustainable. The two horizontal ADCPs are installed at a measurement cross section in the Devoll river in Albania. To verify the new method, the suspended load concentrations will be monitored also in the traditional ways at the same cross sections. It is planned to install turbidity measurement devices included with an automatic sampling devices. It is also planned to use an optical in situ measurement device (LISST SL by Sequoia Inc.) to have detailed information of sediment concentration and grain sizes over the depth.

Suitability of Secondary PEEK Telescopic Crowns on Zirconia Primary Crowns: The Influence of Fabrication Method and Taper.

PubMed

Merk, Susanne; Wagner, Christina; Stock, Veronika; Eichberger, Marlis; Schmidlin, Patrick R; Roos, Malgorzata; Stawarczyk, Bogna

2016-11-08

This study investigates the retention load (RL) between ZrO₂ primary crowns and secondary polyetheretherketone (PEEK) crowns made by different fabrication methods with three different tapers. Standardized primary ZrO₂ crowns were fabricated with three different tapers: 0°, 1°, and 2° ( n = 10/group). Ten secondary crowns were fabricated (i) milled from breCam BioHPP blanks (PM); (ii) pressed from industrially fabricated PEEK pellets (PP) (BioHPP Pellet); or (iii) pressed from granular PEEK (PG) (BioHPP Granulat). One calibrated operator adjusted all crowns. In total, the RL of 90 secondary crowns were measured in pull-off tests at 50 mm/min, and each specimen was tested 20 times. Two- and one-way ANOVAs followed by a Scheffé's post-hoc test were used for data analysis ( p < 0.05). Within crowns with a 0° taper, the PP group showed significantly higher retention load values compared with the other groups. Among the 1° taper, the PM group presented significantly lower retention loads than the PP group. However, the pressing type had no impact on the results. Within the 2° taper, the fabrication method had no influence on the RL. Within the PM group, the 2° taper showed significantly higher retention load compared with the 1° taper. The taper with 0° was in the same range value as the 1° and 2° tapers. No impact of the taper on the retention value was observed between the PP groups. Within the PG groups, the 0° taper presented significantly lower RL than the 1° taper, whereas the 2° taper showed no differences. The fabrication method of the secondary PEEK crowns and taper angles showed no consistent effect within all tested groups.

Deep Coverage Proteomics Identifies More Low-Abundance Missing Proteins in Human Testis Tissue with Q-Exactive HF Mass Spectrometer.

PubMed

Wei, Wei; Luo, Weijia; Wu, Feilin; Peng, Xuehui; Zhang, Yao; Zhang, Manli; Zhao, Yan; Su, Na; Qi, YingZi; Chen, Lingsheng; Zhang, Yangjun; Wen, Bo; He, Fuchu; Xu, Ping

2016-11-04

Since 2012, missing proteins (MPs) investigation has been one of the critical missions of Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) through various biochemical strategies. On the basis of our previous testis MPs study, faster scanning and higher resolution mass-spectrometry-based proteomics might be conducive to MPs exploration, especially for low-abundance proteins. In this study, Q-Exactive HF (HF) was used to survey proteins from the same testis tissues separated by two separating methods (tricine- and glycine-SDS-PAGE), as previously described. A total of 8526 proteins were identified, of which more low-abundance proteins were uniquely detected in HF data but not in our previous LTQ Orbitrap Velos (Velos) reanalysis data. Further transcriptomics analysis showed that these uniquely identified proteins by HF also had lower expression at the mRNA level. Of the 81 total identified MPs, 74 and 39 proteins were listed as MPs in HF and Velos data sets, respectively. Among the above MPs, 47 proteins (43 neXtProt PE2 and 4 PE3) were ranked as confirmed MPs after verifying with the stringent spectra match and isobaric and single amino acid variants filtering. Functional investigation of these 47 MPs revealed that 11 MPs were testis-specific proteins and 7 MPs were involved in spermatogenesis process. Therefore, we concluded that higher scanning speed and resolution of HF might be factors for improving the low-abundance MP identification in future C-HPP studies. All mass-spectrometry data from this study have been deposited in the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD004092.

Iron(II) cage complexes of N-heterocyclic amide and bis(trimethylsilyl)amide ligands: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties.

PubMed

Sulway, Scott A; Collison, David; McDouall, Joseph J W; Tuna, Floriana; Layfield, Richard A

2011-03-21

Metallation of hexahydropyrimidopyrimidine (hppH) by [Fe{N(SiMe(3))(2)}(2)] (1) produces the trimetallic iron(II) amide cage complex [{(Me(3)Si)(2)NFe}(2)(hpp)(4)Fe] (2), which contains three iron(II) centers, each of which resides in a distorted tetrahedral environment. An alternative, one-pot route that avoids use of the highly air-sensitive complex 1 is described for the synthesis of the iron(II)-lithium complex [{(Me(3)Si)(2)N}(2)Fe{Li(bta)}](2) (3) (where btaH = benzotriazole), in which both iron(II) centers reside in 3-coordinated pyramidal environments. The structure of 3 is also interpreted in terms of the ring laddering principle developed for alkali metal amides. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that both compounds display very weak antiferromagnetic exchange between the iron(II) centers, and that the iron(II) centers in 2 and 3 possess large negative axial zero-field splittings.

Embryonic vascular disruption adverse outcomes: Linking high-throughput signaling signatures with functional consequences.

PubMed

Ellis-Hutchings, Robert G; Settivari, Raja S; McCoy, Alene T; Kleinstreuer, Nicole; Franzosa, Jill; Knudsen, Thomas B; Carney, Edward W

2017-04-13

Embryonic vascular disruption is an important adverse outcome pathway (AOP) as chemical disruption of cardiovascular development induces broad prenatal defects. High-throughput screening (HTS) assays aid AOP development although linking in vitro data to in vivo apical endpoints remains challenging. This study evaluated two anti-angiogenic agents, 5HPP-33 and TNP-470, across the ToxCastDB HTS assay platform and anchored the results to complex in vitro functional assays: the rat aortic explant assay (AEA), rat whole embryo culture (WEC), and the zebrafish embryotoxicity (ZET) assay. Both were identified as putative vascular disruptive compounds (pVDCs) in ToxCastDB and disrupted angiogenesis and embryogenesis in the functional assays. Differences were observed in potency and adverse effects: 5HPP-33 was embryolethal (WEC and ZET); TNP-470 produced caudal defects at lower concentrations. This study demonstrates how a tiered approach using HTS signatures and complex functional in vitro assays might be used to prioritize further in vivo developmental toxicity testing. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Embryonic vascular disruption adverse outcomes: Linking high throughput signaling signatures with functional consequences.

PubMed

Ellis-Hutchings, Robert G; Settivari, Raja S; McCoy, Alene T; Kleinstreuer, Nicole; Franzosa, Jill; Knudsen, Thomas B; Carney, Edward W

2017-06-01

Embryonic vascular disruption is an important adverse outcome pathway (AOP) as chemical disruption of cardiovascular development induces broad prenatal defects. High throughput screening (HTS) assays aid AOP development although linking in vitro data to in vivo apical endpoints remains challenging. This study evaluated two anti-angiogenic agents, 5HPP-33 and TNP-470, across the ToxCastDB HTS assay platform and anchored the results to complex in vitro functional assays: the rat aortic explant assay (AEA), rat whole embryo culture (WEC), and the zebrafish embryotoxicity (ZET) assay. Both were identified as putative vascular disruptive compounds (pVDCs) in ToxCastDB and disrupted angiogenesis and embryogenesis in the functional assays. Differences were observed in potency and adverse effects: 5HPP-33 was embryolethal (WEC and ZET); TNP-470 produced caudal defects at lower concentrations. This study demonstrates how a tiered approach using HTS signatures and complex functional in vitro assays might be used to prioritize further in vivo developmental toxicity testing. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Permeability - Fluid Pressure - Stress Relationship in Fault Zones in Shales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henry, P.; Guglielmi, Y.; Morereau, A.; Seguy, S.; Castilla, R.; Nussbaum, C.; Dick, P.; Durand, J.; Jaeggi, D.; Donze, F. V.; Tsopela, A.

2016-12-01

Fault permeability is known to depend strongly on stress and fluid pressures. Exponential relationships between permeability and effective pressure have been proposed to approximate fault response to fluid pressure variations. However, the applicability of these largely empirical laws remains questionable, as they do not take into account shear stress and shear strain. A series of experiments using mHPP probes have been performed within fault zones in very low permeability (less than 10-19 m2) Lower Jurassic shale formations at Tournemire (France) and Mont Terri (Switzerland) underground laboratories. These probes allow to monitor 3D displacement between two points anchored to the borehole walls at the same time as fluid pressure and flow rate. In addition, in the Mont-Terri experiment, passive pressure sensors were installed in observation boreholes. Fracture transmissivity was estimated from single borehole pulse test, constant pressure injection tests, and cross-hole tests. It is found that the transmissivity-pressure dependency can be approximated with an exponential law, but only above a pressure threshold that we call the Fracture Opening Threshold (F.O.P). The displacement data show a change of the mechanical response across the F.O.P. The displacement below the F.O.P. is dominated by borehole response, which is mostly elastic. Above F.O.P., the poro-elasto-plastic response of the fractures dominates. Stress determinations based on previous work and on the analysis of slip data from mHPPP probe indicate that the F.O.P. is lower than the least principal stress. Below the F.O.P., uncemented fractures retain some permeability, as pulse tests performed at low pressures yield diffusivities in the range 10-2 to 10-5 m2/s. Overall, this dual behavior appears consistent with the results of CORK experiments performed in accretionary wedge decollements. Results suggest (1) that fault zones become highly permeable when approaching the critical Coulomb threshold (2) that fluid pressure diffusion along faults could occur in subcritical conditions and that this may influence their longer-term mechanical stability.

Effects of 5HPP-33,an antiangiogenic thalidomide analog, in mouse whole embryo culture

EPA Science Inventory

Thalidomide is a well-known example of a teratogen which has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on angiogenesis. As a result of its targeted effect on immature blood vessels, anti-angiogenic specific chemical analogs were developed to maximize this mechanism of thalidomide e...

Manifestations of integrated public health policy in Dutch municipalities.

PubMed

Peters, Dorothee; Harting, Janneke; van Oers, Hans; Schuit, Jantine; de Vries, Nanne; Stronks, Karien

2016-06-01

Integrated public health policy (IPHP) aims at integrating health considerations into policies of other sectors. Since the limited empirical evidence available may hamper its further development, we systematically analysed empirical manifestations of IPHP, by placing policy strategies along a continuum of less-to-more policy integration, going from intersectoral action (IA) to healthy public policy (HPP) to health in all policies (HiAP). Our case study included 34 municipal projects of the Dutch Gezonde Slagkracht Programme (2009-15), which supports the development and implementation of IPHP on overweight, alcohol and drug abuse, and smoking. Our content analysis of project application forms and interviews with all project leaders used a framework approach involving the policy strategies and the following policy variables: initiator, actors, policy goals, determinants and policy instruments. Most projects showed a combination of policy strategies. However, manifestations of IPHP in overweight projects predominantly involved IA. More policy integration was apparent in alcohol/drugs projects (HPP) and in all-theme projects (HiAP). More policy integration was related to broad goal definitions, which allowed for the involvement of actors representing several policy sectors. This enabled the implementation of a mix of policy instruments. Determinants of health were not explicitly used as a starting point of the policy process. If a policy problem justifies policy integration beyond IA, it might be helpful to start from the determinants of health (epidemiological reality), systematically transform them into policy (policy reality) and set broad policy goals, since this gives actors from other sectors the opportunity to participate. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

An immunohistochemical study of endocrine cells in the alimentary tract of the grass lizard, Takydromus wolteri Fischer (Laceridae).

PubMed

Lee, Hyeung Sik; Ku, Sae Kwang

2004-01-01

Distribution patterns and the relative frequency of different types of endocrine cells were demonstrated in the alimentary tract of the grass lizard, Takydromus wolteri, using nine specific antibodies raised against mammalian regulatory peptides. The alimentary tract of the lizard was divided into six portions from the esophagus to the rectum. Most endocrine cells were found in the epithelial lining and were generally spindle shaped with long cytoplasmic processes ending in the lumen (open cell type), whereas cells that were spherical in shape (closed cell type) were occasionally found in gastric, esophageal and intestinal glands. Endocrine cells were stained for the following regulatory peptides: bovine Sp-1/chromogranin (BCG), serotonin, somatostatin, gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK)-8, glucagon, insulin, human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP) and secretin. Cells stained for BCG and serotonin were present throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract and they occurred with the highest frequency in stomach and pylorus, respectively. Somatostatin-positive cells were detected throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract except for the esophagus and large intestine, and were most predominant in pylorus and duodenum. Cells stained for gastrin were restricted to the pylorus and duodenum and occurred with a relatively low frequency. CCK-8-positive cells were observed from pylorus to small intestine and showed the highest frequency in the pylorus. Glucagon- and insulin-containing cells were located in duodenum and small intestine but were found only rarely. HPP-stained cells were detected in duodenum and small intestine with the highest frequency in duodenum. Cells stained for secretin were restricted to duodenum and were found only rarely. In conclusion, distribution patterns and the relative frequency of these endocrine cells correspond well with previous reports on distribution patterns of endocrine cells in reptile species but some deviating patterns were also observed.

Modulation of erythrocyte membrane mechanical stability by 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in the neonatal poikilocytosis/elliptocytosis syndrome.

PubMed Central

Mentzer, W C; Iarocci, T A; Mohandas, N; Lane, P A; Smith, B; Lazerson, J; Hays, T

1987-01-01

To explain the transient anemia and poikilocytosis seen during infancy in hereditary elliptocytosis (HE), we resealed erythrocyte (RBC) ghosts from affected children or their elliptocytic parents with 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) (0-8 mM), a compound that dissociates membrane skeletons, then measured ghost mechanical stability in the ektacytometer. Without added 2,3-DPG, ghost mechanical stability was subnormal in infantile poikilocytosis (IP) and HE but was even more abnormal in hereditary pyropoikilocytosis (HPP). Addition of 2,3-DPG (2.55 mM) to IP or HE ghosts, decreased their stability to that of HPP ghosts (without 2,3-DPG). Nonphysiological 2,3-DPG levels (6-8 mM) were required to elicit a similar effect in normal ghosts. The data suggest that free 2,3-DPG, present in neonatal RBC as a consequence of diminished binding to HbF, may render HE susceptible to in vivo fragmentation. The developmental switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin, by diminishing available free 2,3-DPG, may explain the abatement of poikilocytosis and hemolytic anemia that accompanies maturation. Images PMID:3818955

First Assessment of Itaipu Dam Ensemble Inflow Forecasting System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mainardi Fan, Fernando; Machado Vieira Lisboa, Auder; Gomes Villa Trinidad, Giovanni; Rógenes Monteiro Pontes, Paulo; Collischonn, Walter; Tucci, Carlos; Costa Buarque, Diogo

2017-04-01

Inflow forecasting for Hydropower Plants (HPP) Dams is one of the prominent uses for hydrological forecasts. A very important HPP in terms of energy generation for South America is the Itaipu Dam, located in the Paraná River, between Brazil and Paraguay countries, with a drainage area of 820.000km2. In this work, we present the development of an ensemble forecasting system for Itaipu, operational since November 2015. The system is based in the MGB-IPH hydrological model, includes hydrodynamics simulations of the main river, and is run every day morning forced by seven different rainfall forecasts: (i) CPTEC-ETA 15km; (ii) CPTEC-BRAMS 5km; (iii) SIMEPAR WRF Ferrier; (iv) SIMEPAR WRF Lin; (v) SIMEPAR WRF Morrison; (vi) SIMEPAR WRF WDM6; (vii) SIMEPAR MEDIAN. The last one (vii) corresponds to the median value of SIMEPAR WRF model versions (iii to vi) rainfall forecasts. Besides the developed system, the "traditional" method for inflow forecasting generation for the Itaipu Dam is also run every day. This traditional method consists in the approximation of the future inflow based on the discharge tendency of upstream telemetric gauges. Nowadays, after all the forecasts are run, the hydrology team of Itaipu develop a consensus forecast, based on all obtained results, which is the one used for the Itaipu HPP Dam operation. After one year of operation a first evaluation of the Ensemble Forecasting System was conducted. Results show that the system performs satisfactory for rising flows up to five days lead time. However, some false alarms were also issued by most ensemble members in some cases. And not in all cases the system performed better than the traditional method, especially during hydrograph recessions. In terms of meteorological forecasts, some members usage are being discontinued. In terms of the hydrodynamics representation, it seems that a better information of rivers cross section could improve hydrographs recession curves forecasts. Those opportunities for improvements are currently being addressed in the system next update.

Co-delivery of siRNA and hypericin into cancer cells by hyaluronic acid modified PLGA-PEI nanoparticles.

PubMed

Li, Yanan; Zhang, Junling; Wang, Buhai; Shen, Yan; Ouahab, Ammar

2016-01-01

Malignant tumors cause more death because of the resistance of the hypoxic cancer cell toward radiotherapy. Targeting for hypoxic cancer area and gene silencing to overcome the hypoxia are two kinds of important therapeutic strategies for treating tumors. In order to explore the combined effects of gene therapy and hypericin (Hy) on tumor cells, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) was transfected into the hypoxic human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (CNE2) cells using Hy-encapsulated nanocomplexes (Hy-HPP NPs) as a carrier which would achieve dual targeting to the tumor necrosis area. NPs were prepared by emulsion-diffusion-evaporation method. Formulations were evaluated by conducting in vitro physicochemical studies, electrophoresis, in vivo study, and biochemical studies. Hy-loaded nanoparticles with a mean size of around 160 nm was able to enhance the accumulation in the tumors by enhanced permeability and retention effect. The electrophoresis confirmed the good stability of siRNA/Hy-HPP NPs in the presence of phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4), competitive heparin, and RNase. The results of transfection showed that the uptake of siRNA was significantly increased up to 50% in CNE2 cells. The level of the HIF-1α with Hy-encapsulated nanocomplexes was significantly reduced to 30% in the transfected CNE2 cells. In vivo studies, the carrier exhibited higher intensity at the tumor tissue cells and higher affinity toward the necrotic tumor tissue. Results demonstrated that Hy-HPP NPs could significantly enhance the tranfection efficiency of siRNA, suggesting Hy-encapsulated nanoparticle as an efficient gene carrier. The co-delivery of HIF-1α siRNA (siHIF-1α) and Hy could efficiently decrease the level of HIF-1α and increase the affinity toward necrotic tissues. Hence, this is a promising strategy for further application in radiotherapy.

The interactions in the carboxyl terminus of human 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase are critical to mediate the conformation of the final helix and the tail to shield the active site for catalysis.

PubMed

Lin, Jang-Foung; Sheih, Yung-Lin; Chang, Tsu-Chung; Chang, Ni-Yuan; Chang, Chiung-Wen; Shen, Chia-Pei; Lee, Hwei-Jen

2013-01-01

4-Hydroxylphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4-HPPD) is an important enzyme for tyrosine catabolism, which catalyzes the conversion of 4-hydroxylphenylpyruvate (4-HPP) to homogentisate. In the present study, human 4-HPPD was cloned and expressed in E. coli. The kinetic parameters for 4-HPP conversion were: k cat=2.2 ± 0.1 s(-1); and K m=0.08 ± 0.02 mM. Sequence alignments show that human 4-HPPD possesses an extended C-terminus compared to other 4-HPPD enzymes. Successive truncation of the disordered tail which follows the final α-helix resulted in no changes in the K m value for 4-HPP substrate but the k cat values were significantly reduced. The results suggest that this disordered C-terminal tail plays an important role in catalysis. For inspection the effect of terminal truncation on protein structure, mutant models were built. These models suggest that the different conformation of E254, R378 and Q375 in the final helix might be the cause of the activity loss. In the structure E254 interacts with R378, the end residue in the final helix; mutation of either one of these residues causes a ca. 95% reductions in k cat values. Q375 provides bifurcate interactions to fix the tail and the final helix in position. The model of the Q375N mutant shows that a solvent accessible channel opens to the putative substrate binding site, suggesting this is responsible for the complete loss of activity. These results highlight the critical role of Q375 in orientating the tail and ensuring the conformation of the terminal α-helix to maintain the integrity of the active site for catalysis.

Constitutive neuropeptide Y Y4 receptor expression in human colonic adenocarcinoma cell lines

PubMed Central

Cox, Helen M; Tough, Iain R; Zandvliet, Dorothea W J; Holliday, Nicholas D

2001-01-01

Three human adenocarcinoma cell lines, Colony-24 (Col-24), Col-6 and Col-1 have been studied as confluent epithelial layers able to transport ions vectorially in response to basolateral vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and pancreatic polypeptides (PP). Different species PP stimulated responses in Col-24 with Y4-like pharmacology. Bovine (b)PP, human (h)PP and porcine (p)PP were equipotent (EC50 values 3.0 – 5.0 nM) while rat (r)PP, avian (a)PP and [Leu31, Pro34]PYY (Pro34PYY) were significantly less potent. PYY was inactive. The PP pharmacology in Col-1 was comparable with Col-24. However, Col-6 cells were different; pPP had an EC50 intermediate (22.0 nM) between that of bPP (3.0 nM) and hPP (173.2 nM), with aPP and rPP being at least a further fold less potent. Deamidation of Tyr36 in bPP (by O-methylation or hydroxylation) or removal of the residue resulted in significant loss of activity in Col-24. GR231118 (1 μM) had no PP-like effects. In Col-24 and Col-1, GR231118 significantly attenuated bPP (30 nM) or hPP (100 nM) responses, but it did not alter bPP responses in Col-6. BIBP3226 and GR231118 both inhibited Y1-mediated responses which were only present in Col-6. RT – PCR analysis confirmed the presence of hY4 receptor mRNA in Col-24 and Col-1 epithelia but a barely visible hY4 product was observed in Col-6 and we suggest that an atypical Y4 receptor is expressed in this cell line. PMID:11156595

Music Cognition in Early Infancy: Infants' Preferences and Long-Term Memory for Ravel

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ilari, Beatriz; Polka, Linda

2006-01-01

Listening preferences for two pieces, Prelude and Forlane from "Le tombeau de Couperin" by Maurice Ravel (1875-1937), were assessed in two experiments conducted with 8-month-old infants, using the Headturn Preference Procedure (HPP). Experiment 1 showed that infants, who have never heard the pieces, could clearly make a distinction between the…

Sensible heat balance estimates of transient soil ice contents for freezing and thawing conditions

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Soil ice content is an important component for winter soil hydrology. The sensible heat balance (SHB) method using measurements from heat pulse probes (HPP) is a possible way to determine transient soil ice content. In a previous study, in situ soil ice contents estimates with the SHB method were in...

Development and Initial Validation of a Questionnaire to Measure Hearing Parents' Perceptions of Health Care Professionals' Advice

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Day, Lori A.; Brice, Patrick

2013-01-01

This study reports the development of The Hearing Parents' Perceptions of Health Professionals' Advice Questionnaire (HPP/HPQ). This questionnaire was designed to investigate the impact of the advice and information that parents receive from health professionals during the time when their child's hearing loss is identified and how parents, in…

Decision Support on the Sediments Flushing of Aimorés Dam Using Medium-Range Ensemble Forecasts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mainardi Fan, Fernando; Schwanenberg, Dirk; Collischonn, Walter; Assis dos Reis, Alberto; Alvarado Montero, Rodolfo; Alencar Siqueira, Vinicius

2015-04-01

In the present study we investigate the use of medium-range streamflow forecasts in the Doce River basin (Brazil), at the reservoir of Aimorés Hydro Power Plant (HPP). During daily operations this reservoir acts as a "trap" to the sediments that originate from the upstream basin of the Doce River. This motivates a cleaning process called "pass through" to periodically remove the sediments from the reservoir. The "pass through" or "sediments flushing" process consists of a decrease of the reservoir's water level to a certain flushing level when a determined reservoir inflow threshold is forecasted. Then, the water in the approaching inflow is used to flush the sediments from the reservoir through the spillway and to recover the original reservoir storage. To be triggered, the sediments flushing operation requires an inflow larger than 3000m³/s in a forecast horizon of 7 days. This lead-time of 7 days is far beyond the basin's concentration time (around 2 days), meaning that the forecasts for the pass through procedure highly depends on Numerical Weather Predictions (NWP) models that generate Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF). This dependency creates an environment with a high amount of uncertainty to the operator. To support the decision making at Aimorés HPP we developed a fully operational hydrological forecasting system to the basin. The system is capable of generating ensemble streamflow forecasts scenarios when driven by QPF data from meteorological Ensemble Prediction Systems (EPS). This approach allows accounting for uncertainties in the NWP at a decision making level. This system is starting to be used operationally by CEMIG and is the one shown in the present study, including a hindcasting analysis to assess the performance of the system for the specific flushing problem. The QPF data used in the hindcasting study was derived from the TIGGE (THORPEX Interactive Grand Global Ensemble) database. Among all EPS available on TIGGE, three were selected: ECMWF, GEFS, and CPTEC. As a deterministic reference forecast, we adopt the high resolution ECMWF forecast for comparison. The experiment consisted on running retrospective forecasts for a full five-year period. To verify the proposed objectives of the study, we use different metrics to evaluate the forecast: ROC Curves, Exceedance Diagrams, Forecast Convergence Score (FCS). Metrics results enabled to understand the benefits of the hydrological ensemble prediction system as a decision making tool for the HPP operation. The ROC scores indicate that the use of the lower percentiles of the ensemble scenarios issues for a true alarm rate around 0,5 to 0,8 (depending on the model and on the percentile), for the lead time of seven days. While the false alarm rate is between 0 and 0,3. Those rates were better than the ones resulting from the deterministic reference forecast. Exceedance diagrams and forecast convergence scores indicate that the ensemble scenarios provide an early signal about the threshold crossing. Furthermore, the ensemble forecasts are more consistent between two subsequent forecasts in comparison to the deterministic forecast. The assessments results also give more credibility to CEMIG in the realization and communication of flushing operation with the stakeholders involved.

75 FR 37874 - Buy America Waiver Notification

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-30

... steel tubing API 5L, grade X52-PSLI, for construction of Federal-aid project IM-HPP-080-5(086) in New... is appropriate to use non- domestic Steel tubing, APL 5L, grade X52-PSLI, in New Jersey State. In... review to locate potential domestic manufacturers for the steel tubing, APL 5L, grade X52-PSLI. Based on...

Basal Area Growth Estimators for Survivor Component: A Quality Control Application

Treesearch

Charles E. Thomas; Francis A. Roesch

1990-01-01

Several possible estimators are available for basal area growth of survivor trees, when horizontal prism (or point) plots (HPP) are remeasured. This study's comparison of three estimators not only provides a check for the estimate of basal area growth but suggests that they can provide a quality control indicator for yield procedures. An example is derived from...

The Centre for Food Innovation -- Research Areas and Potential Projects

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-01

support gut health ( probiotics /prebiotics/bacteriocins), development of snack products (bars, FD fruit, HPP fruit, FD yoghurt etc.), novel ingredients...Defence feeding needs and requirements. Possible research areas identified for the CFI include:  dairy products ,  long-shelf-life foods such as...It is envisaged that the CFI collaboration will include the prototyping of novel foods designed specifically for Defence needs. Successful products

Simulation Experiments with Goal-Seeking Adaptive Elements.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-02-01

when it comes to cognition and particularly bad when it comes to remote sensing, goal seeking, adaptation and decision making, where brains excel. In...Erlbaum 1981, 161-187 Hinton, G. E., & Sejnowski, T. J. Analyzing Cooperative Computation. Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Conference of the Cognitive ...Algorithms and Applications. Springer-Verlag, 1981. Lenat, D. B., Hayes-Roth, F., Klahr, P. Cognitive economy. Stanford Heuristic Program- ming Project HPP

TSSGNEO suggestions for refinement of safety criteria for dam at the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP

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

Savich, A. I.; Gaziev, E. G.

2013-09-15

Analysis of radial-displacements of the dam, measured by direct and inverted plumb lines, indicates that curves of the variation in radial displacements of the dam at different elevations make it possible to plot diagrams of increases in the radial displacement over the entire height of the dam, i.e., inclines of the axis of the dam to the vertical.

Updating of Safety Criteria for Basic Diagnostic Indicators of Dam at the Sayano-Shushenskaya HPP

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

Gordon, L. A.; Skvortsova, A. E.

2013-09-15

Values of diagnostic indicators [K]-limitations placed on radial displacements and turn angles of horizontal sections of the dam - which are permitted for each upper-pool level within the range from 520 to 539 m are determined and proposed for inclusion in the Declaration of Safety. Empirical relationships used to develop safety criteria K1 and K2 are modified.

Performance assessment of deterministic and probabilistic weather predictions for the short-term optimization of a tropical hydropower reservoir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mainardi Fan, Fernando; Schwanenberg, Dirk; Alvarado, Rodolfo; Assis dos Reis, Alberto; Naumann, Steffi; Collischonn, Walter

2016-04-01

Hydropower is the most important electricity source in Brazil. During recent years, it accounted for 60% to 70% of the total electric power supply. Marginal costs of hydropower are lower than for thermal power plants, therefore, there is a strong economic motivation to maximize its share. On the other hand, hydropower depends on the availability of water, which has a natural variability. Its extremes lead to the risks of power production deficits during droughts and safety issues in the reservoir and downstream river reaches during flood events. One building block of the proper management of hydropower assets is the short-term forecast of reservoir inflows as input for an online, event-based optimization of its release strategy. While deterministic forecasts and optimization schemes are the established techniques for the short-term reservoir management, the use of probabilistic ensemble forecasts and stochastic optimization techniques receives growing attention and a number of researches have shown its benefit. The present work shows one of the first hindcasting and closed-loop control experiments for a multi-purpose hydropower reservoir in a tropical region in Brazil. The case study is the hydropower project (HPP) Três Marias, located in southeast Brazil. The HPP reservoir is operated with two main objectives: (i) hydroelectricity generation and (ii) flood control at Pirapora City located 120 km downstream of the dam. In the experiments, precipitation forecasts based on observed data, deterministic and probabilistic forecasts with 50 ensemble members of the ECMWF are used as forcing of the MGB-IPH hydrological model to generate streamflow forecasts over a period of 2 years. The online optimization depends on a deterministic and multi-stage stochastic version of a model predictive control scheme. Results for the perfect forecasts show the potential benefit of the online optimization and indicate a desired forecast lead time of 30 days. In comparison, the use of actual forecasts with shorter lead times of up to 15 days shows the practical benefit of actual operational data. It appears that the use of stochastic optimization combined with ensemble forecasts leads to a significant higher level of flood protection without compromising the HPP's energy production.

Can optical diagnosis of small colon polyps be accurate? Comparing standard scope without narrow banding to high definition scope with narrow banding.

PubMed

Ashktorab, Hassan; Etaati, Firoozeh; Rezaeean, Farahnaz; Nouraie, Mehdi; Paydar, Mansour; Namin, Hassan Hassanzadeh; Sanderson, Andrew; Begum, Rehana; Alkhalloufi, Kawtar; Brim, Hassan; Laiyemo, Adeyinka O

2016-07-28

To study the accuracy of using high definition (HD) scope with narrow band imaging (NBI) vs standard white light colonoscope without NBI (ST), to predict the histology of the colon polyps, particularly those < 1 cm. A total of 147 African Americans patients who were referred to Howard University Hospital for screening or, diagnostic or follow up colonoscopy, during a 12-mo period in 2012 were prospectively recruited. Some patients had multiple polyps and total number of polyps was 179. Their colonoscopies were performed by 3 experienced endoscopists who determined the size and stated whether the polyps being removed were hyperplastic or adenomatous polyps using standard colonoscopes or high definition colonoscopes with NBI. The histopathologic diagnosis was reported by pathologists as part of routine care. Of participants in the study, 55 (37%) were male and median (interquartile range) of age was 56 (19-80). Demographic, clinical characteristics, past medical history of patients, and the data obtained by two instruments were not significantly different and two methods detected similar number of polyps. In ST scope 89% of polyps were < 1 cm vs 87% in HD scope (P = 0.7). The ST scope had a positive predictive value (PPV) and positive likelihood ratio (PLR) of 86% and 4.0 for adenoma compared to 74% and 2.6 for HD scope. There was a trend of higher sensitivity for HD scope (68%) compare to ST scope (53%) with almost the same specificity. The ST scope had a PPV and PLR of 38% and 1.8 for hyperplastic polyp (HPP) compared to 42% and 2.2 for HD scope. The sensitivity and specificity of two instruments for HPP diagnosis were similar. Our results indicated that HD scope was more sensitive in diagnosis of adenoma than ST scope. Clinical diagnosis of HPP with either scope is less accurate compared to adenoma. Colonoscopy diagnosis is not yet fully matched with pathologic diagnosis of colon polyp. However with the advancement of both imaging and training, it may be possible to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the scopes and hence save money for eliminating time and the cost of Immunohistochemistry/pathology.

Hydro-abrasive erosion on coated Pelton runners: Partial calibration of the IEC model based on measurements in HPP Fieschertal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Felix, D.; Abgottspon, A.; Albayrak, I.; Boes, R. M.

2016-11-01

At medium- and high-head hydropower plants (HPPs) on sediment-laden rivers, hydro-abrasive erosion on hydraulic turbines is a major economic issue. For optimization of such HPPs, there is an interest in equations to predict erosion depths. Such a semi-empirical equation suitable for engineering practice is proposed in the relevant guideline of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC 62364). However, for Pelton turbines no numerical values of the model's calibration parameters have been available yet. In the scope of a research project at the high-head HPP Fieschertal, Switzerland, the particle load and the erosion on the buckets of two hard-coated 32 MW-Pelton runners have been measured since 2012. Based on three years of field data, the numerical values of a group of calibration parameters of the IEC erosion model were determined for five application cases: (i) reduction of splitter height, (ii) increase of splitter width and (iii) increase of cut-out depth due to erosion of mainly base material, as well as erosion of coating on (iv) the splitter crests and (v) inside the buckets. Further laboratory and field investigations are recommended to quantify the effects of individual parameters as well as to improve, generalize and validate erosion models for uncoated and coated Pelton turbines.

Pervaporation of Water-Dye, Alcohol-Dye, and Water-Alcohol Mixtures Using a Polyphosphazene Membrane

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

Orme, Christopher Joseph; Harrup, Mason Kurt; Mccoy, John Dwane

A novel phosphazene heteropolymer (HPP) was synthesized that contained three differing pendant groups: 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol (MEE), 4-methoxyphenol, and 2-allylphenol. The resulting polymer is an amorphous elastomer with good film forming properties where MEE and 4-methoxyphenol pendant groups influenced the hydrophilicity and the solvent compatibility of the polymer. Sorption studies were performed to characterize the polymer in terms of Hansen solubility parameters. Additionally, group contributions were used to predict the Hansen parameters for the polymer and these data compared favorably with the observed solubility behavior with 15 solvents that ranged from hydrocarbons to water. Homopolymers synthesized from MEE and 4-methoxyphenol were alsomore » studied for solubility revealing different behaviors with each representing a limit in hydrophilicity; MEE formed a water-soluble hydrophilic polymer and 4-methoxyphenol yielded a hydrophobic polymer. Membranes formed from HPP were characterized for use as pervaporation membranse using five different feeds: water–dye, methanol–dye, 2-propanol–dye, water–2-propanol, and water–methanol. Fluxes of methanol and isopropanol were greater than for water. For the alcohol–water separations, the alcohol was the favored permeate in all cases with higher fluxes observed for higher alcohol feed concentrations, however, separation factors declined.« less

Progress on the HUPO Draft Human Proteome: 2017 Metrics of the Human Proteome Project.

PubMed

Omenn, Gilbert S; Lane, Lydie; Lundberg, Emma K; Overall, Christopher M; Deutsch, Eric W

2017-12-01

The Human Proteome Organization (HUPO) Human Proteome Project (HPP) continues to make progress on its two overall goals: (1) completing the protein parts list, with an annual update of the HUPO draft human proteome, and (2) making proteomics an integrated complement to genomics and transcriptomics throughout biomedical and life sciences research. neXtProt version 2017-01-23 has 17 008 confident protein identifications (Protein Existence [PE] level 1) that are compliant with the HPP Guidelines v2.1 ( https://hupo.org/Guidelines ), up from 13 664 in 2012-12 and 16 518 in 2016-04. Remaining to be found by mass spectrometry and other methods are 2579 "missing proteins" (PE2+3+4), down from 2949 in 2016. PeptideAtlas 2017-01 has 15 173 canonical proteins, accounting for nearly all of the 15 290 PE1 proteins based on MS data. These resources have extensive data on PTMs, single amino acid variants, and splice isoforms. The Human Protein Atlas v16 has 10 492 highly curated protein entries with tissue and subcellular spatial localization of proteins and transcript expression. Organ-specific popular protein lists have been generated for broad use in quantitative targeted proteomics using SRM-MS or DIA-SWATH-MS studies of biology and disease.

[Infantile hypophosphatasia caused by a novel compound heterozygous mutation: a case report and pedigree analysis].

PubMed

Li, Deng-Feng; Lan, Dan; Zhong, Jing-Zi; Dewan, Roma Kajal; Xie, Yan-Shu; Yang, Ying

2017-05-01

This article reported the clinical features of one child with infantile hypophosphatasia (HPP) and his pedigree information. The proband was a 5-month-old boy with multiple skeletal dysplasia (koilosternia, bending deformity of both radii, and knock-knee deformity of both knees), feeding difficulty, reduction in body weight, developmental delay, recurrent pneumonia and respiratory failure, and a significant reduction in blood alkaline phosphatase. Among his parents, sister, uncle, and aunt (other family members did not cooperate with us in the examination), his parents and aunt had a slight reduction in alkaline phosphatase and his aunt had scoliosis; there were no other clinical phenotypes or abnormal laboratory testing results. His ALPL gene mutation came from c.228delG mutation in his mother and c.407G>A compound heterozygous mutation in his father. His aunt carried c.228delG mutation. The c.407G>A mutation had been reported as the pathogenic mutation of HPP, and c.228delG mutation was a novel pathogenic mutation. Hypophosphatasia is caused by ALPL gene mutation, and ALPL gene detection is an effective diagnostic method. This study expands the mutation spectrum of ALPL gene and provides a theoretical basis for genetic diagnosis of this disease.

Can optical diagnosis of small colon polyps be accurate? Comparing standard scope without narrow banding to high definition scope with narrow banding

PubMed Central

Ashktorab, Hassan; Etaati, Firoozeh; Rezaeean, Farahnaz; Nouraie, Mehdi; Paydar, Mansour; Namin, Hassan Hassanzadeh; Sanderson, Andrew; Begum, Rehana; Alkhalloufi, Kawtar; Brim, Hassan; Laiyemo, Adeyinka O

2016-01-01

AIM: To study the accuracy of using high definition (HD) scope with narrow band imaging (NBI) vs standard white light colonoscope without NBI (ST), to predict the histology of the colon polyps, particularly those < 1 cm. METHODS: A total of 147 African Americans patients who were referred to Howard University Hospital for screening or, diagnostic or follow up colonoscopy, during a 12-mo period in 2012 were prospectively recruited. Some patients had multiple polyps and total number of polyps was 179. Their colonoscopies were performed by 3 experienced endoscopists who determined the size and stated whether the polyps being removed were hyperplastic or adenomatous polyps using standard colonoscopes or high definition colonoscopes with NBI. The histopathologic diagnosis was reported by pathologists as part of routine care. RESULTS: Of participants in the study, 55 (37%) were male and median (interquartile range) of age was 56 (19-80). Demographic, clinical characteristics, past medical history of patients, and the data obtained by two instruments were not significantly different and two methods detected similar number of polyps. In ST scope 89% of polyps were < 1 cm vs 87% in HD scope (P = 0.7). The ST scope had a positive predictive value (PPV) and positive likelihood ratio (PLR) of 86% and 4.0 for adenoma compared to 74% and 2.6 for HD scope. There was a trend of higher sensitivity for HD scope (68%) compare to ST scope (53%) with almost the same specificity. The ST scope had a PPV and PLR of 38% and 1.8 for hyperplastic polyp (HPP) compared to 42% and 2.2 for HD scope. The sensitivity and specificity of two instruments for HPP diagnosis were similar. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that HD scope was more sensitive in diagnosis of adenoma than ST scope. Clinical diagnosis of HPP with either scope is less accurate compared to adenoma. Colonoscopy diagnosis is not yet fully matched with pathologic diagnosis of colon polyp. However with the advancement of both imaging and training, it may be possible to increase the sensitivity and specificity of the scopes and hence save money for eliminating time and the cost of Immunohistochemistry/pathology. PMID:27605888

Assessment of tumor vascularization with functional computed tomography perfusion imaging in patients with cirrhotic liver disease.

PubMed

Li, Jin-Ping; Zhao, De-Li; Jiang, Hui-Jie; Huang, Ya-Hua; Li, Da-Qing; Wan, Yong; Liu, Xin-Ding; Wang, Jin-E

2011-02-01

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor in China, and early diagnosis is critical for patient outcome. In patients with HCC, it is mostly based on liver cirrhosis, developing from benign regenerative nodules and dysplastic nodules to HCC lesions, and a better understanding of its vascular supply and the hemodynamic changes may lead to early tumor detection. Angiogenesis is essential for the growth of primary and metastatic tumors due to changes in vascular perfusion, blood volume and permeability. These hemodynamic and physiological properties can be measured serially using functional computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging and can be used to assess the growth of HCC. This study aimed to clarify the physiological characteristics of tumor angiogenesis in cirrhotic liver disease by this fast imaging method. CTP was performed in 30 volunteers without liver disease (control subjects) and 49 patients with liver disease (experimental subjects: 27 with HCC and 22 with cirrhosis). All subjects were also evaluated by physical examination, laboratory screening and Doppler ultrasonography of the liver. The diagnosis of HCC was made according to the EASL criteria. All patients underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasonography, pre- and post-contrast triple-phase CT and CTP study. A mathematical deconvolution model was applied to provide hepatic blood flow (HBF), hepatic blood volume (HBV), mean transit time (MTT), permeability of capillary vessel surface (PS), hepatic arterial index (HAI), hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP) and hepatic portal perfusion (HPP) data. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine differences in perfusion parameters between the background cirrhotic liver parenchyma and HCC and between the cirrhotic liver parenchyma with HCC and that without HCC. In normal liver, the HAP/HVP ratio was about 1/4. HCC had significantly higher HAP and HAI and lower HPP than background liver parenchyma adjacent to the HCC. The value of HBF at the tumor rim was significantly higher than that in the controls. HBF, HBV, HAI, HAP and HPP, but not MTT and PS, were significantly higher in the cirrhotic liver parenchyma involved with HCC than those of the controls. Perfusion parameters were not significantly different between the controls and the cirrhotic liver parenchyma not involved with HCC. CTP can clearly distinguish tumor from cirrhotic liver parenchyma and controls and can provide quantitative information about tumor-related angiogenesis, which can be used to assess tumor vascularization in cirrhotic liver disease.

Summary Article: IEA HPP Annex 36: Quality Installation / Quality Maintenance Sensitivity Studies

DOE PAGES

Hourahan, Glenn; Domanski, Piotr; Baxter, Van D.

2015-01-30

The outcome from this Annex activity clearly identifies that poorly designed, installed, and/or maintained heat pumps operate inefficiently and waste considerable energy compared to their as-designed potential. Additionally, it is clear that small faults for a given field-observed practice are significant, that some attribute deviations (in various equipment applications and geographical locations) have a larger impact than others, and that multiple faults or deviations have a cumulative impact on heat pump performance.

Treatment of snoring with positional therapy in patients with positional obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

PubMed Central

Chen, Wen-Chyuan; Lee, Li-Ang; Chen, Ning-Hung; Fang, Tuan-Jen; Huang, Chung-Guei; Cheng, Wen-Nuan; Li, Hsueh-Yu

2015-01-01

Position therapy plays a role in treating snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether position therapy using a head-positioning pillow (HPP) could reduce snoring sounds in patients with mild-to-moderate positional OSAS, taking into account the potential confounding effects of body weight. A total of 25 adults with positional OSAS (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI]supine:AHInon-supine ≥ 2) were prospectively enrolled. Patients were asked to use their own pillows at home during the first night (N0), and the HPP during the second (N1) and third (N2) nights. The primary outcome measures included the subjective snoring severity (SS, measured on a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 10) and the objective snoring index (SI, expressed as the number of snoring events per hour measured on an acoustic analytical program). Both endpoints were recorded over three consecutive nights. From N0 to N2, the median SS and SI values in the entire study cohort decreased significantly from 5.0 to 4.0 and from 218.0 events/h to 115.0 events/h, respectively. In the subgroup of overweight patients, SS showed a significant improvement, whereas SI did not. Both SS and SI were found to be significantly improved in normal-weight patients. PMID:26657174

Characterization of bone collagen organization defects in murine hypophosphatasia using a Zernike model of optical aberrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tehrani, Kayvan Forouhesh; Pendleton, Emily G.; Leitmann, Bobby; Barrow, Ruth; Mortensen, Luke J.

2018-02-01

Bone growth and strength is severely impacted by Hypophosphatasia (HPP). It is a genetic disease that affects the mineralization of the bone. We hypothesize that it impacts overall organization, density, and porosity of collagen fibers. Lower density of fibers and higher porosity cause less absorption and scattering of light, and therefore a different regime of transport mean free path. To find a cure for this disease, a metric for the evaluation of bone is required. Here we present an evaluation method based on our Phase Accumulation Ray Tracing (PART) method. This method uses second harmonic generation (SHG) in bone collagen fiber to model bone indices of refraction, which is used to calculate phase retardation on the propagation path of light in bone. The calculated phase is then expanded using Zernike polynomials up to 15th order, to make a quantitative analysis of tissue anomalies. Because the Zernike modes are a complete set of orthogonal polynomials, we can compare low and high order modes in HPP, compare them with healthy wild type mice, to identify the differences between their geometry and structure. Larger coefficients of low order modes show more uniform fiber density and less porosity, whereas the opposite is shown with larger coefficients of higher order modes. Our analyses show significant difference between Zernike modes in different types of bone evidenced by Principal Components Analysis (PCA).

Identification and Molecular Characterization of the Homogentisate Pathway Responsible for Pyomelanin Production, the Major Melanin Constituents in Aeromonas media WS

PubMed Central

Wang, He; Qiao, Yunqian; Chai, Baozhong; Qiu, Chenxi; Chen, Xiangdong

2015-01-01

The pigmentation of many Aeromonas species has been thought to be due to the production of a L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) based melanin. However, in this study we found that although L-DOPA synthesis occurs in the high-melanin-yielding Aeromonas media strain WS, it plays a minor, if any, role in pigmentation. Instead, the pigmentation of A. media strain WS is due to the production of pyomelanin through HGA (homogentisate). Gene products of phhA (encodes phenylalanine hydroxylase), tyrB and aspC (both encode aromatic amino acid aminotransferase), and hppD (encodes 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase) constitute a linear pathway of converting phenylalanine to HGA and disruption of any one of these genes impairs or blocks pigmentation of A. media strain WS. This HGA biosynthesis pathway is widely distributed in Aeromonas, but HGA is only detectable in the cultures of pigmented Aeromonas species. Heterologous expression of HppD from both pigmented and non-pigmented Aeromonas species in E. coli leads to the production of pyomelanin and thus pigmentation, suggesting that most Aeromonas species have the critical enzymes to produce pyomelanin through HGA. Taken together, we have identified a widely conserved biosynthesis pathway of HGA based pyomelanin in Aeromonas that may be responsible for pigmentation of many Aeromonas species. PMID:25793756

Role of intestinal microbiota in the generation of polyphenol derived phenolic acid mediated attenuation of Alzheimer’s disease β-amyloid oligomerization

PubMed Central

Wang, Dongjie; Ho, Lap; Faith, Jeremiah; Ono, Kenjiro; Janle, Elsa M.; Lachcik, Pamela J.; Cooper, Bruce R.; Jannasch, Amber H.; D’Arcy, Bruce R.; Williams, Barbara A.; Ferruzzi, Mario G.; Levine, Samara; Zhao, Wei; Dubner, Lauren; Pasinetti, Giulio M.

2015-01-01

Scope Grape seed polyphenol extract (GSPE) is receiving increasing attention for its potential preventative and therapeutic roles in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other age-related neurodegenerative disorders. The intestinal microbiota is known to actively convert many dietary polyphenols, including GSPE, to phenolic acids. There is limited information on the bioavailability and bioactivity of GSPE-derived phenolic acid in the brain. Methods and Results We orally administered GSPE to rats and investigated the bioavailability of 12 phenolic acids known to be generated by microbiota metabolism of anthocyanidins. GSPE treatment significantly increased the content of 2 of the phenolic acids in the brain: 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (3-HBA) and 3-(3′-hydroxyphenyl) propionic acid (3-HPP), resulting in the brain accumulations of the two phenolic acids at μM concentrations. We also provided evidence that 3-HBA and 3-HPP potently interfere with the assembly of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides into neurotoxic Aβ aggregates that play key roles in AD pathogenesis. Conclusion Our observation suggests important contribution of the intestinal microbiota to the protective activities of GSPE (as well as other polyphenol preparations) in AD. Outcomes from our studies support future preclinical and clinical investigations exploring the potential contributions of the intestinal microbiota in protecting against the onset/progression of AD and other neurodegenerative conditions. PMID:25689033

Enzyme Replacement Therapy Prevents Dental Defects in a Model of Hypophosphatasia

PubMed Central

McKee, M.D.; Nakano, Y.; Masica, D.L.; Gray, J.J.; Lemire, I.; Heft, R.; Whyte, M.P.; Crine, P.; Millán, J.L.

2011-01-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) occurs from loss-of-function mutation in the tissue-non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNALP) gene, resulting in extracellular pyrophosphate accumulation that inhibits skeletal and dental mineralization. TNALP-null mice (Akp2-/-) phenocopy human infantile hypophosphatasia; they develop rickets at 1 week of age, and die before being weaned, having severe skeletal and dental hypomineralization and episodes of apnea and vitamin B6-responsive seizures. Delay and defects in dentin mineralization, together with a deficiency in acellular cementum, are characteristic. We report the prevention of these dental abnormalities in Akp2-/- mice receiving treatment from birth with daily injections of a mineral-targeting, human TNALP (sALP-FcD10). sALP-FcD10 prevented hypomineralization of alveolar bone, dentin, and cementum as assessed by micro-computed tomography and histology. Osteopontin – a marker of acellular cementum – was immuno-localized along root surfaces, confirming that acellular cementum, typically missing or reduced in Akp2-/- mice, formed normally. Our findings provide insight concerning how acellular cementum is formed on tooth surfaces to effect periodontal ligament attachment to retain teeth in their osseous alveolar sockets. Furthermore, they provide evidence that this enzyme-replacement therapy, applied early in post-natal life – where the majority of tooth root development occurs, including acellular cementum formation – could prevent the accelerated tooth loss seen in individuals with HPP. PMID:21212313

Enzyme replacement therapy prevents dental defects in a model of hypophosphatasia.

PubMed

McKee, M D; Nakano, Y; Masica, D L; Gray, J J; Lemire, I; Heft, R; Whyte, M P; Crine, P; Millán, J L

2011-04-01

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) occurs from loss-of-function mutation in the tissue-non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNALP) gene, resulting in extracellular pyrophosphate accumulation that inhibits skeletal and dental mineralization. TNALP-null mice (Akp2(-/-)) phenocopy human infantile hypophosphatasia; they develop rickets at 1 week of age, and die before being weaned, having severe skeletal and dental hypomineralization and episodes of apnea and vitamin B(6)-responsive seizures. Delay and defects in dentin mineralization, together with a deficiency in acellular cementum, are characteristic. We report the prevention of these dental abnormalities in Akp2(-/-) mice receiving treatment from birth with daily injections of a mineral-targeting, human TNALP (sALP-FcD(10)). sALP-FcD(10) prevented hypomineralization of alveolar bone, dentin, and cementum as assessed by micro-computed tomography and histology. Osteopontin--a marker of acellular cementum--was immuno-localized along root surfaces, confirming that acellular cementum, typically missing or reduced in Akp2(-/-) mice, formed normally. Our findings provide insight concerning how acellular cementum is formed on tooth surfaces to effect periodontal ligament attachment to retain teeth in their osseous alveolar sockets. Furthermore, they provide evidence that this enzyme-replacement therapy, applied early in post-natal life--where the majority of tooth root development occurs, including acellular cementum formation--could prevent the accelerated tooth loss seen in individuals with HPP.

Cyanogenic Pseudomonas spp. strains are concentrated in the rhizosphere of alpine pioneer plants.

PubMed

Rijavec, Tomaž; Lapanje, Aleš

2017-01-01

HCN producing bacteria have previously been isolated from alpine mineral soil and their ecophysiology was presumed to be associated with mineral weathering. Nevertheless, the high ecological patchiness of the alpine environment calls for an extensive and detailed analysis of the spatial distribution of HCN producing bacterial populations and their associated weathering traits. Our results of such an analysis showed that primarily the rhizosphere of pioneer plants was rich in HPPs, harbouring the most potent HCN producers. HCN production incidence and intensity were dependent on the plant-associated microhabitat and type of bedrock/mineral soil, however the HCN+ phenotype was not associated with one of the particular genotypes which we determined by BOX-PCR. In HPP isolates, HCN production most commonly co-occurred with the production of hydroxamate-type siderophores, but was less often associated with inorganic phosphate solubilization activity and the production of catechol-type siderophores. These observations indicate that a plant's physiotype, not species, provide physicochemical conditions that determine selective pressure, which enables the growth of Pseudomonas spp. with a random genotype, but phenotypically predetermined to increase mineral weathering via a particular combination of phosphate solubilization and iron complexation with siderophores and HCN. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Research on blackboard architectures at the Heuristic Programming Project (HPP)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nii, H. Penny

1985-01-01

Researchers are entering the second decade of research in the Blackboard problem solving framework with focus in the following areas: (1) extensions to the basic concepts implemented in AGE-1 to address, for example, reasoning with uncertain data; (2) a new architecture and development environment, BB1, that implements methods for explicity controlling the reasoning; and (3) the design of and experimentation with multiprocessor architectures using the Blackboard as an organizing framework. A summary of these efforts is presented.

Protannotator: a semiautomated pipeline for chromosome-wise functional annotation of the "missing" human proteome.

PubMed

Islam, Mohammad T; Garg, Gagan; Hancock, William S; Risk, Brian A; Baker, Mark S; Ranganathan, Shoba

2014-01-03

The chromosome-centric human proteome project (C-HPP) aims to define the complete set of proteins encoded in each human chromosome. The neXtProt database (September 2013) lists 20,128 proteins for the human proteome, of which 3831 human proteins (∼19%) are considered "missing" according to the standard metrics table (released September 27, 2013). In support of the C-HPP initiative, we have extended the annotation strategy developed for human chromosome 7 "missing" proteins into a semiautomated pipeline to functionally annotate the "missing" human proteome. This pipeline integrates a suite of bioinformatics analysis and annotation software tools to identify homologues and map putative functional signatures, gene ontology, and biochemical pathways. From sequential BLAST searches, we have primarily identified homologues from reviewed nonhuman mammalian proteins with protein evidence for 1271 (33.2%) "missing" proteins, followed by 703 (18.4%) homologues from reviewed nonhuman mammalian proteins and subsequently 564 (14.7%) homologues from reviewed human proteins. Functional annotations for 1945 (50.8%) "missing" proteins were also determined. To accelerate the identification of "missing" proteins from proteomics studies, we generated proteotypic peptides in silico. Matching these proteotypic peptides to ENCODE proteogenomic data resulted in proteomic evidence for 107 (2.8%) of the 3831 "missing proteins, while evidence from a recent membrane proteomic study supported the existence for another 15 "missing" proteins. The chromosome-wise functional annotation of all "missing" proteins is freely available to the scientific community through our web server (http://biolinfo.org/protannotator).

Profiling CpG island field methylation in both morphologically normal and neoplastic human colonic mucosa.

PubMed

Belshaw, N J; Elliott, G O; Foxall, R J; Dainty, J R; Pal, N; Coupe, A; Garg, D; Bradburn, D M; Mathers, J C; Johnson, I T

2008-07-08

Aberrant CpG island (CGI) methylation occurs early in colorectal neoplasia. Quantitative methylation-specific PCR profiling applied to biopsies was used to quantify low levels of CGI methylation of 18 genes in the morphologically normal colonic mucosa of neoplasia-free subjects, adenomatous polyp patients, cancer patients and their tumours. Multivariate statistical analyses distinguished tumour from mucosa with a sensitivity of 78.9% and a specificity of 100% (P=3 x 10(-7)). In morphologically normal mucosa, age-dependent CGI methylation was observed for APC, AXIN2, DKK1, HPP1, N33, p16, SFRP1, SFRP2 and SFRP4 genes, and significant differences in CGI methylation levels were detected between groups. Multinomial logistic regression models based on the CGI methylation profiles from normal mucosa correctly identified 78.9% of cancer patients and 87.9% of non-cancer (neoplasia-free+polyp) patients (P=4.93 x 10(-7)) using APC, HPP1, p16, SFRP4, WIF1 and ESR1 methylation as the most informative variables. Similarly, CGI methylation of SFRP4, SFRP5 and WIF1 correctly identified 61.5% of polyp patients and 78.9% of neoplasia-free subjects (P=0.0167). The apparently normal mucosal field of patients presenting with neoplasia has evidently undergone significant epigenetic modification. Methylation of the genes selected by the models may play a role in the earliest stages of the development of colorectal neoplasia.

Low glycaemic index diets improve glucose tolerance and body weight in women with previous history of gestational diabetes: a six months randomized trial.

PubMed

Shyam, Sangeetha; Arshad, Fatimah; Abdul Ghani, Rohana; Wahab, Norasyikin A; Safii, Nik Shanita; Nisak, Mohd Yusof Barakatun; Chinna, Karuthan; Kamaruddin, Nor Azmi

2013-05-24

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) increases risks for type 2 diabetes and weight management is recommended to reduce the risk. Conventional dietary recommendations (energy-restricted, low fat) have limited success in women with previous GDM. The effect of lowering Glycaemic Index (GI) in managing glycaemic variables and body weight in women post-GDM is unknown. To evaluate the effects of conventional dietary recommendations administered with and without additional low-GI education, in the management of glucose tolerance and body weight in Asian women with previous GDM. Seventy seven Asian, non-diabetic women with previous GDM, between 20- 40y were randomised into Conventional healthy dietary recommendation (CHDR) and low GI (LGI) groups. CHDR received conventional dietary recommendations only (energy restricted, low in fat and refined sugars, high-fibre). LGI group received advice on lowering GI in addition. Fasting and 2-h post-load blood glucose after 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (2HPP) were measured at baseline and 6 months after intervention. Anthropometry and dietary intake were assessed at baseline, three and six months after intervention. The study is registered at the Malaysian National Medical Research Register (NMRR) with Research ID: 5183. After 6 months, significant reductions in body weight, BMI and waist-to-hip ratio were observed only in LGI group (P<0.05). Mean BMI changes were significantly different between groups (LGI vs. CHDR: -0.6 vs. 0 kg/m2, P= 0.03). More subjects achieved weight loss ≥5% in LGI compared to CHDR group (33% vs. 8%, P=0.01). Changes in 2HPP were significantly different between groups (LGI vs. CHDR: median (IQR): -0.2(2.8) vs. +0.8 (2.0) mmol/L, P=0.025). Subjects with baseline fasting insulin≥2 μIU/ml had greater 2HPP reductions in LGI group compared to those in the CHDR group (-1.9±0.42 vs. +1.31±1.4 mmol/L, P<0.001). After 6 months, LGI group diets showed significantly lower GI (57±5 vs. 64±6, P<0.001), GL (122±33 vs. 142±35, P=0.04) and higher fibre content (17±4 vs.13±4 g, P<0.001). Caloric intakes were comparable between groups. In women post-GDM, lowering GI of healthy diets resulted in significant improvements in glucose tolerance and body weight reduction as compared to conventional low-fat diets with similar energy prescription.

Low glycaemic index diets improve glucose tolerance and body weight in women with previous history of gestational diabetes: a six months randomized trial

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) increases risks for type 2 diabetes and weight management is recommended to reduce the risk. Conventional dietary recommendations (energy-restricted, low fat) have limited success in women with previous GDM. The effect of lowering Glycaemic Index (GI) in managing glycaemic variables and body weight in women post-GDM is unknown. Objective To evaluate the effects of conventional dietary recommendations administered with and without additional low-GI education, in the management of glucose tolerance and body weight in Asian women with previous GDM. Method Seventy seven Asian, non-diabetic women with previous GDM, between 20- 40y were randomised into Conventional healthy dietary recommendation (CHDR) and low GI (LGI) groups. CHDR received conventional dietary recommendations only (energy restricted, low in fat and refined sugars, high-fibre). LGI group received advice on lowering GI in addition. Fasting and 2-h post-load blood glucose after 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (2HPP) were measured at baseline and 6 months after intervention. Anthropometry and dietary intake were assessed at baseline, three and six months after intervention. The study is registered at the Malaysian National Medical Research Register (NMRR) with Research ID: 5183. Results After 6 months, significant reductions in body weight, BMI and waist-to-hip ratio were observed only in LGI group (P<0.05). Mean BMI changes were significantly different between groups (LGI vs. CHDR: -0.6 vs. 0 kg/m2, P= 0.03). More subjects achieved weight loss ≥5% in LGI compared to CHDR group (33% vs. 8%, P=0.01). Changes in 2HPP were significantly different between groups (LGI vs. CHDR: median (IQR): -0.2(2.8) vs. +0.8 (2.0) mmol/L, P=0.025). Subjects with baseline fasting insulin≥2 μIU/ml had greater 2HPP reductions in LGI group compared to those in the CHDR group (−1.9±0.42 vs. +1.31±1.4 mmol/L, P<0.001). After 6 months, LGI group diets showed significantly lower GI (57±5 vs. 64±6, P<0.001), GL (122±33 vs. 142±35, P=0.04) and higher fibre content (17±4 vs.13±4 g, P<0.001). Caloric intakes were comparable between groups. Conclusion In women post-GDM, lowering GI of healthy diets resulted in significant improvements in glucose tolerance and body weight reduction as compared to conventional low-fat diets with similar energy prescription. PMID:23705645

STS-52 Space Shuttle mission report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fricke, Robert W., Jr.

1992-01-01

The STS-52 Space Shuttle Program Mission Report provides a summary of the Orbiter, External Tank (ET), Solid Rocket Booster/Redesigned Solid Rocket Motor (SRB/RSRM), and the Space Shuttle main engine (SSME) subsystem performance during the fifty-first flight of the Space Shuttle Program, and the thirteenth flight of the Orbiter vehicle Columbia (OV-102). In addition to the Orbiter, the flight vehicle consisted of the following: an ET (designated as ET-55/LWT-48); three SSME's, which were serial numbers 2030, 2015, and 2034 in positions 1, 2, and 3, respectively; and two SRB's, which were designated BI-054. The lightweight RSRM's that were installed in each SRB were designated 360L027A for the left SRB and 360Q027B for the right SRB. The primary objectives of this flight were to successfully deploy the Laser Geodynamic Satellite (LAGEOS-2) and to perform operations of the United States Microgravity Payload-1 (USMP-1). The secondary objectives of this flight were to perform the operations of the Attitude Sensor Package (ASP), the Canadian Experiments-2 (CANEX-2), the Crystals by Vapor Transport Experiment (CVTE), the Heat Pipe Performance Experiment (HPP), the Commercial Materials Dispersion Apparatus Instrumentation Technology Associates Experiments (CMIX), the Physiological System Experiment (PSE), the Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG-Block 2), the Shuttle Plume Impingement Experiment (SPIE), and the Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE) payloads.

STS-52 Space Shuttle mission report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fricke, Robert W., Jr.

1992-12-01

The STS-52 Space Shuttle Program Mission Report provides a summary of the Orbiter, External Tank (ET), Solid Rocket Booster/Redesigned Solid Rocket Motor (SRB/RSRM), and the Space Shuttle main engine (SSME) subsystem performance during the fifty-first flight of the Space Shuttle Program, and the thirteenth flight of the Orbiter vehicle Columbia (OV-102). In addition to the Orbiter, the flight vehicle consisted of the following: an ET (designated as ET-55/LWT-48); three SSME's, which were serial numbers 2030, 2015, and 2034 in positions 1, 2, and 3, respectively; and two SRB's, which were designated BI-054. The lightweight RSRM's that were installed in each SRB were designated 360L027A for the left SRB and 360Q027B for the right SRB. The primary objectives of this flight were to successfully deploy the Laser Geodynamic Satellite (LAGEOS-2) and to perform operations of the United States Microgravity Payload-1 (USMP-1). The secondary objectives of this flight were to perform the operations of the Attitude Sensor Package (ASP), the Canadian Experiments-2 (CANEX-2), the Crystals by Vapor Transport Experiment (CVTE), the Heat Pipe Performance Experiment (HPP), the Commercial Materials Dispersion Apparatus Instrumentation Technology Associates Experiments (CMIX), the Physiological System Experiment (PSE), the Commercial Protein Crystal Growth (CPCG-Block 2), the Shuttle Plume Impingement Experiment (SPIE), and the Tank Pressure Control Experiment (TPCE) payloads.

Mechanistic insights into Mg2+-independent prenylation by CloQ from classical molecular mechanics and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics molecular dynamics simulations.

PubMed

Bayse, Craig A; Merz, Kenneth M

2014-08-05

Understanding the mechanism of prenyltransferases is important to the design of engineered proteins capable of synthesizing derivatives of naturally occurring therapeutic agents. CloQ is a Mg(2+)-independent aromatic prenyltransferase (APTase) that transfers a dimethylallyl group to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate in the biosynthetic pathway for clorobiocin. APTases consist of a common ABBA fold that defines a β-barrel containing the reaction cavity. Positively charged basic residues line the inside of the β-barrel of CloQ to activate the pyrophosphate leaving group to replace the function of the Mg(2+) cofactor in other APTases. Classical molecular dynamics simulations of CloQ, its E281G and F68S mutants, and the related NovQ were used to explore the binding of the 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (4HPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate substrates in the reactive cavity and the role of various conserved residues. Hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics potential of mean force (PMF) calculations show that the effect of the replacement of the Mg(2+) cofactor with basic residues yields a similar activation barrier for prenylation to Mg(2+)-dependent APTases like NphB. The topology of the binding pocket for 4HPP is important for selective prenylation at the ortho position of the ring. Methylation at this position alters the conformation of the substrate for O-prenylation at the phenol group. Further, a two-dimensional PMF scan shows that a "reverse" prenylation product may be a possible target for protein engineering.

NAROM - a national laboratory for space education and student rockets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, Arne Hjalmar; Larsen, May Aimee; Østbø, Morten

2001-08-01

Despite a considerable growth in space related industry and scientific research over the past few decades, space related education has largely been neglected in our country. NAROM - the National Centre for Space Related Education - was formed last year to organize space related educational activities, to promote recruitment, to promote appreciation for the benefits of space activities, and to stimulate interest for science in general. This year, nine students from Narvik Engineering College have participated in the Hotel Payload Project (HPP) at Anøya Rocket Range. They have thus played an active and essential role in an ongoing engineering project.

NAROM- a national Laboratory for space education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansen, Arne Hjalmar; Østbø, Morten

2002-07-01

Despite a considerable growth in space related industry and scientific research over the past few decades, space related education has largely been neglected in our country. NAROM - the National Centre for Space Related Education - was formed last year to organize space related educational activities, to promote recruitment, to promote appreciation for the benefits of space activities, and to stimulate interest for science in general. This year, nine students from Narvik Engineering College have participated in the Hotel Payload Project (HPP) at Andøya Rocket Range. They have thus played an active and essential role in an ongoing engineering project.

Estimating flexural rigidity and load magnitude required for formation of Ross Island flexure moat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jha, S.; Harry, D. L.; Wenman, C. P.

2017-12-01

Lithospheric flexural subsidence around Ross Island in West Antarctica led to formation of the Ross Island flexure moat. This subsidence was caused by two major volcanic phases on Ross Island. The first phase saw the first surficial expression of Ross Island and volcanism at Mt. Bird to the north of Ross Island, which lasted from 5.2 - 2.9 Ma. The second phase lasted from 1.78 Ma to present and is comprised of eruptions from Mt. Terror to the east, Mt. Erebus to the west and Hut Point Peninsula (HPP) to the south of Ross Island. Flexural subsidence of the lithosphere due to volcanism on Ross Island led to formation of a sedimentary moat around the island, which is preserved in stratigraphy imaged on seismic reflection profiles. We identified 5 unconformities (from deepest upward Ri, RMU1, RMU2, RMU3, RMU4) in the seismic surveys which correspond to flexural subsidence episodes around Ross Island since early Pliocene. Ri (4.4 Ma) lies near the bottom of the flexural moat and RMU4 near the seafloor and top of the moat fill. These unconformities were used to make isopach maps to constrain flexure modeling of the area. Isopach maps show circular or semi-circular flexure basins around Ross Island which is approximated using a continuous plate, point load flexure model. We used Ri - sea floor isopach to constrain flexure models for 5 profiles centered on 4 volcanic centers and trending radially out of Ross Island. Flexure models along two profiles beginning on Mt. Bird and one profile off HPP show a flexural rigidity range of 1.47 - 6.44 x 1018 Nm with load center of mass on Mt. Bird and on HPP, respectively. A similar model along a profile initiating on Mt. Terror, passing through Mt Erebus and extending west of Ross Island across the moat, yielded a higher flexural rigidity estimate of 2.03 x 1019 Nm with load centered at Mt. Erebus. A flexure model to the north east of Ross Island along a profile beginning at Mt Terror and trending north, provide the highest flexural rigidity estimate of 6.9 x 1019 Nm. The load magnitudes determined from these flexure models lie in the range of 4.6 x 1015 N - 4.3 x 1016 N. This is less than the topographic load (6.9 x 1017 N estimated from BEDMAP2) produced by the island by one to two orders of magnitude. The difference in load magnitudes suggest anomalously low densities caused by high lower crust and mantle temperatures in the region.

Observations of fault zone heterogeneity effects on stress alteration and slip nucleation during a fault reactivation experiment in the Mont Terri rock laboratory, Switzerland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nussbaum, C.; Guglielmi, Y.

2016-12-01

The FS experiment at the Mont Terri underground research laboratory consists of a series of controlled field stimulation tests conducted in a fault zone intersecting a shale formation. The Main Fault is a secondary order reverse fault that formed during the creation of the Jura fold-and-thrust belt, associated to a large décollement. The fault zone is up to 6 m wide, with micron-thick shear zones, calcite veins, scaly clay and clay gouge. We conducted fluid injection tests in 4 packed-off borehole intervals across the Main Fault using mHPP probes that allow to monitor 3D displacement between two points anchored to the borehole walls at the same time as fluid pressure and flow rate. While pressurizing the intervals above injection pressures of 3.9 to 5.3 MPa, there is an irreversible change in the displacements magnitude and orientation associated to the hydraulic opening of natural shear planes oriented N59 to N69 and dipping 39 to 58°. Displacements of 0.01 mm to larger than 0.1 mm were captured, the highest value being observed at the interface between the low permeable fault core and the damage zone. Contrasted fault movements were observed, mainly dilatant in the fault core, highly dilatant-normal slip at the fault core-damage zone interface and low dilatant-strike-slip-reverse in the damage-to-intact zones. First using a slip-tendency approach based on Coulomb reactivation potential of fault planes, we computed a stress tensor orientation for each test. The input parameters are the measured displacement vectors above the hydraulic opening pressure and the detailed fault geometry of each intervals. All measurements from the damage zone can be explained by a stress tensor in strike-slip regime. Fault movements measured at the core-damage zone interface and within the fault core are in agreement with the same stress orientations but changed as normal faulting, explaining the significant dilatant movements. We then conducted dynamic hydromechanical simulations of the Coulomb stress variations on discrete fault planes, considering the injection pressure variations with time in the packed-off sections as the source parameters. Results suggest that the fault architecture and heterogeneity play an important role on the local stress variation at the core-damage zone interface, favouring slip activation below sigma 3.

GenomewidePDB 2.0: A Newly Upgraded Versatile Proteogenomic Database for the Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project.

PubMed

Jeong, Seul-Ki; Hancock, William S; Paik, Young-Ki

2015-09-04

Since the launch of the Chromosome-centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) in 2012, the number of "missing" proteins has fallen to 2932, down from ∼5932 since the number was first counted in 2011. We compared the characteristics of missing proteins with those of already annotated proteins with respect to transcriptional expression pattern and the time periods in which newly identified proteins were annotated. We learned that missing proteins commonly exhibit lower levels of transcriptional expression and less tissue-specific expression compared with already annotated proteins. This makes it more difficult to identify missing proteins as time goes on. One of the C-HPP goals is to identify alternative spliced product of proteins (ASPs), which are usually difficult to find by shot-gun proteomic methods due to their sequence similarities with the representative proteins. To resolve this problem, it may be necessary to use a targeted proteomics approach (e.g., selected and multiple reaction monitoring [S/MRM] assays) and an innovative bioinformatics platform that enables the selection of target peptides for rarely expressed missing proteins or ASPs. Given that the success of efforts to identify missing proteins may rely on more informative public databases, it was necessary to upgrade the available integrative databases. To this end, we attempted to improve the features and utility of GenomewidePDB by integrating transcriptomic information (e.g., alternatively spliced transcripts), annotated peptide information, and an advanced search interface that can find proteins of interest when applying a targeted proteomics strategy. This upgraded version of the database, GenomewidePDB 2.0, may not only expedite identification of the remaining missing proteins but also enhance the exchange of information among the proteome community. GenomewidePDB 2.0 is available publicly at http://genomewidepdb.proteomix.org/.

Integrated Proteomic Pipeline Using Multiple Search Engines for a Proteogenomic Study with a Controlled Protein False Discovery Rate.

PubMed

Park, Gun Wook; Hwang, Heeyoun; Kim, Kwang Hoe; Lee, Ju Yeon; Lee, Hyun Kyoung; Park, Ji Yeong; Ji, Eun Sun; Park, Sung-Kyu Robin; Yates, John R; Kwon, Kyung-Hoon; Park, Young Mok; Lee, Hyoung-Joo; Paik, Young-Ki; Kim, Jin Young; Yoo, Jong Shin

2016-11-04

In the Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP), false-positive identification by peptide spectrum matches (PSMs) after database searches is a major issue for proteogenomic studies using liquid-chromatography and mass-spectrometry-based large proteomic profiling. Here we developed a simple strategy for protein identification, with a controlled false discovery rate (FDR) at the protein level, using an integrated proteomic pipeline (IPP) that consists of four engrailed steps as follows. First, using three different search engines, SEQUEST, MASCOT, and MS-GF+, individual proteomic searches were performed against the neXtProt database. Second, the search results from the PSMs were combined using statistical evaluation tools including DTASelect and Percolator. Third, the peptide search scores were converted into E-scores normalized using an in-house program. Last, ProteinInferencer was used to filter the proteins containing two or more peptides with a controlled FDR of 1.0% at the protein level. Finally, we compared the performance of the IPP to a conventional proteomic pipeline (CPP) for protein identification using a controlled FDR of <1% at the protein level. Using the IPP, a total of 5756 proteins (vs 4453 using the CPP) including 477 alternative splicing variants (vs 182 using the CPP) were identified from human hippocampal tissue. In addition, a total of 10 missing proteins (vs 7 using the CPP) were identified with two or more unique peptides, and their tryptic peptides were validated using MS/MS spectral pattern from a repository database or their corresponding synthetic peptides. This study shows that the IPP effectively improved the identification of proteins, including alternative splicing variants and missing proteins, in human hippocampal tissues for the C-HPP. All RAW files used in this study were deposited in ProteomeXchange (PXD000395).

Identification and Validation of Human Missing Proteins and Peptides in Public Proteome Databases: Data Mining Strategy.

PubMed

Elguoshy, Amr; Hirao, Yoshitoshi; Xu, Bo; Saito, Suguru; Quadery, Ali F; Yamamoto, Keiko; Mitsui, Toshiaki; Yamamoto, Tadashi

2017-12-01

In an attempt to complete human proteome project (HPP), Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) launched the journey of missing protein (MP) investigation in 2012. However, 2579 and 572 protein entries in the neXtProt (2017-1) are still considered as missing and uncertain proteins, respectively. Thus, in this study, we proposed a pipeline to analyze, identify, and validate human missing and uncertain proteins in open-access transcriptomics and proteomics databases. Analysis of RNA expression pattern for missing proteins in Human protein Atlas showed that 28% of them, such as Olfactory receptor 1I1 ( O60431 ), had no RNA expression, suggesting the necessity to consider uncommon tissues for transcriptomic and proteomic studies. Interestingly, 21% had elevated expression level in a particular tissue (tissue-enriched proteins), indicating the importance of targeting such proteins in their elevated tissues. Additionally, the analysis of RNA expression level for missing proteins showed that 95% had no or low expression level (0-10 transcripts per million), indicating that low abundance is one of the major obstacles facing the detection of missing proteins. Moreover, missing proteins are predicted to generate fewer predicted unique tryptic peptides than the identified proteins. Searching for these predicted unique tryptic peptides that correspond to missing and uncertain proteins in the experimental peptide list of open-access MS-based databases (PA, GPM) resulted in the detection of 402 missing and 19 uncertain proteins with at least two unique peptides (≥9 aa) at <(5 × 10 -4 )% FDR. Finally, matching the native spectra for the experimentally detected peptides with their SRMAtlas synthetic counterparts at three transition sources (QQQ, QTOF, QTRAP) gave us an opportunity to validate 41 missing proteins by ≥2 proteotypic peptides.

Current education versus peer-education on walking in type 2 diabetic patients based on Health Belief Model: a randomized control trial study.

PubMed

Baghianimoghadam, M H; Hadavandkhani, M; Mohammadi, M; Fallahzade, H; Baghianimoghadam, B

2012-01-01

Diabetes is a disease with several metabolic and organic symptoms. Physical activity plays a key role in controlling type 2 diabetes. Several researches confirm that educational strategies can lead to healthy behaviors and its continuation is effective and can indicate what type of relationship with the client is better. The purpose of this study is comparing the Effect of Current Education and Peer-Education on Walking in Type 2 Diabetic Patients based on Health Belief Model (HBM). This was a clinical trial (RCT) study done on 80 people with type 2 diabetes. Patients were divided into two groups, Current education and Peer education groups. Data were collected using a questionnaire based on the health belief model, a checklist related to patients' practice and recording patients' HbA1c, 2HPP and FBS levels. Results were documented before and three months after intervention. The patients participated in 2 educational classes during three months of intervention, as the follow-up of the intervention. Mean scores for HBM Model variables, i.e. perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefit and self-efficacy, were significantly increased in the peer education group compared to current education group after intervention. Also, behavioral walking, rates of HbA1c and FBS and 2HPP levels were improved significantly among the peer education group. Applying walking training program developed for diabetic patients and its implementation by the peers in order to control blood sugar using the health belief model is very useful and effective. During implementation of these control programs, monitoring and follow-up training is recommended.

Identification of Missing Proteins Defined by Chromosome-Centric Proteome Project in the Cytoplasmic Detergent-Insoluble Proteins.

PubMed

Chen, Yang; Li, Yaxing; Zhong, Jiayong; Zhang, Jing; Chen, Zhipeng; Yang, Lijuan; Cao, Xin; He, Qing-Yu; Zhang, Gong; Wang, Tong

2015-09-04

Finding protein evidence (PE) for protein coding genes is a primary task of the Phase I Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP). Currently, there are 2948 PE level 2-4 coding genes per neXtProt, which are deemed missing proteins in the human proteome. As most samples prepared and analyzed in the C-HPP framework were focusing on detergent soluble proteins, we posit that as a natural composition the cytoplasmic detergent-insoluble proteins (DIPs) represent a source of finding missing proteins. We optimized a workflow and separated cytoplasmic DIPs from three human lung and three human hepatoma cell lines via differential speed centrifugation. We verified that the detergent-soluble proteins (DSPs) could be sufficiently depleted and the cytoplasmic DIP isolation was partially reproducible with Spearman r > 0.70 according to two independent SILAC MS experiments. Through label-free MS, we identified 4524 and 4156 DIPs from lung and liver cells, respectively. Among them, a total of 23 missing proteins (22 PE2 and 1 PE4) were identified by MS, and 18 of them had translation evidence; in addition, six PE5 proteins were identified by MS, three with translation evidence. We showed that cytoplasmic DIPs were not an enrichment of transmembrane proteins and were chromosome-, cell type-, and tissue-specific. Furthermore, we demonstrated that DIPs were distinct from DSPs in terms of structural and physical-chemical features. In conclusion, we have found 23 missing proteins and 6 PE5 proteins from the cytoplasmic insoluble proteome that is biologically and physical-chemically different from the soluble proteome, suggesting that cytoplasmic DIPs carry comprehensive and valuable information for finding PE of missing proteins. The mass spectrometry proteomics data have been deposited to the ProteomeXchange Consortium with the data set identifier PXD001694.

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

Fedorov, M. P.; Elistratov, V. V.; Maslikov, V. I.

Studies of greenhouse-gas emissions from the surfaces of the world’s reservoirs, which has demonstrated ambiguity of assessments of the effect of reservoirs on greenhouse-gas emissions to the atmosphere, is analyzed. It is recommended that greenhouse- gas emissions from various reservoirs be assessed by the procedure “GHG Measurement Guidelines for Fresh Water Reservoirs” (2010) for the purpose of creating a data base with results of standardized measurements. Aprogram for research into greenhouse-gas emissions is being developed at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in conformity with the IHA procedure at the reservoirs impounded by the Sayano-Shushenskaya and Mainskaya HPP operated by themore » RusHydro Co.« less

Language discrimination without language: Experiments on tamarin monkeys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tincoff, Ruth; Hauser, Marc; Spaepen, Geertrui; Tsao, Fritz; Mehler, Jacques

2002-05-01

Human newborns can discriminate spoken languages differing on prosodic characteristics such as the timing of rhythmic units [T. Nazzi et al., JEP:HPP 24, 756-766 (1998)]. Cotton-top tamarins have also demonstrated a similar ability to discriminate a morae- (Japanese) vs a stress-timed (Dutch) language [F. Ramus et al., Science 288, 349-351 (2000)]. The finding that tamarins succeed in this task when either natural or synthesized utterances are played in a forward direction, but fail on backward utterances which disrupt the rhythmic cues, suggests that sensitivity to language rhythm may rely on general processes of the primate auditory system. However, the rhythm hypothesis also predicts that tamarins would fail to discriminate languages from the same rhythm class, such as English and Dutch. To assess the robustness of this ability, tamarins were tested on a different-rhythm-class distinction, Polish vs Japanese, and a new same-rhythm-class distinction, English vs Dutch. The stimuli were natural forward utterances produced by multiple speakers. As predicted by the rhythm hypothesis, tamarins discriminated between Polish and Japanese, but not English and Dutch. These findings strengthen the claim that discriminating the rhythmic cues of language does not require mechanisms specialized for human speech. [Work supported by NSF.

Colonic fermentation of polyphenols from Chilean currants (Ribes spp.) and its effect on antioxidant capacity and metabolic syndrome-associated enzymes.

PubMed

Burgos-Edwards, Alberto; Jiménez-Aspee, Felipe; Theoduloz, Cristina; Schmeda-Hirschmann, Guillermo

2018-08-30

The Chilean wild currants Ribes magellanicum and R. punctatum are a good source of polyphenols. Polyphenolic-enriched extracts (PEEs) from both species were submitted to in vitro colonic fermentation to assess the changes in phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity and inhibition of metabolic syndrome-associated enzymes. The phenolic profiles of the fermented samples showed significant changes after 24 h incubation. Nine metabolites, derived from the microbial fermentation, were tentatively identified, including dihydrocaffeic acid, dihydrocaffeoyl-, dihydroferuloylquinic acid, 1-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)propan-2-ol (3,4-diHPP-2-ol), among others. The content of anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids was most affected by simulated colonic conditions, with a loss of 71-92% and 90-100% after 24 h incubation, respectively. The highest antioxidant capacity values (ORAC) were reached after 8 h incubation. The inhibitory activity against the enzyme α-glucosidase was maintained after the fermentation process. Our results show that simulated colonic fermentation exerts significant changes on the polyphenolic composition of these berries, modifying their health-promoting properties. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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

Kaftan, V. I.; Ustinov, A. V.

The feasibility of using global radio-navigation satellite systems (GNSS) to improve functional safety of high-liability water-development works - dams at hydroelectric power plants, and, consequently, the safety of the population in the surrounding areas is examined on the basis of analysis of modern publications. Characteristics for determination of displacements and deformations with use of GNSS, and also in a complex with other types of measurements, are compared. It is demonstrated that combined monitoring of deformations of the ground surface of the region, and engineering and technical structures is required to ensure the functional safety of HPP, and reliable metrologic assurancemore » of measurements is also required to obtain actual characteristics of the accuracy and effectiveness of GNSS observations.« less

Impact of Installation Faults on Heat Pump Performance

DOE PAGES

Hourahan, Glenn; Baxter, Van D.

2015-01-01

Numerous studies and surveys indicate that typically-installed HVAC equipment operate inefficiently and waste considerable energy due to varied installation errors (faults) such as improper refrigerant charge, incorrect airflow, oversized equipment, and leaky ducts. This article summarizes the results of a large United States (U.S.) experimental/analytical study (U.S. contribution to IEA HPP Annex 36) of the impact that different faults have on the performance of an air-source heat pump (ASHP) in a typical U.S. single-family house. It combines building effects, equipment effects, and climate effects in an evaluation of the faults impact on seasonal energy consumption through simulations of the house/ASHPmore » pump system.« less

Sex based levels of C-reactive protein and white blood cell count in subjects with metabolic syndrome: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program.

PubMed

Gharipour, Mojgan; Ramezani, Mohammad Arash; Sadeghi, Masuomeh; Khosravi, Alireza; Masjedi, Mohsen; Khosravi-Boroujeni, Hossein; Rafieian-Kopaei, Mahmoud; Sarrafzadegan, Nizal

2013-06-01

C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) are proinflammatory markers. They are major pathophysiological for the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to address the independent associations between MetS and WBC counts and serum CRP levels and evaluation of their magnitude in relation to the MetS, based on the sex in the Iranian adults. In this cross-sectional study, subjects who met the MetS criteria, based on the Adult Treatment Panel III were selected from the Isfahan Healthy Heart Program database. A questionnaire containing the demographic data, weight, height, waist, and hip circumference of the respondents was completed for each person. Blood pressure was measured and the anthropometric measurements were done, and fasting blood samples were taken for 2 h postload plasma glucose (2 hpp). Serum [total, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein] levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, and CRP as well as WBC counts were determined. The univariate analyses were carried out to assess the relation between the CRP levels, WBC counts with the MetS in both sexes the. In men with the abdominal obesity, the higher levels of WBC count, high serum triglyceride and blood glucose levels, a low serum HDL level, and raised systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed. However, the higher serum CRP levels were only observed in those with the low serum HDL-cholesterol levels. The mean values of the WBC counts were statistically different between the men with and without MetS, but the mean values of the CRP levels were similar between the two groups. In women, the mean values of WBC count and CRP levels were statistically different in the subjects with and without a MetS components (except for the low serum HDL levels and high diastolic blood pressure for the WBC measures and abdominal obesity for the CRP measures) and for those with and without MetS. The age and smoking adjusted changes in the CRP levels and WBC counts correlated with the number of Mets components in the women. The findings of this study suggest substantial implications for the prevention and management of the MetS and atherosclerotic diseases, as these involve the suppression of inflammatory conditions rather than the incitement of anti-inflammatory conditions.

Bypassing and tightening of an underground water retention system in permeable karst: case study of the hydropower plant (HPP) Bribin, Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudella, Peter; Loges, Iryna; Mutschler, Thomas; Eiche, Elisabeth; Ruppert, Julia; Neumann, Thomas

2016-09-01

In the framework of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) joint research project in the karst area of Gunung Kidul, Province of Yogyakarta Special Region on the Java Island, Indonesia, an underground hydropower driven water extraction facility in the cave "Bribin" was developed using pump-as-turbine-driven systems for freshwater supply of the rural area. As numerous other caves in the Gunung Kidul area, Bribin is part of a ramified system of all-season water-bearing subterraneous rivers and natural caves in karstic limestone. The elliptic cross section of the cave was completely closed with a concrete barrage, thus creating a year-round underground retention volume with an operational storage level of approx. 15 m. This contribution highlights the geotechnical and geohydraulic challenges handled within the sub-project "Short-time and long-time behaviour of karst rock surrounding pressure-bearing underground water-retaining structures". One key to the feasibility of an artificial water retention scheme in a natural cave is to ensure the mechanical stability of the cave roof and sidewalls. The necessary geotechnical investigations are described. Another key to the effectiveness of such a water retention concept is the control and minimization of "lost" seepage water bypassing the barrage structure through the karst rock mass. Measures to monitor and to explain the seepage phenomena are presented as well as grouting efforts to minimize them. The limitations of improving the overall tightness will be discussed. Interpretation includes the use of analytical and numerical methods.

Water hammer caused by closure of turbine safety spherical valves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karadžić, U.; Bergant, A.; Vukoslavčević, P.

2010-08-01

This paper investigates water hammer effects caused by closure of spherical valves against the discharge. During the first phase of modernisation of Perućica high-head hydropower plant (HPP), Montenegro, safety spherical valves (inlet turbine valves) have been refurbished on the first two Pelton turbine units. The valve closure is controlled by the valve actuator (hydraulic servomotor). Because the torque acting on the valve body is dependent on flow conditions the valve closing time may vary significantly for different flow velocities (passive valve). For the passive valve the torques acting on the valve body should be considered in the valve model. The valve closing time results from numerical simulation. On the contrary, for the active valve the valve closing time is assumed prior to simulation. The spherical valve boundary condition is incorporated into the method of characteristics (MOC) algorithm. The staggered (diamond) grid in applying the MOC is used in this paper. The passive valve boundary condition is described by the water hammer equations, the valve equation that relates discharge to pressure head drop and the dynamic equation of the valve body motion (torque equation). The active valve boundary condition is described by the first two equations, respectively. Standard quasi-steady friction model is used for estimating friction losses in plant's tunnel and penstocks. Numerical results using both the active and the passive spherical valve models are compared with results of measurements. It has been found that the influence of flow conditions on the spherical valve closing time is minor for the cases considered. Computed and measured results agree reasonably well.

SPR Biosensors in Direct Molecular Fishing: Implications for Protein Interactomics.

PubMed

Florinskaya, Anna; Ershov, Pavel; Mezentsev, Yuri; Kaluzhskiy, Leonid; Yablokov, Evgeniy; Medvedev, Alexei; Ivanov, Alexis

2018-05-18

We have developed an original experimental approach based on the use of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensors, applicable for investigation of potential partners involved in protein⁻protein interactions (PPI) as well as protein⁻peptide or protein⁻small molecule interactions. It is based on combining a SPR biosensor, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), mass spectrometric identification of proteins (LC-MS/MS) and direct molecular fishing employing principles of affinity chromatography for isolation of potential partner proteins from the total lysate of biological samples using immobilized target proteins (or small non-peptide compounds) as ligands. Applicability of this approach has been demonstrated within the frame of the Human Proteome Project (HPP) and PPI regulation by a small non-peptide biologically active compound, isatin.

ESR detection of irradiated carob pods (Ceratoniasiliqua L) and its dosimetric feature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuner, Hasan; Polat, Mustafa

2017-12-01

Un-irradiated carob powder exhibited a weak ESR singlet at g = 2.0041 ± 0.0006 with peak-to-peak linewidth (ΔHpp) of 0.33 ± 0.01 mT. Irradiated carob powder exhibited an ESR spectrum consisting many resonance lines and similar to ESR spectrum of sugar in all aspects. A linear function of the absorbed radiation dose was found to describe best the dose-response curves of the ESR signal intensity Ipp. It is concluded that due to the similarity of carob powder ESR spectrum to the irradiated sugar and the fact that it is widely consumed, carob powder has the potential to be used as a retrospective and/or accidental dosimetric material.

Association of meat intake and meat-derived mutagen exposure with the risk of colorectal polyps by histologic type

PubMed Central

Fu, Zhenming; Shrubsole, Martha J.; Smalley, Walter E.; Wu, Huiyun; Chen, Zhi; Shyr, Yu; Ness, Reid M.; Zheng, Wei

2011-01-01

Background The association of meat intake and meat-derived mutagens with colorectal tumor risk remains unclear. We evaluated this hypothesis in a large colonoscopy-based case-control study. Methods Included in the study were 2,543 polyp patients [(1,881 with adenomas, and 622 with hyperplastic polyp (HPP)] and 3,764 polyp-free controls. Surveys obtained information about meat intake by cooking methods and doneness levels plus other suspected or known risk factors for colorectal tumors. Unconditional logistic regression was used to derive odds ratios (ORs) after adjusting for potential confounders. Results High intake of red meat and processed meat (P-trend < 0.05), particularly red meat cooked using high-temperature cooking methods (P-trend ≤ 0.01), was associated with an elevated risk for colorectal polyps. A significant positive association between exposures to meat-derived heterocyclic amines and risk of polyps was found for both adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. Furthermore, the positive association with red-meat intake and heterocyclic amine exposure was stronger for multiple adenomas than single adenoma and serrated than non-serrated adenomas. Conclusion This study supports a role for red meat and meat-derived mutagen exposure in the development of colorectal tumor. PMID:21803984

Hydro-abrasive erosion of hydraulic turbines caused by sediment - a century of research and development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Felix, D.; Albayrak, I.; Abgottspon, A.; Boes, R. M.

2016-11-01

Hydro-abrasive erosion of hydraulic turbines is an economically important issue due to maintenance costs and production losses, in particular at high- and medium-head run-of- river hydropower plants (HPPs) on sediment laden rivers. In this paper, research and development in this field over the last century are reviewed. Facilities for sediment exclusion, typically sand traps, as well as turbine design and materials have been improved considerably. Since the 1980s, hard-coatings have been applied on Francis and Pelton turbine parts of erosion-prone HPPs and became state-of-the-art. These measures have led to increased times between overhauls and smaller efficiency reductions. Analytical, laboratory and field investigations have contributed to a better processes understanding and quantification of sediment-related effects on turbines. More recently, progress has been made in numerical modelling of turbine erosion. To calibrate, validate and further develop prediction models, more measurements from both physical model tests in laboratories and real-scale data from HPPs are required. Significant improvements to mitigate hydro-abrasive erosion have been achieved so far and development is ongoing. A good collaboration between turbine manufacturers, HPP operators, measuring equipment suppliers, engineering consultants, and research institutes is required. This contributes to the energy- and cost-efficient use of the worldwide hydropower potential.

Methodological specifics of the study of micro HPP based on internal combustion engines with air cooling and cogeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shchinnikov, P. A.; Tomilov, V. G.; Sinelnikov, D. S.

2017-01-01

The article considers some aspects of the research methodology of micro heat power plants based on internal combustion engines with air cooling and cogeneration based on energy balance equations and the laws of heat transfer. The research is conducted for such a setup based on the Hitachi internal combustion engine with 2.4 kW capacity. It has shown the efficiency of cogeneration use in the form of useful heat flow from air, cooling the cylinder head, with its further heating by utilizing the heat of flue gases in an additional plate heat exchanger. It has been shown that the cogeneration can save fuel costs 3-10 times compared with heat guns, depending on the duration of the setup use.

Osmotically-assisted desalination method and system

DOEpatents

Achilli, Andrea; Childress, Amy E.; Cath, Tzahi Y.

2014-08-12

Systems and methods for osmotically assisted desalination include using a pressurized concentrate from a pressure desalination process to pressurize a feed to the desalination process. The depressurized concentrate thereby produced is used as a draw solution for a pressure-retarded osmosis process. The pressure-retarded osmosis unit produces a pressurized draw solution stream that is used to pressurize another feed to the desalination process. In one example, the feed to the pressure-retarded osmosis process is impaired water.

Effect of dragon fruit on glycemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Poolsup, Nalinee; Paw, Naw Juna

2017-01-01

Objective The purpose of this study was to systematically determine the effect of dragon fruit on glycemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Methods Electronic databases including MEDLINE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Scopus, ScienceDirect®, Proquest, Web of Science®, LILACS, NAPRALERT, SciFinder, Clinicalkey, Herbmed, NCCIH and Google Scholar were searched from their earliest inception up to March 2017 for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared dragon fruit with placebo or no treatment in prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Clinicaltrials.gov, clinicaltrialresults.org, and ISRCTN registry were also searched. Personal contact with experts and historical search of related articles was undertaken. Outcome of interest were fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2 hours post-prandial glucose (2HPP). Study selection, data extraction and study quality assessment were performed independently by two investigators. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Treatment effect was estimated with mean difference (MD). Effect estimates were pooled using inverse-variance weighted method. Heterogeneity was assessed with the Q statistic and quantified with the I2 statistic. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was used when the Q-statistic was significant at the level of 0.1, otherwise a fixed-effects model was used. Results Among 401 studies identified from literature search, 4 RCTs involving 36 prediabetes subjects and 109 type 2 diabetes patients were included in the analysis. In prediabetes, FPG reduction was significant with MD of -15.1 mg/dL (95% CI: -23.8 to -6.5 mg/dL, P-value = 0.0006). Meta-analysis in type 2 diabetes showed no effect of dragon fruit on FPG (MD -26.5 mg/dL, 95% CI: -72.6 mg/dL to 19.6 mg/dL) and in 2HPP (MD -30.5 mg/dL, 95% CI: -80.9 mg/dL to 19.9 mg/dL). Conclusion The available evidence in prediabetes is interesting. This will shed some light on diabetes prevention. The effect in T2DM was not significant. However, a trend towards greater blood glucose reduction with higher dose was observed. PMID:28886195

Effect of dragon fruit on glycemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Poolsup, Nalinee; Suksomboon, Naeti; Paw, Naw Juna

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to systematically determine the effect of dragon fruit on glycemic control in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. Electronic databases including MEDLINE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Scopus, ScienceDirect®, Proquest, Web of Science®, LILACS, NAPRALERT, SciFinder, Clinicalkey, Herbmed, NCCIH and Google Scholar were searched from their earliest inception up to March 2017 for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which compared dragon fruit with placebo or no treatment in prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Clinicaltrials.gov, clinicaltrialresults.org, and ISRCTN registry were also searched. Personal contact with experts and historical search of related articles was undertaken. Outcome of interest were fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2 hours post-prandial glucose (2HPP). Study selection, data extraction and study quality assessment were performed independently by two investigators. Disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Treatment effect was estimated with mean difference (MD). Effect estimates were pooled using inverse-variance weighted method. Heterogeneity was assessed with the Q statistic and quantified with the I2 statistic. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was used when the Q-statistic was significant at the level of 0.1, otherwise a fixed-effects model was used. Among 401 studies identified from literature search, 4 RCTs involving 36 prediabetes subjects and 109 type 2 diabetes patients were included in the analysis. In prediabetes, FPG reduction was significant with MD of -15.1 mg/dL (95% CI: -23.8 to -6.5 mg/dL, P-value = 0.0006). Meta-analysis in type 2 diabetes showed no effect of dragon fruit on FPG (MD -26.5 mg/dL, 95% CI: -72.6 mg/dL to 19.6 mg/dL) and in 2HPP (MD -30.5 mg/dL, 95% CI: -80.9 mg/dL to 19.9 mg/dL). The available evidence in prediabetes is interesting. This will shed some light on diabetes prevention. The effect in T2DM was not significant. However, a trend towards greater blood glucose reduction with higher dose was observed.

A Kohonen-like decomposition method for the Euclidean traveling salesman problem-KNIES/spl I.bar/DECOMPOSE.

PubMed

Aras, N; Altinel, I K; Oommen, J

2003-01-01

In addition to the classical heuristic algorithms of operations research, there have also been several approaches based on artificial neural networks for solving the traveling salesman problem. Their efficiency, however, decreases as the problem size (number of cities) increases. A technique to reduce the complexity of a large-scale traveling salesman problem (TSP) instance is to decompose or partition it into smaller subproblems. We introduce an all-neural decomposition heuristic that is based on a recent self-organizing map called KNIES, which has been successfully implemented for solving both the Euclidean traveling salesman problem and the Euclidean Hamiltonian path problem. Our solution for the Euclidean TSP proceeds by solving the Euclidean HPP for the subproblems, and then patching these solutions together. No such all-neural solution has ever been reported.

Real-time short-term forecast of water inflow into Bureyskaya reservoir

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motovilov, Yury

2017-04-01

During several recent years, a methodology for operational optimization in hydrosystems including forecasts of the hydrological situation has been developed on example of Burea reservoir. The forecasts accuracy improvement of the water inflow into the reservoir during planning of water and energy regime was one of the main goals for implemented research. Burea river is the second left largest Amur tributary after Zeya river with its 70.7 thousand square kilometers watershed and 723 km-long river course. A variety of natural conditions - from plains in the southern part to northern mountainous areas determine a significant spatio-temporal variability in runoff generation patterns and river regime. Bureyskaya hydropower plant (HPP) with watershed area 65.2 thousand square kilometers is a key station in the Russian Far Eastern energy system providing its reliable operation. With a spacious reservoir, Bureyskaya HPP makes a significant contribution to the protection of the Amur region from catastrophic floods. A physically-based distributed model of runoff generation based on the ECOMAG (ECOlogical Model for Applied Geophysics) hydrological modeling platform has been developed for the Burea River basin. The model describes processes of interception of rainfall/snowfall by the canopy, snow accumulation and melt, soil freezing and thawing, water infiltration into unfrozen and frozen soil, evapotranspiration, thermal and water regime of soil, overland, subsurface, ground and river flow. The governing model's equations are derived from integration of the basic hydro- and thermodynamics equations of water and heat vertical transfer in snowpack, frozen/unfrozen soil, horizontal water flow under and over catchment slopes, etc. The model setup for Bureya river basin included watershed and river network schematization with GIS module by DEM analysis, meteorological time-series preparation, model calibration and validation against historical observations. The results showed good model performance as compared to observed inflow data into the Bureya reservoir and high diagnostic potential of data-modeling system of the runoff formation. With the use of this system the following flowchart for short-range forecasting inflow into Bureyskoe reservoir and forecast correction technique using continuously updated hydrometeorological data has been developed: 1 - Daily renewal of weather observations and forecasts database via the Internet; 2 - Daily runoff calculation from the beginning of the current year to current date is conducted; 3 - Short-range (up to 7 days) forecast is generated based on weather forecast. The idea underlying the model assimilation of newly obtained hydro meteorological information to adjust short-range hydrological forecasts lies in the assumption of the forecast errors inertia. Then the difference between calculated and observed streamflow at the forecast release date is "scattered" with specific weights to calculated streamflow for the forecast lead time. During 2016 this forecasts method of the inflow into the Bureyskaya reservoir up to 7 days is tested in online mode. Satisfactory evaluated short-range inflow forecast success rate is obtained. Tests of developed method have shown strong sensitivity to the results of short-term precipitation forecasts.

Investigation of radiosterilization feasibility of sulfamethoxazole by ESR spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Çolak, Şeyda

2017-12-01

In the present study, the spectroscopic features of the radiolytic intermediates that were produced in gamma-irradiated (5, 10, 25 and 50 kGy) sulfamethoxazole (SMX) have been investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and the radiation sterilization feasibility of SMX by ionizing radiation was examined. Gamma-irradiated SMX exhibited a complex ESR spectrum consisting of 13 resonance lines where spectral parameters for the central resonance line were found to be g = 2.0062 and ΔHpp = 0.6 mT. The radiation yield of SMX was calculated to be relatively low (G = 0.1) by ESR spectroscopy and no meaningful difference was observed in the comparison of unirradiated and 50 kGy gamma irradiated SMX by the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) technique, confirming that SMX is a radioresistive material. Although SMX could not be accepted to be a good dosimetric material, the identification of irradiated SMX from the unirradiated sample was possible even for the low absorbed radiation doses and for a relatively long time (three months) after the irradiation process. Decay activation energy of the radical species, which is mostly responsible for the central intense resonance line, is calculated to be 45.15 kJ/mol by using the signal intensity decay data derived from annealing studies. Four radical species with different spectroscopic properties were accepted to be responsible for the ESR spectra of gamma-irradiated SMX, by simulation calculations. It is concluded that SMX and SMX-containing drugs can be sterilized by gamma radiation and ESR spectroscopy is an appropriate technique for the characterization of these induced radical intermediates during the gamma irradiation process of SMX. Toxicology tests should also be done for its safe usage.

Computational modeling of the pressurization process in a NASP vehicle propellant tank experimental simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sasmal, G. P.; Hochstein, J. I.; Wendl, M. C.; Hardy, T. L.

1991-01-01

A multidimensional computational model of the pressurization process in a slush hydrogen propellant storage tank was developed and its accuracy evaluated by comparison to experimental data measured for a 5 ft diameter spherical tank. The fluid mechanic, thermodynamic, and heat transfer processes within the ullage are represented by a finite-volume model. The model was shown to be in reasonable agreement with the experiment data. A parameter study was undertaken to examine the dependence of the pressurization process on initial ullage temperature distribution and pressurant mass flow rate. It is shown that for a given heat flux rate at the ullage boundary, the pressurization process is nearly independent of initial temperature distribution. Significant differences were identified between the ullage temperature and velocity fields predicted for pressurization of slush and those predicted for pressurization of liquid hydrogen. A simplified model of the pressurization process was constructed in search of a dimensionless characterization of the pressurization process. It is shown that the relationship derived from this simplified model collapses all of the pressure history data generated during this study into a single curve.

Fructooligosaccharides integrity after atmospheric cold plasma and high-pressure processing of a functional orange juice.

PubMed

Almeida, Francisca Diva Lima; Gomes, Wesley Faria; Cavalcante, Rosane Souza; Tiwari, Brijesh K; Cullen, Patrick J; Frias, Jesus Maria; Bourke, Paula; Fernandes, Fabiano A N; Rodrigues, Sueli

2017-12-01

In this study, the effect of atmospheric pressure cold plasma and high-pressure processing on the prebiotic orange juice was evaluated. Orange juice containing 7g/100g of commercial fructooligosaccharides (FOS) was directly and indirectly exposed to a plasma discharge at 70kV with processing times of 15, 30, 45 and 60s. For high-pressure processing, the juice containing the same concentration of FOS was treated at 450MPa for 5min at 11.5°C in an industrial equipment (Hyperbaric, model: 300). After the treatments, the fructooligosaccharides were qualified and quantified by thin layer chromatography. The organic acids and color analysis were also evaluated. The maximal overall fructooligosaccharides degradation was found after high-pressure processing. The total color difference was <3.0 for high-pressure and plasma processing. citric and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) showed increased content after plasma and high-pressure treatment. Thus, atmospheric pressure cold plasma and high-pressure processing can be used as non-thermal alternatives to process prebiotic orange juice. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A feasibility study on solar utility total energy system /SUTES/

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bilgen, E.

1980-11-01

A fully dedicated central receiver solar utility (CRSU) designed to meet domestic energy requirements for space heating and hot water has been synthesized and assessed at the conceptual level. The solar utility total energy system (SUTES) integrates (1) a central receiver solar utility (CRSU), (2) an electrical power generating system (EPGS), (3) a hydrogen production plant (HPP), (4) a water chilling system for cooling, heat pump system (HPS), (5) necessary thermal energy storage systems (TES), (6) a district heating and cooling system (DH&CS). All subsystems are close-coupled. Using consistent costing bases, it has been found that the SUTES concept provides energy costs which are lower than those provided by a CRSU. Representative costs are $3.14/GJ versus $8.56/GJ for 10 percent recovery factor and $12.55/GJ versus $13.47/GJ for 17.5 percent recovery factor.

Preparation, characterization and magnetic behavior of a spin-labelled physical hydrogel containing a chiral cyclic nitroxide radical unit fixed inside the gelator molecule.

PubMed

Takemoto, Yusa; Yamamoto, Takayuki; Ikuma, Naohiko; Uchida, Yoshiaki; Suzuki, Katsuaki; Shimono, Satoshi; Takahashi, Hiroki; Sato, Nobuhiro; Oba, Yojiro; Inoue, Rintaro; Sugiyama, Masaaki; Tsue, Hirohito; Kato, Tatsuhisa; Yamauchi, Jun; Tamura, Rui

2015-07-21

An optically active amphiphilic nitroxide radical compound [(S,S,R)-], which contains a paramagnetic (2S,5S)-2,5-dimethyl-2,5-diphenylpyrrolidine-N-oxyl radical group fixed in the inner position together with a hydrophobic long alkyl chain and a hydrophilic (R)-alanine residue in the opposite terminal positions, was found to serve as a low-molecular-weight gelator in H2O to give rise to a spin-labelled physical hydrogel. Characterization of the hydrogel was performed by microscopic (SEM, TEM and AFM) techniques, XRD and SAXS measurements, and IR, UV and CD spectroscopies. The gel-sol transition temperature was determined by EPR spectral line-width (ΔHpp) analysis. Measurement of the temperature dependence of relative paramagnetic susceptibility (χrel) for the hydrogel and sol phases was achieved by means of the double-integration of VT-EPR spectra.

On the Contributions to the Materials Science Aspects of Phosphazene Chemistry by Professor Christopher W. Allen: The One-Pot Synthesis of Linear Polyphosphazenes

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

Eric S. Peterson; Thomas A. Luther; Mason K. Harrup

2007-06-01

The wide range of applications for the phosphazene compounds has stimulated a major research effort involving several industrial, academic, and national laboratories over the past 40 years. One of Professor Allen’s research areas was to establish fundamental synthetic methods for the commercial preparation of phosphazene polymers, investigate their properties, and develop useful products. In this paper we review some of the materials science aspects of Professor Allen’s research including recent advances on the preparation and polymerization of Cl3PNP(O)Cl2. This work, in particular, has led to a route for the “one-pot” synthesis of stable linear poly(organophosphazenes) as demonstrated through the formationmore » of poly[bis-(2-methoxyethoxyethoxy)phosphazene] (MEEP) and a phosphazene heteropolymer (HPP) containing a balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components that allow for control and molecular affinities.« less

Application and possible benefits of high hydrostatic pressure or high-pressure homogenization on beer processing: A review.

PubMed

Santos, Lígia Mr; Oliveira, Fabiano A; Ferreira, Elisa Hr; Rosenthal, Amauri

2017-10-01

Beer is the most consumed beverage in the world, especially in countries such as USA, China and Brazil.It is an alcoholic beverage made from malted cereals, and the barley malt is the main ingredient, added with water, hops and yeast. High-pressure processing is a non-traditional method to preserve food and beverages. This technology has become more interesting compared to heat pasteurization, due to the minimal changes it brings to the original nutritional and sensory characteristics of the product, and it comprises two processes: high hydrostatic pressure, which is the most industrially used process, and high-pressure homogenization. The use of high pressure almost does not affect the molecules that are responsible for the aroma and taste, pigments and vitamins compared to the conventional thermal processes. Thus, the products processed by high-pressure processing have similar characteristics compared to fresh products, including beer. The aim of this paper was to review what has been investigated about beer processing using this technology regarding the effects on physicochemical, microbiology and sensory characteristics and related issues. It is organized by processing steps, since high pressure can be applied to malting, mashing, boiling, filtration and pasteurization. Therefore, the beer processed with high-pressure processing may have an extended shelf-life because this process can inactivate beer spoilage microorganisms and result in a superior sensory quality related to freshness and preservation of flavors as it does to juices that are already commercialized. However, beyond this application, high-pressure processing can modify protein structures, such as enzymes that are present in the malt, like α- and β-amylases. This process can activate enzymes to promote, for example, saccharification, or instead inactivate at the end of mashing, depending on the pressure the product is submitted, besides being capable of isomerizing hops to raise beer bitterness. As a consequence, the process may reduce steam demand and residue generation. Therefore, the use of high-pressure processing can potentially replace or be combined with heat processes usually applied to beer, thus bringing benefits to the sensory quality of the product and to the environment.

Capacitive Micro Pressure Sensor Integrated with a Ring Oscillator Circuit on Chip

PubMed Central

Dai, Ching-Liang; Lu, Po-Wei; Chang, Chienliu; Liu, Cheng-Yang

2009-01-01

The study investigates a capacitive micro pressure sensor integrated with a ring oscillator circuit on a chip. The integrated capacitive pressure sensor is fabricated using the commercial CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) process and a post-process. The ring oscillator is employed to convert the capacitance of the pressure sensor into the frequency output. The pressure sensor consists of 16 sensing cells in parallel. Each sensing cell contains a top electrode and a lower electrode, and the top electrode is a sandwich membrane. The pressure sensor needs a post-CMOS process to release the membranes after completion of the CMOS process. The post-process uses etchants to etch the sacrificial layers, and to release the membranes. The advantages of the post-process include easy execution and low cost. Experimental results reveal that the pressure sensor has a high sensitivity of 7 Hz/Pa in the pressure range of 0–300 kPa. PMID:22303167

Capacitive micro pressure sensor integrated with a ring oscillator circuit on chip.

PubMed

Dai, Ching-Liang; Lu, Po-Wei; Chang, Chienliu; Liu, Cheng-Yang

2009-01-01

The study investigates a capacitive micro pressure sensor integrated with a ring oscillator circuit on a chip. The integrated capacitive pressure sensor is fabricated using the commercial CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) process and a post-process. The ring oscillator is employed to convert the capacitance of the pressure sensor into the frequency output. The pressure sensor consists of 16 sensing cells in parallel. Each sensing cell contains a top electrode and a lower electrode, and the top electrode is a sandwich membrane. The pressure sensor needs a post-CMOS process to release the membranes after completion of the CMOS process. The post-process uses etchants to etch the sacrificial layers, and to release the membranes. The advantages of the post-process include easy execution and low cost. Experimental results reveal that the pressure sensor has a high sensitivity of 7 Hz/Pa in the pressure range of 0-300 kPa.

Influence of heat transfer rates on pressurization of liquid/slush hydrogen propellant tanks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sasmal, G. P.; Hochstein, J. I.; Hardy, T. L.

1993-01-01

A multi-dimensional computational model of the pressurization process in liquid/slush hydrogen tank is developed and used to study the influence of heat flux rates at the ullage boundaries on the process. The new model computes these rates and performs an energy balance for the tank wall whereas previous multi-dimensional models required a priori specification of the boundary heat flux rates. Analyses of both liquid hydrogen and slush hydrogen pressurization were performed to expose differences between the two processes. Graphical displays are presented to establish the dependence of pressurization time, pressurant mass required, and other parameters of interest on ullage boundary heat flux rates and pressurant mass flow rate. Detailed velocity fields and temperature distributions are presented for selected cases to further illuminate the details of the pressurization process. It is demonstrated that ullage boundary heat flux rates do significantly effect the pressurization process and that minimizing heat loss from the ullage and maximizing pressurant flow rate minimizes the mass of pressurant gas required to pressurize the tank. It is further demonstrated that proper dimensionless scaling of pressure and time permit all the pressure histories examined during this study to be displayed as a single curve.

The quest of the human proteome and the missing proteins: digging deeper.

PubMed

Reddy, Panga Jaipal; Ray, Sandipan; Srivastava, Sanjeeva

2015-05-01

Given the diverse range of transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms of gene regulation, the estimates of the human proteome is likely subject to scientific surprises as the field of proteomics has gained momentum worldwide. In this regard, the establishment of the "Human Proteome Draft" using high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS), tissue microarrays, and immunohistochemistry by three independent research groups (laboratories of Pandey, Kuster, and Uhlen) accelerated the pace of proteomics research. The Chromosome Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) has taken initiative towards the completion of the Human Proteome Project (HPP) so as to understand the proteomics correlates of common complex human diseases and biological diversity, not to mention person-to-person and population differences in response to drugs, nutrition, vaccines, and other health interventions and host-environment interactions. Although high-resolution MS-based and antibody microarray approaches have shown enormous promises, we are still unable to map the whole human proteome due to the presence of numerous "missing proteins." In December 2014, at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai the 6(th) Annual Meeting of the Proteomics Society, India (PSI) and the International Proteomics Conference was held. As part of this interdisciplinary summit, a panel discussion session on "The Quest of the Human Proteome and Missing Proteins" was organized. Eminent scientists in the field of proteomics and systems biology, including Akhilesh Pandey, Gilbert S. Omenn, Mark S. Baker, and Robert L. Mortiz, shed light on different aspects of the human proteome drafts and missing proteins. Importantly, the possible reasons for the "missing proteins" in shotgun MS workflow were identified and debated by experts as low tissue expression, lack of enzymatic digestion site, or protein lost during extraction, among other contributing factors. To capture the missing proteins, the experts' collective view was to study the wider tissue range with multiple digesting enzymes and follow targeted proteomics workflow in particular. On the innovation trajectory from the proteomics laboratory to novel proteomics diagnostics and therapeutics in society, we will also need new conceptual frames for translation science and innovation strategy in proteomics. These will embody both technical as well as rigorous social science and humanities considerations to understand the correlates of the proteome from cell to society.

46 CFR 154.650 - Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. 154.650... Equipment Construction § 154.650 Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. (a) Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding must meet Subpart 54.05 and Part 57 of this chapter. (b) Welding consumables used...

46 CFR 154.650 - Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 46 Shipping 5 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. 154.650... Equipment Construction § 154.650 Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. (a) Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding must meet Subpart 54.05 and Part 57 of this chapter. (b) Welding consumables used...

46 CFR 154.650 - Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... 46 Shipping 5 2014-10-01 2014-10-01 false Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. 154.650... Equipment Construction § 154.650 Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. (a) Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding must meet Subpart 54.05 and Part 57 of this chapter. (b) Welding consumables used...

46 CFR 154.650 - Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 46 Shipping 5 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. 154.650... Equipment Construction § 154.650 Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. (a) Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding must meet Subpart 54.05 and Part 57 of this chapter. (b) Welding consumables used...

46 CFR 154.650 - Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... 46 Shipping 5 2013-10-01 2013-10-01 false Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. 154.650... Equipment Construction § 154.650 Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding. (a) Cargo tank and process pressure vessel welding must meet Subpart 54.05 and Part 57 of this chapter. (b) Welding consumables used...

Helium process cycle

DOEpatents

Ganni, Venkatarao

2008-08-12

A unique process cycle and apparatus design separates the consumer (cryogenic) load return flow from most of the recycle return flow of a refrigerator and/or liquefier process cycle. The refrigerator and/or liquefier process recycle return flow is recompressed by a multi-stage compressor set and the consumer load return flow is recompressed by an independent consumer load compressor set that maintains a desirable constant suction pressure using a consumer load bypass control valve and the consumer load return pressure control valve that controls the consumer load compressor's suction pressure. The discharge pressure of this consumer load compressor is thereby allowed to float at the intermediate pressure in between the first and second stage recycle compressor sets. Utilizing the unique gas management valve regulation, the unique process cycle and apparatus design in which the consumer load return flow is separate from the recycle return flow, the pressure ratios of each recycle compressor stage and all main pressures associated with the recycle return flow are allowed to vary naturally, thus providing a naturally regulated and balanced floating pressure process cycle that maintains optimal efficiency at design and off-design process cycle capacity and conditions automatically.

Helium process cycle

DOEpatents

Ganni, Venkatarao

2007-10-09

A unique process cycle and apparatus design separates the consumer (cryogenic) load return flow from most of the recycle return flow of a refrigerator and/or liquefier process cycle. The refrigerator and/or liquefier process recycle return flow is recompressed by a multi-stage compressor set and the consumer load return flow is recompressed by an independent consumer load compressor set that maintains a desirable constant suction pressure using a consumer load bypass control valve and the consumer load return pressure control valve that controls the consumer load compressor's suction pressure. The discharge pressure of this consumer load compressor is thereby allowed to float at the intermediate pressure in between the first and second stage recycle compressor sets. Utilizing the unique gas management valve regulation, the unique process cycle and apparatus design in which the consumer load return flow is separate from the recycle return flow, the pressure ratios of each recycle compressor stage and all main pressures associated with the recycle return flow are allowed to vary naturally, thus providing a naturally regulated and balanced floating pressure process cycle that maintains optimal efficiency at design and off-design process cycle capacity and conditions automatically.

Automated measurement of pressure injury through image processing.

PubMed

Li, Dan; Mathews, Carol

2017-11-01

To develop an image processing algorithm to automatically measure pressure injuries using electronic pressure injury images stored in nursing documentation. Photographing pressure injuries and storing the images in the electronic health record is standard practice in many hospitals. However, the manual measurement of pressure injury is time-consuming, challenging and subject to intra/inter-reader variability with complexities of the pressure injury and the clinical environment. A cross-sectional algorithm development study. A set of 32 pressure injury images were obtained from a western Pennsylvania hospital. First, we transformed the images from an RGB (i.e. red, green and blue) colour space to a YC b C r colour space to eliminate inferences from varying light conditions and skin colours. Second, a probability map, generated by a skin colour Gaussian model, guided the pressure injury segmentation process using the Support Vector Machine classifier. Third, after segmentation, the reference ruler - included in each of the images - enabled perspective transformation and determination of pressure injury size. Finally, two nurses independently measured those 32 pressure injury images, and intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated. An image processing algorithm was developed to automatically measure the size of pressure injuries. Both inter- and intra-rater analysis achieved good level reliability. Validation of the size measurement of the pressure injury (1) demonstrates that our image processing algorithm is a reliable approach to monitoring pressure injury progress through clinical pressure injury images and (2) offers new insight to pressure injury evaluation and documentation. Once our algorithm is further developed, clinicians can be provided with an objective, reliable and efficient computational tool for segmentation and measurement of pressure injuries. With this, clinicians will be able to more effectively monitor the healing process of pressure injuries. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Biogenic amine formation and nitrite reactions in meat batter as affected by high-pressure processing and chilled storage.

PubMed

Ruiz-Capillas, C; Aller-Guiote, P; Carballo, J; Colmenero, F Jiménez

2006-12-27

Changes in biogenic amine formation and nitrite depletion in meat batters as affected by pressure-temperature combinations (300 MPa/30 min/7, 20, and 40 degrees C), cooking process (70 degrees C/30 min), and storage (54 days/2 degrees C) were studied. Changes in residual nitrite concentration in raw meat batters were conditioned by the temperature and not by the pressure applied. Cooking process decreased (P < 0.05) the residual nitrite concentration in all samples. High-pressure processing and cooking treatment increased (P < 0.05) the nitrate content. Whereas protein-bound nitrite concentration decreased with pressure processing, no effect was observed with the heating process of meat batters. High-pressure processing conditions had no effect on the rate of residual nitrite loss throughout the storage. The application of high pressure decreased (P < 0.05) the concentration of some biogenic amines (tyramine, agmatine, and spermine). Irrespective of the high processing conditions, generally, throughout storage biogenic amine levels did not change or increased, although quantitatively this effect was not very important.

Apparatus and method for batch-wire continuous pumping

DOEpatents

Fassbender, Alexander G.

1996-01-01

The apparatus of the present invention contains at least one pressure vessel having a separator defining two chambers within each pressure vessel. The separator slideably seals the two chambers. Feedstock is placed within a second chamber adjoining the first chamber via a feedstock pump operating in a high volume low head mode. A pressurizer operates in a low volume high pressure mode to pressurize the working fluid and the feedstock in the pressure vessels to a process operating pressure. A circulating pump operates in a high volume, low head mode to circulate feedstock through the process. A fourth pump is used for moving feedstock and product at a pressure below the process operating pressure.

The concept of hydropower certification in Italy and Slovenia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolar-Zvanut, Natasa; Goltara, Andrea; Conte, Gulio

2010-05-01

River regulation by building a hydropower plants (HPPs) is one of the most stressful factor influencing the aquatic and riparian ecosystem. In many countries a development of HPPs is often opposed by public bodies and NGOs, worried about the risk of adverse effects on the "good status" of water bodies, that, according to the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC, WFD), has to be reached by year 2015. The paper describes a technically and economically feasible certification procedure for existing hydro power generation facilities of higher environmental standard, being explicitly coherent with the requirements of the WFD, to be implemented in "green labelled" electricity products, and being integrated, as much as possible, with existing EU tools, such as Ecolabel, EMAS, EIA and SEA. The methodology was developed for Italy and Slovenia and it will be tested in different types of HPPs in both countries. In order to be certified, a given HPP has to commit to carry out appropriate measures in order to mitigate its impacts on specified environmental objectives, in such a way to fulfil predefined environmental targets and prescriptions. These measures have to be described through a specific management programme, based upon a dedicated environmental study, supported mainly by existing data, but complemented by ad-hoc assessment/monitoring when necessary. The realization of both the environmental study and the management programme must be supported by public consultation; both documents must be approved through an auditing process. For some types of HPPs, operating in totally artificial networks and not entailing direct or indirect impact on water related ecosystems, a simplified procedure is foreseen, where detailed environmental analysis, related management programme and stakeholders involvement are not requested, but just a description of the system and proof of fulfilment of the conditions and of specific prescriptions. HPPs impacting water bodies defined as Artificial or Heavily Modified (following the definitions of the WFD) in most cases have to fulfil more limited environmental targets. The involvement of local stakeholders must be ensured along the whole certification procedure and, when completed, during the lifespan of the label. The methodology includes a predefined framework where pressure factors due to hydropower production are related to potentially impacted environmental quality elements. For each of these cause-effect relationships possible mitigation measures are suggested. In the long run, it is expected that the certification will have a positive impact on hydro power generation in Europe, will help focusing the conception of new HPPs towards more sustainable solutions and making easier authorization procedure.

Flexibility of orthographic and graphomotor coordination during a handwritten copy task: effect of time pressure

PubMed Central

Sausset, Solen; Lambert, Eric; Olive, Thierry

2013-01-01

The coordination of the various processes involved in language production is a subject of keen debate in writing research. Some authors hold that writing processes can be flexibly coordinated according to task demands, whereas others claim that process coordination is entirely inflexible. For instance, orthographic planning has been shown to be resource-dependent during handwriting, but inflexible in typing, even under time pressure. The present study therefore went one step further in studying flexibility in the coordination of orthographic processing and graphomotor execution, by measuring the impact of time pressure during a handwritten copy task. Orthographic and graphomotor processes were observed via syllable processing. Writers copied out two- and three-syllable words three times in a row, with and without time pressure. Latencies and letter measures at syllable boundaries were analyzed. We hypothesized that if coordination is flexible and varies according to task demands, it should be modified by time pressure, affecting both latency before execution and duration of execution. We therefore predicted that the extent of syllable processing before execution would be reduced under time pressure and, as a consequence, syllable effects during execution would be more salient. Results showed, however, that time pressure interacted neither with syllable number nor with syllable structure. Accordingly, syllable processing appears to remain the same regardless of time pressure. The flexibility of process coordination during handwriting is discussed, as is the operationalization of time pressure constraints. PMID:24319435

Effects of high hydrostatic pressure and thermal processing on bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and volatile profile of mulberry juice.

PubMed

Wang, Fan; Du, Bao-Lei; Cui, Zheng-Wei; Xu, Li-Ping; Li, Chun-Yang

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of high hydrostatic pressure and thermal processing on microbiological quality, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and volatile profile of mulberry juice. High hydrostatic pressure processing at 500 MPa for 10 min reduced the total viable count from 4.38 log cfu/ml to nondetectable level and completely inactivated yeasts and molds in raw mulberry juice, ensuring the microbiological safety as thermal processing at 85 ℃ for 15 min. High hydrostatic pressure processing maintained significantly (p < 0.05) higher contents of total phenolic, total flavonoid and resveratrol, and antioxidant activity of mulberry juice than thermal processing. The main volatile compounds of mulberry juice were aldehydes, alcohols, and ketones. High hydrostatic pressure processing enhanced the volatile compound concentrations of mulberry juice while thermal processing reduced them in comparison with the control. These results suggested that high hydrostatic pressure processing could be an alternative to conventional thermal processing for production of high-quality mulberry juice.

Effect of Stepwise Pressure Change on Porosity Evolution during Directional Solidification in Small Cylindrical Channels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grugel, R.N.; Lee, C.P.; Cox, M.C.; Blandford, B.T.; Anilkumar, A.V.

2008-01-01

Controlled directional solidification experiments were performed in capillary channels, using nitrogen-saturated succinonitrile, to examine the effect of an in-situ stepwise processing pressure increase on an isolated pore evolution. Two experiments were performed using different processing pressure input profiles. The results indicate that a processing pressure increase has a transient effect on pore growth geometry characterized by an initial phase of decreasing pore diameter, followed by a recovery phase of increasing pore diameter. The experimental results also show that processing pressure can be used as a control parameter to either increase or terminate porosity formation. A theoretical model is introduced which indicates that the pore formation process is limited by the diffusion of solute-gas through the melt, and that the observed response toa pressure increase is attributed to the re-equilibration of solute concentration in the melt associated with the increased melt pressure.

Maintenance of breast milk Immunoglobulin A after high-pressure processing.

PubMed

Permanyer, M; Castellote, C; Ramírez-Santana, C; Audí, C; Pérez-Cano, F J; Castell, M; López-Sabater, M C; Franch, A

2010-03-01

Human milk is considered the optimal nutritional source for infants. Banked human milk is processed using low-temperature, long-time pasteurization, which assures microbial safety but involves heat denaturation of some desirable milk components such as IgA. High-pressure processing technology, the subject of the current research, has shown minimal destruction of food macromolecules. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of pressure treatments on IgA content. Moreover, bacterial load was evaluated after pressure treatments. The effects of high-pressure processing on milk IgA content were compared with those of low-temperature, long-time pasteurization. Mature human milk samples were heat treated at 62.5 degrees C for 30min or pressure processed at 400, 500, or 600MPa for 5min at 12 degrees C. An indirect ELISA was used to measure IgA in human milk whey obtained after centrifugation at 800xg for 10min at 4 degrees C. All 3 high-pressure treatments were as effective as low-temperature, long-time pasteurization in reducing the bacterial population of the human milk samples studied. After human milk pressure processing at 400MPa, 100% of IgA content was preserved in milk whey, whereas only 72% was retained in pasteurized milk whey. The higher pressure conditions of 500 and 600MPa produced IgA retention of 87.9 and 69.3%, respectively. These results indicate that high-pressure processing at 400MPa for 5min at 12 degrees C maintains the immunological protective capacity associated with IgA antibodies. This preliminary study suggests that high-pressure processing may be a promising alternative to pasteurization in human milk banking.

Effects of instant controlled pressure drop process on physical and sensory properties of puffed wheat snack.

PubMed

Yağcı, Sibel

2017-04-01

In this study, research on the development of a puffed wheat snack using the instant controlled pressure drop (DIC) process was carried out. Snack products were produced by expanding moistened wheat under various DIC processing conditions in order to obtain adequate puffing, followed by drying in a hot air dryer. The effects of operational variables such as wheat initial moisture content (11-23% w/w, wet basis), processing pressure (3-5 × 10 2 kPa) and processing time (3-11 min) on the physical (density, color and textural characteristics) and sensory properties of the product were investigated. The physical properties of the wheat snack were most affected by changes in processing pressure, followed by processing time and wheat moisture content. Increasing processing pressure and time often improved expansion and textural properties but led to darkening of the raw wheat color. The most acceptable snack in terms of physical properties was obtained at the lowest wheat moisture content. Sensory analysis suggested that consumer acceptability was optimal for wheat snacks produced at higher processing pressure, medium processing time and lower moisture content. The most desirable conditions for puffed wheat snack production using the DIC process were determined as 11% (w/w) of wheat moisture content, 5 × 10 2 kPa of processing pressure and 7 min of processing time. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

The interaction between practice and performance pressure on the planning and control of fast target directed movement.

PubMed

Allsop, Jonathan E; Lawrence, Gavin P; Gray, Robert; Khan, Michael A

2017-09-01

Pressure to perform often results in decrements to both outcome accuracy and the kinematics of motor skills. Furthermore, this pressure-performance relationship is moderated by the amount of accumulated practice or the experience of the performer. However, the interactive effects of performance pressure and practice on the underlying processes of motor skills are far from clear. Movement execution involves both an offline pre-planning process and an online control process. The present experiment aimed to investigate the interaction between pressure and practice on these two motor control processes. Two groups of participants (control and pressure; N = 12 and 12, respectively) practiced a video aiming amplitude task and were transferred to either a non-pressure (control group) or a pressure condition (pressure group) both early and late in practice. Results revealed similar accuracy and movement kinematics between the control and pressure groups at early transfer. However, at late transfer, the introduction of pressure was associated with increased performance compared to control conditions. Analysis of kinematic variability throughout the movement suggested that the performance increase was due to participants adopting strategies to improve movement planning in response to pressure reducing the effectiveness of the online control system.

Signal processing in urodynamics: towards high definition urethral pressure profilometry.

PubMed

Klünder, Mario; Sawodny, Oliver; Amend, Bastian; Ederer, Michael; Kelp, Alexandra; Sievert, Karl-Dietrich; Stenzl, Arnulf; Feuer, Ronny

2016-03-22

Urethral pressure profilometry (UPP) is used in the diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) which is a significant medical, social, and economic problem. Low spatial pressure resolution, common occurrence of artifacts, and uncertainties in data location limit the diagnostic value of UPP. To overcome these limitations, high definition urethral pressure profilometry (HD-UPP) combining enhanced UPP hardware and signal processing algorithms has been developed. In this work, we present the different signal processing steps in HD-UPP and show experimental results from female minipigs. We use a special microtip catheter with high angular pressure resolution and an integrated inclination sensor. Signals from the catheter are filtered and time-correlated artifacts removed. A signal reconstruction algorithm processes pressure data into a detailed pressure image on the urethra's inside. Finally, the pressure distribution on the urethra's outside is calculated through deconvolution. A mathematical model of the urethra is contained in a point-spread-function (PSF) which is identified depending on geometric and material properties of the urethra. We additionally investigate the PSF's frequency response to determine the relevant frequency band for pressure information on the urinary sphincter. Experimental pressure data are spatially located and processed into high resolution pressure images. Artifacts are successfully removed from data without blurring other details. The pressure distribution on the urethra's outside is reconstructed and compared to the one on the inside. Finally, the pressure images are mapped onto the urethral geometry calculated from inclination and position data to provide an integrated image of pressure distribution, anatomical shape, and location. With its advanced sensing capabilities, the novel microtip catheter collects an unprecedented amount of urethral pressure data. Through sequential signal processing steps, physicians are provided with detailed information on the pressure distribution in and around the urethra. Therefore, HD-UPP overcomes many current limitations of conventional UPP and offers the opportunity to evaluate urethral structures, especially the sphincter, in context of the correct anatomical location. This could enable the development of focal therapy approaches in the treatment of SUI.

Hydrodynamic pressure processing: Impact on the quality attributes of fresh and further-processed meat products

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This book chapter reviews hydrodynamic pressure processing (HDP) as an innovative, postharvest technology for enhancing the quality attributes of fresh and further-processed meat products. A variety of meat products have been tested for their response to the high pressure shockwaves of HDP. The st...

Modeling conductive heat transfer during high-pressure thawing processes: determination of latent heat as a function of pressure.

PubMed

Denys, S; Van Loey, A M; Hendrickx, M E

2000-01-01

A numerical heat transfer model for predicting product temperature profiles during high-pressure thawing processes was recently proposed by the authors. In the present work, the predictive capacity of the model was considerably improved by taking into account the pressure dependence of the latent heat of the product that was used (Tylose). The effect of pressure on the latent heat of Tylose was experimentally determined by a series of freezing experiments conducted at different pressure levels. By combining a numerical heat transfer model for freezing processes with a least sum of squares optimization procedure, the corresponding latent heat at each pressure level was estimated, and the obtained pressure relation was incorporated in the original high-pressure thawing model. Excellent agreement with the experimental temperature profiles for both high-pressure freezing and thawing was observed.

Non-destructive residual pressure self-measurement method for the sensing chip of optical Fabry-Perot pressure sensor.

PubMed

Wang, Xue; Wang, Shuang; Jiang, Junfeng; Liu, Kun; Zhang, Xuezhi; Xiao, Mengnan; Xiao, Hai; Liu, Tiegen

2017-12-11

We introduce a simple residual pressure self-measurement method for the Fabry-Perot (F-P) cavity of optical MEMS pressure sensor. No extra installation is required and the structure of the sensor is unchanged. In the method, the relationship between residual pressure and external pressure under the same diaphragm deflection condition at different temperatures is analyzed by using the deflection formula of the circular plate with clamped edges and the ideal gas law. Based on this, the residual pressure under the flat condition can be obtained by pressure scanning process and calculation process. We carried out the experiment to compare the residual pressures of two batches MEMS sensors fabricated by two kinds of bonding process. The measurement result indicates that our approach is reliable enough for the measurement.

Optimization and testing of solid thin film lubrication deposition processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danyluk, Michael J.

A novel method for testing solid thin films in rolling contact fatigue (RCF) under ultra-high vacuum (UHV) and high rotational speeds (130 Hz) is presented in this thesis. The UHV-RCF platform is used to quantify the adhesion and lubrication aspects of two thin film coatings deposited on ball-bearings using a physical vapor deposition ion plating process. Plasma properties during ion plating were measured using a Langmuir probe and there is a connection between ion flux, film stress, film adhesion, process voltage, pressure, and RCF life. The UHV-RCF platform and vacuum chamber were constructed using off-the-shelf components and 88 RCF tests in high vacuum have been completed. Maximum RCF life was achieved by maintaining an ion flux between 10 13 to 1015 (cm-2 s-1) with a process voltage and pressure near 1.5 kV and 15 mTorr. Two controller schemes were investigated to maintain optimal plasma conditions for maximum RCF life: PID and LQR. Pressure disturbances to the plasma have a detrimental effect on RCF life. Control algorithms that mitigate pressure and voltage disturbances already exist. However, feedback from the plasma to detect disturbances has not been explored related to deposition processes in the thin-film science literature. Manometer based pressure monitoring systems have a 1 to 2 second delay time and are too slow to detect common pressure bursts during the deposition process. Plasma diagnostic feedback is much faster, of the order of 0.1 second. Plasma total-current feedback was used successfully to detect a typical pressure disturbance associated with the ion plating process. Plasma current is related to ion density and process pressure. A real-time control application was used to detect the pressure disturbance by monitoring plasma-total current and converting it to feedback-input to a pressure control system. Pressure overshoot was eliminated using a nominal PID controller with feedback from a plasma-current diagnostic measurement tool.

MEMS capacitive pressure sensor monolithically integrated with CMOS readout circuit by using post CMOS processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Munseon; Yun, Kwang-Seok

2017-12-01

In this paper, we presents a MEMS pressure sensor integrated with a readout circuit on a chip for an on-chip signal processing. The capacitive pressure sensor is formed on a CMOS chip by using a post-CMOS MEMS processes. The proposed device consists of a sensing capacitor that is square in shape, a reference capacitor and a readout circuitry based on a switched-capacitor scheme to detect capacitance change at various environmental pressures. The readout circuit was implemented by using a commercial 0.35 μm CMOS process with 2 polysilicon and 4 metal layers. Then, the pressure sensor was formed by wet etching of metal 2 layer through via hole structures. Experimental results show that the MEMS pressure sensor has a sensitivity of 11 mV/100 kPa at the pressure range of 100-400 kPa.

Pressure gradient passivation of carbonaceous material normally susceptible to spontaneous combustion

DOEpatents

Ochs, Thomas L.; Sands, William D.; Schroeder, Karl; Summers, Cathy A.; Utz, Bruce R.

2002-01-29

This invention is a process for the passivation or deactivation with respect to oxygen of a carbonaceous material by the exposure of the carbonaceous material to an oxygenated gas in which the oxygenated gas pressure is increased from a first pressure to a second pressure and then the pressure is changed to a third pressure. Preferably a cyclic process which comprises exposing the carbonaceous material to the gas at low pressure and increasing the pressure to a second higher pressure and then returning the pressure to a lower pressure is used. The cycle is repeated at least twice wherein the higher pressure may be increased after a selected number of cycles.

Pressure gradient passivation of carbonaceous material normally susceptible to spontaneous combustion

DOEpatents

Ochs, Thomas L.; Sands, William D.; Schroeder, Karl; Summers, Cathy A.; Utz, Bruce R.

2000-11-14

This invention is a process for the passivation or deactivation with resp to oxygen of a carbonaceous material by the exposure of the carbonaceous material to an oxygenated gas in which the oxygenated gas pressure is increased from a first pressure to a second pressure and then the pressure is changed to a third pressure. Preferably a cyclic process which comprises exposing the carbonaceous material to the gas at low pressure and increasing the pressure to a second higher pressure and then returning the pressure to a lower pressure is used. The cycle is repeated at least twice wherein the higher pressure may be increased after a selected number of cycles.

Proposal and design of a natural gas liquefaction process recovering the energy obtained from the pressure reducing stations of high-pressure pipelines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Hongbo; Zhao, Qingxuan; Sun, Nannan; Li, Yanzhong

2016-12-01

Taking advantage of the refrigerating effect in the expansion at an appropriate temperature, a fraction of high-pressure natural gas transported by pipelines could be liquefied in a city gate station through a well-organized pressure reducing process without consuming any extra energy. The authors proposed such a new process, which mainly consists of a turbo-expander driven booster, throttle valves, multi-stream heat exchangers and separators, to yield liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid light hydrocarbons (LLHs) utilizing the high-pressure of the pipelines. Based on the assessment of the effects of several key parameters on the system performance by a steady-state simulation in Aspen HYSYS, an optimal design condition of the proposed process was determined. The results showed that the new process is more appropriate to be applied in a pressure reducing station (PRS) for the pipelines with higher pressure. For the feed gas at the pressure of 10 MPa, the maximum total liquefaction rate (ytot) of 15.4% and the maximum exergy utilizing rate (EUR) of 21.7% could be reached at the optimal condition. The present process could be used as a small-scale natural gas liquefying and peak-shaving plant at a city gate station.

Realize multiple hermetic chamber pressures for system-on-chip process by using the capping wafer with diverse cavity depths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Shyh-Wei; Weng, Jui-Chun; Liang, Kai-Chih; Sun, Yi-Chiang; Fang, Weileun

2018-04-01

Many mechanical and thermal characteristics, for example the air damping, of suspended micromachined structures are sensitive to the ambient pressure. Thus, micromachined devices such as the gyroscope and accelerometer have different ambient pressure requirements. Commercially available process platforms could be used to fabricate and integrate devices of various functions to reduce the chip size. However, it remains a challenge to offer different ambient pressures for micromachined devices after sealing them by wafer level capping (WLC). This study exploits the outgassing characteristics of the CMOS chip to fabricate chambers of various pressures after the WLC of the Si-above-CMOS (TSMC 0.18 µm 1P5M CMOS process) MEMS process platform. The pressure of the sealed chamber can be modulated by the chamber volume after the outgassing. In other words, the pressure of hermetic sealed chambers can be easily and properly defined by the etching depth of the cavity on an Si capping wafer. In applications, devices sealed with different cavity depths are implemented using the Si-above-CMOS (TSMC 0.18 µm 1P5M CMOS process) MEMS process platform to demonstrate the present approach. Measurements show the feasibility of this simple chamber pressure modulation approach on eight-inch wafers.

The effect of process parameters on Twin Wire Arc spray pattern shape

DOE PAGES

Hall, Aaron Christopher; McCloskey, James Francis; Horner, Allison Lynne

2015-04-20

A design of experiments approach was used to describe process parameter—spray pattern relationships in the Twin Wire Arc process using zinc feed stock in a TAFA 8835 (Praxair, Concord, NH, USA) spray torch. Specifically, the effects of arc current, primary atomizing gas pressure, and secondary atomizing gas pressure on spray pattern size, spray pattern flatness, spray pattern eccentricity, and coating deposition rate were investigated. Process relationships were investigated with the intent of maximizing or minimizing each coating property. It was determined that spray pattern area was most affected by primary gas pressure and secondary gas pressure. Pattern eccentricity was mostmore » affected by secondary gas pressure. Pattern flatness was most affected by primary gas pressure. Lastly, coating deposition rate was most affected by arc current.« less

The effect of process parameters on Twin Wire Arc spray pattern shape

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

Hall, Aaron Christopher; McCloskey, James Francis; Horner, Allison Lynne

A design of experiments approach was used to describe process parameter—spray pattern relationships in the Twin Wire Arc process using zinc feed stock in a TAFA 8835 (Praxair, Concord, NH, USA) spray torch. Specifically, the effects of arc current, primary atomizing gas pressure, and secondary atomizing gas pressure on spray pattern size, spray pattern flatness, spray pattern eccentricity, and coating deposition rate were investigated. Process relationships were investigated with the intent of maximizing or minimizing each coating property. It was determined that spray pattern area was most affected by primary gas pressure and secondary gas pressure. Pattern eccentricity was mostmore » affected by secondary gas pressure. Pattern flatness was most affected by primary gas pressure. Lastly, coating deposition rate was most affected by arc current.« less

Strawberry puree processed by thermal, high pressure, or power ultrasound: Process energy requirements and quality modeling during storage.

PubMed

Sulaiman, Alifdalino; Farid, Mohammed; Silva, Filipa Vm

2017-06-01

Strawberry puree was processed for 15 min using thermal (65 ℃), high-pressure processing (600 MPa, 48 ℃), and ultrasound (24 kHz, 1.3 W/g, 33 ℃). These conditions were selected based on similar polyphenoloxidase inactivation (11%-18%). The specific energies required for the above-mentioned thermal, high-pressure processing, and power ultrasound processes were 240, 291, and 1233 kJ/kg, respectively. Then, the processed strawberry was stored at 3 ℃ and room temperature for 30 days. The constant pH (3.38±0.03) and soluble solids content (9.03 ± 0.25°Brix) during storage indicated a microbiological stability. Polyphenoloxidase did not reactivate during storage. The high-pressure processing and ultrasound treatments retained the antioxidant activity (70%-74%) better than the thermal process (60%), and high-pressure processing was the best treatment after 30 days of ambient storage to preserve antioxidant activity. Puree treated with ultrasound presented more color retention after processing and after ambient storage than the other preservation methods. For the three treatments, the changes of antioxidant activity and total color difference during storage were described by the fractional conversion model with rate constants k ranging between 0.03-0.09 and 0.06-0.22 day  - 1 , respectively. In resume, high-pressure processing and thermal processes required much less energy than ultrasound for the same polyphenoloxidase inactivation in strawberry. While high-pressure processing retained better the antioxidant activity of the strawberry puree during storage, the ultrasound treatment was better in terms of color retention.

Evaluation of pressurized water cleaning systems for hardware refurbishment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dillard, Terry W.; Deweese, Charles D.; Hoppe, David T.; Vickers, John H.; Swenson, Gary J.; Hutchens, Dale E.

1995-01-01

Historically, refurbishment processes for RSRM motor cases and components have employed environmentally harmful materials. Specifically, vapor degreasing processes consume and emit large amounts of ozone depleting compounds. This program evaluates the use of pressurized water cleaning systems as a replacement for the vapor degreasing process. Tests have been conducted to determine if high pressure water washing, without any form of additive cleaner, is a viable candidate for replacing vapor degreasing processes. This paper discusses the findings thus far of Engineering Test Plan - 1168 (ETP-1168), 'Evaluation of Pressurized Water Cleaning Systems for Hardware Refurbishment.'

The Breathing Snowpack: Pressure-induced Vapor Flux of Temperate Snow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drake, S. A.; Selker, J. S.; Higgins, C. W.

2017-12-01

As surface air pressure increases, hydrostatic compression of the air column forces atmospheric air into snowpack pore space. Likewise, as surface air pressure decreases, the atmospheric air column decompresses and saturated air exits the snow. Alternating influx and efflux of air can be thought of as a "breathing" process that produces an upward vapor flux when air above the snow is not saturated. The impact of pressure-induced vapor exchange is assumed to be small and is thus ignored in model parameterizations of surface processes over snow. Rationale for disregarding this process is that large amplitude pressure changes as caused by synoptic weather patterns are too infrequent to credibly impact vapor flux. The amplitude of high frequency pressure changes is assumed to be too small to affect vapor flux, however, the basis for this hypothesis relies on pressure measurements collected over an agricultural field (rather than snow). Resolution of the impact of pressure changes on vapor flux over seasonal cycles depends on an accurate representation of the magnitude of pressure changes caused by changes in wind as a function of the frequency of pressure changes. High precision in situ pressure measurements in a temperature snowpack allowed us to compute the spectra of pressure changes vs. wind forcing. Using a simplified model for vapor exchange we then computed the frequency of pressure changes that maximize vapor exchange. We examine and evaluate the seasonal impact of pressure-induced vapor exchange relative to other snow ablation processes.

Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Where Practice and Education Meet.

PubMed

Bos, Brenda S; Wangen, Tina M; Elbing, Carl E; Rowekamp, Debra J; Kruggel, Heather A; Conlon, Patricia M; Scroggins, Leann M; Schad, Shauna P; Neumann, Julie A; Barth, Melissa M; Grubbs, Pamela L; Sievers, Beth A

2016-01-01

This article describes the processes used to implement a pressure ulcer management program in a Midwest academic medical center, which led to a decrease in reportable pressure ulcers. A learning needs assessment was completed, and a workgroup was formed to address the learning needs. Methods, materials, and processes included lectures, technology-enhanced learning, and interactive stations with mannequins and pressure ulcer moulages. The processes and outcome measures used to measure effectiveness of the program are discussed.

Study of a Compression-Molding Process for Ultraviolet Light-Emitting Diode Exposure Systems via Finite-Element Analysis

PubMed Central

Wu, Kuo-Tsai; Hwang, Sheng-Jye; Lee, Huei-Huang

2017-01-01

Although wafer-level camera lenses are a very promising technology, problems such as warpage with time and non-uniform thickness of products still exist. In this study, finite element simulation was performed to simulate the compression molding process for acquiring the pressure distribution on the product on completion of the process and predicting the deformation with respect to the pressure distribution. Results show that the single-gate compression molding process significantly increases the pressure at the center of the product, whereas the multi-gate compressing molding process can effectively distribute the pressure. This study evaluated the non-uniform thickness of product and changes in the process parameters through computer simulations, which could help to improve the compression molding process. PMID:28617315

Treatment method for emulsified petroleum wastes

DOEpatents

Sealock, Jr., L. John; Baker, Eddie G.; Elliott, Douglas C.

1990-01-01

An improved reclamation process for treating petroleum oil and water emulsions derived from producing or processing crude oil is disclosed. The process comprises heating the emulsion to a predetermined temperature at or above about 300.degree. C. and pressurizing the emulsion to a predetermined pressure above the vapor pressure of water at the predetermined temperature. The emulsion is broken by containing the heated and pressurized fluid within a vessel at the predetermined temperature and pressure for a predetermined period of time to effectively separate the emulsion into substantially distinct first, second and third phases. The three phases are then separately withdrawn from the vessel, preferably without any appreciable reduction in temperature and pressure, and at least above a withdraw temperature of about 300.degree. and above the vapor pressure of water at the withdraw temperature.

Air separation with temperature and pressure swing

DOEpatents

Cassano, Anthony A.

1986-01-01

A chemical absorbent air separation process is set forth which uses a temperature swing absorption-desorption cycle in combination with a pressure swing wherein the pressure is elevated in the desorption stage of the process.

Evolution of Abnormally Low Pressure at Bravo Dome and its Implications for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akhbari, D.; Hesse, M. A.

2015-12-01

Carbon capture and storage allows reductions of the rapidly rising CO2 from fossil fuel-based power generation, if large storage rates and capacities can be achieved. The injection of large fluid volumes at high rates leads to a build-up of pore-pressure in the storage formation that may induce seismicity and compromise the storage security. Many natural CO2 fields in midcontinent US, in contrast, are under-pressured rather than over-pressured suggesting that natural processes reduce initial over-pressures and generate significant under-pressures. The question is therefore to understand the sequence of process(es) that allow the initial over-pressure to be eliminated and the under-pressure to be maintained over geological periods of time. We therefore look into pressure evolution in Bravo Dome, one of the largest natural CO2 accumulations in North America, which stores 1.3 Gt of CO2. Bravo Dome is only 580-900 m deep and is divided into several compartments with near gas-static pressure (see Figure). The pre-production gas pressures in the two main compartments that account for 70% of the mass of CO2 stored at Bravo Dome are more than 6 MPa below hydrostatic pressure. Here we show that the under-pressure in the Bravo Dome CO2 reservoir is maintained by hydrological compartmentalization over millennial timescales and generated by a combination of processes including cooling, erosional unloading, limited leakage into overlying formations, and CO2 dissolution into brine. Herein, we introduce CO2 dissolution into brine as a new process that reduce gas pressure in a compartmentalized reservoir and our results suggest that it may contribute significantly to reduce the initial pressure build-up due to injection. Bravo Dome is the first documented case of pressure drop due to CO2 dissolution. To have an accurate prediction of pressure evolution in Bravo Dome, our models must include geomechanics and thermodynamics for the reservoir while they account for the pressure changes due to the CO2 dissolution.

Version pressure feedback mechanisms for speculative versioning caches

DOEpatents

Eichenberger, Alexandre E.; Gara, Alan; O& #x27; Brien, Kathryn M.; Ohmacht, Martin; Zhuang, Xiaotong

2013-03-12

Mechanisms are provided for controlling version pressure on a speculative versioning cache. Raw version pressure data is collected based on one or more threads accessing cache lines of the speculative versioning cache. One or more statistical measures of version pressure are generated based on the collected raw version pressure data. A determination is made as to whether one or more modifications to an operation of a data processing system are to be performed based on the one or more statistical measures of version pressure, the one or more modifications affecting version pressure exerted on the speculative versioning cache. An operation of the data processing system is modified based on the one or more determined modifications, in response to a determination that one or more modifications to the operation of the data processing system are to be performed, to affect the version pressure exerted on the speculative versioning cache.

Inert gas narcosis and the encoding and retrieval of long-term memory.

PubMed

Kneller, Wendy; Hobbs, Malcolm

2013-12-01

Prior research has indicated that inert gas narcosis (IGN) causes decrements in free recall memory performance and that these result from disruption of either encoding or self-guided search in the retrieval process. In a recent study we provided evidence, using a Levels of Processing approach, for the hypothesis that IGN affects the encoding of new information. The current study sought to replicate these results with an improved methodology. The effect of ambient pressure (111.5-212.8 kPa/1-11 msw vs. 456-516.8 kPa/35-41 msw) and level of processing (shallow vs. deep) on free recall memory performance was measured in 34 divers in the context of an underwater field experiment. Free recall was significantly worse at high ambient pressure compared to low ambient pressure in the deep processing condition (low pressure: M = 5.6; SD = 2.7; high pressure: M = 3.3; SD = 1.4), but not in the shallow processing condition (low pressure: M = 3.9; SD = 1.7; high pressure: M = 3.1; SD = 1.8), indicating IGN impaired memory ability in the deep processing condition. In the shallow water, deep processing improved recall over shallow processing but, significantly, this effect was eliminated in the deep water. In contrast to our earlier study this supported the hypothesis that IGN affects the self-guided search of information and not encoding. It is suggested that IGN may affect both encoding and self-guided search and further research is recommended.

Spray combustion under oscillatory pressure conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jacobs, H. R.; Santoro, R. J.

1991-01-01

The performance and stability of liquid rocket engines is often argued to be significantly impacted by atomization and droplet vaporization processes. In particular, combustion instability phenomena may result from the interactions between the oscillating pressure field present in the rocket combustor and the fuel and oxidizer injection process. Few studies have been conducted to examine the effects of oscillating pressure fields on spray formation and its evolution under rocket engine conditions. The pressure study is intended to address the need for such studies. In particular, two potentially important phenomena are addressed in the present effort. The first involves the enhancement of the atomization process for a liquid jet subjected to an oscillating pressure field of known frequency and amplitude. The objective of this part of the study is to examine the coupling between the pressure field and or the resulting periodically perturbed velocity field on the breakup of the liquid jet. In particular, transverse mode oscillations are of interest since such modes are considered of primary importance in combustion instability phenomena. The second aspect of the project involves the effects of an oscillating pressure on droplet coagulation and secondary atomization. The objective of this study is to examine the conditions under which phenomena following the atomization process are affected by perturbations to the pressure or velocity fields. Both coagulation and represent a coupling mechanism between the pressure field and the energy release process in rocket combustors. It is precisely this coupling which drives combustion instability phenomena. Consequently, the present effort is intended to provide the fundamental insights needed to evaluate these processes as important mechanisms in liquid rocket instability phenomena.

Measurement of the differential pressure of liquid metals

DOEpatents

Metz, H.J.

1975-09-01

This patent relates to an improved means for measuring the differential pressure between any two points in a process liquid metal coolant loop, wherein the flow of liquid metal in a pipe is opposed by a permanent magnet liquid metal pump until there is almost zero flow shown by a magnetic type flowmeter. The pressure producing the liquid metal flow is inferred from the rate of rotation of the permanent magnet pump. In an alternate embodiment, a differential pressure transducer is coupled to a process pipeline by means of high-temperature bellows or diaphragm seals, and a permanent magnet liquid metal pump in the high-pressure transmission line to the pressure transducer can be utilized either for calibration of the transducer or for determining the process differential pressure as a function of the magnet pump speed. (auth)

Cold pressure welding of aluminium-steel blanks: Manufacturing process and electrochemical surface preparation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Hans Christian; Homberg, Werner; Orive, Alejandro Gonzalez; Grundmeier, Guido; Hordych, Illia; Maier, Hans Jürgen

2018-05-01

In this study the manufacture of aluminium-steel blanks by cold pressure welding and their preparation for a welding process through electrochemical surface treatment are investigated and discussed. The cold pressure welding process was done with an incremental rolling tool that allows for the partial pressure welding of two blanks along a prepared path. The influence of the surface preparation by electrochemical deposition of bond promoting organosilane-based agents and roughening on a nano-scale is investigated and compared to conventional surface treatments. Coating the surfaces with a thin organosilane-based film incorporating specific functional groups should promote additional bonding between the mating oxide layers; its influence on the total weld strength is studied. Pressure welding requires suitable process strategies, and the current advances in the proposed incremental rolling process for the combination of mild steel and aluminium are presented.

Simulation of Unique Pressure Changing Steps and Situations in Psa Processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ebner, Armin D.; Mehrotra, Amal; Knox, James C.; LeVan, Douglas; Ritter, James A.

2007-01-01

A more rigorous cyclic adsorption process simulator is being developed for use in the development and understanding of new and existing PSA processes. Unique features of this new version of the simulator that Ritter and co-workers have been developing for the past decade or so include: multiple absorbent layers in each bed, pressure drop in the column, valves for entering and exiting flows and predicting real-time pressurization and depressurization rates, ability to account for choked flow conditions, ability to pressurize and depressurize simultaneously from both ends of the columns, ability to equalize between multiple pairs of columns, ability to equalize simultaneously from both ends of pairs of columns, and ability to handle very large pressure ratios and hence velocities associated with deep vacuum systems. These changes to the simulator now provide for unique opportunities to study the effects of novel pressure changing steps and extreme process conditions on the performance of virtually any commercial or developmental PSA process. This presentation will provide an overview of the cyclic adsorption process simulator equations and algorithms used in the new adaptation. It will focus primarily on the novel pressure changing steps and their effects on the performance of a PSA system that epitomizes the extremes of PSA process design and operation. This PSA process is a sorbent-based atmosphere revitalization (SBAR) system that NASA is developing for new manned exploration vehicles. This SBAR system consists of a 2-bed 3-step 3-layer system that operates between atmospheric pressure and the vacuum of space, evacuates from both ends of the column simultaneously, experiences choked flow conditions during pressure changing steps, and experiences a continuously changing feed composition, as it removes metabolic CO2 and H20 from a closed and fixed volume, i.e., the spacecraft cabin. Important process performance indicators of this SBAR system are size, and the corresponding CO2 and H20 removal efficiencies, and N2 and O2 loss rates. Results of the fundamental behavior of this PSA process during extreme operating conditions will be presented and discussed.

Effect of Processing Pressure on Isolated Pore Formation during Controlled Directional Solidification in Small Channels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cox, Matthew C.; Anilkumar, Amrutur V.; Grugel, RIchard N.; Lee, Chun P.

2008-01-01

Directional solidification experiments were performed, using succinonitrile saturated with nitrogen gas, to examine the effects of in-situ processing pressure changes on the formation growth, and evolution of an isolated, cylindrical gaseous pore. A novel solidification facility, capable of processing thin cylindrical samples (I.D. < 1.0 mm), under controlled pressure conditions, was used for the experiments. A new experimental method for growing the isolated pore from a seed bubble is introduced. The experimental results indicate that an in-situ processing pressure change will result in either a transient change in pore diameter or a complete termination of pore growth, indicating that pressure changes can be used as a control parameter to terminate bubble growth. A simple analytical model has been introduced to explain the experimental observations.

Effects of combined pressure and temperature on enzymes related to quality of fruits and vegetables: from kinetic information to process engineering aspects.

PubMed

Ludikhuyze, L; Van Loey, A; Indrawati; Smout, C; Hendrickx, M

2003-01-01

Throughout the last decade, high pressure technology has been shown to offer great potential to the food processing and preservation industry in delivering safe and high quality products. Implementation of this new technology will be largely facilitated when a scientific basis to assess quantitatively the impact of high pressure processes on food safety and quality becomes available. Besides, quantitative data on the effects of pressure and temperature on safety and quality aspects of foods are indispensable for design and evaluation of optimal high pressure processes, i.e., processes resulting in maximal quality retention within the constraints of the required reduction of microbial load and enzyme activity. Indeed it has to be stressed that new technologies should deliver, apart from the promised quality improvement, an equivalent or preferably enhanced level of safety. The present paper will give an overview from a quantitative point of view of the combined effects of pressure and temperature on enzymes related to quality of fruits and vegetables. Complete kinetic characterization of the inactivation of the individual enzymes will be discussed, as well as the use of integrated kinetic information in process engineering.

Investigation on the effect of nonlinear processes on similarity law in high-pressure argon discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Yangyang; Parsey, Guy M.; Verboncoeur, John P.; Christlieb, Andrew J.

2017-11-01

In this paper, the effect of nonlinear processes (such as three-body collisions and stepwise ionizations) on the similarity law in high-pressure argon discharges has been studied by the use of the Kinetic Global Model framework. In the discharge model, the ground state argon atoms (Ar), electrons (e), atom ions (Ar+), molecular ions (Ar2+), and fourteen argon excited levels Ar*(4s and 4p) are considered. The steady-state electron and ion densities are obtained with nonlinear processes included and excluded in the designed models, respectively. It is found that in similar gas gaps, keeping the product of gas pressure and linear dimension unchanged, with the nonlinear processes included, the normalized density relations deviate from the similarity relations gradually as the scale-up factor decreases. Without the nonlinear processes, the parameter relations are in good agreement with the similarity law predictions. Furthermore, the pressure and the dimension effects are also investigated separately with and without the nonlinear processes. It is shown that the gas pressure effect on the results is less obvious than the dimension effect. Without the nonlinear processes, the pressure and the dimension effects could be estimated from one to the other based on the similarity relations.

Quality Management and Control of Low Pressure Cast Aluminum Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Dianxi; Zhang, Yanbo; Yang, Xiufan; Chen, Zhaosong; Jiang, Zelan

2018-01-01

This paper briefly reviews the history of low pressure casting and summarizes the major production processes of low pressure casting. It briefly introduces the quality management and control of low pressure cast aluminum alloy. The main processes include are: preparation of raw materials, Melting, refining, physical and chemical analysis, K-mode inspection, sand core, mold, heat treatment and so on.

An electronic circuit that detects left ventricular ejection events by processing the arterial pressure waveform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gebben, V. D.; Webb, J. A., Jr.

1972-01-01

An electronic circuit for processing arterial blood pressure waveform signals is described. The circuit detects blood pressure as the heart pumps blood through the aortic valve and the pressure distribution caused by aortic valve closure. From these measurements, timing signals for use in measuring the left ventricular ejection time is determined, and signals are provided for computer monitoring of the cardiovascular system. Illustrations are given of the circuit and pressure waveforms.

Preliminary Study on GF/Carbon/Epoxy Composite Permeability in Designing Close Compartment Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ya’acob, A. M.; Razali, D. A.; Anwar, U. A.; Radhi, A. H.; Ishak, A. A.; Minhat, M.; Aris, K. D. Mohd; Johari, M. K.; Casey, T.

2018-05-01

This project involves discovering how the permeability effect inside a close compartment in processing. After the appropriate pressure range was found, the close compartment was designed by studying the relationship between pressure output and the flow rate. A variety of pressure ranges have been used in this test to determine the effective pressure range that can be applied to the manufacturing process. Based on the results, the suitable pressure ranges were found between 55 psi to 75 psi. These pressures have been chosen based on the area covered on the product surfaces and time taken to penetrate the proposed area. The relationship between pressure and flow rate have been found to be directly proportional until 75 psi only. In conclusion, 70 psi for the proposed design of close compartment mould is suitable to be used to fulfill the required area of 120 mm square within 90 seconds.

Mathematical modelling of cyclic pressure swing adsorption processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skvortsov, S. A.; Akulinin, E. I.; Golubyatnikov, O. O.; Dvoretsky, D. S.; Dvoretsky, S. I.

2018-05-01

The paper discusses the results of a numerical analysis of the properties and regimes of the adsorption air separation and oxygen concentration process with a purity of ∼ 40-60%, carried out in a 2-adsorption vacuum-pressure plant with a granular zeolite adsorbent 13X with a productivity of 1.6 · 10-5 m3/s. Computational experiments were carried out using the developed mathematical model and the influence of temperature, pressure, reflux ratio, the duration of the adsorption and desorption stages, the harmonic fluctuations of the inlet pressure during the adsorption stage and the outlet pressure during the desorption stage on the kinetics, and the efficiency of the air separation process by the PSA method were investigated. It is established that the specially organized harmonic fluctuations of the inlet pressure at the stage of adsorption and outlet pressure during the desorption stage lead to an increase in the purity of product oxygen by 4% (vol.).

Development of High Temperature (3400F) and High Pressure (27,000 PSI) Gas Venting Process for Nitrogen Batch Heater

DTIC Science & Technology

2018-01-01

for Mach 14 possibly degrading seals ability to contain pressure due to exposure to high temperatures. A different solution for Mach 14 case will be...AEDC-TR-18-H-1 Development of High Temperature (3400°F) and High Pressure (27,000 PSI) Gas Venting Process for Nitrogen Batch...Development of High Temperature (3400°F) and High Pressure (27,000 PSI) Gas Venting Process for Nitrogen Batch Heater FA9101-10-D-0001-0010 5b. GRANT

Energy efficient solvent regeneration process for carbon dioxide capture

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

Zhou, Shaojun; Meyer, Howard S.; Li, Shiguang

A process for removing carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide-loaded solvent uses two stages of flash apparatus. Carbon dioxide is flashed from the solvent at a higher temperature and pressure in the first stage, and a lower temperature and pressure in the second stage, and is fed to a multi-stage compression train for high pressure liquefaction. Because some of the carbon dioxide fed to the compression train is already under pressure, less energy is required to further compress the carbon dioxide to a liquid state, compared to conventional processes.

Combined pressure-thermal inactivation kinetics of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens spores in egg patty mince.

PubMed

Rajan, S; Ahn, J; Balasubramaniam, V M; Yousef, A E

2006-04-01

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a potential surrogate for Clostridium botulinum in validation studies involving bacterial spore inactivation by pressure-assisted thermal processing. Spores of B. amyloliquefaciens Fad 82 were inoculated into egg patty mince (approximately 1.4 x 10(8) spores per g), and the product was treated with combinations of pressure (0.1 to 700 MPa) and heat (95 to 121 degrees C) in a custom-made high-pressure kinetic tester. The values for the inactivation kinetic parameter (D), temperature coefficient (zT), and pressure coefficient (zP) were determined with a linear model. Inactivation parameters from the nonlinear Weibull model also were estimated. An increase in process pressure decreased the D-value at 95, 105, and 110 degrees C; however, at 121 degrees C the contribution of pressure to spore lethality was less pronounced. The zP-value increased from 170 MPa at 95 degrees C to 332 MPa at 121 degrees C, suggesting that B. amyloliquefaciens spores became less sensitive to pressure changes at higher temperatures. Similarly, the zT-value increased from 8.2 degrees C at 0.1 MPa to 26.8 degrees C at 700 MPa, indicating that at elevated pressures, the spores were less sensitive to changes in temperature. The nonlinear Weibull model parameter b increased with increasing pressure or temperature and was inversely related to the D-value. Pressure-assisted thermal processing is a potential alternative to thermal processing for producing shelf-stable egg products.

Separation of isotopes by cyclical processes

DOEpatents

Hamrin, Jr., Charles E.; Weaver, Kenny

1976-11-02

Various isotopes of hydrogen are separated by a cyclic sorption process in which a gas stream containing the isotopes is periodically passed through a high pressure column containing a palladium sorbent. A portion of the product from the high pressure column is passed through a second column at lower pressure to act as a purge. Before the sorbent in the high pressure column becomes saturated, the sequence is reversed with the stream flowing through the former low-pressure column now at high pressure, and a portion of the product purging the former high pressure column now at low pressure. The sequence is continued in cyclic manner with the product being enriched in a particular isotope.

Application of high pressure processing for shelf life extension of litchi fruits (Litchi chinensis cv. Bombai) during refrigerated storage.

PubMed

Kaushik, Neelima; Kaur, Barjinder P; Rao, P Srinivasa

2014-10-01

This study attempts to report the effect of high pressure processing (100, 200 and 300 MPa for 5, 10 and 15 min at 27 ± 2 ℃) on quality and shelf life extension of 'Bombai' variety peeled litchi fruits during refrigerated storage (5 ℃). High pressure processing significantly increased total colour difference, browning index, drip loss and total soluble solids, whereas pH decreased after processing. Also, ascorbic acid content significantly decreased after high pressure processing and retention of 83.5% was observed. Texture profile analysis showed that pressurization significantly affected firmness and increased cohesiveness, gumminess, springiness and chewiness of litchi fruits. Pressure-induced firming effect was observed at 100 and 200 MPa pressure. A maximum of 3.29, 3.24 and 3.77 log10 cycles reduction in aerobic mesophiles, yeast & mold and psychrotrophs count, respectively, was achieved after pressurization of 300 MPa for 10 and 15 min treatments. During storage, samples treated at 300 MPa for 10 and 15 min showed relatively minimal changes in physico-chemical attributes, textural parameters and maintained lower viable microbial counts. Treatments at 300 MPa for 10 min and 15 min were found to enhance the shelf life of litchi fruits up to 32 days as compared to 12 days of untreated during refrigerated storage (5 ℃). © The Author(s) 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Association of Processed Meat Intake with Hypertension Risk in Hemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Wu, Pei-Yu; Yang, Shwu-Huey; Wong, Te-Chih; Chen, Tzen-Wen; Chen, His-Hsien; Chen, Tso-Hsiao; Chen, Yu-Tong

2015-01-01

In this cross-sectional study, we hypothesized that hemodialysis patients consuming greater processed meat is associated with hypertension risk, which can be partly explained by the high sodium content in processed meat. From September 2013 to May 2014, one hundred and four patients requiring chronic hemodialysis treatment were recruited from hemodialysis centers. Data on systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure before receiving dialysis, and 3-day dietary records of the recruited patients were collected. HD patients with systolic and diastolic blood pressures greater than140 mmHg and higher than 90 mmHg, respectively, were considered hypertension risk. Protein foods were divided into 4 categories: red meat, white meat, soybeans, and processed meat (e.g., sausage and ham). In a model adjusted for energy intake and hypertension history, additional servings of processed meats was positively associated to systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.1 [1.0–4.3]), and diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg (odds ratio: 2.5 [1.2–5.5]). After adjustment for dietary sodium contents or body mass index (BMI), most associations were substantially attenuated and were no longer significant. In systolic blood pressure greater than140 mmHg, one serving per day of red meats (β = -1.22, P < .05) and white meats (β = -0. 75, P = .05) was associated with a reduced risk compared with one serving per day of processed meats. Similarly, compared with one serving per day of processed meat, a reduced risk of diastolic blood pressure higher than 90 mmHg was associated with one serving per day of red meat (β = -1. 59, P < .05), white meat (β = -0. 62, P < .05). Thus, in these hemodialysis patients, intake of processed meat is significantly positively associated with higher blood pressure risk, and both sodium contents in processed meat and BMI significantly contributes to this association. PMID:26517837

Gasoline from coal in the state of Illinois: feasibility study. Volume I. Design. [KBW gasification process, ICI low-pressure methanol process and Mobil M-gasoline process

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

Not Available

1980-01-01

Volume 1 describes the proposed plant: KBW gasification process, ICI low-pressure methanol process and Mobil M-gasoline process, and also with ancillary processes, such as oxygen plant, shift process, RECTISOL purification process, sulfur recovery equipment and pollution control equipment. Numerous engineering diagrams are included. (LTN)

Pressure-strain-rate events in homogeneous turbulent shear flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brasseur, James G.; Lee, Moon J.

1988-01-01

A detailed study of the intercomponent energy transfer processes by the pressure-strain-rate in homogeneous turbulent shear flow is presented. Probability density functions (pdf's) and contour plots of the rapid and slow pressure-strain-rate show that the energy transfer processes are extremely peaky, with high-magnitude events dominating low-magnitude fluctuations, as reflected by very high flatness factors of the pressure-strain-rate. A concept of the energy transfer class was applied to investigate details of the direction as well as magnitude of the energy transfer processes. In incompressible flow, six disjoint energy transfer classes exist. Examination of contours in instantaneous fields, pdf's and weighted pdf's of the pressure-strain-rate indicates that in the low magnitude regions all six classes play an important role, but in the high magnitude regions four classes of transfer processes, dominate. The contribution to the average slow pressure-strain-rate from the high magnitude fluctuations is only 50 percent or less. The relative significance of high and low magnitude transfer events is discussed.

40 CFR 63.1427 - Process vent requirements for processes using extended cookout as an epoxide emission reduction...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... obtaining the liquid sample, along with the test method used to determine the epoxide concentration. This... pressures, the owner or operator shall determine the time when the pressure has fallen to half its total pressure by using Equation 13: ER08MY00.008 Where: Phalf1 = Half the total pressure of the epoxide for...

Dual shell pressure balanced vessel

DOEpatents

Fassbender, Alexander G.

1992-01-01

A dual-wall pressure balanced vessel for processing high viscosity slurries at high temperatures and pressures having an outer pressure vessel and an inner vessel with an annular space between the vessels pressurized at a pressure slightly less than or equivalent to the pressure within the inner vessel.

Electron-Driven Processes: From Single Collision Experiments to High-Pressure Discharge Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, Kurt

2001-10-01

Plasmas are complex systems which consist of various groups of interacting particles (neutral atoms and molecules in their ground states and in excite states, electrons, and positive and negative ions). In principle, one needs to understand and describe all interactions between these particles in order to model the properties of the plasma and to predict its behavior. However, two-body interactions are often the only processes of relevance and only a subset of all possible collisional interactions are important. The focus of this talk is on collisional and radiative processes in low-temperature plasmas, both at low and high pressures. We will limit the discussion (i) to ionization and dissociation processes in molecular low-pressure plasmas and (ii) to collisional and radiative processes in high-pressure plasmas in rare gases and mixtures of rare gases and N2, O2, and H2. Electron-impact dissociation processes can be divided into dissociative excitation and dissociation into neutral ground-state fragments. Neutral molecular dissociation has only recently received attention from experimentalists and theorists because of the serious difficulties associated with the investigation of these processes. Collisional and radiative processes in high-pressure plasmas provide a fertile environment to the study of interactions that go beyond binary collisions involving ground-state species. Step-wise processes and three-body collisions begin to dominate the behavior of such plasmas. We will discuss examples of such processes as they relate to high-pressure rare gas discharge plasmas. Work supported by NSF, DOE, DARPA, NASA, and ABA Inc.

Optimisation of shock absorber process parameters using failure mode and effect analysis and genetic algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mariajayaprakash, Arokiasamy; Senthilvelan, Thiyagarajan; Vivekananthan, Krishnapillai Ponnambal

2013-07-01

The various process parameters affecting the quality characteristics of the shock absorber during the process were identified using the Ishikawa diagram and by failure mode and effect analysis. The identified process parameters are welding process parameters (squeeze, heat control, wheel speed, and air pressure), damper sealing process parameters (load, hydraulic pressure, air pressure, and fixture height), washing process parameters (total alkalinity, temperature, pH value of rinsing water, and timing), and painting process parameters (flowability, coating thickness, pointage, and temperature). In this paper, the process parameters, namely, painting and washing process parameters, are optimized by Taguchi method. Though the defects are reasonably minimized by Taguchi method, in order to achieve zero defects during the processes, genetic algorithm technique is applied on the optimized parameters obtained by Taguchi method.

Adsorption process to recover hydrogen from feed gas mixtures having low hydrogen concentration

DOEpatents

Golden, Timothy Christopher; Weist, Jr., Edward Landis; Hufton, Jeffrey Raymond; Novosat, Paul Anthony

2010-04-13

A process for selectively separating hydrogen from at least one more strongly adsorbable component in a plurality of adsorption beds to produce a hydrogen-rich product gas from a low hydrogen concentration feed with a high recovery rate. Each of the plurality of adsorption beds subjected to a repetitive cycle. The process comprises an adsorption step for producing the hydrogen-rich product from a feed gas mixture comprising 5% to 50% hydrogen, at least two pressure equalization by void space gas withdrawal steps, a provide purge step resulting in a first pressure decrease, a blowdown step resulting in a second pressure decrease, a purge step, at least two pressure equalization by void space gas introduction steps, and a repressurization step. The second pressure decrease is at least 2 times greater than the first pressure decrease.

C. botulinum inactivation kinetics implemented in a computational model of a high-pressure sterilization process.

PubMed

Juliano, Pablo; Knoerzer, Kai; Fryer, Peter J; Versteeg, Cornelis

2009-01-01

High-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) processing is effective for microbial spore inactivation using mild preheating, followed by rapid volumetric compression heating and cooling on pressure release, enabling much shorter processing times than conventional thermal processing for many food products. A computational thermal fluid dynamic (CTFD) model has been developed to model all processing steps, including the vertical pressure vessel, an internal polymeric carrier, and food packages in an axis-symmetric geometry. Heat transfer and fluid dynamic equations were coupled to four selected kinetic models for the inactivation of C. botulinum; the traditional first-order kinetic model, the Weibull model, an nth-order model, and a combined discrete log-linear nth-order model. The models were solved to compare the resulting microbial inactivation distributions. The initial temperature of the system was set to 90 degrees C and pressure was selected at 600 MPa, holding for 220 s, with a target temperature of 121 degrees C. A representation of the extent of microbial inactivation throughout all processing steps was obtained for each microbial model. Comparison of the models showed that the conventional thermal processing kinetics (not accounting for pressure) required shorter holding times to achieve a 12D reduction of C. botulinum spores than the other models. The temperature distribution inside the vessel resulted in a more uniform inactivation distribution when using a Weibull or an nth-order kinetics model than when using log-linear kinetics. The CTFD platform could illustrate the inactivation extent and uniformity provided by the microbial models. The platform is expected to be useful to evaluate models fitted into new C. botulinum inactivation data at varying conditions of pressure and temperature, as an aid for regulatory filing of the technology as well as in process and equipment design.

Analytical considerations and dimensionless analysis for a description of particle interactions in high pressure processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rauh, Cornelia; Delgado, Antonio

2010-12-01

High pressures of up to several hundreds of MPa are utilized in a wide range of applications in chemical, bio-, and food engineering, aiming at selective control of (bio-)chemical reactions. Non-uniformity of process conditions may threaten the safety and quality of the resulting products because processing conditions such as pressure, temperature, and treatment history are crucial for the course of (bio-)chemical reactions. Therefore, thermofluid-dynamical phenomena during the high pressure process have to be examined, and numerical tools to predict process uniformity and to optimize the processes have to be developed. Recently applied mathematical models and numerical simulations of laboratory and industrial scale high pressure processes investigating the mentioned crucial phenomena are based on continuum balancing models of thermofluid dynamics. Nevertheless, biological systems are complex fluids containing the relevant (bio-)chemical compounds (enzymes and microorganisms). These compounds are particles that interact with the surrounding medium and between each other. This contribution deals with thermofluid-dynamical interactions of the relevant particulate (bio-)chemical compounds (enzymes and microorganisms) with the surrounding fluid. By consideration of characteristic time and length scales and particle forces, the motion of the (bio-)chemical compounds is characterized.

A Computational Model Predicting Disruption of Blood Vessel Development

PubMed Central

Kleinstreuer, Nicole; Dix, David; Rountree, Michael; Baker, Nancy; Sipes, Nisha; Reif, David; Spencer, Richard; Knudsen, Thomas

2013-01-01

Vascular development is a complex process regulated by dynamic biological networks that vary in topology and state across different tissues and developmental stages. Signals regulating de novo blood vessel formation (vasculogenesis) and remodeling (angiogenesis) come from a variety of biological pathways linked to endothelial cell (EC) behavior, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and the local generation of chemokines and growth factors. Simulating these interactions at a systems level requires sufficient biological detail about the relevant molecular pathways and associated cellular behaviors, and tractable computational models that offset mathematical and biological complexity. Here, we describe a novel multicellular agent-based model of vasculogenesis using the CompuCell3D (http://www.compucell3d.org/) modeling environment supplemented with semi-automatic knowledgebase creation. The model incorporates vascular endothelial growth factor signals, pro- and anti-angiogenic inflammatory chemokine signals, and the plasminogen activating system of enzymes and proteases linked to ECM interactions, to simulate nascent EC organization, growth and remodeling. The model was shown to recapitulate stereotypical capillary plexus formation and structural emergence of non-coded cellular behaviors, such as a heterologous bridging phenomenon linking endothelial tip cells together during formation of polygonal endothelial cords. Molecular targets in the computational model were mapped to signatures of vascular disruption derived from in vitro chemical profiling using the EPA's ToxCast high-throughput screening (HTS) dataset. Simulating the HTS data with the cell-agent based model of vascular development predicted adverse effects of a reference anti-angiogenic thalidomide analog, 5HPP-33, on in vitro angiogenesis with respect to both concentration-response and morphological consequences. These findings support the utility of cell agent-based models for simulating a morphogenetic series of events and for the first time demonstrate the applicability of these models for predictive toxicology. PMID:23592958

Molding process for imidazopyrrolone polymers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, C. L. (Inventor)

1973-01-01

A process is described for producing shaped articles of imidazopyrrolone polymers comprising molding imidazopyrrolone polymer molding power under pressure and at a temperature greater than 475 C. Moderate pressures may be employed. Preferably, prior to molding, a preform is prepared by isostatic compression. The preform may be molded at a relatively low initial pressure and temperature; as the temperature is increased to a value greater than 475 C., the pressure is also increased.

The Effects of Popping Popcorn Under Reduced Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quinn, Paul; Cooper, Amanda

2008-03-01

In our experiments, we model the popping of popcorn as an adiabatic process and develop a process for improving the efficiency of popcorn production. By lowering the pressure of the popcorn during the popping process, we induce an increase in popcorn size, while decreasing the number of remaining unpopped kernels. In this project we run numerous experiments using three of the most common popping devices, a movie popcorn maker, a stove pot, and a microwave. We specifically examine the effects of varying the pressure on total sample size, flake size and waste. An empirical relationship is found between these variables and the pressure.

40 CFR 60.5430 - What definitions apply to this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... control vessels, bottoms receivers or knockout vessels. (3) Pressure vessels designed to operate in excess... supply natural gas to the process control device (e.g., level control, temperature control, pressure control) where the supply gas pressure is modulated by the process condition, and then flows to the valve...

Pressure suppression containment system for boiling water reactor

DOEpatents

Gluntz, Douglas M.; Nesbitt, Loyd B.

1997-01-01

A system for suppressing the pressure inside the containment of a BWR following a postulated accident. A piping subsystem is provided which features a main process pipe that communicates the wetwell airspace to a connection point downstream of the guard charcoal bed in an offgas system and upstream of the main bank of delay charcoal beds which give extensive holdup to offgases. The main process pipe is fitted with both inboard and outboard containment isolation valves. Also incorporated in the main process pipe is a low-differential-pressure rupture disk which prevents any gas outflow in this piping whatsoever until or unless rupture occurs by virtue of pressure inside this main process pipe on the wetwell airspace side of the disk exceeding the design opening (rupture) pressure differential. The charcoal holds up the radioactive species in the noncondensable gas from the wetwell plenum by adsorption, allowing time for radioactive decay before the gas is vented to the environs.

Numerical simulation of rock fragmentation during cutting by conical picks under confining pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xuefeng; Wang, Shibo; Ge, Shirong; Malekian, Reza; Li, Zhixiong

2017-12-01

In this article, the effect of confining pressure on rock fragmentation process during cutting was investigated by numerical simulation with a discrete element method (DEM). Four kinds of sandstones with different physical properties were simulated in the rock cutting models under different confining pressures. The rock fragmentation process, the cutting force, and the specific energy under different confining pressures were analyzed. With the increase in confining pressure and rock strength, the vertical propagation of cracks was restrained. Rock samples were compacted and strengthened by confining pressure resulting in the increase of the cutting force. The specific energy of rock cutting linearly increased with the increase of the confining pressure ratio.

Evaluating the energy performance of a hybrid membrane-solvent process for flue gas carbon dioxide capture

DOE PAGES

Kusuma, Victor A.; Li, Zhiwei; Hopkinson, David; ...

2016-10-13

In this study, a particularly energy intensive step in the conventional amine absorption process to remove carbon dioxide is solvent regeneration using a steam stripping column. An attractive alternative to reduce the energy requirement is gas pressurized stripping, in which a high pressure noncondensable gas is used to strip CO 2 off the rich solvent stream. The gas pressurized stripping column product, having CO 2 at high concentration and high partial pressure, can then be regenerated readily using membrane separation. In this study, we performed an energetic analysis in the form of total equivalent work and found that, for capturingmore » CO 2 from flue gas, this hybrid stripping process consumes 49% less energy compared to the base case conventional MEA absorption/steam stripping process. We also found the amount of membrane required in this process is much less than required for direct CO 2 capture from the flue gas: approximately 100-fold less than a previously published two-stage cross-flow scheme, mostly due to the more favorable pressure ratio and CO 2 concentration. There does exist a trade-off between energy consumption and required membrane area that is most strongly affected by the gas pressurized stripper operating pressure. While initial analysis looks promising from both an energy requirement and membrane unit capital cost, the viability of this hybrid process depends on the availability of advanced, next generation gas separation membranes to perform the stripping gas regeneration.« less

Evaluating the energy performance of a hybrid membrane-solvent process for flue gas carbon dioxide capture

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

Kusuma, Victor A.; Li, Zhiwei; Hopkinson, David

In this study, a particularly energy intensive step in the conventional amine absorption process to remove carbon dioxide is solvent regeneration using a steam stripping column. An attractive alternative to reduce the energy requirement is gas pressurized stripping, in which a high pressure noncondensable gas is used to strip CO 2 off the rich solvent stream. The gas pressurized stripping column product, having CO 2 at high concentration and high partial pressure, can then be regenerated readily using membrane separation. In this study, we performed an energetic analysis in the form of total equivalent work and found that, for capturingmore » CO 2 from flue gas, this hybrid stripping process consumes 49% less energy compared to the base case conventional MEA absorption/steam stripping process. We also found the amount of membrane required in this process is much less than required for direct CO 2 capture from the flue gas: approximately 100-fold less than a previously published two-stage cross-flow scheme, mostly due to the more favorable pressure ratio and CO 2 concentration. There does exist a trade-off between energy consumption and required membrane area that is most strongly affected by the gas pressurized stripper operating pressure. While initial analysis looks promising from both an energy requirement and membrane unit capital cost, the viability of this hybrid process depends on the availability of advanced, next generation gas separation membranes to perform the stripping gas regeneration.« less

Turbine repair process, repaired coating, and repaired turbine component

DOEpatents

Das, Rupak; Delvaux, John McConnell; Garcia-Crespo, Andres Jose

2015-11-03

A turbine repair process, a repaired coating, and a repaired turbine component are disclosed. The turbine repair process includes providing a turbine component having a higher-pressure region and a lower-pressure region, introducing particles into the higher-pressure region, and at least partially repairing an opening between the higher-pressure region and the lower-pressure region with at least one of the particles to form a repaired turbine component. The repaired coating includes a silicon material, a ceramic matrix composite material, and a repaired region having the silicon material deposited on and surrounded by the ceramic matrix composite material. The repaired turbine component a ceramic matrix composite layer and a repaired region having silicon material deposited on and surrounded by the ceramic matrix composite material.

Pathogenic proline mutation in the linker between spectrin repeats: disease caused by spectrin unfolding

PubMed Central

Johnson, Colin P.; Gaetani, Massimiliano; Ortiz, Vanessa; Bhasin, Nishant; Harper, Sandy

2007-01-01

Pathogenic mutations in α and β spectrin result in a variety of syndromes, including hereditary elliptocytosis (HE), hereditary pyropoikilocytosis (HPP), and hereditary spherocytosis (HS). Although some mutations clearly lie at sites of interaction, such as the sites of spectrin α-βtetramer formation, a surprising number of HE-causing mutations have been identified within linker regions between distal spectrin repeats. Here we apply solution structural and single molecule methods to the folding and stability of recombinant proteins consisting of the first 5 spectrin repeats of α-spectrin, comparing normal spectrin with a pathogenic linker mutation, Q471P, between repeats R4 and R5. Results show that the linker mutation destabilizes a significant fraction of the 5-repeat construct at 37°C, whereas the WT remains fully folded well above body temperature. In WT protein, helical linkers propagate stability from one repeat to the next, but the mutation disrupts the stabilizing influence of adjacent repeats. The results suggest a molecular mechanism for the high frequency of disease caused by proline mutations in spectrin linkers. PMID:17192394

The Challenge of Human Spermatozoa Proteome: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Gilany, Kambiz; Minai-Tehrani, Arash; Amini, Mehdi; Agharezaee, Niloofar; Arjmand, Babak

2017-01-01

Currently, there are 20,197 human protein-coding genes in the most expertly curated database (UniProtKB/Swiss-Pro). Big efforts have been made by the international consortium, the Chromosome-Centric Human Proteome Project (C-HPP) and independent researchers, to map human proteome. In brief, anno 2017 the human proteome was outlined. The male factor contributes to 50% of infertility in couples. However, there are limited human spermatozoa proteomic studies. Firstly, the development of the mapping of the human spermatozoa was analyzed. The human spermatozoa have been used as a model for missing proteins. It has been shown that human spermatozoa are excellent sources for finding missing proteins. Y chromosome proteome mapping is led by Iran. However, it seems that it is extremely challenging to map the human spermatozoa Y chromosome proteins based on current mass spectrometry-based proteomics technology. Post-translation modifications (PTMs) of human spermatozoa proteome are the most unexplored area and currently the exact role of PTMs in male infertility is unknown. Additionally, the clinical human spermatozoa proteomic analysis, anno 2017 was done in this study.

Light backscatter fiber optic sensor: a new tool for predicting the stability of pork emulsions containing antioxidative potato protein hydrolysate.

PubMed

Nieto, Gema; Xiong, Youling L; Payne, Fred; Castillo, Manuel

2015-02-01

The objective of this study was to determine whether light backscatter response from fresh pork meat emulsions is correlated to final product stability indices. A specially designed fiber optic measurement system was used in combination with a miniature fiber optic spectrometer to determine the intensity of light backscatter within the wavelength range 300-1100 nm (UV/VIS/NIR) at different radial distances (2, 2.5 and 3mm) with respect to the light source in pork meat emulsions with two fat levels (15%, 30%) and two levels (0, 2.5%) of the natural antioxidant hydrolyzed potato protein (HPP). Textural parameters (hardness, deformability, cohesiveness and breaking force), cooking loss, TBARS (1, 2, 3, and 7 days of storage at 4 °C) and CIELAB color coordinates of cooked emulsions were measured. The light backscatter was directly correlated with cooking losses, color, breaking force and TBARS. The optical configuration proposed would compensate for the emulsion heterogeneity, maximizing the existing correlation between the optical signal and the emulsion quality metrics.

Chemical recovery process using break up steam control to prevent smelt explosions

DOEpatents

Kohl, Arthur L.; Stewart, Albert E.

1988-08-02

An improvement in a chemical recovery process in which a hot liquid smelt is introduced into a dissolving tank containing a pool of green liquor. The improvement comprises preventing smelt explosions in the dissolving tank by maintaining a first selected superatmospheric pressure in the tank during normal operation of the furnace; sensing the pressure in the tank; and further impinging a high velocity stream of steam upon the stream of smelt whenever the pressure in the tank decreases below a second selected superatmospheric pressure which is lower than said first pressure.

Development of a low-pressure materials pre-treatment process for improved energy efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kwanghee; You, Byung Don

2017-09-01

Low pressure materials pre-treatment process has been developed as an alternative to the existing high-temperature sludge drying, limestone calcination, and limonite dehydroxylation. Using the thermodynamic equilibrium relationship between temperature and pressure represented by the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, the operational temperature of these reactions could be lowered at reduced pressure for increased energy efficiency. For industrial sludge drying, the evaporation rate was controlled by interfacial kinetics showing a constant rate with time and significant acceleration in the reaction could be observed with reduced pressure. At this modified reaction rate under low pressure, the rate was also partially controlled by mass transfer. Temperature of limestone calcination was lowered, but the reaction was limited at the calculated equilibrium temperature of the Clausius-Clapeyron equation and slightly higher temperatures were required. The energy consumption during limestone calcination and limonite dehydroxylation were evaluated, where lower processing pressures could enhance the energy efficiency for limestone calcination, but limonite dehydroxylation could not achieve energy-savings due to the greater power consumption of the vacuum pump under lower pressure and reduced temperatures.

Pressure-strain energy redistribution in compressible turbulence: return-to-isotropy versus kinetic-potential energy equipartition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Kurnchul; Venugopal, Vishnu; Girimaji, Sharath S.

2016-08-01

Return-to-isotropy and kinetic-potential energy equipartition are two fundamental pressure-moderated energy redistributive processes in anisotropic compressible turbulence. Pressure-strain correlation tensor redistributes energy among various Reynolds stress components and pressure-dilatation is responsible for energy reallocation between dilatational kinetic and potential energies. The competition and interplay between these pressure-based processes are investigated in this study. Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of low turbulent Mach number dilatational turbulence are performed employing the hybrid thermal Lattice Boltzman method (HTLBM). It is found that a tendency towards equipartition precedes proclivity for isotropization. An evolution towards equipartition has a collateral but critical effect on return-to-isotropy. The preferential transfer of energy from strong (rather than weak) Reynolds stress components to potential energy accelerates the isotropization of dilatational fluctuations. Understanding of these pressure-based redistributive processes is critical for developing insight into the character of compressible turbulence.

Effect of propellant deformation on ignition and combustion processes in solid propellant cracks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kumar, M.; Kuo, K. K.

1980-01-01

A comprehensive theoretical model was formulated to study the development of convective burning in a solid propellant crack which continually deforms due to burning and pressure loading. In the theoretical model, the effect of interrelated structural deformation and combustion processes was taken into account by considering (1) transient, one dimensional mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations in the gas phase; (2) a transient, one dimensional heat conduction equation in the solid phase; and (3) quasi-static deformation of the two dimensional, linear viscoelastic propellant crack caused by pressure loading. Partial closures may generate substantial local pressure peaks along the crack, implying a strong coupling between chamber pressurization, crack combustion, and propellant deformation, especially when the cracks are narrow and the chamber pressurization rates high. The maximum pressure in the crack cavity is generally higher than that in the chamber. The initial flame-spreading process is not affected by propellant deformation.

Metamodeling and optimization of the THF process with pulsating pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bucconi, Marco; Strano, Matteo

2018-05-01

Tube hydroforming is a process used in various applications to form the tube in a desired complex shape, by combining the use of internal pressure, which provides the required stress to yield the material, and axial feeding, which helps the material to flow towards the bulging zone. In many studies it has been demonstrated how wrinkling and bursting defects can be severely reduced by means of a pulsating pressure, and how the so-called hammering hydroforming enhances the formability of the material. The definition of the optimum pressure and axial feeding profiles represent a daunting challenge in the designing phase of the hydroforming operation of a new part. The quality of the formed part is highly dependent on the amplitude and the peak value of the pulsating pressure, along with the axial stroke. In this paper, a research is reported, conducted by means of explicit finite element simulations of a hammering THF operation and metamodeling techniques aimed at optimizing the process parameters for the production of a complex part. The improved formability is explored for different factors and an optimization strategy is used to determine the most convenient pressure and axial feed profile curves for the hammering THF process of the examined part. It is shown how the pulsating pressure allows the minimization of the energy input in the process, still respecting final quality requirements.

A Study on Micropipetting Detection Technology of Automatic Enzyme Immunoassay Analyzer.

PubMed

Shang, Zhiwu; Zhou, Xiangping; Li, Cheng; Tsai, Sang-Bing

2018-04-10

In order to improve the accuracy and reliability of micropipetting, a method of micro-pipette detection and calibration combining the dynamic pressure monitoring in pipetting process and quantitative identification of pipette volume in image processing was proposed. Firstly, the normalized pressure model for the pipetting process was established with the kinematic model of the pipetting operation, and the pressure model is corrected by the experimental method. Through the pipetting process pressure and pressure of the first derivative of real-time monitoring, the use of segmentation of the double threshold method as pipetting fault evaluation criteria, and the pressure sensor data are processed by Kalman filtering, the accuracy of fault diagnosis is improved. When there is a fault, the pipette tip image is collected through the camera, extract the boundary of the liquid region by the background contrast method, and obtain the liquid volume in the tip according to the geometric characteristics of the pipette tip. The pipette deviation feedback to the automatic pipetting module and deviation correction is carried out. The titration test results show that the combination of the segmented pipetting kinematic model of the double threshold method of pressure monitoring, can effectively real-time judgment and classification of the pipette fault. The method of closed-loop adjustment of pipetting volume can effectively improve the accuracy and reliability of the pipetting system.

Motion compensated image processing and optimal parameters for egg crack detection using modified pressure

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Shell eggs with microcracks are often undetected during egg grading processes. In the past, a modified pressure imaging system was developed to detect eggs with microcracks without adversely affecting the quality of normal intact eggs. The basic idea of the modified pressure imaging system was to ap...

Combined osmodehydration and high pressure processing on the enzyme stability and antioxidant capacity of a grapefruit jam

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A combined osmodehydration process and high pressure treatment (OD-HHP) was developed for grapefruit jam preservation. The inactivation kinetics of pectinmethylesterase (PME) and peroxidase (POD) in the osmodehydrated (OD) jam treated by combined thermal (45-75°C) and high pressure (550–700 MPa) pro...

All solution-processed micro-structured flexible electrodes for low-cost light-emitting pressure sensors fabrication.

PubMed

Shimotsu, Rie; Takumi, Takahiro; Vohra, Varun

2017-07-31

Recent studies have demonstrated the advantage of developing pressure-sensitive devices with light-emitting properties for direct visualization of pressure distribution, potential application to next generation touch panels and human-machine interfaces. To ensure that this technology is available to everyone, its production cost should be kept as low as possible. Here, simple device concepts, namely, pressure sensitive flexible hybrid electrodes and OLED architecture, are used to produce low-cost resistive or light-emitting pressure sensors. Additionally, integrating solution-processed self-assembled micro-structures into the flexible hybrid electrodes composed of an elastomer and conductive materials results in enhanced device performances either in terms of pressure or spatial distribution sensitivity. For instance, based on the pressure applied, the measured values for the resistances of pressure sensors range from a few MΩ down to 500 Ω. On the other hand, unlike their evaporated equivalents, the combination of solution-processed flexible electrodes with an inverted OLED architectures display bright green emission when a pressure over 200 kPa is applied. At a bias of 3 V, their luminance can be tuned by applying a higher pressure of 500 kPa. Consequently, features such as fingernails and fingertips can be clearly distinguished from one another in these long-lasting low-cost devices.

Inactivation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in hard clams (Mercanaria mercanaria) by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and the effect of HHP on the physical characteristics of hard clam meat.

PubMed

Mootian, Gabriel K; Flimlin, George E; Karwe, Mukund V; Schaffner, Donald W

2013-02-01

Shellfish may internalize dangerous pathogens during filter feeding. Traditional methods of depuration have been found ineffective against certain pathogens. The objective was to explore high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) as an alternative to the traditional depuration process. The effect of HHP on the survival of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in live clams (Mercanaria mercanaria) and the impact of HHP on physical characteristics of clam meat were investigated. Clams were inoculated with up to 7 log CFU/g of a cocktail of V. parahaemolyticus strains via filter feeding. Clams were processed at pressures ranging from 250 to 552 MPa for hold times ranging between 2 and 6 min. Processing conditions of 450 MPa for 4 min and 350 MPa for 6 min reduced the initial concentration of V. parahaemolyticus to a nondetectable level (<10(1) CFU/g), achieving >5 log reductions. The volume of clam meat (processed in shell) increased with negligible change in mass after exposure to pressure at 552 MPa for 3 min, while the drip loss was reduced. Clams processed at 552 MPa were softer compared to those processed at 276 MPa. However, all HHP processed clams were found to be harder compared to unprocessed. The lightness (L*) of the meat increased although the redness (a*) decreased with increasing pressure. Although high pressure-processed clams may pose a significantly lower risk from V. parahaemolyticus, the effect of the accompanied physical changes on the consumer's decision to purchase HHP clams remains to be determined. Shellfish may contain dangerous foodborne pathogens. Traditional methods of removing those pathogen have been found ineffective against certain pathogens. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of high hydrostatic pressure on V. parahaemolyticus in clams. Processing conditions of 450 MPa for 4 min and 350 MPa for 6 min reduced the initial concentration of V. parahaemolyticus to a nondetectable level, achieving >5 log reductions. © 2013 Institute of Food Technologists®

Pressure ulcer guideline development and dissemination in Europe.

PubMed

Meesterberends, Esther; Halfens, Ruud; Lohrmann, Christa; de Wit, Rianne

2010-06-01

To explore the current state of pressure ulcer guideline development and dissemination, from national to local level (i.e. nursing homes) in six European countries: England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden. Pressure ulcers are a persistent problem in healthcare institutions. Their prevalence is influenced by many factors, one of them being the development and dissemination of pressure ulcer guidelines. These are difficult and complex processes and it is not clear whether they differ between European countries. Literature review and semi-structured interviews. Interviews were conducted in six countries at national and nursing home level. Four countries had national pressure ulcer prevention and treatment guidelines. Portugal had no national guidelines and Sweden had shifted the responsibility to regional level. All participating nursing homes had pressure ulcer guidelines except those in Portugal. Control and monitoring of guideline dissemination was carried out only in Sweden and England. All countries studied have national or regional pressure ulcer prevention and treatment guidelines, except Portugal. Portugal is also the only country where none of the nursing homes included had pressure ulcer guidelines. Because the dissemination of such guidelines does not imply actual implementation, further research should focus on the implementation process. Clinical guidelines, like pressure ulcer guidelines, are important tools in guiding the care processes in healthcare institutions. Successful dissemination of guidelines from national level to individual healthcare institutions is a first and necessary step in actually applying them. Monitoring of the guideline dissemination process is therefore essential.

Hot granules medium pressure forming process of AA7075 conical parts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Guojiang; Zhao, Changcai; Peng, Yaxin; Li, Ying

2015-05-01

High strength aluminum alloy plate has a low elongation at room temperature, which leads to the forming of its components need a high temperature. Liquid or gas is used as the pressure-transfer medium in the existing flexible mould forming process, the heat resistance of the medium and pressurizing device makes the application of aluminum alloy plate thermoforming restricted. To solve this problem, the existing medium is replaced by the heat-resisting solid granules and the general pressure equipments are applied. Based on the pressure-transfer performance test of the solid granules medium, the feasibility that the assumption of the extended Drucker-Prager linear model can be used in the finite element analysis is proved. The constitutive equation, the yield function and the theoretical forming limit diagram(FLD) of AA7075 sheet are established. Through the finite element numerical simulation of hot granules medium pressure forming(HGMF) process, not only the influence laws of the process parameters, such as forming temperature, the blank-holder gap and the diameter of the slab, on sheet metal forming performance are discussed, but also the broken area of the forming process is analyzed and predicted, which are coincided with the technological test. The conical part whose half cone angle is 15° and relative height H/d 0 is 0.57, is formed in one process at 250°C. The HGMF process solves the problems of loading and seal in the existing flexible mould forming process and provides a novel technology for thermoforming of light alloy plate, such as magnesium alloy, aluminium alloy and titanium alloy.

Evaluation of films for packaging applications in high pressure processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Largeteau, A.; Angulo, I.; Coulet, J. P.; Demazeau, G.

2010-03-01

Food treatments implying high pressures used pre-packaging systems; consequently it appeared necessary to validate different packaging films able to be used in such processes. Two different packaging films from AMCOR FLEXIBLES have been evaluated: VIROFLEXAL: BOLSA 80 MICRAS, coextrusion PA/PE (20/60μm) RILTHENE: SEMI 20/60 MICRAS, laminate PA/PE (20/60μm) Three different physico-chemical characterizations have been developed for the evaluation of films behaviour after High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP): (i) Mechanical properties (tensile strength and sealing strength), (ii) Oxygen permeability, (iii) Migration, through the contact with four food simulating liquids FSLs (water, acetic acid 3%, ethyl alcohol 10%, iso-octane). Two different pressures values (P = 400MPa and 500MPa) have been tested, with a duration of 15 min, at ambient temperature (+20°C) and only one pressure (P = 200MPa) for the experiments at low temperature (T = -20°C) with the same duration (15min). The selection of such values can be justified taking into account that experimental conditions as a temperature close to +20°C and a pressure between 400 and 500MPa are appropriated to inactivate bacteria and different others micro-organisms. Due to the efficiency of the association of hydrostatic pressure processing and low temperature (HHP/LT) [1, 2], the same films have been tested under high pressure processing (200MPa) but at negative temperature (-20°C).

The dependence of the sporicidal effects on the power and pressure of RF-generated plasma processes.

PubMed

Lassen, Klaus S; Nordby, Bolette; Grün, Reinar

2005-07-01

The sporicidal effect of 20 different radio-frequency plasma processes produced by combining five different gas mixtures [O(2), Ar/H(2) (50/50%), Ar/H(2) (5/95%), O(2)/H(2) (50/50%), O(2)/H(2) (95/5%)] with four power/pressure settings were tested. Sporicidal effects of oxygen-containing plasmas were dependent on power at low pressure settings but not at high pressure settings. In the absence of oxygen no power dependency was observed at either high or low pressure settings. Survivor curves obtained with the use of nonoxygen plasmas typically had a tailing tendency. Only a mixture-optimized Ar/H(2) (15/85%) plasma process was not encumbered by tailing, and produced a decimal reduction time (D value) below 2 min for Bacillus stearothermophilus spores. Scanning electron microscopy showed that a CF(4)/O(2) plasma did more damage to the substrate than the 15/85% Ar/H(2) plasma. The present results indicate that UV irradiation inactivation is swift and power and pressure independent. Additionally, it is produced at low energy. However, it is not complete. Inactivation through etching is highly power and pressure dependent; finally, inactivation by photodesorption is moderately power and pressure dependent. A sterilization process relying on this mechanism is very advantageous because it combines a highly sporicidal effect with low substrate damage. Copyright 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Application of hydrometallurgy techniques in quartz processing and purification: a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Min; Lei, Shaomin; Pei, Zhenyu; Liu, Yuanyuan; Xia, Zhangjie; Xie, Feixiang

2018-04-01

Although there have been numerous studies on separation and purification of metallic minerals by hydrometallurgy techniques, applications of the chemical techniques in separation and purification of non-metallic minerals are rarely reported. This paper reviews disparate areas of study into processing and purification of quartz (typical non-metallic ore) in an attempt to summarize current work, as well as to suggest potential for future consolidation in the field. The review encompasses chemical techniques of the quartz processing including situations, progresses, leaching mechanism, scopes of application, advantages and drawbacks of micro-bioleaching, high temperature leaching, high temperature pressure leaching and catalyzed high temperature pressure leaching. Traditional leaching techniques including micro-bioleaching and high temperature leaching are unequal to demand of modern glass industry for quality of quartz concentrate because the quartz products has to be further processed. High temperature pressure leaching and catalyzed high temperature pressure leaching provide new ways to produce high-grade quartz sand with only one process and lower acid consumption. Furthermore, the catalyzed high temperature pressure leaching realizes effective purification of quartz with extremely low acid consumption (no using HF or any fluoride). It is proposed that, by integrating the different chemical processes of quartz processing and expounding leaching mechanisms and scopes of application, the research field as a monopolized industry would benefit.

Factors Affecting Bacterial Inactivation during High Hydrostatic Pressure Processing of Foods: A Review.

PubMed

Syed, Qamar-Abbas; Buffa, Martin; Guamis, Buenaventura; Saldo, Jordi

2016-01-01

Although, the High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) technology has been gaining gradual popularity in food industry since last two decades, intensive research is needed to explore the missing information. Bacterial inactivation in food by using HHP applications can be enhanced by getting deeper insights of the process. Some of these aspects have been already studied in detail (like pressure, time, and temperature, etc.), while some others still need to be investigated in more details (like pH, rates of compression, and decompression, etc.). Selection of process parameters is mainly dependent on type of matrix and target bacteria. This intensive review provides comprehensive information about the variety of aspects that can determine the bacterial inactivation potential of HHP process indicating the fields of future research on this subject including pH shifts of the pressure treated samples and critical limits of compression and decompression rates to accelerate the process efficacy.

Collisional and radiative processes in high-pressure discharge plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, Kurt H.; Kurunczi, Peter F.; Schoenbach, Karl H.

2002-05-01

Discharge plasmas at high pressures (up to and exceeding atmospheric pressure), where single collision conditions no longer prevail, provide a fertile environment for the experimental study of collisions and radiative processes dominated by (i) step-wise processes, i.e., the excitation of an already excited atomic/molecular state and by (ii) three-body collisions leading, for instance, to the formation of excimers. The dominance of collisional and radiative processes beyond binary collisions involving ground-state atoms and molecules in such environments allows for many interesting applications of high-pressure plasmas such as high power lasers, opening switches, novel plasma processing applications and sputtering, absorbers and reflectors for electromagnetic waves, remediation of pollutants and waste streams, and excimer lamps and other noncoherent vacuum-ultraviolet light sources. Here recent progress is summarized in the use of hollow cathode discharge devices with hole dimensions in the range 0.1-0.5 mm for the generation of vacuum-ultraviolet light.

Economic Pressure and Marital Quality: An Illustration of the Method Variance Problem in the Causal Modeling of Family Processes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lorenz, Frederick O.; And Others

1991-01-01

Examined effects of method variance on models linking family economic pressure, marital quality, and expressions of hostility and warmth among 76 couples. Observer reports yielded results linking economic pressure to marital quality indirectly through interactional processes such as hostility. Self-reports or spouses' reports made it difficult to…

Expansion Work without the External Pressure and Thermodynamics in Terms of Quasistatic Irreversible Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schmidt-Rohr, Klaus

2014-01-01

We demonstrate that the formula for irreversible expansion work in most chemical thermodynamics textbooks does not apply during the expansion process. Instead of the "external pressure" P[subscript ext], the pressure P[subscript sys,mb] on the piston or other moving boundary (hence the subscript mb), which is nearly equal to the system…

High pressure processing with hot sauce flavoring enhances sensory quality for raw oysters (Crassostrea virginica)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This study evaluated the feasibility of flavoring raw oysters by placing them under pressure in the presence of selected flavorings. Hand-shucked raw oysters were processed at high pressure (600 MPa), in the presence or absence of (Sriracha®) flavoring, and evaluated by a trained sensory panel 3 an...

40 CFR 796.1950 - Vapor pressure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... gases until the measured vapor pressure is constant, a process called “degassing.” Impurities more... simulations. Vapor pressure is computed on the assumption that the total pressure of a mixture of gases is...

Landmarks in the historical development of twenty first century food processing technologies.

PubMed

Misra, N N; Koubaa, Mohamed; Roohinejad, Shahin; Juliano, Pablo; Alpas, Hami; Inácio, Rita S; Saraiva, Jorge A; Barba, Francisco J

2017-07-01

Over a course of centuries, various food processing technologies have been explored and implemented to provide safe, fresher-tasting and nutritive food products. Among these technologies, application of emerging food processes (e.g., cold plasma, pressurized fluids, pulsed electric fields, ohmic heating, radiofrequency electric fields, ultrasonics and megasonics, high hydrostatic pressure, high pressure homogenization, hyperbaric storage, and negative pressure cavitation extraction) have attracted much attention in the past decades. This is because, compared to their conventional counterparts, novel food processes allow a significant reduction in the overall processing times with savings in energy consumption, while ensuring food safety, and ample benefits for the industry. Noteworthily, industry and university teams have made extensive efforts for the development of novel technologies, with sound scientific knowledge of their effects on different food materials. The main objective of this review is to provide a historical account of the extensive efforts and inventions in the field of emerging food processing technologies since their inception to present day. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

System and process for capture of acid gasses at elevated pressure from gaseous process streams

DOEpatents

Heldebrant, David J.; Koech, Phillip K.; Linehan, John C.; Rainbolt, James E.; Bearden, Mark D.; Zheng, Feng

2016-09-06

A system, method, and material that enables the pressure-activated reversible chemical capture of acid gasses such as CO.sub.2 from gas volumes such as streams, flows or any other volume. Once the acid gas is chemically captured, the resulting product typically a zwitterionic salt, can be subjected to a reduced pressure whereupon the resulting product will release the captures acid gas and the capture material will be regenerated. The invention includes this process as well as the materials and systems for carrying out and enabling this process.

Pressure suppression containment system for boiling water reactor

DOEpatents

Gluntz, D.M.; Nesbitt, L.B.

1997-01-21

A system is disclosed for suppressing the pressure inside the containment of a BWR following a postulated accident. A piping subsystem is provided which features a main process pipe that communicates the wetwell airspace to a connection point downstream of the guard charcoal bed in an offgas system and upstream of the main bank of delay charcoal beds which give extensive holdup to offgases. The main process pipe is fitted with both inboard and outboard containment isolation valves. Also incorporated in the main process pipe is a low-differential-pressure rupture disk which prevents any gas outflow in this piping whatsoever until or unless rupture occurs by virtue of pressure inside this main process pipe on the wetwell airspace side of the disk exceeding the design opening (rupture) pressure differential. The charcoal holds up the radioactive species in the noncondensable gas from the wetwell plenum by adsorption, allowing time for radioactive decay before the gas is vented to the environs. 3 figs.

Downhole steam generator using low-pressure fuel and air supply

DOEpatents

Fox, R.L.

1981-01-07

For tertiary oil recovery, an apparatus for downhole steam generation is designed in which water is not injected directly onto the flame in the combustor, the combustion process is isolated from the reservoir pressure, the fuel and oxidant are supplied to the combustor at relatively low pressures, and the hot exhaust gases is prevented from entering the earth formation but is used to preheat the fuel and oxidant and water. The combustion process is isolated from the steam generation process. (DLC)

Devices and process for high-pressure magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance

DOEpatents

Hoyt, David W; Sears, Jr., Jesse A; Turcu, Romulus V.F.; Rosso, Kevin M; Hu, Jian Zhi

2014-04-08

A high-pressure magic angle spinning (MAS) rotor is detailed that includes a high-pressure sample cell that maintains high pressures exceeding 150 bar. The sample cell design minimizes pressure losses due to penetration over an extended period of time.

Devices and process for high-pressure magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance

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

Hoyt, David W.; Sears, Jesse A.; Turcu, Romulus V. F.

A high-pressure magic angle spinning (MAS) rotor is detailed that includes a high-pressure sample cell that maintains high pressures exceeding 150 bar. The sample cell design minimizes pressure losses due to penetration over an extended period of time.

VAPOR PRESSURE ISOTOPE EFFECTS IN THE MEASUREMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL TRITIUM SAMPLES.

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

Kuhne, W.

2012-12-03

Standard procedures for the measurement of tritium in water samples often require distillation of an appropriate sample aliquot. This distillation process may result in a fractionation of tritiated water and regular light water due to the vapor pressure isotope effect, introducing either a bias or an additional contribution to the total tritium measurement uncertainty. The magnitude of the vapor pressure isotope effect is characterized as functions of the amount of water distilled from the sample aliquot and the heat settings for the distillation process. The tritium concentration in the distillate is higher than the tritium concentration in the sample earlymore » in the distillation process, it then sharply decreases due to the vapor pressure isotope effect and becomes lower than the tritium concentration in the sample, until the high tritium concentration retained in the boiling flask is evaporated at the end of the process. At that time, the tritium concentration in the distillate again overestimates the sample tritium concentration. The vapor pressure isotope effect is more pronounced the slower the evaporation and distillation process is conducted; a lower heat setting during the evaporation of the sample results in a larger bias in the tritium measurement. The experimental setup used and the fact that the current study allowed for an investigation of the relative change in vapor pressure isotope effect in the course of the distillation process distinguish it from and extend previously published measurements. The separation factor as a quantitative measure of the vapor pressure isotope effect is found to assume values of 1.034 {+-} 0.033, 1.052 {+-} 0.025, and 1.066 {+-} 0.037, depending on the vigor of the boiling process during distillation of the sample. A lower heat setting in the experimental setup, and therefore a less vigorous boiling process, results in a larger value for the separation factor. For a tritium measurement in water samples, this implies that the tritium concentration could be underestimated by 3 - 6%.« less

Application of ideal pressure distribution in development process of automobile seats.

PubMed

Kilincsoy, U; Wagner, A; Vink, P; Bubb, H

2016-07-19

In designing a car seat the ideal pressure distribution is important as it is the largest contact surface between the human and the car. Because of obstacles hindering a more general application of the ideal pressure distribution in seating design, multidimensional measuring techniques are necessary with extensive user tests. The objective of this study is to apply and integrate the knowledge about the ideal pressure distribution in the seat design process for a car manufacturer in an efficient way. Ideal pressure distribution was combined with pressure measurement, in this case pressure mats. In order to integrate this theoretical knowledge of seating comfort in the seat development process for a car manufacturer a special user interface was defined and developed. The mapping of the measured pressure distribution in real-time and accurately scaled to actual seats during test setups directly lead to design implications for seat design even during the test situation. Detailed analysis of the subject's feedback was correlated with objective measurements of the subject's pressure distribution in real time. Therefore existing seating characteristics were taken into account as well. A user interface can incorporate theoretical and validated 'state of the art' models of comfort. Consequently, this information can reduce extensive testing and lead to more detailed results in a shorter time period.

Assessing the blood pressure waveform of the carotid artery using an ultrasound image processing method

PubMed Central

Fatouraee, Nasser; Saberi, Hazhir

2017-01-01

Purpose The aim of this study was to introduce and implement a noninvasive method to derive the carotid artery pressure waveform directly by processing diagnostic sonograms of the carotid artery. Methods Ultrasound image sequences of 20 healthy male subjects (age, 36±9 years) were recorded during three cardiac cycles. The internal diameter and blood velocity waveforms were extracted from consecutive sonograms over the cardiac cycles by using custom analysis programs written in MATLAB. Finally, the application of a mathematical equation resulted in time changes of the arterial pressure. The resulting pressures were calibrated using the mean and the diastolic pressure of the radial artery. Results A good correlation was found between the mean carotid blood pressure obtained from the ultrasound image processing and the mean radial blood pressure obtained using a standard digital sphygmomanometer (R=0.91). The mean absolute difference between the carotid calibrated pulse pressures and those measured clinically was -1.333±6.548 mm Hg. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that consecutive sonograms of the carotid artery can be used for estimating a blood pressure waveform. We believe that our results promote a noninvasive technique for clinical applications that overcomes the reproducibility problems of common carotid artery tonometry with technical and anatomical causes. PMID:27776401

Cell Structure Evolution of Aluminum Foams Under Reduced Pressure Foaming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cao, Zhuokun; Yu, Yang; Li, Min; Luo, Hongjie

2016-09-01

Ti-H particles are used to increase the gas content in aluminum melts for reduced pressure foaming. This paper reports on the RPF process of AlCa alloy by adding TiH2, but in smaller amounts compared to traditional process. TiH2 is completely decomposed by stirring the melt, following which reduced pressure is applied. TiH2 is not added as the blowing agent; instead, it is added for increasing the H2 concentration in the liquid AlCa melt. It is shown that pressure change induces further release of hydrogen from Ti phase. It is also found that foam collapse is caused by the fast bubble coalescing during pressure reducing procedure, and the instability of liquid film is related to the significant increase in critical thickness of film rupture. A combination of lower amounts of TiH2, coupled with reduced pressure, is another way of increasing hydrogen content in the liquid aluminum. A key benefit of this process is that it provides time to transfer the molten metal to a mold and then apply the reduced pressure to produce net shape foam parts.

Investigating the potential of Bacillus subtilis alpha-amylase as a pressure-temperature-time indicator for high hydrostatic pressure pasteurization processes.

PubMed

Grauwet, Tara; Van der Plancken, Iesel; Vervoort, Liesbeth; Hendrickx, Marc E; Van Loey, Ann

2009-01-01

The potential of Bacillus subtilis alpha-amylase (BSA) as a pressure-temperature-time indicator (pTTI) for high pressure pasteurization processing (400-600 MPa; T(i) 10-40 degrees C; 1-15 min) was investigated. A stepwise approach was followed for the development of an enzyme-based, extrinsic, isolated pTTI. First, based on literature data on the pressure stability, BSA was selected as a candidate indicator. Next to the accuracy and ease of the measurement of the indicator's response (residual activity) to the pressure treatment, the storage and handling stability of BSA at atmospheric pressure was verified. Second, the stability of BSA at a constant temperature (T) and time in function of pressure (p) was investigated. Solvent engineering was used to shift the inactivation window of BSA in the processing range of interest. Third, the enzyme (1 g/L BSA-MES 0.05 M pH 5.0) was kinetically calibrated under isobaric-isothermal conditions. Time dependent changes in activity could be modeled best by a first-order model. Except for low pressures and high temperatures, a synergistic effect between pressure and temperature could be observed. Based on the model selected to describe the combined p,T-dependency of the inactivation rate constant, an elliptically shaped isorate contour plot could be constructed, illustrating the processing range where BSA can be used to demonstrate temperature gradients. Fourth, the validity of the kinetic model was tested successfully under dynamic conditions similar to those used in food industry. Finally, the indicator was found suitable to demonstrate nonuniformity in two-sectional planes of a vertical, single vessel system. (c) 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Biotechnol. Prog., 2009.

Foam generator and viscometer apparatus and process

DOEpatents

Reed, Troy D.; Pickell, Mark B.; Volk, Leonard J.

2004-10-26

An apparatus and process to generate a liquid-gas-surfactant foam and to measure its viscosity and enable optical and or electronic measurements of physical properties. The process includes the steps of pumping selected and measured liquids and measured gases into a mixing cell. The mixing cell is pressurized to a desired pressure and maintained at a desired pressure. Liquids and gas are mixed in the mixing cell to produce a foam of desired consistency. The temperature of the foam in the mixing cell is controlled. Foam is delivered from the mixing cell through a viscometer under controlled pressure and temperature conditions where the viscous and physical properties of the foam are measured and observed.

The VCU Pressure Ulcer Summit-Developing Centers of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Excellence: A Framework for Sustainability.

PubMed

Creehan, Sue; Cuddigan, Janet; Gonzales, Dana; Nix, Denise; Padula, William; Pittman, Joyce; Pontieri-Lewis, Vicky; Walden, Christine; Wells, Belinda; Wheeler, Robinetta

2016-01-01

Hospital-acquired pressure ulcer occurrences have declined over the past decade as reimbursement policies have changed, evidence-based practice guidelines have been implemented, and quality improvement initiatives have been launched. However, the 2006-2008 Institute for Healthcare Improvement goal of zero pressure ulcers remains difficult to achieve and even more challenging to sustain. Magnet hospitals tend to have lower hospital-acquired pressure ulcer rates than non-Magnet hospitals, yet many non-Magnet hospitals also have robust pressure ulcer prevention programs. Successful programs share commonalities in structure, processes, and outcomes. A national summit of 55 pressure ulcer experts was convened at the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center in March 2014. The group was divided into 3 focus groups; each was assigned a task to develop a framework describing components of a proposed Magnet-designated Center of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Excellence. Systematic literature reviews, analysis of exemplars, and nominal group process techniques were used to create the framework. This article presents a framework describing the proposed Magnet-designated Centers of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Excellence. Critical attributes of Centers of Excellence are identified and organized according to the 4 domains of the ANCC model for the Magnet Recognition Program: transformational leadership; structural empowerment; exemplary professional practice; and new knowledge innovation and improvements. The structures, processes, and outcome measures necessary to become a proposed Center of Pressure Ulcer Prevention Excellence are discussed.

Charging machine

DOEpatents

Medlin, John B.

1976-05-25

A charging machine for loading fuel slugs into the process tubes of a nuclear reactor includes a tubular housing connected to the process tube, a charging trough connected to the other end of the tubular housing, a device for loading the charging trough with a group of fuel slugs, means for equalizing the coolant pressure in the charging trough with the pressure in the process tubes, means for pushing the group of fuel slugs into the process tube and a latch and a seal engaging the last object in the group of fuel slugs to prevent the fuel slugs from being ejected from the process tube when the pusher is removed and to prevent pressure liquid from entering the charging machine.

High-pressure phase transitions, amorphization, and crystallization behaviors in Bi2Se3.

PubMed

Zhao, Jinggeng; Liu, Haozhe; Ehm, Lars; Dong, Dawei; Chen, Zhiqiang; Gu, Genda

2013-03-27

The phase transition, amorphization, and crystallization behaviors of the topological insulator bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) were discovered by performing in situ high-pressure angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction experiments during an increasing, decreasing, and recycling pressure process. In the compression process, Bi2Se3 transforms from the original rhombohedral structure (phase I(A)) to a monoclinic structure (phase II) at about 10.4 GPa, and further to a body-centered tetragonal structure (phase III) at about 24.5 GPa. When releasing pressure to ambient conditions after the complete transformation from phase II to III, Bi2Se3 becomes an amorphous solid (AM). In the relaxation process from this amorphous state, Bi2Se3 starts crystallizing into an orthorhombic structure (phase I(B)) about five hours after releasing the pressure to ambient. A review of the pressure-induced phase transition behaviors of A2B3-type materials composed from the V and VI group elements is presented.

Viscoelastic characteristics and phytochemical properties of purple-rice drinks following ultrahigh pressure and pasteurization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Worametrachanon, Srivilai; Apichartsrangkoon, Arunee

2014-10-01

This study investigated how pressure (500, 600 MPa/20 min) altered the viscoelastic characteristics and phytochemical properties of germinated and non-germinated purple-rice drinks in comparison with pasteurization. Accordingly, color parameters, storage and loss moduli, anthocyanin content, γ-oryzanol, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), total phenolic compounds and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylthydrazyl (DPPH) capacity of the processed drinks were determined. The finding showed that germinated and pressurized rice drink had lower Browning Index than the non-germinated and pasteurized rice drink. The plots of storage and loss moduli for processed rice drinks indicated that time of pressurization had greater impact on gel structural modification than the level of pressure used. The phytochemicals, including total phenolics, and DPPH capacity in pressurized rice drinks retained higher quantity than those in pasteurized drink, despite less treatment effects on anthocyanin. On the contrary, both γ-oryzanol and GABA were found in high amounts in germinated rice drink with little variation among processing effects.

Mechanically recovered poultry meat sausages manufactured with high hydrostatic pressure.

PubMed

Yuste, J; Mor-Mur, M; Capellas, M; Guamis, B; Pla, R

1999-06-01

The effect of high pressure processing at high temperature on texture and color of frankfurter-type sausages made with different contents of mechanically recovered poultry meat (MRPM) was evaluated and compared with that of a standard cooking process. Five types of sausages containing 100, 75, 50, 25, and 0% MRPM and 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of minced pork meat (MPM), respectively, were manufactured. They were pressurized at 500 MPa for 30 min at 50, 60, 70, and 75 C or cooked at 75 C for 30 min. Pressure-treated sausages were less springy and firm, but more cohesive. Moreover, color of pressurized sausages was lighter and more yellow than that of conventionally cooked sausages. Addition of MPM increased cohesiveness, hardness, and force at 80% compression. Minced pork meat also caused the appearance of sausages to be lighter, less red, and less yellow. Cooked sausages made with MRPM can have an attractive appearance and texture via high pressure processing.

Choking under monitoring pressure: being watched by the experimenter reduces executive attention.

PubMed

Belletier, Clément; Davranche, Karen; Tellier, Idriss S; Dumas, Florence; Vidal, Franck; Hasbroucq, Thierry; Huguet, Pascal

2015-10-01

Performing more poorly given one's skill level ("choking") is likely in situations that offer an incentive if a certain outcome is achieved (outcome pressure) or when one is being watched by others-especially when one's performance is being evaluated (monitoring pressure). According to the choking literature, outcome pressure is associated with reduced executive control of attention, whereas monitoring pressure is associated with increased, yet counterproductive, attention to skill processes. Here, we show the first evidence that monitoring pressure-being watched by the experimenter-may lead individuals with higher working memory to choke on a classic measure of executive control-just the task effect thought to result from outcome pressure. Not only does this finding help refine our understanding of the processes underlying choking under monitoring pressure, but it also leads to a new look at classic audience effects, with an important implication for experimental psychology.

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Mg-1at%X Alloys Processed with High-Pressure Torsion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawabata, Hiroyuki; Kuramoto, Shigeru; Oh-ishi, Keiichiro

A number of researchers have reported the mechanical properties of Mg alloys processed with high-pressure torsion (HPT), which is a typical method of severe plastic deformation. However, the effect of alloying elements on the mechanical properties of HPT-processed Mg alloys was unclear.

Sub-atmospheric pressure gas sources for bulk storage and delivery of arsine and phosphine to MOCVD tools

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raynor, M. W.; Houlding, V. H.; Funke, H. H.; Frye, R.; Dietz, J. A.

2003-02-01

A sub-atmospheric (SA) pressure gas source, based on the reversible adsorption of hydride gas onto a high surface area substrate within a cylinder, has been developed for the safe storage and delivery of high-purity arsine and phosphine for MOCVD processes. SA pressure and high-pressure sources are compared with respect to gas delivery and purity, risk reduction, and cost benefits. Gas analysis and performance of epi-structures grown with SA pressure cylinders confirm that the hydride gas delivered meets the purity requirements of MOCVD processes. Further, the low gas release rates measured from 2.2 and 49 l SA pressure cylinders indicate that the technology can be scaled up without additional safety risk.

Effect of processing conditions on oil point pressure of moringa oleifera seed.

PubMed

Aviara, N A; Musa, W B; Owolarafe, O K; Ogunsina, B S; Oluwole, F A

2015-07-01

Seed oil expression is an important economic venture in rural Nigeria. The traditional techniques of carrying out the operation is not only energy sapping and time consuming but also wasteful. In order to reduce the tedium involved in the expression of oil from moringa oleifera seed and develop efficient equipment for carrying out the operation, the oil point pressure of the seed was determined under different processing conditions using a laboratory press. The processing conditions employed were moisture content (4.78, 6.00, 8.00 and 10.00 % wet basis), heating temperature (50, 70, 85 and 100 °C) and heating time (15, 20, 25 and 30 min). Results showed that the oil point pressure increased with increase in seed moisture content, but decreased with increase in heating temperature and heating time within the above ranges. Highest oil point pressure value of 1.1239 MPa was obtained at the processing conditions of 10.00 % moisture content, 50 °C heating temperature and 15 min heating time. The lowest oil point pressure obtained was 0.3164 MPa and it occurred at the moisture content of 4.78 %, heating temperature of 100 °C and heating time of 30 min. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed that all the processing variables and their interactions had significant effect on the oil point pressure of moringa oleifera seed at 1 % level of significance. This was further demonstrated using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Tukey's test and Duncan's Multiple Range Analysis successfully separated the means and a multiple regression equation was used to express the relationship existing between the oil point pressure of moringa oleifera seed and its moisture content, processing temperature, heating time and their interactions. The model yielded coefficients that enabled the oil point pressure of the seed to be predicted with very high coefficient of determination.

Effect of high-pressure processing of bovine colostrum on immunoglobulin G concentration, pathogens, viscosity, and transfer of passive immunity to calves.

PubMed

Foster, Derek M; Poulsen, Keith P; Sylvester, Hannah J; Jacob, Megan E; Casulli, Kaitlyn E; Farkas, Brian E

2016-11-01

This study aimed to determine the effects of high-pressure processing on the immunoglobulin concentration, microbial load, viscosity, and transfer of passive immunity to calves when applied to bovine colostrum as an alternative to thermal pasteurization. A pilot study using Staphylococcus aureus was conducted to determine which pressure-time treatments are most appropriate for use with bovine colostrum, with the goals of maximizing bacterial inactivation while minimizing IgG content and viscosity changes. Following the pilot study, an inoculation study was conducted in which first-milking colostrum samples from Holstein-Friesian cows were inoculated with known concentrations of various bacteria or viruses and pressure processed at either 300 MPa for up to 60min or at 400MPa for up to 30min. The recovery of total native aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Dublin, Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis, bovine herpesvirus type 1, and feline calicivirus were determined after processing. Colostrum IgG content was measured before and after pressure processing. Shear stress and viscosity for each treatment was determined over shear rates encompassing those found during calf feeding and at normal bovine body temperature (37.8°C). Following a calf trial, serum IgG concentration was measured in 14 calves fed 4 L of colostrum pressure processed at 400MPa for 15min. In the pilot study, S. aureus was effectively reduced with pressure treatment at 300 and 400MPa (0, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 45min), with 2 treatments at 400MPa (30, 45min) determined to be inappropriate for use with bovine colostrum due to viscosity and IgG changes. High-pressure processing at 300MPa (30, 45, and 60min) and 400MPa (10, 15, and 20min) was shown to effectively reduce total native aerobic bacteria, E. coli, Salmonella Dublin, bovine herpesvirus type 1, and feline calicivirus populations in bovine colostrum, but no decrease occurred in Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis. All inoculation study pressure treatments insignificantly decreased IgG content of colostrum. Treatment of colostrum at 400MPa for 15min during the calf trial decreased IgG content of colostrum. Treatment at 400MPa for 15min increased colostrum viscosity, with 2 of 14 samples requiring dilution with water for calf feeding. Calves fed pressure-processed colostrum had similar serum IgG but lower efficiency of absorption than calves fed heat-treated colostrum. The results of this study suggest that high-pressure processing of bovine colostrum maintains an acceptable IgG level while decreasing bacterial and viral counts. Changes in viscosity sometimes made calf feeding more difficult, but still feasible. Additional research to optimize this technology for on-farm use is necessary. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Carbon dioxide pressure swing adsorption process using modified alumina adsorbents

DOEpatents

Gaffney, T.R.; Golden, T.C.; Mayorga, S.G.; Brzozowski, J.R.; Taylor, F.W.

1999-06-29

A pressure swing adsorption process for absorbing CO[sub 2] from a gaseous mixture containing CO[sub 2] comprises introducing the gaseous mixture at a first pressure into a reactor containing a modified alumina adsorbent maintained at a temperature ranging from 100 C and 500 C to adsorb CO[sub 2] to provide a CO[sub 2] laden alumina adsorbent and a CO[sub 2] depleted gaseous mixture and contacting the CO[sub 2] laden adsorbent with a weakly adsorbing purge fluid at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure to desorb CO[sub 2] from the CO[sub 2] laden alumina adsorbent. The modified alumina adsorbent which is formed by depositing a solution having a pH of 3.0 or more onto alumina and heating the alumina to a temperature ranging from 100 C and 600 C, is not degraded by high concentrations of water under process operating conditions. 1 fig.

Simulation of Pressure-swing Distillation for Separation of Ethyl Acetate-Ethanol-Water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jing; Zhou, Menglin; Wang, Yujie; Zhang, Xi; Wu, Gang

2017-12-01

In the light of the azeotrope of ethyl acetate-ethanol-water, a process of pressure-swing distillation is proposed. The separation process is simulated by Aspen Plus, and the effects of theoretical stage number, reflux ratio and feed stage about the pressure-swing distillation are optimized. Some better process parameters are as follows: for ethyl acetate refining tower, the pressure is 500.0 kPa, theoretical stage number is 16, reflux ratio is 0.6, feed stage is 5; for crude ethanol tower, the pressure is 101.3 kPa, theoretical stage number is 15, reflux ratio is 0.3, feed stage is 4; for ethanol tower, the pressure is 101.3 kPa, theoretical stage number is 25, reflux ratio is 1.2, feed stage is 10. The mass fraction of ethyl acetate in the bottom of the ethyl acetate refining tower reaches 0.9990, the mass fraction of ethanol in the top of the ethanol tower tower reaches 0.9017, the mass fraction of water in the bottom of the ethanol tower tower reaches 0.9622, and there is also no ethyl acetate in the bottom of the ethanol tower. With laboratory tests, experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation results, which indicates that the separation of ethyl acetate ethanol water can be realized by the pressure-swing distillation separation process. Moreover, it has certain practical significance to industrial practice.

Evidence for Skill Level Differences in the Thought Processes of Golfers During High and Low Pressure Situations.

PubMed

Whitehead, Amy E; Taylor, Jamie A; Polman, Remco C J

2015-01-01

Two studies examined differences in the cognition of golfers with differing levels of expertise in high and low pressure situations. In study 1, six high skill and six low skill golfers performed six holes of golf, while verbalizing their thoughts using Think Aloud (TA) protocol. Higher skilled golfers' cognitive processes centered more on planning in comparison to lower skilled golfers. Study 2 investigated whether thought processes of golfers changed in response to competitive pressure. Eight high skill and eight moderate skilled golfers, completed a practice round and a competition round whilst verbalizing thoughts using TA. To create pressure in the competition condition, participants were instructed that monetary prizes would be awarded to the top three performers and scores of all golfers would be published in a league table in the club house. When performing under competitive pressure, it was found that higher skilled golfers were more likely to verbalize technical rules compared to practice conditions, especially during putting performance. This shift in cognition toward more technical aspects of motor performance was strongly related to scores on the Decision Specific Reinvestment Scale, suggesting individuals with a higher propensity for reinvestment show the largest changes in cognition under pressure. From a practical perspective, TA can aid a player, coach or sport psychologist by allowing thought processes to be identified and investigate a performer's thoughts when faced with the pressure of a competition.

Process and control systems for composites manufacturing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsiang, T. H.; Wanamaker, John L.

1992-01-01

A precise control of composite material processing would not only improve part quality, but it would also directly reduce the overall manufacturing cost. The development and incorporation of sensors will help to generate real-time information for material processing relationships and equipment characteristics. In the present work, the thermocouple, pressure transducer, and dielectrometer technologies were investigated. The monitoring sensors were integrated with the computerized control system in three non-autoclave fabrication techniques: hot-press, self contained tool (self heating and pressurizing), and pressure vessel). The sensors were implemented in the parts and tools.

On Boiling of Crude Oil under Elevated Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pimenova, Anastasiya V.; Goldobin, Denis S.

2016-02-01

We construct a thermodynamic model for theoretical calculation of the boiling process of multicomponent mixtures of hydrocarbons (e.g., crude oil). The model governs kinetics of the mixture composition in the course of the distillation process along with the boiling temperature increase. The model heavily relies on the theory of dilute solutions of gases in liquids. Importantly, our results are applicable for modelling the process under elevated pressure (while the empiric models for oil cracking are not scalable to the case of extreme pressure), such as in an oil field heated by lava intrusions.

High-pressure spectroscopic measurement on diffusion with a diamond-anvil cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aoki, K.; Katoh, Eriko; Yamawaki, H.; Fujihisa, H.; Sakashita, M.

2003-04-01

We report a diamond-anvil-cell (DAC) technique developed for spectroscopic measurement on the diffusion process in molecular solids at high pressure. The diffusion processes of atoms, molecules, or their ionic species are investigated for a bilayer specimen by measuring the variation of infrared vibrational spectra with time. The experimental procedures for the protonic and molecular diffusion measurements on ice at 400 K and 10.2 GPa are presented as an example study. The in situ spectroscopic technique with a DAC significantly extends the pressure range accessible for diffusion measurement. The diffusion process at a rate of 10-16-10-14 m2/s can currently be observed at temperatures of 300-600 K and pressures up to several tens of gigaPascals.

40 CFR 63.654 - Heat exchange systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... pressure on the cooling water side at least 35 kilopascals greater than the maximum pressure on the process... HAP listed in Table 1 to this subpart, between the process and the cooling water. This intervening fluid must serve to isolate the cooling water from the process fluid and must not be sent through a...

Processing of baby food using pressure-assisted thermal sterilization (PATS) and comparison with thermal treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yubin; Ismail, Marliya; Farid, Mohammed

2017-10-01

Currently baby food is sterilized using retort processing that gives an extended shelf life. However, this type of heat processing leads to reduction of organoleptic and nutrition value. Alternatively, the combination of pressure and heat could be used to achieve sterilization at reduced temperatures. This study investigates the potential of pressure-assisted thermal sterilization (PATS) technology for baby food sterilization. Here, baby food (apple puree), inoculated with Bacillus subtilis spores was treated using PATS at different operating temperatures, pressures and times and was compared with thermal only treatment. The results revealed that the decimal reduction time of B. subtilis in PATS treatment was lower than that of thermal only treatment. At a similar spore inactivation, the retention of ascorbic acid of PATS-treated sample was higher than that of thermally treated sample. The results indicated that PATS could be a potential technology for baby food processing while minimizing quality deterioration.

Finite Element Modeling and Analysis of Powder Stream in Low Pressure Cold Spray Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goyal, Tarun; Walia, Ravinderjit Singh; Sharma, Prince; Sidhu, Tejinder Singh

2016-07-01

Low pressure cold gas dynamic spray (LPCGDS) is a coating process that utilize low pressure gas (5-10 bars instead of 25-30 bars) and the radial injection of powder instead of axial injection with the particle range (1-50 μm). In the LPCGDS process, pressurized compressed gas is accelerated to the critical velocity, which depends on length of the divergent section of nozzle, the propellant gas and particle characteristics, and the diameters ratio of the inlet and outer diameters. This paper presents finite element modeling (FEM) of powder stream in supersonic nozzle wherein adiabatic gas flow and expansion of gas occurs in uniform manner and the same is used to evaluate the resultant temperature and velocity contours during coating process. FEM analyses were performed using commercial finite volume package, ANSYS CFD FLUENT. The results are helpful to predict the characteristics of powder stream at the exit of the supersonic nozzle.

The critical pressure drop for the purge process in the anode of a fuel cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Xiao; Pingwen, Ming; Ming, Hou; Baolian, Yi; Shao, Zhi-Gang

Purge operation is an effective way to remove the accumulated liquid water in the anode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). This paper studies the phenomenon of the two-phase flow as well as the pressure drop fluctuation inside the flow field of a single cell during the purge process. The flow patterns are identified as intermittent purge and annular purge, and the two purge processes are contrastively analyzed and discussed. The intermittent purge greatly affects the fuel cell performance and thus it is not suitable for the in situ application. The annular purge process requires a higher pressure drop, and the critical pressure drop is calculated from the annular purge model. Furthermore, this value is quantitatively analyzed and validated by experiments. The results show that the annular purge is appropriate for removing liquid water out of the anode in the fuel cell.

The Integrity of the Corpus Callosum Mitigates the Impact of Blood Pressure on the Ventral Attention Network and Information Processing Speed in Healthy Adults

PubMed Central

Wong, Nichol M. L.; Ma, Ernie Po-Wing; Lee, Tatia M. C.

2017-01-01

Hypertension is a risk factor for cognitive impairment in older age. However, evidence of the neural basis of the relationship between the deterioration of cognitive function and elevated blood pressure is sparse. Based on previous research, we speculate that variations in brain connectivity are closely related to elevated blood pressure even before the onset of clinical conditions and apparent cognitive decline in individuals over 60 years of age. Forty cognitively healthy adults were recruited. Each received a blood pressure test before and after the cognitive assessment in various domains. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) data were collected. Our findings confirm that elevated blood pressure is associated with brain connectivity variations in cognitively healthy individuals. The integrity of the splenium of the corpus callosum is closely related to individual differences in systolic blood pressure. In particular, elevated systolic blood pressure is related to resting-state ventral attention network (VAN) and information processing speed. Serial mediation analyses have further revealed that lower integrity of the splenium statistically predicts elevated systolic blood pressure, which in turn predicts weakened functional connectivity (FC) within the VAN and eventually poorer processing speed. The current study sheds light on how neural correlates are involved in the impact of elevated blood pressure on cognitive functioning. PMID:28484386

Calibration improvements to electronically scanned pressure systems and preliminary statistical assessment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Everhart, Joel L.

1996-01-01

Orifice-to-orifice inconsistencies in data acquired with an electronically-scanned pressure system at the beginning of a wind tunnel experiment forced modifications to the standard, instrument calibration procedures. These modifications included a large increase in the number of calibration points which would allow a critical examination of the calibration curve-fit process, and a subsequent post-test reduction of the pressure data. Evaluation of these data has resulted in an improved functional representation of the pressure-voltage signature for electronically-scanned pressures sensors, which can reduce the errors due to calibration curve fit to under 0.10 percent of reading compared to the manufacturer specified 0.10 percent of full scale. Application of the improved calibration function allows a more rational selection of the calibration set-point pressures. These pressures should be adjusted to achieve a voltage output which matches the physical shape of the pressure-voltage signature of the sensor. This process is conducted in lieu of the more traditional approach where a calibration pressure is specified and the resulting sensor voltage is recorded. The fifteen calibrations acquired over the two-week duration of the wind tunnel test were further used to perform a preliminary, statistical assessment of the variation in the calibration process. The results allowed the estimation of the bias uncertainty for a single instrument calibration; and, they form the precursor for more extensive and more controlled studies in the laboratory.

A chromosome-centric human proteome project (C-HPP) to characterize the sets of proteins encoded in chromosome 17.

PubMed

Liu, Suli; Im, Hogune; Bairoch, Amos; Cristofanilli, Massimo; Chen, Rui; Deutsch, Eric W; Dalton, Stephen; Fenyo, David; Fanayan, Susan; Gates, Chris; Gaudet, Pascale; Hincapie, Marina; Hanash, Samir; Kim, Hoguen; Jeong, Seul-Ki; Lundberg, Emma; Mias, George; Menon, Rajasree; Mu, Zhaomei; Nice, Edouard; Paik, Young-Ki; Uhlen, Mathias; Wells, Lance; Wu, Shiaw-Lin; Yan, Fangfei; Zhang, Fan; Zhang, Yue; Snyder, Michael; Omenn, Gilbert S; Beavis, Ronald C; Hancock, William S

2013-01-04

We report progress assembling the parts list for chromosome 17 and illustrate the various processes that we have developed to integrate available data from diverse genomic and proteomic knowledge bases. As primary resources, we have used GPMDB, neXtProt, PeptideAtlas, Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and GeneCards. All sites share the common resource of Ensembl for the genome modeling information. We have defined the chromosome 17 parts list with the following information: 1169 protein-coding genes, the numbers of proteins confidently identified by various experimental approaches as documented in GPMDB, neXtProt, PeptideAtlas, and HPA, examples of typical data sets obtained by RNASeq and proteomic studies of epithelial derived tumor cell lines (disease proteome) and a normal proteome (peripheral mononuclear cells), reported evidence of post-translational modifications, and examples of alternative splice variants (ASVs). We have constructed a list of the 59 "missing" proteins as well as 201 proteins that have inconclusive mass spectrometric (MS) identifications. In this report we have defined a process to establish a baseline for the incorporation of new evidence on protein identification and characterization as well as related information from transcriptome analyses. This initial list of "missing" proteins that will guide the selection of appropriate samples for discovery studies as well as antibody reagents. Also we have illustrated the significant diversity of protein variants (including post-translational modifications, PTMs) using regions on chromosome 17 that contain important oncogenes. We emphasize the need for mandated deposition of proteomics data in public databases, the further development of improved PTM, ASV, and single nucleotide variant (SNV) databases, and the construction of Web sites that can integrate and regularly update such information. In addition, we describe the distribution of both clustered and scattered sets of protein families on the chromosome. Since chromosome 17 is rich in cancer-associated genes, we have focused the clustering of cancer-associated genes in such genomic regions and have used the ERBB2 amplicon as an example of the value of a proteogenomic approach in which one integrates transcriptomic with proteomic information and captures evidence of coexpression through coordinated regulation.

Enhanced oil recovery using flash-driven steamflooding

DOEpatents

Roark, Steven D.

1990-01-01

The present invention is directed to a novel steamflooding process which utilizes three specific stages of steam injection for enhanced oil recovery. The three stages are as follows: As steam is being injected into an oil-bearing reservoir through an injection well, the production rate of a production well located at a distance from the injection well is gradually restricted to a point that the pressure in the reservoir increases at a predetermined rate to a predetermined maximum value. After the maximum pressure has been reached, the production rate is increased to a value such that the predetermined maximum pressure value is maintained. Production at maximum pressure is continued for a length of time that will be unique for each individual reservoir. In some cases, this step of the steamflooding process of the invention may be omitted entirely. In the third stage of the steamflooding process of the invention, production rates at the producing well are increased gradually to allow the pressure to decrease down from the maximum pressure value to the original pressure value at the producing well. The rate of pressure reduction will be unique for each reservoir. After completing stage three, the three stages can be repeated or the steamflood may be terminated as considered desirable.

Ammonia Synthesis at Low Pressure.

PubMed

Cussler, Edward; McCormick, Alon; Reese, Michael; Malmali, Mahdi

2017-08-23

Ammonia can be synthesized at low pressure by the use of an ammonia selective absorbent. The process can be driven with wind energy, available locally in areas requiring ammonia for synthetic fertilizer. Such wind energy is often called "stranded," because it is only available far from population centers where it can be directly used. In the proposed low pressure process, nitrogen is made from air using pressure swing absorption, and hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water. While these gases can react at approximately 400 °C in the presence of a promoted conventional catalyst, the conversion is often limited by the reverse reaction, which makes this reaction only feasible at high pressures. This limitation can be removed by absorption on an ammine-like calcium or magnesium chloride. Such alkaline metal halides can effectively remove ammonia, thus suppressing the equilibrium constraints of the reaction. In the proposed absorption-enhanced ammonia synthesis process, the rate of reaction may then be controlled not by the chemical kinetics nor the absorption rates, but by the rate of the recycle of unreacted gases. The results compare favorably with ammonia made from a conventional small scale Haber-Bosch process.

Pressure Sensitive Paints

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Tianshu; Bencic, T.; Sullivan, J. P.

1999-01-01

This article reviews new advances and applications of pressure sensitive paints in aerodynamic testing. Emphasis is placed on important technical aspects of pressure sensitive paint including instrumentation, data processing, and uncertainty analysis.

Particle behavior and char burnout mechanisms under pressurized combustion conditions

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

Bauer, C.M.; Spliethoff, H.; Hein, K.R.G.

Combined cycle systems with coal-fired gas turbines promise highest cycle efficiencies for this fuel. Pressurized pulverized coal combustion, in particular, yields high cycle efficiencies due to the high flue gas temperatures possible. The main problem, however, is to ensure a flue gas clean enough to meet the high gas turbine standards with a dirty fuel like coal. On the one hand, a profound knowledge of the basic chemical and physical processes during fuel conversion under elevated pressures is required whereas on the other hand suitable hot gas cleaning systems need to be developed. The objective of this work was tomore » provide experimental data to enable a detailed description of pressurized coal combustion processes. A series of experiments were performed with two German hvb coals, Ensdorf and Goettelborn, and one German brown coal, Garzweiler, using a semi-technical scale pressurized entrained flow reactor. The parameters varied in the experiments were pressure, gas temperature and bulk gas oxygen concentration. A two-color pyrometer was used for in-situ determination of particle surface temperatures and particle sizes. Flue gas composition was measured and solid residue samples taken and subsequently analyzed. The char burnout reaction rates were determinated varying the parameters pressure, gas temperature and initial oxygen concentration. Variation of residence time was achieved by taking the samples at different points along the reaction zone. The most influential parameters on char burnout reaction rates were found to be oxygen partial pressure and fuel volatile content. With increasing pressure the burn-out reactions are accelerated and are mostly controlled by product desorption and pore diffusion being the limiting processes. The char burnout process is enhanced by a higher fuel volatile content.« less

Techno-economic Analysis of Acid Gas Removal and Liquefaction for Pressurized LNG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, S. H.; Seo, Y. K.; Chang, D. J.

2018-05-01

This study estimated the life cycle cost (LCC) of an acid gas removal and a liquefaction processes for Pressurized LNG (PLNG) production and compared the results with the cost of normal LNG production. PLNG is pressurized LNG that is liquefied at a higher pressure and temperature than normal LNG. Due to the high temperature, the energy for liquefaction is reduced. The allowable CO2 concentration in PLNG is increased up to 3 mol% when the product pressure 25 bar. An amine process with 35 wt% of diethanolamine (DEA) aqueous solution and a nitrogen expansion cycle were selected for the acid gas removal and the liquefaction processes, respectively. Two types of CO2 concentration in the feed gas were investigated to analyze their impacts on the acid gas removal unit. When the CO2 concentration was 5 mol%, the acid gas removal unit was required for both LNG and PLNG production. However, the acid gas removal unit was not necessary in PLNG when the concentration was 0.5 mol% and the pressure was higher than 15 bar. The results showed that the LCC of PLNG was reduced by almost 35% relative to that of LNG when the PLNG pressure was higher than 15 bar.

Development of Advanced ISS-WPA Catalysts for Organic Oxidation at Reduced Pressure/Temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yu, Ping; Nalette, Tim; Kayatin, Matthew

2016-01-01

The Water Processor Assembly (WPA) at International Space Station (ISS) processes a waste stream via multi-filtration beds, where inorganic and non-volatile organic contaminants are removed, and a catalytic reactor, where low molecular weight organics not removed by the adsorption process are oxidized at elevated pressure in the presence of oxygen and elevated temperature above the normal water boiling point. Operation at an elevated pressure requires a more complex system design compared to a reactor that could operate at ambient pressure. However, catalysts currently available have insufficient activity to achieve complete oxidation of the organic load at a temperature less than the water boiling point and ambient pressure. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop a more active and efficient catalyst at ambient pressure and a moderate temperature that is less than water boiling temperature. This paper describes our efforts in developing high efficiency water processing catalysts. Different catalyst support structures and coating metals were investigated in subscale reactors and results were compared against the flight WPA catalyst. Detailed improvements achieved on alternate metal catalysts at ambient pressure and 200 F will also be presented in the paper.

Periodic Heat Transfer at Small Pressure Fluctuations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pfriem, H.

1943-01-01

The effect of cyclic gas pressure variations on the periodic heat transfer at a flat wall is theoretically analyzed and the differential equation describing the process and its solution for relatively. Small pressure fluctuations developed, thus explaining the periodic heat cycle between gas and wall surface. The processes for pure harmonic pressure and temperature oscillations, respectively, in the gas space are described by means of a constant heat transfer coefficient and the equally constant phase angle between the appearance of the maximum values of the pressure and heat flow most conveniently expressed mathematically in the form of a complex heat transfer coefficient. Any cyclic pressure oscillations, can be reduced by Fourier analysis to harmonic oscillations, which result in specific, mutual relationships of heat-transfer coefficients and phase angles for the different harmonics.

Two-step optimization of pressure and recovery of reverse osmosis desalination process.

PubMed

Liang, Shuang; Liu, Cui; Song, Lianfa

2009-05-01

Driving pressure and recovery are two primary design variables of a reverse osmosis process that largely determine the total cost of seawater and brackish water desalination. A two-step optimization procedure was developed in this paper to determine the values of driving pressure and recovery that minimize the total cost of RO desalination. It was demonstrated that the optimal net driving pressure is solely determined by the electricity price and the membrane price index, which is a lumped parameter to collectively reflect membrane price, resistance, and service time. On the other hand, the optimal recovery is determined by the electricity price, initial osmotic pressure, and costs for pretreatment of raw water and handling of retentate. Concise equations were derived for the optimal net driving pressure and recovery. The dependences of the optimal net driving pressure and recovery on the electricity price, membrane price, and costs for raw water pretreatment and retentate handling were discussed.

Investigation of contact pressure and influence function model for soft wheel polishing.

PubMed

Rao, Zhimin; Guo, Bing; Zhao, Qingliang

2015-09-20

The tool influence function (TIF) is critical for calculating the dwell-time map to improve form accuracy. We present the TIF for the process of computer-controlled polishing with a soft polishing wheel. In this paper, the static TIF was developed based on the Preston equation. The pressure distribution was verified by the real removal spot section profiles. According to the experiment measurements, the pressure distribution simulated by Hertz contact theory was much larger than the real contact pressure. The simulated pressure distribution, which was modeled by the Winkler elastic foundation for a soft polishing wheel, matched the real contact pressure. A series of experiments was conducted to obtain the removal spot statistical properties for validating the relationship between material removal and processing time and contact pressure and relative velocity, along with calculating the fitted parameters to establish the TIF. The developed TIF predicted the removal character for the studied soft wheel polishing.

Reduction of aerobic and lactic acid bacteria in dairy desludge using an integrated compressed CO2 and ultrasonic process.

PubMed

Overton, Tim W; Lu, Tiejun; Bains, Narinder; Leeke, Gary A

Current treatment routes are not suitable to reduce and stabilise bacterial content in some dairy process streams such as separator and bactofuge desludges which currently present a major emission problem faced by dairy producers. In this study, a novel method for the processing of desludge was developed. The new method, elevated pressure sonication (EPS), uses a combination of low frequency ultrasound (20 kHz) and elevated CO 2 pressure (50 to 100 bar). Process conditions (pressure, sonicator power, processing time) were optimised for batch and continuous EPS processes to reduce viable numbers of aerobic and lactic acid bacteria in bactofuge desludge by ≥3-log fold. Coagulation of proteins present in the desludge also occurred, causing separation of solid (curd) and liquid (whey) fractions. The proposed process offers a 10-fold reduction in energy compared to high temperature short time (HTST) treatment of milk.

Effects of pressure fluctuations on the combustion process in turbulent premixed flames

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beardsell, Guillaume; Lapointe, Simon; Blanquart, Guillaume

2016-11-01

The need for a thorough understanding of turbulence-combustion interactions in compressible flows is driven by recent technological developments in propulsion as well as renewed interest in the development of next generation supersonic and hypersonic vehicles. In such flows, pressure fluctuations displaying a wide range of length and timescales are present. These fluctuations are expected to impact the combustion process to varying degrees, depending amongst other things on the amplitude of the pressure variations and the timescales of the chemical reactions taking place in the flame. In this context, numerical simulations of these flows can provide insight into the impact of pressure fluctuations on the combustion process. In the present work, we analyze data from simulations of statistically-flat premixed n-heptane/air flames at high Karlovitz numbers. The compressible Navier-Stokes equations are solved exactly (DNS) and results obtained with both detailed kinetic modeling and one-step chemistry are considered. The effects of pressure fluctuations on the fuel burning rate are investigated. The findings are compared with results obtained from simulations of one-dimensional premixed flames subjected to various pressure waves.

Developmental Steps in Metaphorical Language Abilities: The Influence of Age, Gender, Cognitive Flexibility, Information Processing Speed, and Analogical Reasoning.

PubMed

Willinger, Ulrike; Deckert, Matthias; Schmöger, Michaela; Schaunig-Busch, Ines; Formann, Anton K; Auff, Eduard

2017-12-01

Metaphor is a specific type of figurative language that is used in various important fields such as in the work with children in clinical or teaching contexts. The aim of the study was to investigate the developmental course, developmental steps, and possible cognitive predictors regarding metaphor processing in childhood and early adolescence. One hundred sixty-four typically developing children (7-year-olds, 9-year-olds) and early adolescents (11-year-olds) were tested for metaphor identification, comprehension, comprehension quality, and preference by the Metaphoric Triads Task as well as for analogical reasoning, information processing speed, cognitive flexibility under time pressure, and cognitive flexibility without time pressure. Metaphor identification and comprehension consecutively increased with age. Eleven-year-olds showed significantly higher metaphor comprehension quality and preference scores than seven- and nine-year-olds, whilst these younger age groups did not differ. Age, cognitive flexibility under time pressure, information processing speed, analogical reasoning, and cognitive flexibility without time pressure significantly predicted metaphor comprehension. Metaphorical language ability shows an ongoing development and seemingly changes qualitatively at the beginning of early adolescence. These results can possibly be explained by a greater synaptic reorganization in early adolescents. Furthermore, cognitive flexibility under time pressure and information processing speed possibly facilitate the ability to adapt metaphor processing strategies in a flexible, quick, and appropriate way.

Effect of soaking, boiling, and steaming on total phenolic contentand antioxidant activities of cool season food legumes.

PubMed

Xu, Baojun; Chang, Sam K C

2008-09-01

The effects of soaking, boiling and steaming processes on the total phenolic components and antioxidant activity in commonly consumed cool season food legumes (CSFL's), including green pea, yellow pea, chickpea and lentil were investigated. As compared to original unprocessed legumes, all processing steps caused significant (p<0.05) decreases in total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) in all tested CSFL's. All soaking and atmospheric boiling treatments caused significant (p<0.05) decreases in oxygen radical absorbing capacity (ORAC). However, pressure boiling and pressure steaming caused significant (p<0.05) increases in ORAC values. Steaming treatments resulted in a greater retention of TPC, DPPH, and ORAC values in all tested CSFL's as compared to boiling treatments. To obtain cooked legumes with similar palatability and firmness, pressure boiling shortened processing time as compared to atmospheric boiling, resulted in insignificant differences in TPC, DPPH for green and yellow pea. However, TPC and DPPH in cooked lentils differed significantly between atmospheric and pressure boiling. As compared to atmospheric processes, pressure processes significantly increased ORAC values in both boiled and steamed CSFL's. Greater TPC, DPPH and ORAC values were detected in boiling water than that in soaking and steaming water. Boiling also caused more solid loss than steaming. Steam processing exhibited several advantages in retaining the integrity of the legume appearance and texture of the cooked product, shortening process time, and greater retention of antioxidant components and activities. Copyright © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of Gas Pressure on Polarization of SOFC Cathode Prepared by Plasma Spray

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Cheng-Xin; Wang, Zhun-Zhun; Liu, Shuai; Li, Chang-Jiu

2013-06-01

A cermet-supported tubular SOFC was fabricated using thermal spray. The cell performance was investigated at temperatures from 750 to 900 °C and pressures from 0.1 to 0.5 MPa to examine the effect of operating gas pressure on the cell performance. The influence of gas pressure on the cathodic polarization was studied through the electrochemical impedance approach to examine the controlling electrochemical processes during cell operation. Results show that increasing the operating gas pressure improves the power output performance significantly. When the gas pressure is increased from 0.1 to 0.3 MPa, the maximum power density is increased by a factor of 32% at a temperature of 800 °C. The cathode polarization decreases significantly with the increase of the gas pressure. The electrochemical analysis shows that the main control processes of the cathode reaction are the oxygen species transfer at the three-phase boundary and oxygen diffusion on the surface or in the bulk of the cathode, which are enhanced with increasing gas pressure.

Effect of high pressure on physicochemical properties of meat.

PubMed

Buckow, Roman; Sikes, Anita; Tume, Ron

2013-01-01

The application of high pressure offers some interesting opportunities in the processing of muscle-based food products. It is well known that high-pressure processing can prolong the shelf life of meat products in addition to chilling but the pressure-labile nature of protein systems limits the commercial range of applications. High pressure can affect the texture and gel-forming properties of myofibrillar proteins and, hence, has been suggested as a physical and additive-free alternative to tenderize and soften or restructure meat and fish products. However, the rate and magnitude at which pressure and temperature effects take place in muscles are variable and depend on a number of circumstances and conditions that are still not precisely known. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge of the effects of high pressure on muscle tissue over a range of temperatures as it relates to meat texture, microstructure, color, enzymes, lipid oxidation, and pressure-induced gelation of myofibrillar proteins.

Study on copper kinetics in processing sulphide ore mixed with copper and zinc with sulfuric acid leaching under pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wen-bo, LUO; Ji-kun, WANG; Yin, GAN

2018-01-01

Sulphide ore mixed with copper and zinc is processed with pressure acid leaching. Research is conducted on the copper kinetic. The stirring rate is set at 600 rpm which could eliminate the influence of external diffusions. Research is conducted on the factors affecting the copper leaching kinetic are temperature, pressure, concentration of sulfuric acid, particle size. The result shows that the apparent activity energy is 50.7 KJ/mol. We could determine that the copper leaching process is shrinking core model of chemical reaction control and work out the leaching equation.

High temperature- and high pressure-processed garlic improves lipid profiles in rats fed high cholesterol diets.

PubMed

Sohn, Chan Wok; Kim, Hyunae; You, Bo Ram; Kim, Min Jee; Kim, Hyo Jin; Lee, Ji Yeon; Sok, Dai-Eun; Kim, Jin Hee; Lee, Kun Jong; Kim, Mee Ree

2012-05-01

Garlic protects against degenerative diseases such as hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. However, raw garlic has a strong pungency, which is unpleasant. In this study, we examined the effect of high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic on plasma lipid profiles in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a normal control diet, a high cholesterol (0.5% cholesterol) diet (HCD) only, or a high cholesterol diet supplemented with 0.5% high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic (HCP) or raw garlic (HCR) for 10 weeks. The body weights of the rats fed the garlic-supplemented diets decreased, mostly because of reduced fat pad weights. Plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) in the HCP and HCR groups decreased significantly compared with those in the HCD group. Additionally, fecal TC and TG increased significantly in the HCP and HCR groups. It is notable that no significant differences in plasma or fecal lipid profiles were observed between the HCP and HCR groups. High temperature/high pressure-processed garlic contained a higher amount of S-allyl cysteine than raw garlic (P<.05). The results suggest that high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic may be useful as a functional food to improve lipid profiles.

High Temperature- and High Pressure-Processed Garlic Improves Lipid Profiles in Rats Fed High Cholesterol Diets

PubMed Central

Sohn, Chan Wok; Kim, Hyunae; You, Bo Ram; Kim, Min Jee; Kim, Hyo Jin; Lee, Ji Yeon; Sok, Dai-Eun; Kim, Jin Hee; Lee, Kun Jong

2012-01-01

Abstract Garlic protects against degenerative diseases such as hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. However, raw garlic has a strong pungency, which is unpleasant. In this study, we examined the effect of high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic on plasma lipid profiles in rats. Sprague–Dawley rats were fed a normal control diet, a high cholesterol (0.5% cholesterol) diet (HCD) only, or a high cholesterol diet supplemented with 0.5% high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic (HCP) or raw garlic (HCR) for 10 weeks. The body weights of the rats fed the garlic-supplemented diets decreased, mostly because of reduced fat pad weights. Plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) in the HCP and HCR groups decreased significantly compared with those in the HCD group. Additionally, fecal TC and TG increased significantly in the HCP and HCR groups. It is notable that no significant differences in plasma or fecal lipid profiles were observed between the HCP and HCR groups. High temperature/high pressure-processed garlic contained a higher amount of S-allyl cysteine than raw garlic (P<.05). The results suggest that high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic may be useful as a functional food to improve lipid profiles. PMID:22404600

Thermodynamic and energy efficiency analysis of power generation from natural salinity gradients by pressure retarded osmosis.

PubMed

Yip, Ngai Yin; Elimelech, Menachem

2012-05-01

The Gibbs free energy of mixing dissipated when fresh river water flows into the sea can be harnessed for sustainable power generation. Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) is one of the methods proposed to generate power from natural salinity gradients. In this study, we carry out a thermodynamic and energy efficiency analysis of PRO work extraction. First, we present a reversible thermodynamic model for PRO and verify that the theoretical maximum extractable work in a reversible PRO process is identical to the Gibbs free energy of mixing. Work extraction in an irreversible constant-pressure PRO process is then examined. We derive an expression for the maximum extractable work in a constant-pressure PRO process and show that it is less than the ideal work (i.e., Gibbs free energy of mixing) due to inefficiencies intrinsic to the process. These inherent inefficiencies are attributed to (i) frictional losses required to overcome hydraulic resistance and drive water permeation and (ii) unutilized energy due to the discontinuation of water permeation when the osmotic pressure difference becomes equal to the applied hydraulic pressure. The highest extractable work in constant-pressure PRO with a seawater draw solution and river water feed solution is 0.75 kWh/m(3) while the free energy of mixing is 0.81 kWh/m(3)-a thermodynamic extraction efficiency of 91.1%. Our analysis further reveals that the operational objective to achieve high power density in a practical PRO process is inconsistent with the goal of maximum energy extraction. This study demonstrates thermodynamic and energetic approaches for PRO and offers insights on actual energy accessible for utilization in PRO power generation through salinity gradients. © 2012 American Chemical Society

Getting evidence-based pressure ulcer prevention into practice: a process evaluation of a multifaceted intervention in a hospital setting.

PubMed

Sving, Eva; Fredriksson, Lennart; Gunningberg, Lena; Mamhidir, Anna-Greta

2017-10-01

To describe registered nurses', assistant nurses' and first-line managers' experiences and perceptions of a multifaceted hospital setting intervention focused on implementing evidence-based pressure ulcer prevention. Pressure ulcer prevention is deficient. Different models exist to support implementation of evidence-based care. Little is known about implementation processes. A descriptive qualitative approach. Five focus-group nurse interviews and five individual first-line manager interviews were conducted at five Swedish hospital units. Qualitative content analysis was used. The findings support that the intervention and the implementation process changed the understanding and way of working with pressure ulcer prevention: from treating to preventing. This became possible as 'Changed understanding enables changed actions - through one's own performance and reflection on pressure ulcer prevention'. Having a common outlook on pressure ulcer prevention, easy access to pressure-reducing equipment, and external and internal facilitator support were described as important factors for changed practices. Bedside support, feedback and discussions on current results increased the awareness of needed improvements. The multifaceted intervention approach and the participants' positive attitudes seemed to be crucial for changing understanding and working more preventatively. The strategies used and the skills of the facilitators need to be tailored to the problems surrounding the context. Feedback discussions among the staff regarding the results of the care provided also appear to be vital. It is crucial that dedicated facilitators are involved to promote the implementation process. A preventative mindset should be strived for. Creating an implementation plan with an outcome and a process evaluation should be emphasised. It is important to give the staff regular feedback on the quality of care and on those occasions allocate time for discussion and reflection. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A high-pressure premixed flat-flame burner for chemical process studies. [of pollutant formation in hydrocarbon flames

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, I. M.

1978-01-01

A premixed flat-flame burner was designed and tested with methane-air mixtures at pressures from 1.1 to 20 atm and equivalence ratios from 0.7 to 1.1. Reactant velocity in the burner mixing chamber was used to characterize the range of stable flames at each pressure-equivalence-ratio condition. Color photographs of the flames were used to determine flame zone thickness and flame height. The results show that this burner can be used for chemical process studies in premixed high pressure methane-air flames up to 20 atm.

Development and implementation of an automatic integration system for fibre optic sensors in the braiding process with the objective of online-monitoring of composite structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hufenbach, W.; Gude, M.; Czulak, A.; Kretschmann, Martin

2014-04-01

Increasing economic, political and ecological pressure leads to steadily rising percentage of modern processing and manufacturing processes for fibre reinforced polymers in industrial batch production. Component weights beneath a level achievable by classic construction materials, which lead to a reduced energy and cost balance during product lifetime, justify the higher fabrication costs. However, complex quality control and failure prediction slow down the substitution by composite materials. High-resolution fibre-optic sensors (FOS), due their low diameter, high measuring point density and simple handling, show a high applicability potential for an automated sensor-integration in manufacturing processes, and therefore the online monitoring of composite products manufactured in industrial scale. Integrated sensors can be used to monitor manufacturing processes, part tests as well as the component structure during product life cycle, which simplifies allows quality control during production and the optimization of single manufacturing processes.[1;2] Furthermore, detailed failure analyses lead to a enhanced understanding of failure processes appearing in composite materials. This leads to a lower wastrel number and products of a higher value and longer product life cycle, whereby costs, material and energy are saved. This work shows an automation approach for FOS-integration in the braiding process. For that purpose a braiding wheel has been supplemented with an appliance for automatic sensor application, which has been used to manufacture preforms of high-pressure composite vessels with FOS-networks integrated between the fibre layers. All following manufacturing processes (vacuum infiltration, curing) and component tests (quasi-static pressure test, programmed delamination) were monitored with the help of the integrated sensor networks. Keywords: SHM, high-pressure composite vessel, braiding, automated sensor integration, pressure test, quality control, optic-fibre sensors, Rayleigh, Luna Technologies

Embedded Acoustic Sensor Array for Engine Fan Noise Source Diagnostic Test: Feasibility of Noise Telemetry via Wireless Smart Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zaman, Afroz; Bauch, Matthew; Raible, Daniel

2011-01-01

Aircraft engines have evolved into a highly complex system to meet ever-increasing demands. The evolution of engine technologies has primarily been driven by fuel efficiency, reliability, as well as engine noise concerns. One of the sources of engine noise is pressure fluctuations that are induced on the stator vanes. These local pressure fluctuations, once produced, propagate and coalesce with the pressure waves originating elsewhere on the stator to form a spinning pressure pattern. Depending on the duct geometry, air flow, and frequency of fluctuations, these spinning pressure patterns are self-sustaining and result in noise which eventually radiate to the far-field from engine. To investigate the nature of vane pressure fluctuations and the resulting engine noise, unsteady pressure signatures from an array of embedded acoustic sensors are recorded as a part of vane noise source diagnostics. Output time signatures from these sensors are routed to a control and data processing station adding complexity to the system and cable loss to the measured signal. "Smart" wireless sensors have data processing capability at the sensor locations which further increases the potential of wireless sensors. Smart sensors can process measured data locally and transmit only the important information through wireless communication. The aim of this wireless noise telemetry task was to demonstrate a single acoustic sensor wireless link for unsteady pressure measurement, and thus, establish the feasibility of distributed smart sensors scheme for aircraft engine vane surface unsteady pressure data transmission and characterization.

Preparation of Hierarchical Highly Ordered Porous Films of Brominated Poly(phenylene oxide) and Hydrophilic SiO2/C Membrane via the Breath Figure Method

PubMed Central

Yuan, Hua; Yu, Bing; Chi, Ming; Cheng, Yuanzhe; Lv, Chunxin

2018-01-01

Porous permeable films materials have very broad prospects in the treatment of sludge-containing waste water due to their large surface area and good microfiltration. In this work, highly ordered porous membranes have been prepared successfully on ice substrates using a poly(phenylene oxide) (BPPO)-SiO2 nanoparticle (NP) mixture by the breath figure method. Based on the theory of Pickering emulsion system and capillary flow, particle assisted membrane formation was analyzed. Another two sorts of new membranes SiO2/C membrane and hierarchical porous polymer (HPP) membrane, which were obtained by modification of the BPPO-SiO2 membrane by calcination and etching, were set up in a further study. Their properties were investigated through the methods of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), ultraviolet spectrum (UV), capillary electrophoresis (CE), contact angle, and water flux tests. All these results demonstrate that both surface hydrophilicity and fouling resistance of the membrane would be improved by using SiO2 as a filler. The membranes with high permeability and antifouling properties were used for microfiltration applications. PMID:29570622

Supercapacitor to Provide Ancillary Services: Preprint

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

Muljadi, Eduard; Gevorgian, Vahan; Luo, Yusheng

Supercapacitor technology has reached a level of maturity as a viable energy storage option available to support a modern electric power system grid; however, its application is still limited because of its energy capacity and the cost of the commercial product. In this paper, we demonstrate transient models of supercapacitor energy storage plants operating in coordination with run-of-the-river (ROR), doubly-fed induction generator hydropower plants (HPP) using a system control concept and architecture developed. A detailed transient model of a supercapacitor energy storage device is coupled with the grid via a three-phase inverter/rectifier and bidirectional DC-DC converter. In addition, we usemore » a version of a 14-bus IEEE test case that includes the models of the supercapacitor energy storage device, ROR HPPs, and synchronous condensers that use the rotating synchronous generators of retired coal-powered plants. The purpose of the synchronous condensers is to enhance the system stability by providing voltage and reactive power control, provide power system oscillations damping, and maintain system inertia at secure levels. The control layer provides coordinated, decentralized operation of distributed ROR HPPs and energy storage as aggregate support to power system operations.« less

Prioritizing Popular Proteins in Liver Cancer: Remodelling One-Carbon Metabolism.

PubMed

Mora, María Isabel; Molina, Manuela; Odriozola, Leticia; Elortza, Félix; Mato, José María; Sitek, Barbara; Zhang, Pumin; He, Fuchu; Latasa, María Uxue; Ávila, Matías Antonio; Corrales, Fernando José

2017-12-01

Primary liver cancer (HCC) is recognized as the fifth most common neoplasm and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Most risk factors are known, and the molecular pathogenesis has been widely studied in the past decade; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be unveiled, as they will facilitate the definition of novel biomarkers and clinical targets for more effective patient management. We utilize the B/D-HPP popular protein strategy. We report a list of popular proteins that have been highly cocited with the expression "liver cancer". Several enzymes highlight the known metabolic remodeling of liver cancer cells, four of which participate in one-carbon metabolism. This pathway is central to the maintenance of differentiated hepatocytes, as it is considered the connection between intermediate metabolism and epigenetic regulation. We designed a targeted selective reaction monitoring (SRM) method to follow up one-carbon metabolism adaptation in mouse HCC and in regenerating liver following exposure to CCl 4 . This method allows systematic monitoring of one-carbon metabolism and could prove useful in the follow-up of HCC and of chronically liver-diseased patients (cirrhosis) at risk of HCC. The SRM data are available via ProteomeXchange in PASSEL (PASS01060).

Onion cells after high pressure and thermal processing: comparison of membrane integrity changes using different analytical methods and impact on tissue texture.

PubMed

Gonzalez, Maria E; Anthon, Gordon E; Barrett, Diane M

2010-09-01

Two different analytical methods were evaluated for their capacity to provide quantitative information on onion cell membrane permeability and integrity after high pressure and thermal processing and to study the impact of these processing treatments on cell compartmentalization and texture quality. To determine changes in cell membrane permeability and/or integrity the methodologies utilized were: (1) measurement of a biochemical product, pyruvate, formed as a result of membrane permeabilization followed by enzymatic activity and (2) leakage of electrolytes into solution. These results were compared to previously determined methods that quantified cell viability and ¹H-NMR T(2) of onions. These methods allowed for the monitoring of changes in the plasma and tonoplast membranes after high pressure or thermal processing. High pressure treatments consisted of 5 min holding times at 50, 100, 200, 300, or 600 MPa. Thermal treatments consisted of 30 min water bath exposure to 40, 50, 60, 70, or 90 °C. There was strong agreement between the methods in the determination of the ranges of high pressure and temperature that induce changes in the integrity of the plasma and tonoplast membranes. Membrane rupture could clearly be identified at 300 MPa and above in high pressure treatments and at 60 °C and above in the thermal treatments. Membrane destabilization effects could already be visualized following the 200 MPa and 50 °C treatments. The texture of onions was influenced by the state of the membranes and was abruptly modified once membrane integrity was lost. In this study, we used chemical, biochemical, and histological techniques to obtain information on cell membrane permeability and onion tissue integrity after high pressure and thermal processing. Because there was strong agreement between the various methods used, it is possible to implement something relatively simple, such as ion leakage, into routine quality assurance measurements to determine the severity of preservation methods and the shelf life of processed vegetables.

Structural changes induced by high-pressure processing in micellar casein and milk protein concentrates.

PubMed

Cadesky, Lee; Walkling-Ribeiro, Markus; Kriner, Kyle T; Karwe, Mukund V; Moraru, Carmen I

2017-09-01

Reconstituted micellar casein concentrates and milk protein concentrates of 2.5 and 10% (wt/vol) protein concentration were subjected to high-pressure processing at pressures from 150 to 450 MPa, for 15 min, at ambient temperature. The structural changes induced in milk proteins by high-pressure processing were investigated using a range of physical, physicochemical, and chemical methods, including dynamic light scattering, rheology, mid-infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, proteomics, and soluble mineral analyses. The experimental data clearly indicate pressure-induced changes of casein micelles, as well as denaturation of serum proteins. Calcium-binding α S1 - and α S2 -casein levels increased in the soluble phase after all pressure treatments. Pressurization up to 350 MPa also increased levels of soluble calcium and phosphorus, in all samples and concentrations, whereas treatment at 450 MPa reduced the levels of soluble Ca and P. Experimental data suggest dissociation of calcium phosphate and subsequent casein micelle destabilization as a result of pressure treatment. Treatment of 10% micellar casein concentrate and 10% milk protein concentrate samples at 450 MPa resulted in weak, physical gels, which featured aggregates of uniformly distributed, casein substructures of 15 to 20 nm in diameter. Serum proteins were significantly denatured by pressures above 250 MPa. These results provide information on pressure-induced changes in high-concentration protein systems, and may inform the development on new milk protein-based foods with novel textures and potentially high nutritional quality, of particular interest being the soft gel structures formed at high pressure levels. The Authors. Published by the Federation of Animal Science Societies and Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).

Evaluation of Double-Vacuum-Bag Process For Composite Fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hou, T. H.; Jensen, B. J.

2004-01-01

A non-autoclave vacuum bag process using atmospheric pressure alone that eliminates the need for external pressure normally supplied by an autoclave or a press is an attractive method for composite fabrication. This type of process does not require large capital expenditures for tooling and processing equipment. In the molding cycle (temperature/pressure profile) for a given composite system, the vacuum application point has to be carefully selected to achieve the final consolidated laminate net shape and resin content without excessive resin squeeze-out. The traditional single-vacuum- bag (SVB) process is best suited for molding epoxy matrix based composites because of their superior flow and the absence of reaction by-products or other volatiles. Other classes of materials, such as polyimides and phenolics, generate water during cure. In addition, these materials are commonly synthesized as oligomers using solvents to facilitate processability. Volatiles (solvents and reaction byproducts) management therefore becomes a critical issue. SVB molding, without additional pressure, normally fails to yield void-free quality composites for these classes of resin systems. A double-vacuum- bag (DVB) process for volatile management was envisioned, designed and built at the NASA Langley Research Center. This experimental DVB process affords superior volatiles management compared to the traditional SVB process. Void-free composites are consistently fabricated as measured by C-scan and optical photomicroscopy for high performance polyimide and phenolic resins.

Direct monitoring of wind-induced pressure-pumping on gas transport in soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laemmel, Thomas; Mohr, Manuel; Schindler, Dirk; Schack-Kirchner, Helmer; Maier, Martin

2017-04-01

Gas exchange between soil and atmosphere is important for the biogeochemistry of soils and is commonly assumed to be governed by molecular diffusion. Yet a few previous field studies identified other gas transport processes such as wind-induced pressure-pumping to enhance soil-atmosphere fluxes significantly. However, since these wind-induced non-diffusive gas transport processes in soil often occur intermittently, the quantification of their contribution to soil gas emissions is challenging. To quantify the effects of wind-induced pressure-pumping on soil gas transport, we developed a method for in situ monitoring of soil gas transport. The method includes the use of Helium (He) as a tracer gas which was continuously injected into the soil. The resulting He steady-state concentration profile was monitored. Gas transport parameters of the soil were inversely modelled. We used our method during a field campaign in a well-aerated forest soil over three months. During periods of low wind speed, soil gas transport was modelled assuming diffusion as transport process. During periods of high wind speed, the previously steady diffusive He concentration profile showed temporary concentration decreases in the topsoil, indicating an increase of the effective gas transport rate in the topsoil up to 30%. The enhancement of effective topsoil soil gas diffusivity resulted from wind-induced air pressure fluctuations which are referred to as pressure-pumping. These air pressure fluctuations had frequencies between 0.1 and 0.01 Hz and amplitudes up to 10 Pa and occurred at above-canopy wind speeds greater than 5 m s-1. We could show the importance of the enhancement of the gas transport rate in relation with the wind intensity and corresponding air pressure fluctuations characteristics. We directly detected and quantified the pressure-pumping effect on gas transport in soil in a field study for the first time, and could thus validate and underpin the importance of this non-diffusive gas transport process. Our method can also be used to study other non-diffusive gas transport processes occurring in soil and snow, and their possible feedbacks or interactions with biogeochemical processes.

Sleep, circadian rhythms, and psychomotor vigilance.

PubMed

Van Dongen, Hans P A; Dinges, David F

2005-04-01

Psychomotor vigilance performance is highly relevant to athletic performance. It is influenced by a sleep homeostatic process, which builds up pressure for sleep during wakefulness and dissipates this pressure during sleep, and a circadian rhythm process, which produces a waxing and waning of pressure for wakefulness over a 24 hours of the day. During total sleep deprivation, these two processes cause performance to deteriorate progressively over days, modulated within days by further performance reductions at night and relative improvements during the daytime. As the homeostatic pressure for sleep builds up higher across prolonged wakefulness, the rate of dissipation of that pressure during subsequent sleep is enhanced exponentially, so that even brief periods of sleep provide significant performance recuperation. Nevertheless, sleep restriction practiced on a chronic basis induces cumulative performance deficits of the same order of magnitude as observed during total sleep deprivation. There are also considerable individual differences in the degree of vulnerability to performance impairment from sleep loss, and these differences represent a trait.

Carbon dioxide pressure swing adsorption process using modified alumina adsorbents

DOEpatents

Gaffney, Thomas Richard; Golden, Timothy Christopher; Mayorga, Steven Gerard; Brzozowski, Jeffrey Richard; Taylor, Fred William

1999-01-01

A pressure swing adsorption process for absorbing CO.sub.2 from a gaseous mixture containing CO.sub.2 comprising introducing the gaseous mixture at a first pressure into a reactor containing a modified alumina adsorbent maintained at a temperature ranging from 100.degree. C. and 500.degree. C. to adsorb CO.sub.2 to provide a CO.sub.2 laden alumina adsorbent and a CO.sub.2 depleted gaseous mixture and contacting the CO.sub.2 laden adsorbent with a weakly adsorbing purge fluid at a second pressure which is lower than the first pressure to desorb CO.sub.2 from the CO.sub.2 laden alumina adsorbent. The modified alumina adsorbent which is formed by depositing a solution having a pH of 3.0 or more onto alumina and heating the alumina to a temperature ranging from 100.degree. C. and 600.degree. C., is not degraded by high concentrations of water under process operating conditions.