Electrically conductive anodized aluminum coatings

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alwitt, Robert S. (Inventor); Liu, Yanming (Inventor)

2001-01-01

A process for producing anodized aluminum with enhanced electrical conductivity, comprising anodic oxidation of aluminum alloy substrate, electrolytic deposition of a small amount of metal into the pores of the anodized aluminum, and electrolytic anodic deposition of an electrically conductive oxide, including manganese dioxide, into the pores containing the metal deposit; and the product produced by the process.

Development of device producing electrolyzed water for home care

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umimoto, K.; Nagata, S.; Yanagida, J.

2013-06-01

When water containing ionic substances is electrolyzed, electrolyzed water with strong bactericidal ability due to the available chlorine(AC) is generated on the anode side. Slightly acidic to neutral electrolyzed water (pH 6.5 to 7.5) is physiological pH and is suitable for biological applications. For producing slightly acidic to neutral electrolyzed water simply, a vertical-type electrolytic tank with an asymmetric structure was made. As a result, a small amount of strongly alkaline water was generated in the upper cathodic small chamber, and a large amount of weakly acidic water generated in the lower anodic large chamber. The pH and AC concentration in solutin mixed with both electrolyzed water were 6.3 and 39.5 ppm, respectively, This solution was slightly acidic to neutral electrolyzed water and had strong bactericidal activity. This device is useful for producing slightly acidic to neutral electrolyzed water as a disinfectant to employ at home care, when considering economic and environmental factors, since it returns to ordinary water after use.

Low emissions diesel fuel

DOEpatents

Compere, Alicia L.; Griffith, William L.; Dorsey, George F.; West, Brian H.

1998-01-01

A method and matter of composition for controlling NO.sub.x emissions from existing diesel engines. The method is achieved by adding a small amount of material to the diesel fuel to decrease the amount of NO.sub.x produced during combustion. Specifically, small amounts, less than about 1%, of urea or a triazine compound (methylol melamines) are added to diesel fuel. Because urea and triazine compounds are generally insoluble in diesel fuel, microemulsion technology is used to suspend or dissolve the urea or triazine compound in the diesel fuel. A typical fuel formulation includes 5% t-butyl alcohol, 4.5% water, 0.5% urea or triazine compound, 9% oleic acid, and 1% ethanolamine. The subject invention provides improved emissions in heavy diesel engines without the need for major modifications.

Low emissions diesel fuel

DOEpatents

Compere, A.L.; Griffith, W.L.; Dorsey, G.F.; West, B.H.

1998-05-05

A method and matter of composition for controlling NO{sub x} emissions from existing diesel engines. The method is achieved by adding a small amount of material to the diesel fuel to decrease the amount of NO{sub x} produced during combustion. Specifically, small amounts, less than about 1%, of urea or a triazine compound (methylol melamines) are added to diesel fuel. Because urea and triazine compounds are generally insoluble in diesel fuel, microemulsion technology is used to suspend or dissolve the urea or triazine compound in the diesel fuel. A typical fuel formulation includes 5% t-butyl alcohol, 4.5% water, 0.5% urea or triazine compound, 9% oleic acid, and 1% ethanolamine. The subject invention provides improved emissions in heavy diesel engines without the need for major modifications.

[Component and content changes of volatiles from Chinese cabbage damaged by Plutella xylostella].

PubMed

Yang, Guang; You, Minsheng; Wei, Hui

2004-11-01

The study showed that Chinese cabbage, Brassica campestris could release a variety of volatiles, especially when infested by Plutella xylostella larvae. Among these volatiles, saturated hydrocarbon was dominant, aromatic hydrocarbon was the second, and unsaturated hydrocarbon, aldehyde, alcohol, ketone, acid and heteroaromatic compounds were existed with a small amount. Chinese cabbage damaged by Plutella xylostella larvae produced 3 times of volatiles in amount with more species than the control. The volatiles from control plants were mostly of small molecular weight, and those from Chinese cabbage damaged by Plutella xylostella were mostly of high molecular weight.

California energy flow in 1993

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

Borg, I.Y.; Briggs, C.K.

1995-04-01

Energy consumption in the state of California decreased about 3% in 1993 reflecting continuation of the recession that was manifest in a moribund construction industry and a high state unemployment that ran counter to national recovery trends. Residential/commercial use decreased slightly reflecting a mild winter in the populous southern portion of the state, a decrease that was offset to some extent by an increase in the state population. Industrial consumption of purchased energy declined substantially as did production of self-generated electricity for in-house use. Consumption in the transportation sector decreased slightly. The amount of power transmitted by the utilities wasmore » at 1992 levels; however a smaller proportion was produced by the utilities themselves. Generation of electricity by nonutilities, primarily cogenerators and small power producers, was the largest of any state in the US. The growth in the number of private power producers combined with increased amounts of electricity sold to the public utilities set the stage for the sweeping proposals before the California Public Utility Commission to permit direct sales from the nonutilities to retail customers. California production of both oil and natural gas declined; however, to meet demand only the imports of natural gas increased. A break in the decade-long drought during the 1992--1993 season resulted in a substantial increase in the amount of hydroelectricity generated during the year. Geothermal energy`s contribution increased substantially because of the development of new resources by small power producers. Decline in steam production continued at The Geysers, the state`s largest field, principally owned and managed by a public utility. Increases in windpower constituted 1--1/2% of the total electric supply--up slightly from 1992. Several solar photo voltaic demonstration plants were in operation, but their contribution remained small.« less

California energy flow in 1993

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borg, I. Y.; Briggs, C. K.

1995-04-01

Energy consumption in the state of California decreased about 3% in 1993 reflecting continuation of the recession that was manifest in a moribund construction industry and a high state unemployment that ran counter to national recovery trends. Residential/commercial use decreased slightly reflecting a mild winter in the populous southern portion of the state, a decrease that was offset to some extent by an increase in the state population. Industrial consumption of purchased energy declined substantially as did production of self-generated electricity for in-house use. Consumption in the transportation sector decreased slightly. The amount of power transmitted by the utilities was at 1992 levels; however a smaller proportion was produced by the utilities themselves. Generation of electricity by nonutilities, primarily cogenerators and small power producers, was the largest of any state in the US. The growth in the number of private power producers combined with increased amounts of electricity sold to the public utilities set the stage for the sweeping proposals before the California Public Utility Commission to permit direct sales from the nonutilities to retail customers. California production of both oil and natural gas declined; however, to meet demand only the imports of natural gas increased. A break in the decade-long drought during the 1992-1993 season resulted in a substantial increase in the amount of hydroelectricity generated during the year. Geothermal energy's contribution increased substantially because of the development of new resources by small power producers. Decline in steam production continued at The Geysers, the state's largest field, principally owned and managed by a public utility. Increases in windpower constituted 1-1/2% of the total electric supply, up slightly from 1992. Several solar photovoltaic demonstration plants were in operation, but their contribution remained small.

Exploration of SO[subscript 2] Scrubbers: An Environmental Chemistry Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schilling, Amber L.; Leber, Phyllis A.; Yoder, Claude H.

2009-01-01

The remediation of acid rain by SO[subscript 2] scrubbing is integrated into a laboratory project appropriate for first-year chemistry students. By burning a small amount of sulfur and bubbling the gas produced through distilled water, the student first observes one of the reactions that produces acid rain. The student then tests four different…

Method and Apparatus for Producing a Substrate with Low Secondary Electron Emissions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jensen, Kenneth A. (Inventor); Curren, Arthur N. (Inventor); Roman, Robert F. (Inventor)

1998-01-01

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for producing a highly-textured surface on a copper substrate with only extremely small amounts of texture-inducing seeding of masking material. The texture-inducing seeding material is delivered to the copper substrate electrically switching the seeding material in and out of a circuit loop.

Digital Coin Business Model Using the Coin ATM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, Won-Gyo; Park, Sang-Sung; Shin, Young-Geun; Jang, Dong-Sik

2009-08-01

Because about 83.6 billion won worth coins are not collected annually, 35 billion won of government money is being wasted for producing new coins in Korea. In order to improve unnecessary government money leakage, we now have to develop a proper way of managing small valued money such as coins. We have already developed the coin ATM to solve such problem in the previous study. In this study, we proposed business model, which enables users to deposit or consume such small amount of money with the coin ATM. The proposed business model has advantages that enable to connect various payment system and is efficient to consume such small amount of money. This business model improves not only the way of managing small valued money but also the way of consuming small valued money. Furthermore, our business model can contribute to activating circulation of coins as well as preventing leakage of government money.

76 FR 45818 - Burden of Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act Fee Amounts on Small...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-01

... Practice in Manufacturing, Packaging, Labeling, or Holding Operations for Dietary Supplements'' (72 FR... (e.g., seafood, produce, dairy, eggs, juice, dietary supplements, etc.); the number of employees; the...

Fluorspar

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, M.

2013-01-01

World fluorspar demand slowed in 2012 and, according to some sources prices decreased, especially in the latter half of the year. In 2012, nearly all fluorspar (CaF2) consumption in the United States was from imports. Hastie Mining and Trucking Co. produced some fluorspar as a byproduct of its limestone quarry operations in Illinois. In addition, a small amount of usable synthetic fluorspar was produced from industrial waste streams.

Fluorspar

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, M.M.

2011-01-01

World fluorspar demand showed some signs of recovery in 2010 but was still depressed compared with 2008. In 2010, nearly all fluorspar (CaF[sub2]) consumption in the United States was from imports. Hastie Mining and Trucking Co. produced some fluorspar as a byproduct from its limestone quarry operations in Illinois. In addition, a small amount of usable synthetic fluorspar was produced from industrial waste streams.

Growth and fermentation responses of Phanerochaete chrysosporium to O2 limitation

Treesearch

William R. Kenealy; Diane M. Dietrich

2004-01-01

Phanerochaete chrysosporium BKM-F-1767 produced small amounts of ethanol from glucose, mannose, cellobiose, maltose and sucrose when grown with a limited O2 supply in sealed bottles. Under O 2 -limited growth on glucose, low levels of acetate or oxalate were produced when nitrogen was in excess or limited, respectively. Alcohol dehydrogenase activity (15 nmol/min/mg...

Evaluation of an oil-debris monitoring device for use in helicopter transmissions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewicki, David G.; Blanchette, Donald M.; Biron, Gilles

1992-01-01

Experimental tests were performed on an OH-58A helicopter main-rotor transmission to evaluate an oil-debris monitoring device (ODMD). The tests were performed in the NASA 500-hp Helicopter Transmission Test Stand. Five endurance tests were run as part of a U.S. Navy/NASA/Army advanced lubricants program. The tests were run at 100 percent design speed, 117-percent design torque, and 121 C (250 F) oil inlet temperature. Each test lasted between 29 and 122 hr. The oils that were used conformed to MIL-L-23699 and DOD-L-85734 specifications. One test produced a massive sun-gear fatigue failure; another test produced a small spall on one sun-gear tooth; and a third test produced a catastrophic planet-bearing cage failure. The ODMD results were compared with oil spectroscopy results. The capability of the ODMD to detect transmission component failures was not demonstrated. Two of the five tests produced large amounts of debris. For these two tests, two separate ODMD sensors failed, possibly because of prolonged exposure to relatively high oil temperatures. One test produced a small amount of debris and was not detected by the ODMD or by oil spectroscopy. In general, the ODMD results matched the oil spectroscopy results. The ODMD results were extremely sensitive to oil temperature and flow rate.

Using permeable membranes to produce hydrogen and oxygen from water

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanders, A. P.; Williams, R. J.; Downs, W. R.; Mcbryar, H.

1975-01-01

Concept may make it profitable to obtain hydrogen fuel from water. Laboratory tests have demonstrated that method enables decomposition of water several orders of magnitude beyond equilibrium state where only small amounts of free hydrogen are present.

Method of reducing the green density of a slip cast article

DOEpatents

Mangels, John A.; Dickie, Ray A.

1985-01-01

The method disclosed in this specification is one of reducing the green density of an article cast in a slip casting operation. The article is cast from a casting slip containing silicon metal particles, yttrium containing particles, and a small amount of a fluoride salt which is effective to suppress flocculation of the silicon metal particles by y.sup.+3 ions derived from the yttrium containing particles. The method is characterized by the following step. A small amount of compound which produces a cation which will partly flocculate the particles of silicon metal is added to the casting slip. The small amount of this compound is added so that when the casting slip is slip cast into a casting mold, the partly flocculated particles of silicon will interrupt an otherwise orderly packing of the particles of silicon and particles of yttrium. In this manner, the green density of the slip cast article is reduced and the article may be more easily nitrided.

Characteristics of the microwave pyrolysis and microwave CO2-assisted gasification of dewatered sewage sludge.

PubMed

Chun, Young Nam; Jeong, Byeo Ri

2017-07-28

Microwave drying-pyrolysis or drying-gasification characteristics were examined to convert sewage sludge into energy and resources. The gasification was carried out with carbon dioxide as a gasifying agent. The examination results were compared with those of the conventional heating-type electric furnace to compare both product characteristics. Through the pyrolysis or gasification, gas, tar, and char were generated as products. The produced gas was the largest component of each process, followed by the sludge char and the tar. During the pyrolysis process, the main components of the produced gas were hydrogen and carbon monoxide, with a small amount of hydrocarbons such as methane and ethylene. In the gasification process, however, the amount of carbon monoxide was greater than the amount of hydrogen. In microwave gasification, a large amount of heavy tar was produced. The largest amount of benzene in light tar was generated from the pyrolysis or gasification. Ammonia and hydrogen cyanide, which are precursors of NO x , were also generated. In the microwave heating method, the sludge char produced by pyrolysis and gasification had pores in the mesopore range. This could be explained that the gas obtained from the microwave pyrolysis or gasification of the wet sewage sludge can be used as an alternative fuel, but the tar and NO x precursors in the produced gas should be treated. Sludge char can be used as a biomass solid fuel or as a tar removal adsorbent if necessary.

A competitive trade-off limits the selective advantage of increased antibiotic production.

PubMed

Gerardin, Ylaine; Springer, Michael; Kishony, Roy

2016-09-26

In structured environments, antibiotic-producing microorganisms can gain a selective advantage by inhibiting nearby competing species 1 . However, despite their genetic potential 2,3 , natural isolates often make only small amounts of antibiotics, and laboratory evolution can lead to loss rather than enhancement of antibiotic production 4 . Here, we show that, due to competition with antibiotic-resistant cheater cells, increased levels of antibiotic production can actually decrease the selective advantage to producers. Competing fluorescently labelled Escherichia coli colicin producers with non-producing resistant and sensitive strains on solid media, we found that although producer colonies can greatly benefit from the inhibition of nearby sensitive colonies, this benefit is shared with resistant colonies growing in their vicinity. A simple model, which accounts for such local competitive and inhibitory interactions, suggests that the advantage of producers varies non-monotonically with the amount of production. Indeed, experimentally varying the amount of production shows a peak in selection for producers, reflecting a trade-off between benefit gained by inhibiting sensitive competitors and loss due to an increased contribution to resistant cheater colonies. These results help explain the low level of antibiotic production observed for natural species and can help direct laboratory evolution experiments selecting for increased or novel production of antibiotics.

Genetics Home Reference: succinate-CoA ligase deficiency

MedlinePlus

... use. Mitochondria each contain a small amount of DNA, known as mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA, which is essential for the normal ... producing and maintaining the building blocks of mitochondrial DNA . Mutations in either the SUCLA2 or SUCLG1 gene ...

Branching habit and the allocation of reproductive resources in conifers.

PubMed

Leslie, Andrew B

2012-09-01

Correlated relationships between branch thickness, branch density, and twig and leaf size have been used extensively to study the evolution of plant canopy architecture, but fewer studies have explored the impact of these relationships on the allocation of reproductive resources. This study quantifies pollen cone production in conifers, which have similar basic reproductive biology but vary dramatically in branching habit, in order to test how differences in branch diameter influence pollen cone size and the density with which they are deployed in the canopy. Measurements of canopy branch density, the number of cones per branch and cone size were used to estimate the amount of pollen cone tissues produced by 16 species in three major conifer clades. The number of pollen grains produced was also estimated using direct counts from individual pollen cones. The total amount of pollen cone tissues in the conifer canopy varied little among species and clades, although vegetative traits such as branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size varied over several orders of magnitude. However, branching habit controls the way these tissues are deployed: taxa with small branches produce small pollen cones at a high density, while taxa with large branches produce large cones relatively sparsely. Conifers appear to invest similar amounts of energy in pollen production independent of branching habit. However, similar associations between branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size are seen across conifers, including members of living and extinct groups not directly studied here. This suggests that reproductive features relating to pollen cone size are in large part a function of the evolution of vegetative morphology and branching habit.

Forensic Palynology as Classroom Inquiry

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Babcock, Steven L.; Warny, Sophie

2014-01-01

This activity introduces the science of "forensic palynology": the use of microscopic pollen and spores (also called "palynomorphs") to solve criminal cases. Plants produce large amounts of pollen or spores during reproductive cycles. Because of their chemical resistance, small size, and morphology, pollen and spores can be…

Sugar Dehydration without Sulfuric Acid: No More Choking Fumes in the Classroom!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silverstein, Todd P.; Zhang, Yi

1998-01-01

Presents a demonstration that is a safe blend of two other vivid and memorable demonstrations. Combines two exothermic reactions involving granulated sugar to devise a reaction that produces a small amount of smoke and a growing column of black carbon. (DDR)

Whey protein fractionation using supercritical carbon dioxide

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Sweet whey, a coproduct of the cheesemaking process, can be concentrated using ultrafiltration and ion-exchange to produce whey protein isolates (WPI). WPI contains approximately 32% alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA) and 61% beta-lactoglobulin (beta-LG), plus a small amount of minor whey proteins. Whil...

Oxidation resistant filler metals for direct brazing of structural ceramics

DOEpatents

Moorhead, Arthur J.

1986-01-01

A method of joining ceramics and metals to themselves and to one another is described using essentially pure trinickel aluminide and trinickel aluminide containing small amounts of carbon. This method produces strong joints that can withstand high service temperatures and oxidizing environments.

Genetics Home Reference: RRM2B-related mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, encephalomyopathic form with renal ...

MedlinePlus

... is packaged in chromosomes within the cell's nucleus (nuclear DNA), mitochondria also have a small amount of their own DNA ( mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA). Mitochondria are the energy-producing centers in cells, and the DNA in ...

Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite

DOEpatents

Tierney, J.W.; Wender, I.; Palekar, V.M.

1995-01-24

The present invention relates to a novel route for the synthesis of methanol, and more specifically to the production of methanol by contacting synthesis gas under relatively mild conditions in a slurry phase with a catalyst combination comprising reduced copper chromite and basic alkali salts or alkaline earth salts. The present invention allows the synthesis of methanol to occur in the temperature range of approximately 100--160 C and the pressure range of 40--65 atm. The process produces methanol with up to 90% syngas conversion per pass and up to 95% methanol selectivity. The only major by-product is a small amount of easily separated methyl formate. Very small amounts of water, carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether are also produced. The present catalyst combination also is capable of tolerating fluctuations in the H[sub 2]/CO ratio without major deleterious effect on the reaction rate. Furthermore, carbon dioxide and water are also tolerated without substantial catalyst deactivation.

Spatial dilemmas of diffusible public goods

PubMed Central

Allen, Benjamin; Gore, Jeff; Nowak, Martin A

2013-01-01

The emergence of cooperation is a central question in evolutionary biology. Microorganisms often cooperate by producing a chemical resource (a public good) that benefits other cells. The sharing of public goods depends on their diffusion through space. Previous theory suggests that spatial structure can promote evolution of cooperation, but the diffusion of public goods introduces new phenomena that must be modeled explicitly. We develop an approach where colony geometry and public good diffusion are described by graphs. We find that the success of cooperation depends on a simple relation between the benefits and costs of the public good, the amount retained by a producer, and the average amount retained by each of the producer’s neighbors. These quantities are derived as analytic functions of the graph topology and diffusion rate. In general, cooperation is favored for small diffusion rates, low colony dimensionality, and small rates of decay of the public good. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01169.001 PMID:24347543

Review of non-traditional coal mining countries. Part I

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

Pettigrew, J.

1976-03-01

The coal reserves and coal production of countries in Africa and Central and South America are reviewed. About 0.5 percent of world hard coal output originates from Central and South America, but production of lignite and brown coals is negligible. Colombia, Mexico and Brazil are the largest producers, while significant amounts of coal are won in Chile. At present Argentina, Peru and Venezuela have very small coal industries. Excluding the Republic of South Africa, the African continent has only about 0.25 percent of world coal reserves. Lignite and brown coal resources are negligible. Despite the relatively small amount of coalmore » resources there is nevertheless a degree of underexploitation. Of those African countries that have reserves, most are capable of modest increases in production given the right financial and technical assistance. Africa produces about 3.0 percent of total world coal production, and all but 0.2 percent comes from South Africa. Over half of the remainder is mined in Rhodesia.« less

Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite

DOEpatents

Tierney, John W.; Wender, Irving; Palekar, Vishwesh M.

1995-01-01

The present invention relates to a novel route for the synthesis of methanol, and more specifically to the production of methanol by contacting synthesis gas under relatively mild conditions in a slurry phase with a catalyst combination comprising reduced copper chromite and basic alkali salts or alkaline earth salts. The present invention allows the synthesis of methanol to occur in the temperature range of approximately 100.degree.-160.degree. C. and the pressure range of 40-65 atm. The process produces methanol with up to 90% syngas conversion per pass and up to 95% methanol selectivity. The only major by-product is a small amount of easily separated methyl formate. Very small amounts of water, carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether are also produced. The present catalyst combination also is capable of tolerating fluctuations in the H.sub.2 /CO ratio without major deleterious effect on the reaction rate. Furthermore, carbon dioxide and water are also tolerated without substantial catalyst deactivation.

Methanol synthesis using a catalyst combination of alkali or alkaline earth salts and reduced copper chromite for methanol synthesis

DOEpatents

Tierney, John W.; Wender, Irving; Palekar, Vishwesh M.

1993-01-01

The present invention relates to a novel route for the synthesis of methanol, and more specifically to the production of methanol by contacting synthesis gas under relatively mild conditions in a slurry phase with a catalyst combination comprising reduced copper chromite and basic alkali salts or alkaline earth salts. The present invention allows the synthesis of methanol to occur in the temperature range of approximately 100.degree.-160.degree. C. and the pressure range of 40-65 atm. The process produces methanol with up to 90% syngas conversion per pass and up to 95% methanol selectivity. The only major by-product is a small amount of easily separated methyl formate. Very small amounts of water, carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether are also produced. The present catalyst combination also is capable of tolerating fluctuations in the H.sub.2 /CO ratio without major deleterious effect on the reaction rate. Furthermore, carbon dioxide and water are also tolerated without substantial catalyst deactivation.

Conformal ALON® and spinel windows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldman, Lee M.; Smith, Mark; Ramisetty, Mohan; Jha, Santosh; Sastri, Suri

2017-05-01

The requirements for modern aircraft based reconnaissance systems are driving the need for conformal windows for future sensor systems. However, limitations on optical systems and the ability to produce windows in complex geometries currently limit the geometry of existing windows and window assemblies to faceted assemblies of flat windows. ALON consists primarily of aluminum and oxygen, similar to that of alumina, with a small amount of nitrogen added to help stabilize the cubic gamma-AlON phase. ALON's chemical similarity to alumina, translates into a robust manufacturing process. This ease of processing has allowed Surmet to produce ALON windows and domes in a wide variety of geometries and sizes. Spinel (MgAl2O4) contains equal molar amounts of MgO and Al2O3, and is a cubic material, that transmits further into the Infrared than ALON. Spinel is produced via powder processing techniques similar to those used to produce ALON. Surmet is now applying the lessons learned with ALON to produce conformal spinel windows and domes as well.

A technique for estimating seed production of common moist soil plants

USGS Publications Warehouse

Laubhan, Murray K.

1992-01-01

Seeds of native herbaceous vegetation adapted to germination in hydric soils (i.e., moist-soil plants) provide waterfowl with nutritional resources including essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that occur only in small amounts or are absent in other foods. These elements are essential for waterfowl to successfully complete aspects of the annual cycle such as molt and reproduction. Moist-soil vegetation also has the advantages of consistent production of foods across years with varying water availability, low management costs, high tolerance to diverse environmental conditions, and low deterioration rates of seeds after flooding. The amount of seed produced differs among plant species and varies annually depending on environmental conditions and management practices. Further, many moist-soil impoundments contain diverse vegetation, and seed production by a particular plant species usually is not uniform across an entire unit. Consequently, estimating total seed production within an impoundment is extremely difficult. The chemical composition of seeds also varies among plant species. For example, beggartick seeds contain high amounts of protein but only an intermediate amount of minerals. In contrast, barnyardgrass is a good source of minerals but is low in protein. Because of these differences, it is necessary to know the amount of seed produced by each plant species if the nutritional resources provided in an impoundment are to be estimated. The following technique for estimating seed production takes into account the variation resulting from different environmental conditions and management practices as well as differences in the amount of seed produced by various plant species. The technique was developed to provide resource managers with the ability to make quick and reliable estimates of seed production. Although on-site information must be collected, the amount of field time required is small (i.e., about 1 min per sample); sampling normally is accomplished on an area within a few days. Estimates of seed production derived with this technique are used, in combination with other available information, to determine the potential number of waterfowl use-days available and to evaluate the effects of various management strategies on a particular site.

RF-Embedding of Energy-Autonomous Sensors and Actuators into Wireless Sensor Networks

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-10-01

ABSTRACT The principle of energy harvesting , i. e. gleaning of extremely small amounts of energy from the environment, has been around for a long time...technically highly interesting product bears a mention: the Atmos produced by the Swiss company Jaeger-LeCoultre since 1936 [3]. This clock has an expansion...UNLIMITED 2.2 Vibration Energy Using vibration converters, relatively large outputs can be generated, even with small masses, if acceleration is

Optogalvanic intracavity quantitative detector and method for its use

DOEpatents

Zalewski, Edward F.; Keller, Richard A.; Apel, Charles T.

1983-01-01

The disclosure relates to an optogalvanic intracavity detector and method for its use. Measurement is made of the amount of light absorbed by atoms, small molecules and ions in a laser cavity utilizing laser-produced changes in plasmas containing the same atoms, molecules, or ions.

Optogalvanic intracavity quantitative detector and method for its use

DOEpatents

Zalewski, E.F.; Keller, R.A.; Apel, C.T.

1981-02-25

The disclosure relates to an optogalvanic intracavity detector and method for its use. Measurement is made of the amount of light absorbed by atoms, small molecules and ions in a laser cavity utilizing laser-produced changes in plasmas containing the same atoms, molecules or ions.

Electrospun ultra-fine cellulose acetate fibrous mats containing tannic acid-Fe+++ complexes

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cellulose acetate (CA) fibrous mats with improved mechanical and antioxidant properties were produced by a simple, scalable and cost-effective electrospinning method. Fibers loaded with small amounts of TA-Fe+++ complexes showed an increase in tensile strength of approximately 117% when compared to ...

U.S. Air Forces Aerial Spray Mission: Should the Department of Defense Continue to Operate this Weapon of Mass Dispersion

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

pesticide application over farm fields to produce a better crop.2 On 3 August 1921 in a joint effort between the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Dayton, Ohio... pesticide dissemination because of the relatively small amount of product needed to spray for nuisance insects over a vast area. The ULV system is... pesticide per minute. Applications that require massive amounts of liquid herbicide to neutralize cheatgrass and other fire-prone, invasive vegetation on

Controlling composition and color characteristics of Monascus pigments by pH and nitrogen sources in submerged fermentation.

PubMed

Shi, Kan; Song, Da; Chen, Gong; Pistolozzi, Marco; Wu, Zhenqiang; Quan, Lei

2015-08-01

Submerged fermentations of Monascus anka were performed with different nitrogen sources at different pH in 3 L bioreactors. The results revealed that the Monascus pigments dominated by different color components (yellow pigments, orange pigments or red pigments) could be selectively produced through pH control and nitrogen source selection. A large amount of intracellular pigments dominated by orange pigments and a small amount of water-soluble extracellular yellow pigments were produced at low pH (pH 2.5 and 4.0), independently of the nitrogen source employed. At higher pH (pH 6.5), the role of the nitrogen source became more significant. In particular, when ammonium sulfate was used as nitrogen source, the intracellular pigments were dominated by red pigments with a small amount of yellow pigments. Conversely, when peptone was used, intracellular pigments were dominated by yellow pigments with a few red pigments derivatives. Neither the presence of peptone nor ammonium sulfate promoted the production of intracellular orange pigments while extracellular pigments with an orangish red color were observed in both cases, with a higher yield when peptone was used. Two-stage pH control fermentation was then performed to improve desirable pigments yield and further investigate the effect of pH and nitrogen sources on pigments composition. These results provide a useful strategy to produce Monascus pigments with different composition and different color characteristics. Copyright © 2015 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Producing liquid oxygen in the classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, David; Warden, Nicole; Wharton, Barry

2016-09-01

A number of organisations have provided instructions on how to produce small quantities of liquid oxygen in the classroom using liquid nitrogen and a copper condensation coil (Lister 1995 Classic Chemistry Demonstrations (London: Royal Society of Chemistry) pp 61-2, French and Hibbert 2010 Phys. Educ. 45 221-2). The method presented below describes a process which is believed to be safer as it contains the oxygen during production and produces a controllable amount of the liquid. The method also has the advantage that it can be conducted using cheap and easily available materials.

New exopolysaccharides produced by Aureobasidium pullulans grown on glucosamine.

PubMed

Cescutti, Paola; Pupulin, Raffaella; Delben, Franco; Abbate, Maria; Dentini, Mariella; Sparapano, Lorenzo; Rizzo, Roberto; Crescenzi, Vittorio

2002-07-16

The polysaccharides produced by Aureobasidium pullulans, grown using glucosamine as the carbon source, were investigated by means of methylation analysis, affinity chromatography and NMR spectroscopy. The results indicated that, besides a small amount of pullulan, this micro-organism was capable of producing-in low yields-mixtures of at least two different complex polysaccharides containing mainly mannose and galactose. (1)H NMR spectra of two fractions obtained by lectin affinity chromatography indicated that one polymer was constituted exclusively of mannose residues while the other contained both galactofuranosyl and mannopyranosyl residues.

Optogalvanic intracavity quantitative detector and method for its use

DOEpatents

Zalewski, E.F.; Keller, R.A.; Apel, C.T.

1983-09-06

The disclosure relates to an optogalvanic intracavity detector and method for its use. Measurement is made of the amount of light absorbed by atoms, small molecules and ions in a laser cavity utilizing laser-produced changes in plasmas containing the same atoms, molecules, or ions. 6 figs.

Process for solidifying high-level nuclear waste

DOEpatents

Ross, Wayne A.

1978-01-01

The addition of a small amount of reducing agent to a mixture of a high-level radioactive waste calcine and glass frit before the mixture is melted will produce a more homogeneous glass which is leach-resistant and suitable for long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste products.

Exopolysaccharide-forming Weissella strains as starter cultures for sorghum and wheat sourdoughs.

PubMed

Galle, Sandra; Schwab, Clarissa; Arendt, Elke; Gänzle, Michael

2010-05-12

The addition of sourdough fermented with lactic acid bacteria synthesizing organic acids and oligo- and exopolysaccharides (EPS) from sucrose enhances texture, nutritional value, shelf life, and machinability of wheat, rye, and gluten-free bread. This study compared acetate, mannitol, and oligosaccharide formation of EPS-producing strains of Weissella and Leuconostoc spp. to the traditional sourdough starter Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis. In broth, Leuconostoc strains generally formed acetate and mannitol, whereas Weissella produced only small amounts of acetate and no mannitol in the presence of sucrose. In the presence of sucrose and maltose, Weissella and Leuconostoc strains synthesized glucooligosaccharides and EPS. Strains of Weissella were employed as starter cultures for wheat and sorghum sourdough and formed 0.8-8 g kg(-1) EPS and gluco-oligosaccharides but only low amounts of acetate and mannitol. In contrast, the formation of EPS from sucrose led to the production of high amounts of acetate and mannitol by L. sanfranciscensis LTH 2950 in wheat sourdough. This study indicates that Weissella strains are suitable starter cultures for wheat and sorghum sourdoughs and efficiently produce gluco-oligosaccharides and EPS.

Branching habit and the allocation of reproductive resources in conifers

PubMed Central

Leslie, Andrew B.

2012-01-01

Background and Aims Correlated relationships between branch thickness, branch density, and twig and leaf size have been used extensively to study the evolution of plant canopy architecture, but fewer studies have explored the impact of these relationships on the allocation of reproductive resources. This study quantifies pollen cone production in conifers, which have similar basic reproductive biology but vary dramatically in branching habit, in order to test how differences in branch diameter influence pollen cone size and the density with which they are deployed in the canopy. Methods Measurements of canopy branch density, the number of cones per branch and cone size were used to estimate the amount of pollen cone tissues produced by 16 species in three major conifer clades. The number of pollen grains produced was also estimated using direct counts from individual pollen cones. Key Results The total amount of pollen cone tissues in the conifer canopy varied little among species and clades, although vegetative traits such as branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size varied over several orders of magnitude. However, branching habit controls the way these tissues are deployed: taxa with small branches produce small pollen cones at a high density, while taxa with large branches produce large cones relatively sparsely. Conclusions Conifers appear to invest similar amounts of energy in pollen production independent of branching habit. However, similar associations between branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size are seen across conifers, including members of living and extinct groups not directly studied here. This suggests that reproductive features relating to pollen cone size are in large part a function of the evolution of vegetative morphology and branching habit. PMID:22782240

Small Modular Reactors: The Army’s Secure Source of Energy?

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-21

significant advantages of SMRs is the minimal amount of carbon dioxide (greenhouse gases) that is released in conjunction with the lifecycle operations...moderator in these reactors as well as the cooling agent and the means by which heat is removed to produce steam for turning the turbines of the...separate water system to generate steam to turn a turbine which then produces electricity. In the second type of light water reactors, the boiling water

Diets with no or low amounts of dietary fiber can reduce small intestinal ulcers induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in dogs.

PubMed

Satoh, H; Kondo, R; Shinoda, T; Idaka, S; Ishigami, K; Shiotani, S

2016-08-01

Recent progress in endoscopic techniques has revealed that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) often cause ulcers in the small intestine in humans, but effective therapy is not available at present. In the present study, we investigated the effects of feeding condition and the amount of dietary fiber (DF) in the diet on the formation of gastrointestinal ulcers induced by NSAIDs in dogs. Several types of diets containing various percentages of DF were given to dogs. Indomethacin (1 or 3 mg/kg, p.o.), ketoprofen (2 mg/kg, s.c.), or fulnixin (1 mg/kg, s.c.) was administered once daily at 10 a.m. after a morning meal or without a morning meal (fasted condition) for 3 - 7 days. Gastrointestinal lesions were examined 24 h after the final dose of the drugs. When indomethacin (3 mg/kg) was administered after a morning meal (fed condition) for 7 days, it produced many lesions in the small intestine. However, when it was given in the fasted condition without the morning meal, the lesions were markedly decreased. All the NSAIDs given after feeding of regular dry food containing 6% DF once a day for 3 days produced many lesions in the small intestine. The lesions were decreased or increased in dogs given prescription diets containing low DF (1.1%) and high DF (15.4%), respectively. Furthermore, lesions were not observed in dogs given canned diet containing very low DF (< 0.1%), whereas lesions appeared again in dogs given canned diet supplemented with cellulose (3 or 10%) but not with pectin (10%). These results suggested that both feeding condition and insoluble DF, such as cellulose in the diet, play an important role in the formation of NSAID-induced small intestinal lesions, and that a diet with no or low amounts of DF may decrease gastrointestinal side-effects associated with the use of NSAIDs.

Sequencing historical specimens: successful preparation of small specimens with low amounts of degraded DNA.

PubMed

Sproul, John S; Maddison, David R

2017-11-01

Despite advances that allow DNA sequencing of old museum specimens, sequencing small-bodied, historical specimens can be challenging and unreliable as many contain only small amounts of fragmented DNA. Dependable methods to sequence such specimens are especially critical if the specimens are unique. We attempt to sequence small-bodied (3-6 mm) historical specimens (including nomenclatural types) of beetles that have been housed, dried, in museums for 58-159 years, and for which few or no suitable replacement specimens exist. To better understand ideal approaches of sample preparation and produce preparation guidelines, we compared different library preparation protocols using low amounts of input DNA (1-10 ng). We also explored low-cost optimizations designed to improve library preparation efficiency and sequencing success of historical specimens with minimal DNA, such as enzymatic repair of DNA. We report successful sample preparation and sequencing for all historical specimens despite our low-input DNA approach. We provide a list of guidelines related to DNA repair, bead handling, reducing adapter dimers and library amplification. We present these guidelines to facilitate more economical use of valuable DNA and enable more consistent results in projects that aim to sequence challenging, irreplaceable historical specimens. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Cosmic ray interactions with lunar materials - Nature and composition of species formed

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mukherjee, N. R.

1976-01-01

The paper discusses the effect of cosmic-ray proton interactions with lunar material, the nature and composition of the species resulting from these interactions, and the contribution of these species to the lunar atmosphere. It is shown that hydrogen atoms resulting from cosmic-ray proton neutralization escape into the atmosphere mostly as H2, that only a small fraction of the very small amount of OH and H2O produced by cosmic-ray protons escapes into the atmosphere, and that cosmic-ray protons play a very minor role, as compared with solar-wind protons, in producing lunar atmospheric hydrogen and hydrogenated species. It is concluded that the atmospheric contributions of H2, H, OH, and H2O produced by cosmic-ray protons are about three orders of magnitude less than those due to solar-wind protons.

Drift due to viscous vortex rings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morrell, Thomas; Spagnolie, Saverio; Thiffeault, Jean-Luc

2016-11-01

Biomixing is the study of fluid mixing due to swimming organisms. While large organisms typically produce turbulent flows in their wake, small organisms produce less turbulent wakes; the main mechanism of mixing is the induced net particle displacement (drift). Several experiments have examined this drift for small jellyfish, which produce vortex rings that trap and transport a fair amount of fluid. Inviscid theory implies infinite particle displacements for the trapped fluid, so the effect of viscosity must be included to understand the damping of real vortex motion. We use a model viscous vortex ring to compute particle displacements and other relevant quantities, such as the integrated moments of the displacement. Fluid entrainment at the tail end of a growing vortex 'envelope' is found to play an important role in the total fluid transport and drift. Partially supported by NSF Grant DMS-1109315.

Investigation of Ce(3+) Dopant in Appropriate Hosts for Blue Green Lasers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-11-25

crystal of La(A10 .8Sc 0 .2 )0 3 doped with 0.01% Ce. During one experiment a small amount of the charge was fused in an iridium crucible. The...from ordering was not observed. Similar results were achieved in Experiment #47 with (LaAlO3 ) 0 .5 (SrZrO 3 )0 5 composition. Small additions of...compositions evaluated, enlarged cubic cells could not be formed by ordering. Small additions of less than 5% of BaZrO 3 or SrZrO 3 to LaAIO 3 produced

Flight Planning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

Seagull Technology, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, produced a computer program under a Langley Research Center Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant called STAFPLAN (Seagull Technology Advanced Flight Plan) that plans optimal trajectory routes for small to medium sized airlines to minimize direct operating costs while complying with various airline operating constraints. STAFPLAN incorporates four input databases, weather, route data, aircraft performance, and flight-specific information (times, payload, crew, fuel cost) to provide the correct amount of fuel optimal cruise altitude, climb and descent points, optimal cruise speed, and flight path.

Substrate With Low Secondary Emissions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jensen, Kenneth A. (Inventor); Curren, Arthur N. (Inventor); Roman, Robert F. (Inventor)

2000-01-01

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for producing a highly -textured surface on a copper substrate -with only extremely small amounts of texture-inducing seeding or masking material. The texture-inducing seeding material is delivered to the copper substrate electrically switching the seeding material in and out of a circuit loop.

Fusion of Information from Optical, Thermal, Multispectral Imagery and Geologic/Topographic Products to Detect Underground Detonations

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-02-25

Two bermed artificial ponds built along the northwesternmost edge of the site scar, contained a small amount of water, rimmed with ice. A continuous...THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANALYSES For the past several years, Autometric has been producing and installing their APPS-IV for military/ inteligence community

CATALYTIC RECOMBINATION OF RADIOLYTIC GASES IN THORIUM OXIDE SLURRIES

DOEpatents

Morse, L.E.

1962-08-01

A method for the coinbination of hydrogen and oxygen in aqueous thorium oxide-uranium oxide slurries is described. A small amount of molybdenum oxide catalyst is provided in the slurry. This catalyst is applicable to the recombination of hydrogen and/or deuterium and oxygen produced by irradiation of the slurries in nuclear reactors. (AEC)

Alkali or alkaline earth metal promoted catalyst and a process for methanol synthesis using alkali or alkaline earth metals as promoters

DOEpatents

Tierney, J.W.; Wender, I.; Palekar, V.M.

1995-01-31

The present invention relates to a novel route for the synthesis of methanol, and more specifically to the production of methanol by contacting synthesis gas under relatively mild conditions in a slurry phase with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising reduced copper chromite impregnated with an alkali or alkaline earth metal. There is thus no need to add a separate alkali or alkaline earth compound. The present invention allows the synthesis of methanol to occur in the temperature range of approximately 100--160 C and the pressure range of 40--65 atm. The process produces methanol with up to 90% syngas conversion per pass and up to 95% methanol selectivity. The only major by-product is a small amount of easily separated methyl formate. Very small amounts of water, carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether are also produced. The present catalyst combination also is capable of tolerating fluctuations in the H[sub 2]/CO ratio without major deleterious effect on the reaction rate. Furthermore, carbon dioxide and water are also tolerated without substantial catalyst deactivation.

Alkali or alkaline earth metal promoted catalyst and a process for methanol synthesis using alkali or alkaline earth metals as promoters

DOEpatents

Tierney, John W.; Wender, Irving; Palekar, Vishwesh M.

1995-01-01

The present invention relates to a novel route for the synthesis of methanol, and more specifically to the production of methanol by contacting synthesis gas under relatively mild conditions in a slurry phase with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising reduced copper chromite impregnated with an alkali or alkaline earth metal. There is thus no need to add a separate alkali or alkaline earth compound. The present invention allows the synthesis of methanol to occur in the temperature range of approximately 100.degree.-160.degree. C. and the pressure range of 40-65 atm. The process produces methanol with up to 90% syngas conversion per pass and up to 95% methanol selectivity. The only major by-product is a small amount of easily separated methyl formate. Very small amounts of water, carbon dioxide and dimethyl ether are also produced. The present catalyst combination also is capable of tolerating fluctuations in the H.sub.2 /CO ratio without major deleterious effect on the reaction rate. Furthermore, carbon dioxide and water are also tolerated without substantial catalyst deactivation.

Mutagenicity of pan residues and gravy from fried meat.

PubMed

Overvik, E; Nilsson, L; Fredholm, L; Levin, O; Nord, C E; Gustafsson, J A

1987-02-01

Lean pork meat was fried with or without the addition of frying-fat at 200 or 250 degrees C. The pan residues were collected by washing the hot pan with boiling water. When producing thickened gravy the water was substituted by a mixture of water and flour, milk and flour or cream and flour. The basic extracts were tested for mutagenicity in Ames' Salmonella test on strain TA98 with the addition of S9 mix. High amounts of mutagenicity were found in all samples. The amounts of mutagenicity in the pan residues were at a comparable level of the amounts found in the meat crusts. Thickening of the gravy caused only small changes in the mutagenicity.

Can oral rehydration solution be safely flavored at home?

PubMed

Nijssen-Jordan, C

1997-12-01

To determine the concentration of sodium, potassium, glucose, and osmolality of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) which have been flavored with varying amounts of unsweetened Kool-Aid powder, Jell-O powder, apple juice, or orange juice. Descriptive. Alberta Children's Hospital Chemistry Laboratory. None. Addition of varying amounts of flavoring easily available in all households to commercially available unsweetened ORS. Concentrations of electrolytes, glucose, and osmolality. Addition of fruit juices or flavor powders to commercially produced ORS does alter the electrolyte content and osmolality. When limited amounts of flavoring or juice is added, the osmolality of the solution approaches iso-osmolality. Small amounts of unsweetened Kool-Aid powder, Jell-O powder, and apple or orange juice can be added to oral rehydration solutions without significantly altering electrolyte composition and osmolality.

A novel ultrasonic aerosol generator.

PubMed

Davies, A; Hudson, N; Pirie, L

1995-07-01

An ultrasonic aerosol generator constructed from a domestic humidifier is described which has been used to produce liquid aerosols for physiological investigations. The instrument was constructed from a Pifco domestic humidifier modified to include an energy guide to direct the oscillations of the transducer through the coupling water, which would normally be aerosolized, onto a small membrane based sample chamber containing the liquid to be aerosolized. The size distribution of the aerosol produced was found to be between 2 and 6 mm, optimum for diffuse intrapulmonary deposition. Up to 4 ml/min of aqueous liquid was used; however the sample chamber could be made small enough to contain economic amounts of expensive material to administer by inhalation. The instrument has proved to be reliable over a period of three years.

The production of granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating activity by isolated human T lymphocyte subpopulations.

PubMed

Hesketh, P J; Sullivan, R; Valeri, C R; McCarroll, L A

1984-05-01

Isolated human T lymphocyte subpopulations were obtained by fluorescence-activated cell sorting using the murine monoclonal antibodies, OKT4 and OKT8. The capabilities of the isolated lymphocytes to produce granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating activity (CSA) in response to mitogen challenge were assessed by in vitro assays employing light density nonadherent bone marrow cells. Essentially, no CSA production was noted by any isolated T lymphocyte population [OKT4 positive (+) or OKT8 positive (+)] cultured alone or following the addition of 10(4) autologous monocytes/ml. When phytohemagglutinin (PHA) alone was added, OKT4+ lymphocytes elaborated small amounts of CSA. With the addition of concanavalin A (Con-A) alone, both OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells were able to produce modest amounts of CSA. Significantly enhanced CSA production was observed when either OKT4+ or OKT8+ lymphocytes were coincubated with autologous monocytes in the presence of mitogen. We conclude that highly purified T lymphocyte subpopulations, free of monocytes as assessed by nonspecific esterase staining, can elaborate small amounts of CSA in response to PHA or Con-A challenge. A synergistic augmentation of CSA production was noted with coincubation of sorted lymphocytes and autologous monocytes in the presence of mitogen. Finally, our results suggest that the ability of T lymphocytes to make CSA is not exclusively limited to either the OKT4+ or OKT8+ defined subsets.

Troubled times for Canada's medical marijuana program.

PubMed

Thaczuk, Derek

2003-04-01

Health Canada finally produces a good marijuana crop, but its medical marijuana program is in a state of upheaval as it faces internal dissent regarding a crucial aspect of its mandate, as well as fundamental challenges from the courts. Meanwhile, the Justice Minister said that the government will introduce legislation to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

East Europe Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-09-12

widespread introduction of waste-free technologies or technologies producing small amounts of waste, and there are still serious things to be done also...19980729 041 FBIS FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE REPRODUCED BY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE SPRINGFIELD...VA. 22161 107 NOTE JPRS publications contain information primarily from foreign newspapers, periodicals and books, but also from news agency

Efficient Homodifunctional Bimolecular Ring-Closure Method for Cyclic Polymers by Combining RAFT and Self-Accelerating Click Reaction.

PubMed

Qu, Lin; Sun, Peng; Wu, Ying; Zhang, Ke; Liu, Zhengping

2017-08-01

An efficient metal-free homodifunctional bimolecular ring-closure method is developed for the formation of cyclic polymers by combining reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and self-accelerating click reaction. In this approach, α,ω-homodifunctional linear polymers with azide terminals are prepared by RAFT polymerization and postmodification of polymer chain end groups. By virtue of sym-dibenzo-1,5-cyclooctadiene-3,7-diyne (DBA) as small linkers, well-defined cyclic polymers are then prepared using the self-accelerating double strain-promoted azide-alkyne click (DSPAAC) reaction to ring-close the azide end-functionalized homodifunctional linear polymer precursors. Due to the self-accelerating property of DSPAAC ring-closing reaction, this novel method eliminates the requirement of equimolar amounts of telechelic polymers and small linkers in traditional bimolecular ring-closure methods. It facilitates this method to efficiently and conveniently produce varied pure cyclic polymers by employing an excess molar amount of DBA small linkers. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Early Program Development

NASA Image and Video Library

1996-06-20

Engineers at one of MSFC's vacuum chambers begin testing a microthruster model. The purpose of these tests are to collect sufficient data that will enabe NASA to develop microthrusters that will move the Space Shuttle, a future space station, or any other space related vehicle with the least amount of expended energy. When something is sent into outer space, the forces that try to pull it back to Earth (gravity) are very small so that it only requires a very small force to move very large objects. In space, a force equal to a paperclip can move an object as large as a car. Microthrusters are used to produce these small forces.

The properties of syringyl, guaiacyl and p-hydroxyphenyl artificial lignins

PubMed Central

Bland, D. E.; Logan, A. F.

1965-01-01

1. Artificial lignins have been produced on potato parenchyma. 2. The methoxyl-free lignin and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy (guaiacyl) lignins could be estimated by the sulphuric acid method but the 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy (syringyl) lignins could not. 3. Permanganate oxidation of isolated p-coumaric lignin gave 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxyisophthalic acid and small amounts of hydroxytrimesic acid and 4-hydroxyphthalic acid. Ferulic lignin gave vanillic acid and 5-carboxyvanillic acid and also small amounts of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and dehydrodivanillic acid. The sinapic lignin gave traces of syringic acid and of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. 4. The p-coumaric lignin is a highly condensed polymer. The ferulic lignin is partly uncondensed and partly condensed through the 5-position like gymnosperm lignin. The sinapic lignin shows no evidence of condensation and is probably an ether-linked polymer. PMID:14340102

Molecular Hydrogen as an Emerging Therapeutic Medical Gas for Neurodegenerative and Other Diseases

PubMed Central

Ohno, Kinji; Ito, Mikako; Ichihara, Masatoshi; Ito, Masafumi

2012-01-01

Effects of molecular hydrogen on various diseases have been documented for 63 disease models and human diseases in the past four and a half years. Most studies have been performed on rodents including two models of Parkinson's disease and three models of Alzheimer's disease. Prominent effects are observed especially in oxidative stress-mediated diseases including neonatal cerebral hypoxia; Parkinson's disease; ischemia/reperfusion of spinal cord, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and intestine; transplantation of lung, heart, kidney, and intestine. Six human diseases have been studied to date: diabetes mellitus type 2, metabolic syndrome, hemodialysis, inflammatory and mitochondrial myopathies, brain stem infarction, and radiation-induced adverse effects. Two enigmas, however, remain to be solved. First, no dose-response effect is observed. Rodents and humans are able to take a small amount of hydrogen by drinking hydrogen-rich water, but marked effects are observed. Second, intestinal bacteria in humans and rodents produce a large amount of hydrogen, but an addition of a small amount of hydrogen exhibits marked effects. Further studies are required to elucidate molecular bases of prominent hydrogen effects and to determine the optimal frequency, amount, and method of hydrogen administration for each human disease. PMID:22720117

Exopolysaccharides produced by clinical strains belonging to the Burkholderia cepacia complex.

PubMed

Herasimenka, Yury; Cescutti, Paola; Impallomeni, Giuseppe; Campana, Silvia; Taccetti, Giovanni; Ravenni, Novella; Zanetti, Flavio; Rizzo, Roberto

2007-04-01

In the frame of a research line dedicated to better clarify the role of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in bacterial virulence, EPS produced by species of the Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), namely Burkholderia multivorans, Burkholderia cenocepacia, and a Bcc member of undetermined genomovar, all isolated at the Cystic Fibrosis Regional Centre of Florence (Italy), were investigated for they structural properties. Three strains of B. multivorans, three of B. cenocepacia and one of a Bcc member of undetermined genomovar were isolated from CF patients. The reference strains C1576 and J2315, for genomovar II and III, respectively, were included in the study. The bacteria were grown on solid media, the exopolysaccharides produced were purified, and their structures were determined. In addition, sugar analysis of sputum samples was accomplished to search for EPS produced in vivo. Six strains out of seven produced the exopolysaccharide cepacian, while one strain of B. multivorans produced a completely different polymer, previously known in the literature as PS1. Two strains synthesised very small amounts of EPS. No definitive evidence for the presence of cepacian in sputum samples was found. Most strains examined produced abundant amounts of polysaccharides. Cepacian was the most common EPS isolated and its production was not associated to a particular genomovar.

Effect of dietary fiber on microbial activity and microbial gas production in various regions of the gastrointestinal tract of pigs.

PubMed Central

Jensen, B B; Jørgensen, H

1994-01-01

The microbial activity, composition of the gas phase, and gas production rates in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs fed either a low- or a high-fiber diet were investigated. Dense populations of culturable anaerobic bacteria, high ATP concentrations, and high adenylate energy charges were found for the last third of the small intestine, indicating that substantial microbial activity takes place in that portion of the gut. The highest microbial activity (highest bacterium counts, highest ATP concentration, high adenylate energy charge, and low pH) was found in the cecum and proximal colon. Greater microbial activity was found in the stomach and all segments of the hindgut in the pigs fed the high-fiber diet than in the pigs fed the low-fiber diet. Considerable amounts of O2 were found in the stomach (around 5%), while the content of O2 in gas samples taken from all other parts of the gastrointestinal tract was < 1%. The highest concentrations and highest production rates for H2 were found in the last third of the small intestine. No methane could be detected in the stomach or the small intestine. The rate of production and concentration of methane in the cecum and the proximal colon were low, followed by a steady increase in the successive segments of the hindgut. A very good correlation between in vivo and in vitro measurements of methane production was found. The amount of CH4 produced by pigs fed the low-fiber diet was 1.4 liters/day per animal. Substantially larger amounts of CH4 were produced by pigs fed the high-fiber diet (12.5 liters/day)(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:8031085

In vitro metabolism of the pro-carcinogen aflatoxin B1 by liver preparations of the calf, nurse shark and clearnose skate.

PubMed

Bodine, A B; Luer, C A; Gangjee, S A; Walsh, C J

1989-01-01

1. Liver postmitochondrial supernatant preparations of calf, clearnose skate, and nurse shark were able to metabolize the fungal toxin aflatoxin B1 to various metabolites. 2. Calf liver produced aflatoxin M1 and Q1 as the major chloroform soluble metabolites, with small amounts of aflatoxicol formed during incubation. 3. Liver preparations of the elasmobranchs, however, produced aflatoxicol as the major chloroform soluble metabolite with no other metabolite being detected. 4. The water soluble metabolite profiles for the three species were also quite different with the tris diol adduct being produced to a much greater extent in calf liver preparations. 5. Aflatoxicol production by the elasmobranch liver homogenates was reversible with the skate reconverting a large amount (30%) of aflatoxicol to AFB1. The nurse shark, however, appeared to convert a portion of aflatoxicol to an unknown metabolite more polar than AFB1. 6. Calf liver DNA bound approximately 3 x more 3H-AFB1 than shark liver DNA.

Consideration of Collision "Consequence" in Satellite Conjunction Assessment and Risk Analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hejduk, M.; Laporte, F.; Moury, M.; Newman, L.; Shepperd, R.

2017-01-01

Classic risk management theory requires the assessment of both likelihood and consequence of deleterious events. Satellite conjunction risk assessment has produced a highly-developed theory for assessing collision likelihood but holds a completely static solution for collision consequence, treating all potential collisions as essentially equally worrisome. This may be true for the survival of the protected asset, but the amount of debris produced by the potential collision, and therefore the degree to which the orbital corridor may be compromised, can vary greatly among satellite conjunctions. This study leverages present work on satellite collision modeling to develop a method by which it can be estimated, to a particular confidence level, whether a particular collision is likely to produce a relatively large or relatively small amount of resultant debris and how this datum might alter conjunction remediation decisions. The more general question of orbital corridor protection is also addressed, and a preliminary framework presented by which both collision likelihood and consequence can be jointly considered in the risk assessment process.

Inhalation studies on the effects of tremolite and brucite dust in rats

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

Davis, J.M.; Addison, J.; Bolton, R.E.

1985-05-01

Samples of commercially used asbestos, especially chrysotile, are frequently contaminated by small amounts of other fibrous minerals. Among these are tremolite and brucite although pure tremolite is also produced commercially in relatively small quantities. In order to determine how harmful commercially exploited tremolite might be in comparison with other asbestos types and to explore the possibility that small amounts of tremolite and brucite as contaminants could significantly affect the pathogenicity of industrially used chrysotile, long-term animal inhalation and injection studies using rats were undertaken with what were considered to be mineralogically pure samples of these minerals. Rats treated with tremolitemore » developed very high levels of pulmonary fibrosis as well as 16 carcinomas and two mesotheliomas in a group of 39 animals. Tremolite thus proved to be the most dangerous mineral that the authors have studied. Animals treated with brucite developed moderate levels of pulmonary fibrosis and two carcinomas. Both tremolite and brucite produced mesotheliomas in greater than 90% of animals following i.p. injection. However, it was found that the supposedly pure brucite in fact contained 10% chrysotile, a level of contamination that could well have been responsible for the pathological changes found in both inhalation and intraperitoneal injection studies. The greatest care should be exercised by industry in handling tremolite or materials contaminated with it.« less

Structure and function of isozymes: Evolutionary aspects and role of oxygen in eucaryotic organisms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Satyanarayana, T.

1985-01-01

Oxygen is not only one of the most abundant elements on the Earth, but it is also one of the most important elements for life. In terms of composition, the feature of the atmosphere that most distinguishes Earth from other planets is the presence of abundant amounts of oxygen. The first forms of life may have been similar to present day anaerobic bacteria such as clostridium. The relationship between prokaryotes and eukaryotes, if any, has been a topic of much speculation. With only a few exceptions eukaryotes are oxygen-utilizing organisms. This research eukaryotes or eukaryotic biochemical processes requiring oxygen, could have arisen quite early in evolution and utilized the small quantities of photocatalytically produced oxygen which are thought to have been present on the Earth prior to the evolution of massive amounts of photosynthetically-produced oxygen.

Omnidirectional fiber optic tiltmeter

DOEpatents

Benjamin, B.C.; Miller, H.M.

1983-06-30

A tiltmeter is provided which is useful in detecting very small movements such as earth tides. The device comprises a single optical fiber, and an associated weight affixed thereto, suspended from a support to form a pendulum. A light source, e.g., a light emitting diode, mounted on the support transmits light through the optical fiber to a group of further optical fibers located adjacent to but spaced from the free end of the single optical fiber so that displacement of the single optical fiber with respect to the group will result in a change in the amount of light received by the individual optical fibers of the group. Photodetectors individually connectd to the fibers produce corresponding electrical outputs which are differentially compared and processed to produce a resultant continuous analog output representative of the amount and direction of displacement of the single optical fiber.

New Method of Producing Titanium Carbide, Monoxide, and Dioxide Grains in Laboratory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumamoto, Akihito; Kurumada, Mami; Kimura, Yuki; Kaito, Chihiro

By making a carbon rod covered with Ti on the surface without exposure to air, TiC grains less than 10nm in diameter were predominantly produced. The introduction of a small amount of oxygen in Ar gas (partial pressure 1/1000), allowed the continuous formation of TiO2 and TiO-TiC. The infrared spectra of TiO2, TiO, and TiC were measured. An absorption feature attributed to TiO phase in oxidized TiC grains showed a characteristic peak at 14.7 μm.

New Method of Producing Titanium Carbide, Monoxide, and Dioxide Grains in Laboratory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumamoto, Akihito; Kurumada, Mami; Kimura, Yuki; Kaito, Chihiro

By making a carbon rod covered with Ti on the surface without exposure to air, TiC grains less than 10 nm in diameter were predominantly produced. The introduction of a small amount of oxygen in Ar gas (partial pressure 1/1000), allowed the continuous formation of TiO2 and TiO-TiC. The infrared spectra of TiO2, TiO, and TiC were measured. An absorption feature attributed to TiO phase in oxidized TiC grains showed a characteristic peak at 14.7 μm.

Mist characterization in drilling 1018 steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cole, Ian

Minimum quantity lubrication replaces the traditional method of flood cooling with small amounts of high-efficient lubrication. Limited studies have been performed to determine the characteristics of mist produced during MQL. This study investigated the mist concentration levels produced while drilling 1018 steel using a vegetable based lubricant. ANOVA was performed to determine whether speed and feed rates or their interactions have a significant effect on mist concentration levels and particle diameter. It was observed that the concentration levels obtained under all four speed and feed rate combinations studied exceeded the current OSHA and NIOSH standards.

Lightweight sheet molding compound (SMC) composites containing cellulose nanocrystals

Treesearch

Amir Asadi; Mark Miller; Arjun V. Singh; Robert J. Moon; Kyriaki Kalaitzidou

2017-01-01

A scalable technique was introduced to produce high volume lightweight composites using sheet molding compound (SMC) manufacturing method by replacing 10 wt% glass fibers (GF) with a small amount of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). The incorporation of 1 and 1.5 wt% CNC by dispersing in the epoxy matrix of short GF/epoxy SMC composites with 25 wt% GF content (25GF/CNC-...

Sediment Production From Small Undisturbed Forested Basins In The Upper Coastal Plain

Treesearch

Daniel A. Marion; Greg Malstaff; Howard G. Halverson

1996-01-01

Forest lands in the Upper Coastal Plain (UCP) of the American South are widely recognized as producing water with relatrvely low amounts of sediment. Previous research has established that sediment concentrations from forest basins lacking well-defined channel networks averages 5.3 to 6.2 kg of sediment per hectare per centimeter of runoff (kg/ha-cm) in this...

Pulpwood Chip Productions and Markets in the Lake States

Treesearch

Eugene W. Fobes

1966-01-01

As a major pulp and paper production area, the Lake States is a potential market for pulpwood chips. As a producer of solid wood products, it has a considerable potential for the production of pulpwood chips from coarse sawmill residues (slabs, edgings, and trim) and other sources. Only a small amount of the available residues, however, is now being utilized. In...

77 FR 6549 - Notice of Availability for Public Comment of Interconnection Facilities Studies Prepared for the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-08

...,250 megawatts of electric power produced from wind turbines to be located in the vicinity of La... States to Mexico, except for the small amount of electrical energy needed for wind turbine lubrication... connect a wind energy project to be built in the vicinity of La Rumorosa, Baja California, Mexico, to San...

Bauxite and alumina

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bray, E.L.

2011-01-01

The article discusses the latest developments in the bauxite and alumina industry, particularly in the U.S., as of June 2011. It claims that the U.S. mainly relies on imports for its bauxite consumption. Several states, including Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia, however, produce small amounts of bauxite and bauxitic clays for nonmetallurgical purposes. The major exporters of alumina to the U.S. include Australia, Brazil and Jamaica.

Technical note: Evaluation of a crucible furnace retort for laboratory torrefactions of wood chips

Treesearch

Thomas L. Eberhardt; Karen G. Reed

2014-01-01

Torrefaction is a thermal process that improves biomass performance as a fuel by property enhancements such as decreased moisture uptake and increased carbon density. Most studies to date have used very small amounts of finely ground biomass. This study reports the testing of a crucible furnace retort that was fabricated to produce intermediate quantities of torrefied...

Net energy output from harvesting small-diameter trees using a mechanized system

Treesearch

Fei Pan; Han-Sup Han; Leonard R. Johnson; William J. Elliot

2008-01-01

What amount of extra energy can be generated after subtracting the total energy consumed to produce the biomass energy? Knowing the ratio between energy output and input is a valid question when highly mechanized systems that consume fossil fuels are used to harvest and transport forest biomass for energy. We estimated the net energy generated from mechanical fuel...

Analysis of 2H-Evaporator Acid Cleaning Samples

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

Hay, M.; Diprete, D.; Edwards, T.

The 2H-Evaporator acid cleaning solution samples were analyzed by SRNL to determine a composition for the scale present in the evaporator before recent acid cleaning. Composite samples were formed from the solution samples from the two acid cleaning cycles. The solution composition was converted to a weight percent scale solids basis under an assumed chemical composition. The scale composition produced from the acid cleaning solution samples indicates a concentration of 6.85 wt% uranium. An upper bound, onesided 95% confidence interval on the weight percent uranium value may be given as 6.9 wt% + 1.645 × 0.596 wt% = 7.9 wt%.more » The comparison of the composition from the current acid cleaning solutions with the composition of recent scale samples along with the thermodynamic modeling results provides reasonable assurance that the sample results provide a good representation of the overall scale composition in the evaporator prior to acid cleaning. The small amount of scale solids dissolved in the 1.5 M nitric acid during the evaporator cleaning process likely produced only a small amount of precipitation based on modeling results and the visual appearance of the samples.« less

Science & Technology Review October 2005

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

Aufderheide III, M B

This month's issue has the following articles: (1) Important Missions, Great Science, and Innovative Technology--Commentary by Cherry A. Murray; (2) NanoFoil{reg_sign} Solders with Less Heat--Soldering and brazing to join an array of materials are now Soldering and brazing to join an array of materials are now possible without furnaces, torches, or lead; (3) Detecting Radiation on the Move--An award-winning technology can detect even small amounts An award-winning technology can detect even small amounts of radioactive material in transit; (4) Identifying Airborne Pathogens in Time to Respond--A mass spectrometer identifies airborne spores in less than A mass spectrometer identifies airborne sporesmore » in less than a minute with no false positives; (5) Picture Perfect with VisIt--The Livermore-developed software tool VisIt helps scientists The Livermore-developed software tool VisIt helps scientists visualize and analyze large data sets; (6) Revealing the Mysteries of Water--Scientists are using Livermore's Thunder supercomputer and new algorithms to understand the phases of water; and (7) Lightweight Target Generates Bright, Energetic X Rays--Livermore scientists are producing aerogel targets for use in inertial Livermore scientists are producing aerogel targets for use in inertial confinement fusion experiments and radiation-effects testing.« less

When red lights look yellow.

PubMed

Wood, Joanne M; Atchison, David A; Chaparro, Alex

2005-11-01

Red signals are typically used to signify danger. This study was conducted to investigate a situation identified by train drivers in which red signals appear yellow when viewed at long distances (approximately 900 m) through progressive-addition lenses. A laboratory study was conducted to investigate the effects of defocus, target size, ambient illumination, and surround characteristics on the extent of the color misperception of train signals by nine visually normal participants. The data from the laboratory study were validated in a field study by measuring the amounts of defocus and the distances at which the misperception of the color of train signals was apparent and whether these distances varied as a function of time of day. The laboratory study demonstrated that small red targets (approximately 1 min arc) can appear yellow when viewed through small amounts of defocus (approximately +0.75 D) under bright illumination (1910 cd/m(2)). In the field study, the defocus needed to produce the color misperception was similar to that found in the laboratory study. Time of day affected the color misperception, and there was no misperception at night. The color misperception is not solely associated with progressive-addition lenses, but occurs in the presence of small amounts of positive defocus. The potential for the misperception to result in collisions and fatalities presents a major safety concern.

Effects on H(-) production in a multicusp ion source by mixture of H2 with H2O, NH3, CH4, N2H4, and SF6

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Orient, O. J.; Chutjian, A.; Leung, K. N.

1987-01-01

Effects of H(-) production in a multicusp ion source are measured by separately mixing with hydrogen small amounts (0.33-10 percent) of water, ammonia, methane, and hydrazine these are molecules which produce large amounts of H(-) via dissociative attachment (DA) resonances at higher electron energies. The mixing was done in a separate reservoir, with careful measurement of individual pressures. Experimental enhancements of 1.4 and less were observed, whereas calculated enhancements, using accurate DA cross sections for ground-state H2, should have produced factors of 1.5, 3.0, 1.3, and 2.4 enhancements for water, ammonia methane, and hydrazine, respectively, at a mean electron energy of 1.0 eV in the extraction region. The difference is accounted for by including, in the enhancement calculation, vibrationally and rotationally excited H2 molecules, with v-double prime = 5-11, and J-double prime = 0-5, and the large DA cross sections for the excited H2 (v-double prime, J-double prime). The relative populations of H2 (v-double prime, J-double prime) thus obtained are found to be substantially smaller than those predicted by theoretical calculations. The effect on H(-) current was also studied by mixing small amounts of SF6 with H2. A 1.5 percent mixture was found to reduce the H(-) output by one half.

Tektites: Origin as melts produced by the impact of small projectiles onto dry targets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wasson, John T.

1988-01-01

The formation of tektites in general and layered tektites in particular seems to require a very special kind of cratering event. Evidence for the formation of pools of melt free of unmelted clasts has not been reported for the well-studied terrestrial craters such as Manicouagan or Ries. It is suggested that large amounts of relict-free melt were produced only when a sizeable fraction of the cratered target consisted of dry, high-porosity materials such as aeolian sediments. Since dry, high-porosity target materials are always confined to the outer 100 to 200 m of the Earth, the fraction of melt produced melt is probably higher in small (radius 50 to 500 m) craters than in large (r greater than 1 km) craters. Another reason to infer that the Southeast Asian tektites were produced in a multitude of small craters is the wide distribution of layered tektites. The file spans at least 1200 km, which would require ballistic ejection at velocities greater than 2 km s(-1) if all melt was generated in a single crater. It seems impossible to devise a scenario that would lead to the deposition of primary melt as a crystal-free pool at a distance of 600 km from the crater.

Ejection of sodium from sodium sulfide by the sputtering of the surface of Io

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chrisey, D. B.; Johnson, R. E.; Boring, J. W.; Phipps, J. A.

1988-01-01

The mechanism by which Na is removed from the surface of Io prior to its injection into the plasma torus is investigated experimentally. Na2S films of thickness 3-8 microns were produced by spray coating an Ni substrate in a dry N2 atmosphere and subjected to sputtering by 34-keV Ar(+), Ne(+), Kr(+), or Xe(+) ions up to total doses of about 5 x 10 to the 18th ions/sq cm. The sputtering yields and mass spectra are found to be consistent with ejection of only small amounts of atomic Na and somewhat larger amounts of Na-containing molecules. It is concluded that the amount of Na ejected by magnetospheric-ion sputtering of Na2S would be insufficient to account for the amounts observed in the Io neutral cloud. A scenario involving sputtering of larger polysulfide molecules is considered.

Simplified method for preparation of concentrated exoproteins produced by Staphylococcus aureus grown on surface of cellophane bag containing liquid medium.

PubMed

Ikigai, H; Seki, K; Nishihara, S; Masuda, S

1988-01-01

A simplified method for preparation of concentrated exoproteins including protein A and alpha-toxin produced by Staphylococcus aureus was successfully devised. The concentrated proteins were obtained by cultivating S. aureus organisms on the surface of a liquid medium-containing cellophane bag enclosed in a sterilized glass flask. With the same amount of medium, the total amount of proteins obtained by the method presented here was identical with that obtained by conventional liquid culture. The concentration of proteins obtained by the method, however, was high enough to observe their distinct bands stained on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This method was considered quite useful not only for large-scale cultivation for the purification of staphylococcal proteins but also for small-scale study using the proteins. The precise description of the method was presented and its possible usefulness was discussed.

Testing Lorentz Invariance with Neutrinos from Ultrahigh Energy Cosmic Ray Interactions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scully, Sean T.; Stecker, Floyd W.

2010-01-01

We have previously shown that a very small amount of Lorentz invariance violation (UV), which suppresses photomeson interactions of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) with cosmic background radiation (CBR) photons, can produce a spectrum of cosmic rays that is consistent with that currently observed by the Pierre Auger Observatory (PAO) and HiRes experiments. Here, we calculate the corresponding flux of high energy neutrinos generated by the propagation of UHECR protons through the CBR in the presence of UV. We find that UV produces a reduction in the flux of the highest energy neutrinos and a reduction in the energy of the peak of the neutrino energy flux spectrum, both depending on the strength of the UV. Thus, observations of the UHE neutrino spectrum provide a clear test for the existence and amount of UV at the highest energies. We further discuss the ability of current and future proposed detectors make such observations.

Fluorspar

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, M.

1997-01-01

Developments in the area of fluorspar in 1996 are reviewed. There was no reported mine production of fluorspar the U.S. in 1996, so domestic fluorspar requirements were satisfied by imports, sales from the National Defense Stockpile, and small amounts of synthetic fluorspar produced from industrial waste. The Defence Logistics Agency, consumption, imports, exports, markets, production of synthetic equivalents, and the lack of major developments in the North American industry are discussed.

Bauxite and alumina

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bray, E.L.

2009-01-01

The article provides information on bauxite and alumina mining. U.S. states like Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia produced small amounts of bauxite and bauxitic clays for nonmetallurgical uses. Total metallurgical-grade bauxite imports in 2008 is cited. The leading suppliers of bauxite to the U.S. are Jamaica, Guinea and Brazil. The estimated domestic production of alumina in 2008 is mentioned. It also discusses consumption and prices of both bauxite and alumina.

SALMON-TRINITY ALPS WILDERNESS, CALIFORNIA.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hotz, Preston E.; Thurber, Horace K.

1984-01-01

The Salmon-Trinity Alps Wilderness in the Klamath Mountains province occupies an area of about 648 sq mi in parts of Trinity, Siskiyou, and Humboldt Counties, northwestern California. As a result of field studies it was determined that the Salmon-Trinity Alps Wilderness has an area with substantiated potential for gold resources in known lode deposits. Small amounts of quicksilver have been produced from one mine but there is little promise for the discovery of additional mercury resources. Geochemical sampling showed that anomalously high amounts of several other metals occur in a few places, but there is little promise for the discovery of energy or mineral resources other than mercury and gold.

Value of acid metabolic products in identification of certain corynebacteria.

PubMed Central

Reddy, C A; Kao, M

1978-01-01

Acid metabolic products of 23 strains of human and animal pathogenic corynebacteria, representing eight different species, were determined by gas chromatography. The results showed that the species examined were metabolically heterogeneous and could be presumptively identified based on the acid products produced. Corynebacterium equi did not produce any acids; C. renale produced lactate; and C. pyogenes produced major amounts of lactate, variable amounts of acetate, and minor amounts of succinate and pyruvate. C. kutscheri produced propionate and lactate as major products and pyruvate and oxalacetate as minor products. C. diphtheriae and C. pseudotuberculosis produced major amounts of propionate, acetate, and formate. In addition, C. pseudotuberculosis produced major amounts of pyruvate and minor amounts of succinate, lactate, and oxalacetate, whereas C. diphtheriae strains produced minor but variable amounts of lactate, succinate, fumarate, pyruvate, and oxalacetate. C. bovis produced aicd products similar to those of C. pyogenes but was readily distinguishable from the latter by the lack of hemolysis on blood agar, colony morphology, catalase reaction, and biochemicals. C. suis characteristically produced major amounts of ethanol, acetate, and formate and minor amounts of lactate and succinate but no propionate. PMID:96126

Exhaust gas cleaning catalysts and method of producing same

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

Takeoka, S.; Inaba, H.; Ichiki, M.

1976-02-17

Exhaust gas cleaning catalysts are produced by alloying copper and aluminum with at least one of the elements, nickel and chromium, and eluting by alkali or acid means aluminum from the cooled alloy surface. Small amounts of other metals from the fourth or fifth period V--VIII groups may be added to the catalysts by alloying, or by impregnation, for enhanced catalytic properties. The catalysts exhibit improved reduction of NO and oxidation of CO in an exhaust gas stream, in the presence of Pb, SO/sub 2/, moisture and hydrocarbons (HC) and at relatively low temperatures.

What information strategy responding to social needs should be?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujii, Kunihiko

With the contemporary social phenomena that people think much of diversity of value, they are concerned with differentiation from others. Consumers' tendency to seek unique goods is common to all, giving impetus to makers' attitude that they try to produce varieties of goods but small amount for each. Consequently, life cycle of goods has become smaller than ever, and rapid and creative information gathering and utilization have become essential when makers produce goods responding to consumers' need. The author discusses how information strategy should be worked in the comprehensive business activities, and how information should be located as the powerful management resource.

Direct reduction processes for titanium oxide in molten salt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Ryosuke O.

2007-02-01

Molten salt electrolysis using CaCl2 is employed to produce pure titanium and its alloys directly from TiO2 and a mixture of elemental oxides, respectively, as an alternate to the Kroll process. This is because CaO, which is a reduction by-product, is highly soluble in CaCl2. Good-quality titanium containing only a small amount of residual oxygen has been successfully produced and scaled to industrial levels. Thermochemical and electrochemical bases are reviewed to optimize the process conditions. Several processes using molten salt are being examined for future progress in titanium processing.

Process for reducing sulfur in coal char

DOEpatents

Gasior, Stanley J.; Forney, Albert J.; Haynes, William P.; Kenny, Richard F.

1976-07-20

Coal is gasified in the presence of a small but effective amount of alkaline earth oxide, hydroxide or carbonate to yield a char fraction depleted in sulfur. Gases produced during the reaction are enriched in sulfur compounds and the alkaline earth compound remains in the char fraction as an alkaline earth oxide. The char is suitable for fuel use, as in a power plant, and during combustion of the char the alkaline earth oxide reacts with at least a portion of the sulfur oxides produced from the residual sulfur contained in the char to further lower the sulfur content of the combustion gases.

SERS analysis of Ag nanostructures produced by ion-beam deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atanasov, P. A.; Nedyalkov, N. N.; Nikov, Ru G.; Grüner, Ch; Rauschenbach, B.; Fukata, N.

2018-03-01

This study deals with the development of a novel technique for formation of advanced Ag nanostructures (NSs) to be applied to high-resolution analyses based on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). It has direct bearing on human health and food quality, e.g., monitoring small amount or traces of pollutants or undesirable additives. Three types of nanostructured Ag samples were produced using ion-beam deposition at glancing angle (GLAD) on quartz. All fabricated structures were covered with BI-58 pesticide (dimethoate) or Rhodamine 6G (R6G) for testing their potential for use as substrates for (SERS).

Study of Fungal Colonization of Wheat Kernels in Syria with a Focus on Fusarium Species

PubMed Central

Alkadri, Dima; Nipoti, Paola; Döll, Katharina; Karlovsky, Petr; Prodi, Antonio; Pisi, Annamaria

2013-01-01

Wheat is one of the main crops in Mediterranean countries, and its cultivation has an important role in the Syrian economy. In Syria, Fusarium head blight (FHB) has not been reported so far. Mycological analysis of 48 samples of wheat kernels collected from cultivation areas with different climatic conditions were performed in 2009 and 2010. Fungal isolates were identified at the genus level morphologically; Fusarium species were characterized morphologically and by species-specific PCR. The most frequent fungal genera found were Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp., with frequencies of 24.7% and 8.1%, respectively, while the frequency of Fusarium spp. was 1.5% of kernels. Most frequent Fusarium species were F. tricinctum (30% of all Fusarium isolates), F. culmorum (18%), F. equiseti (14%) and F. graminearum (13%). The mycotoxin production potential of selected Fusarium isolates was assessed by HPLC-MS analysis of rice cultures; chemotyping by PCR was carried out for comparison. All six F. graminearum strains tested produced small amounts (<3 mg/kg) of nivalenol (NIV). All ten F. culmorum strains tested produced large amounts of trichothecenes (>100 mg/kg); four strains produced NIV and six strains produced deoxynivalenol (DON) and 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3Ac-DON). PCR chemotyping lead to an oversimplified picture, because all 3Ac-DON chemotype strains produced more DON than 3Ac-DON; furthermore, the strongest NIV producers produced significant amounts of DON. All tested strains of F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. pseudograminearum (two strains) and most F. equiseti strains (five of six strains) produced zearalenone. Grains of durum wheat were more frequently colonized by Fusarium spp. than grains of soft wheat. Incidence of Fusarium spp. in irrigated fields was higher than in rainfed fields. The incidence of Fusarium strains producing mycotoxins raises concerns about the risk of Fusarium head blight to Syria and its consequences for public health. PMID:23493058

Calderas produced by hydromagmatic eruptions through permafrost in northwest Alaska

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beget, J. E.

1993-01-01

Most hydromagmatic eruptions on Earth are generated by interactions of lava and ground or surface water. This eruptive process typically produces craters 0.1-1 km in diameter, although a few as large as 1-2 km were described. In contrast, a series of Pleistocene hydromagmatic eruptions through 80-100-m-thick permafrost on the Seward Peninsula of Alaska produced four craters 3-8 km in diameter. These craters, called the Espenberg maars, are the four largest maars known on Earth. The thermodynamic properties of ground ice influence the rate and amount of water melted during the course of the eruption. Large quantities of water are present, but only small amounts can be melted at any time to interact with magma. This would tend to produce sustained and highly explosive low water/magma (fuel-coolant) ratios during the eruptions. An area of 400 km(sub 2) around the Alaskan maars shows strong reductions in the density of thaw lakes, ground ice, and other surface manifestations of permafrost because of deep burial by coeval tephra falls. The unusually large Espenberg maars are the first examples of calderas produced by hydromagmatic eruptions. These distinctive landforms can apparently be used as an indicator of the presence of permafrost at the time of eruption.

Durable zinc ferrite sorbent pellets for hot coal gas desulfurization

DOEpatents

Jha, Mahesh C.; Blandon, Antonio E.; Hepworth, Malcolm T.

1988-01-01

Durable, porous sulfur sorbents useful in removing hydrogen sulfide from hot coal gas are prepared by water pelletizing a mixture of fine zinc oxide and fine iron oxide with inorganic and organic binders and small amounts of activators such as sodium carbonate and molybdenite; the pellets are dried and then indurated at a high temperature, e.g., 1800.degree. C., for a time sufficient to produce crush-resistant pellets.

“Triple M” Effect: A Proposed Mechanism to Explain Increased Dental Amalgam Microleakage after Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation

PubMed Central

Mortazavi, Gh.; Mortazavi, S.A.R.; Mehdizadeh, A.R.

2018-01-01

A large body of evidence now indicates that the amount of mercury released from dental amalgam fillings can be significantly accelerated by exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) such as common mobile phones and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Studies performed on the increased microleakage of dental amalgam restorations after exposure to RF-EMFs have further supported these findings. Although the accelerated microleakage induced by RF-EMFs is clinically significant, the entire mechanisms of this phenomenon are not clearly understood. In this paper, we introduce “Triple M” effect, a new evidence-based theory which can explain the accelerated microleakage of dental amalgam fillings after exposure to different sources of electromagnetic radiation. Based on this theory, there are saliva-filled tiny spaces between amalgam and the tooth. Exposure of the oral cavity to RF-EMFs increases the energy of these small amounts of saliva. Due to the small mass of saliva in these tiny spaces, a small amount of energy will be required for heating. Moreover, reflection of the radiofrequency radiation on the inner walls of the tiny spaces causes interference which in turn produces some “hot spots” in these spaces. Finally, formation of gas bubbles in response to increased temperature and very rapid expansion of these bubbles will accelerate the microleakage of amalgam. Experiments that confirm the validity of this theory are discussed. PMID:29732349

"Triple M" Effect: A Proposed Mechanism to Explain Increased Dental Amalgam Microleakage after Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Radiation.

PubMed

Mortazavi, Gh; Mortazavi, S A R; Mehdizadeh, A R

2018-03-01

A large body of evidence now indicates that the amount of mercury released from dental amalgam fillings can be significantly accelerated by exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) such as common mobile phones and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Studies performed on the increased microleakage of dental amalgam restorations after exposure to RF-EMFs have further supported these findings. Although the accelerated microleakage induced by RF-EMFs is clinically significant, the entire mechanisms of this phenomenon are not clearly understood. In this paper, we introduce "Triple M" effect, a new evidence-based theory which can explain the accelerated microleakage of dental amalgam fillings after exposure to different sources of electromagnetic radiation. Based on this theory, there are saliva-filled tiny spaces between amalgam and the tooth. Exposure of the oral cavity to RF-EMFs increases the energy of these small amounts of saliva. Due to the small mass of saliva in these tiny spaces, a small amount of energy will be required for heating. Moreover, reflection of the radiofrequency radiation on the inner walls of the tiny spaces causes interference which in turn produces some "hot spots" in these spaces. Finally, formation of gas bubbles in response to increased temperature and very rapid expansion of these bubbles will accelerate the microleakage of amalgam. Experiments that confirm the validity of this theory are discussed.

Scheduling periodic jobs using imprecise results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chung, Jen-Yao; Liu, Jane W. S.; Lin, Kwei-Jay

1987-01-01

One approach to avoid timing faults in hard, real-time systems is to make available intermediate, imprecise results produced by real-time processes. When a result of the desired quality cannot be produced in time, an imprecise result of acceptable quality produced before the deadline can be used. The problem of scheduling periodic jobs to meet deadlines on a system that provides the necessary programming language primitives and run-time support for processes to return imprecise results is discussed. Since the scheduler may choose to terminate a task before it is completed, causing it to produce an acceptable but imprecise result, the amount of processor time assigned to any task in a valid schedule can be less than the amount of time required to complete the task. A meaningful formulation of the scheduling problem must take into account the overall quality of the results. Depending on the different types of undesirable effects caused by errors, jobs are classified as type N or type C. For type N jobs, the effects of errors in results produced in different periods are not cumulative. A reasonable performance measure is the average error over all jobs. Three heuristic algorithms that lead to feasible schedules with small average errors are described. For type C jobs, the undesirable effects of errors produced in different periods are cumulative. Schedulability criteria of type C jobs are discussed.

Combining deep learning and level set for the automated segmentation of the left ventricle of the heart from cardiac cine magnetic resonance.

PubMed

Ngo, Tuan Anh; Lu, Zhi; Carneiro, Gustavo

2017-01-01

We introduce a new methodology that combines deep learning and level set for the automated segmentation of the left ventricle of the heart from cardiac cine magnetic resonance (MR) data. This combination is relevant for segmentation problems, where the visual object of interest presents large shape and appearance variations, but the annotated training set is small, which is the case for various medical image analysis applications, including the one considered in this paper. In particular, level set methods are based on shape and appearance terms that use small training sets, but present limitations for modelling the visual object variations. Deep learning methods can model such variations using relatively small amounts of annotated training, but they often need to be regularised to produce good generalisation. Therefore, the combination of these methods brings together the advantages of both approaches, producing a methodology that needs small training sets and produces accurate segmentation results. We test our methodology on the MICCAI 2009 left ventricle segmentation challenge database (containing 15 sequences for training, 15 for validation and 15 for testing), where our approach achieves the most accurate results in the semi-automated problem and state-of-the-art results for the fully automated challenge. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Akutan Volcano east-central Aleutian Islands, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Waythomas, Christopher F.; Power, John A.; Richter, Donlad H.; McGimsey, Robert G.

1998-01-01

Akutan Volcano is a 1100-meter-high stratovolcano on Akutan Island in the east-central Aleutian Islands of southwestern Alaska. The volcano is located about 1238 kilometers southwest of Anchorage and about 56 kilometers east of Dutch Harbor/Unalaska. Eruptive activity has occurred at least 27 times since historical observations were recorded beginning in the late 1700?s. Recent eruptions produced only small amounts of fine volcanic ash that fell primarily on the upper flanks of the volcano. Small amounts of ash fell on the Akutan Harbor area during eruptions in 1911, 1948, 1987, and 1989. Plumes of volcanic ash are the primary hazard associated with eruptions of Akutan Volcano and are a major hazard to all aircraft using the airfield at Dutch Harbor or approaching Akutan Island. Eruptions similar to historical Akutan eruptions should be anticipated in the future. Although unlikely, eruptions larger than those of historical time could generate significant amounts of volcanic ash, fallout, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that would be hazardous to life and property on all sectors of the volcano and other parts of the island, but especially in the major valleys that head on the volcano flanks. During a large eruption an ash cloud could be produced that may be hazardous to aircraft using the airfield at Cold Bay and the airspace downwind from the volcano. In the event of a large eruption, volcanic ash fallout could be relatively thick over parts of Akutan Island and volcanic bombs could strike areas more than 10 kilometers from the volcano.

Thermalization after/during reheating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harigaya, Keisuke; Mukaida, Kyohei

2014-05-01

If reheating of the Universe takes place via Planck-suppressed decay, it seems that the thermalization of produced particles might be delayed, since they have large energy/small number densities and number violating large angle scatterings which decrease the momentum of particles by large amount are inefficient correspondingly. In this paper, we study the thermalization of such "under occupied" decay products in detail, following recent developments in understanding the thermalization of non-abelian plasma. Contrary to the above naive expectation, it is shown that in most cases thermalization after/during reheating occurs instantaneously by properly taking account of scatterings with small angles and of particles with small momenta. In particular, the condition for instantaneous thermalization before the completion of reheating is found to be , which is much milder than that obtained in previous works with small angle scatterings taken into account.

Ethylene induced shikonin biosynthesis in shoot culture of Lithospermum erythrorhizon.

PubMed

Touno, Kaori; Tamaoka, Jin; Ohashi, Yuko; Shimomura, Koichiro

2005-02-01

Lithospermum erythrorhizon shoots, cultured on phytohormone-free Murashige and Skoog solid medium, produced shikonin derivatives, whereas shoots cultured in well-ventilated petri dishes, produced small amount. Analysis by gas chromatography revealed the presence of ethylene in non-ventilated petri dishes where the shoots, producing shikonin derivatives, were cultured. Therefore, the possible involvement of ethylene in shikonin biosynthesis of shoot cultures was investigated. Treatment of ethylene or the ethylene precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, resulted in increasing shikonin derivatives contents in cultured shoots. Silver ion, an ethylene-response inhibitor, or aminoethoxyvinylglycine, an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, decreased production of shikonin derivatives in cultured shoots. Our results indicate that ethylene is one of the regulatory elements of shikonin biosynthesis in L. erythrorhizon shoot culture.

Ontogeny of anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody production in HIV-1-infected infants.

PubMed Central

Pollack, H; Zhan, M X; Ilmet-Moore, T; Ajuang-Simbiri, K; Krasinski, K; Borkowsky, W

1993-01-01

The early serologic response of infants to infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is normally obscured by the presence of transplacentally acquired maternal HIV antibody. By measuring HIV antibody produced in vitro by lymphocytes isolated from peripheral blood of infants and children of HIV-1-infected mothers, we have been able to study the natural acquisition of humoral immunity to perinatal HIV-1 infection. One hundred ninety-seven infants of HIV-1-infected women were studied prospectively and longitudinally from birth. In the neonatal period, infected infants produced only small amounts of HIV-specific IgG antibodies to a restricted number of antigens. The amount of immunoglobulin to HIV-1 and the number of HIV-1 antigens recognized increased with age. After 6 months of life 85% of infected infants made detectable antibody to two or more viral proteins. Antibody to gp160 appeared first and was the most frequently found at all ages, followed by antibody to the envelope proteins gp120 and gp41. The amount of HIV antibody produced correlated positively with the percentage of CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood. This assay provides a method of studying the immunogenicity of vaccines against HIV-1 in HIV-1-infected infants and of assessing the effect of early therapeutic interventions on the humoral response to HIV-1. PMID:8460144

Emission of nanoparticles during combustion of waste biomass in fireplace

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drastichová, Vendula; Krpec, Kamil; Horák, Jiří; Hopan, František; Kubesa, Petr; Martiník, Lubomír; Koloničný, Jan; Ochodek, Tadeáš; Holubčík, Michal

2014-08-01

Contamination of air by solid particles is serious problem for human health and also environment. Small particles in nano-sizes are more dangerous than same weight of larger size. Negative effect namely of the solid particles depends on (i) number, (ii) specific surface area (iii) respirability and (iv) bonding of others substances (e.g. PAHs, As, Cd, Zn, Cu etc.) which are higher for smaller (nano-sizes) particles compared to larger one. For this reason mentioned above this contribution deals with measuring of amount, and distribution of nanoparticles produced form combustion of waste city biomass in small combustion unit with impactor DLPI.

Above- and belowground fluxes of CH4 from boreal shrubs and Scots pine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halmeenmäki, Elisa; Heinonsalo, Jussi; Santalahti, Minna; Putkinen, Anuliina; Fritze, Hannu; Pihlatie, Mari

2016-04-01

Boreal upland forests are considered as an important sink for the greenhouse gas methane (CH4) due to CH4 oxidizing microbes in the soil. However, recent evidence suggests that vegetation can act as a significant source of CH4. Also, preliminary measurements indicate occasional emissions of CH4 above the tree canopies of a boreal forest. Nevertheless, the sources and the mechanisms of the observed CH4 emissions are still mostly unknown. Furthermore, the majority of CH4 flux studies have been conducted with the soil chamber method, thus not considering the role of the vegetation itself. We conducted a laboratory experiment to study separately the above- and belowground CH4 fluxes of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), heather (Calluna vulgaris), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), which were grown in microcosms. The above- and belowground fluxes of the plants were measured separately, and these fluxes were compared to fluxes of microcosms containing only humus soil. In addition to the flux measurements, we analysed the CH4 producing archaea (methanogens) and the CH4 consuming bacteria (methanotrophs) with the qPCR method to discover whether these microbes contribute to the CH4 exchange from the plant material and the soil. The results of the flux measurements indicate that the humus soil with roots of lingonberry, heather, and Scots pine consume CH4 compared to bare humus soil. Simultaneously, the shoots of heather and Scots pine emit small amounts of CH4. We did not find detectable amounts of methanogens from any of the samples, suggesting the produced CH4 could be of non-microbial origin, or produced by very small population of methanogens. Based on the first preliminary results, methanotrophs were present in all the studied plant species, and especially in high amounts in the rooted soils, thus implying that the methanotrophs could be responsible of the CH4 uptake in the root-soil systems.

[Development of antibody medicines by bio-venture: lesson from license negotiations with mega pharmacies].

PubMed

Takada, Kenzo

2013-01-01

The current method of antibody production is mainly the hybridoma method, in which mice are immunized with an excess amount of antigen for a short period to promote activation and proliferation of B-lymphocytes producing the antibodies of interest. Because of the excess antigen, those producing low-affinity antibodies are activated. In contrast, human blood B-lymphocytes are activated through natural immune reactions, such as the reaction to infection. B-lymphocytes are stimulated repeatedly with a small amount of antigen, and thus only those producing high-affinity antibodies are activated. Consequently, the lymphocytes producing the high-affinity antibodies are accumulated in human blood. Therefore, human lymphocytes are an excellent source of high-affinity antibodies. Evec, Inc. has established a unique method to produce high-affinity antibodies from human lymphocytes using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which induces the proliferation of B-lymphocytes. The method first induces the proliferation of B-lymphocytes from human blood using EBV, and then isolates those producing the antibodies of interest. The key features of the Evec technique are: 1) development of a lymphocyte library consisting of 150 donors' lymphocytes from which donors suited to develop the antibodies of interest can be selected in 4 days; and 2) development of a sorting method and cell microarray method for selecting lymphocyte clones producing the target antibodies. Licensing agreements have been concluded with European and Japanese pharmaceutical companies for two types of antibody. This paper describes Evec's antibody technology and experience in license negotiations with Mega Pharmacies.

Clustering Methods with Qualitative Data: A Mixed Methods Approach for Prevention Research with Small Samples

PubMed Central

Henry, David; Dymnicki, Allison B.; Mohatt, Nathaniel; Allen, James; Kelly, James G.

2016-01-01

Qualitative methods potentially add depth to prevention research, but can produce large amounts of complex data even with small samples. Studies conducted with culturally distinct samples often produce voluminous qualitative data, but may lack sufficient sample sizes for sophisticated quantitative analysis. Currently lacking in mixed methods research are methods allowing for more fully integrating qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques. Cluster analysis can be applied to coded qualitative data to clarify the findings of prevention studies by aiding efforts to reveal such things as the motives of participants for their actions and the reasons behind counterintuitive findings. By clustering groups of participants with similar profiles of codes in a quantitative analysis, cluster analysis can serve as a key component in mixed methods research. This article reports two studies. In the first study, we conduct simulations to test the accuracy of cluster assignment using three different clustering methods with binary data as produced when coding qualitative interviews. Results indicated that hierarchical clustering, K-Means clustering, and latent class analysis produced similar levels of accuracy with binary data, and that the accuracy of these methods did not decrease with samples as small as 50. Whereas the first study explores the feasibility of using common clustering methods with binary data, the second study provides a “real-world” example using data from a qualitative study of community leadership connected with a drug abuse prevention project. We discuss the implications of this approach for conducting prevention research, especially with small samples and culturally distinct communities. PMID:25946969

Clustering Methods with Qualitative Data: a Mixed-Methods Approach for Prevention Research with Small Samples.

PubMed

Henry, David; Dymnicki, Allison B; Mohatt, Nathaniel; Allen, James; Kelly, James G

2015-10-01

Qualitative methods potentially add depth to prevention research but can produce large amounts of complex data even with small samples. Studies conducted with culturally distinct samples often produce voluminous qualitative data but may lack sufficient sample sizes for sophisticated quantitative analysis. Currently lacking in mixed-methods research are methods allowing for more fully integrating qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques. Cluster analysis can be applied to coded qualitative data to clarify the findings of prevention studies by aiding efforts to reveal such things as the motives of participants for their actions and the reasons behind counterintuitive findings. By clustering groups of participants with similar profiles of codes in a quantitative analysis, cluster analysis can serve as a key component in mixed-methods research. This article reports two studies. In the first study, we conduct simulations to test the accuracy of cluster assignment using three different clustering methods with binary data as produced when coding qualitative interviews. Results indicated that hierarchical clustering, K-means clustering, and latent class analysis produced similar levels of accuracy with binary data and that the accuracy of these methods did not decrease with samples as small as 50. Whereas the first study explores the feasibility of using common clustering methods with binary data, the second study provides a "real-world" example using data from a qualitative study of community leadership connected with a drug abuse prevention project. We discuss the implications of this approach for conducting prevention research, especially with small samples and culturally distinct communities.

The Prisoner of War: Coping with the Stress of Isolation

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-12-01

HUNTER Social isolation produces stiess, and although persistence of effects in slimt experimental isolations may last only a matter of hours or days...character of the stresses of captivity "severely limits inferences about the etiologic role of specific components; e.g., malnutrition, social isolation... social ’ isolation. Suedfcld IT has pointed out that the amount of research on the effects of social isolation per se is very small, and that most

Femtosecond Carrier Processes in Compound Semiconductors and Real Time Signal Processing

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-03-10

Blocks in Real Schur Form" ................... 179 5. "The Periodic Schur Decomposition. Algorithms and A p p lication s...existence of short period superlattices (confined LO GaAs and AlAs vibrations) on all samples produced with this method. The degret of deposition zone...small amount of zone intermixing occurs in the spatially separated growth mode (see 1 Figure 1b), the short period superlattices have graded interfaces

Chemical Reactions and Properties of Organosilicon Compounds Related to New Materials.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-10-31

out. The compound behaves like an olefin in some reactions, for in- stance addition of hydrogen halides or chlorine: C1 2 HCI Mes 2 SiCl-SiClMes2...polymers have been synthesized which contain some silicon atoms bonded to hydrogen . These become crosslinked when mixed with substances containing several...and highly efficient catalysts, very small amounts are required in this process. Moreover, photocatalysis using polysilanes produces polymers with

Minimum magnetic curvature for resilient divertors using Compact Toroidal Hybrid geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bader, A.; Hegna, C. C.; Cianciosa, M.; Hartwell, G. J.

2018-05-01

The properties of resilient divertors are explored using equilibria derived from Compact Toroidal Hybrid (CTH) geometries. Resilience is defined here as the robustness of the strike point patterns as the plasma geometry and/or plasma profiles are changed. The addition of plasma current in the CTH configurations significantly alters the shape of the last closed flux surface and the rotational transform profile, however, it does not alter the strike point pattern on the target plates, and hence has resilient divertor features. The limits of when a configuration transforms to a resilient configuration is then explored. New CTH-like configurations are generated that vary from a perfectly circular cross section to configurations with increasing amounts of toroidal shaping. It is found that even small amounts of toroidal shaping lead to strike point localization that is similar to the standard CTH configuration. These results show that only a small degree of three-dimensional shaping is necessary to produce a resilient divertor, implying that any highly shaped optimized stellarator will possess the resilient divertor property.

Organic influences on inorganic patterns of diffusion-controlled precipitation in gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barge, Laura M.; Nealson, Kenneth H.; Petruska, John

2010-06-01

The well-known AgNO 3/K 2CrO 4 reaction-diffusion system produces periodic bands of silver chromate precipitate in gelatin, but only randomly oriented crystals in agarose gel. We show that comparable bands can be produced in agarose gel by adding small amounts of simple organic acids (e.g., acetic acid, N-acetyl glycine, and N-acetyl alanine) that suppress crystal growth and promote formation of rounded particles of precipitate. These results indicate that α-carboxyl groups of amino acids or short peptides in gelatin under mildly acidic conditions can induce periodic band patterns in diffusion-controlled silver chromate precipitates.

Morphology and chemistry of projectile residue in small experimental impact craters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horz, F.; Fechtig, H.; Janicke, J.; Schneider, E.

1983-11-01

Small-scale impact craters (5-7 mm in diameter) were produced with a light gas gun in high purity Au and Cu targets using soda lime glass (SL) and man-made basalt glass (BG) as projectiles. Maximum impact velocity was 6.4 km/s resulting in peak pressures of approximately 120-150 GPa. Copious amounts of projectile melts are preserved as thin glass liners draping the entire crater cavity; some of this liner may be lost by spallation, however. SEM investigations reveal complex surface textures including multistage flow phenomena and distinct temporal deposition sequences of small droplets. Inasmuch as some of the melts were generated at peak pressures greater than 120 GPa, these glasses represent the most severely shocked silicates recovered from laboratory experiments to date. Major element analyses reveal partial loss of alkalis; Na2O loss of 10-15 percent is observed, while K2O loss may be as high as 30-50 percent. Although the observed volatile loss in these projectile melts is significant, it still remains uncertain whether target melts produced on planetary surfaces are severely fractionated by selective volatilization processes.

METHOD OF PRODUCING ENERGETIC PLASMA FOR NEUTRON PRODUCTION

DOEpatents

Bell, P.R.; Simon, A.; Mackin, R.J. Jr.

1961-01-24

A method is given for producing an energetic plasma for neutron production. An energetic plasma is produced in a small magnetically confined subvolume of the device by providing a selected current of energetic molecular ions at least greater than that required for producing a current of atomic ions sufficient to achieve "burnout" of neutral particles in the subvolume. The atomic ions are provided by dissociation of the molecular ions by an energetic arc discharge within the subvolume. After burnout, the arc discharge is terminated, the magnetic fields increased, and cold fuel feed is substituted for the molecular ions. After the subvolume is filled with an energetic plasma, the size of the magnetically confined subvolume is gradually increased until the entire device is filled with an energetic neutron producing plasma. The reactions which take place in the device to produce neutrons will generate a certain amount of heat energy which may be converted by the use of a conventional heat cycle to produce electrical energy.

Biohydrogen and Bioethanol Production from Biodiesel-Based Glycerol by Enterobacter aerogenes in a Continuous Stir Tank Reactor

PubMed Central

Jitrwung, Rujira; Yargeau, Viviane

2015-01-01

Crude glycerol from the biodiesel manufacturing process is being produced in increasing quantities due to the expanding number of biodiesel plants. It has been previously shown that, in batch mode, semi-anaerobic fermentation of crude glycerol by Enterobacter aerogenes can produce biohydrogen and bioethanol simultaneously. The present study demonstrated the possible scaling-up of this process from small batches performed in small bottles to a 3.6-L continuous stir tank reactor (CSTR). Fresh feed rate, liquid recycling, pH, mixing speed, glycerol concentration, and waste recycling were optimized for biohydrogen and bioethanol production. Results confirmed that E. aerogenes uses small amounts of oxygen under semi-anaerobic conditions for growth before using oxygen from decomposable salts, mainly NH4NO3, under anaerobic condition to produce hydrogen and ethanol. The optimal conditions were determined to be 500 rpm, pH 6.4, 18.5 g/L crude glycerol (15 g/L glycerol) and 33% liquid recycling for a fresh feed rate of 0.44 mL/min. Using these optimized conditions, the process ran at a lower media cost than previous studies, was stable after 7 days without further inoculation and resulted in yields of 0.86 mol H2/mol glycerol and 0.75 mol ethanol/mole glycerol. PMID:25970750

Biohydrogen and Bioethanol Production from Biodiesel-Based Glycerol by Enterobacter aerogenes in a Continuous Stir Tank Reactor.

PubMed

Jitrwung, Rujira; Yargeau, Viviane

2015-05-11

Crude glycerol from the biodiesel manufacturing process is being produced in increasing quantities due to the expanding number of biodiesel plants. It has been previously shown that, in batch mode, semi-anaerobic fermentation of crude glycerol by Enterobacter aerogenes can produce biohydrogen and bioethanol simultaneously. The present study demonstrated the possible scaling-up of this process from small batches performed in small bottles to a 3.6-L continuous stir tank reactor (CSTR). Fresh feed rate, liquid recycling, pH, mixing speed, glycerol concentration, and waste recycling were optimized for biohydrogen and bioethanol production. Results confirmed that E. aerogenes uses small amounts of oxygen under semi-anaerobic conditions for growth before using oxygen from decomposable salts, mainly NH4NO3, under anaerobic condition to produce hydrogen and ethanol. The optimal conditions were determined to be 500 rpm, pH 6.4, 18.5 g/L crude glycerol (15 g/L glycerol) and 33% liquid recycling for a fresh feed rate of 0.44 mL/min. Using these optimized conditions, the process ran at a lower media cost than previous studies, was stable after 7 days without further inoculation and resulted in yields of 0.86 mol H2/mol glycerol and 0.75 mol ethanol/mole glycerol.

Degradation of municipal solid waste in simulated landfill bioreactors under aerobic conditions.

PubMed

Slezak, Radoslaw; Krzystek, Liliana; Ledakowicz, Stanislaw

2015-09-01

In this study the municipal solid waste degradation processes in simulated landfill bioreactors under aerobic and anaerobic conditions is investigated. The effect of waste aeration on the dynamics of the aerobic degradation processes in lysimeters as well as during anaerobic processes after completion of aeration is presented. The results are compared with the anaerobic degradation process to determine the stabilization stage of waste in both experimental modes. The experiments in aerobic lysimeters were carried out at small aeration rate (4.41⋅10(-3)lmin(-1)kg(-1)) and for two recirculation rates (24.9 and 1.58lm(-3)d(-1)). The change of leachate and formed gases composition showed that the application of even a small aeration rate favored the degradation of organic matter. The amount of CO2 and CH4 released from anaerobic lysimeter was about 5 times lower than that from the aerobic lysimeters. Better stabilization of the waste was obtained in the aerobic lysimeter with small recirculation, from which the amount of CO2 produced was larger by about 19% in comparison with that from the aerobic lysimeter with large leachate recirculation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The color and size of chili peppers (Capsicum annuum) influence Hep-G2 cell growth.

PubMed

Popovich, David G; Sia, Sharon Y; Zhang, Wei; Lim, Mon L

2014-11-01

Four types of chili (Capsicum annuum) extracts, categorized according to color; green and red, and size; small and large were studied in Hep-G2 cells. Red small (RS) chili had an LC50 value of 0.378 ± 0.029 compared to green big (GB) 1.034 ± 0.061 and green small (GS) 1.070 ± 0.21 mg/mL. Red big (RB) was not cytotoxic. Capsaicin content was highest in RS and produced a greater percentage sub-G1 cells (6.47 ± 1.8%) after 24 h compared to GS (2.96 ± 1.3%) and control (1.29 ± 0.8%) cells. G2/M phase was reduced by GS compared to RS and control cells. RS at the LC50 concentration contained 1.6 times the amount of pure capsaicin LC50 to achieve the same effect of capsaicin alone. GS and GB capsaicin content at the LC50 value was lower (0.2 and 0.66, respectively) compared to the amount of capsaicin to achieve a similar reduction in cell growth.

Towards a Microbial Thermoelectric Cell

PubMed Central

Rodríguez-Barreiro, Raúl; Abendroth, Christian; Vilanova, Cristina; Moya, Andrés; Porcar, Manuel

2013-01-01

Microbial growth is an exothermic process. Biotechnological industries produce large amounts of heat, usually considered an undesirable by-product. In this work, we report the construction and characterization of the first microbial thermoelectric cell (MTC), in which the metabolic heat produced by a thermally insulated microbial culture is partially converted into electricity through a thermoelectric device optimized for low ΔT values. A temperature of 41°C and net electric voltage of around 250–600 mV was achieved with 1.7 L baker’s yeast culture. This is the first time microbial metabolic energy has been converted into electricity with an ad hoc thermoelectric device. These results might contribute towards developing a novel strategy to harvest excess heat in the biotechnology industry, in processes such as ethanol fermentation, auto thermal aerobic digestion (ATAD) or bioremediation, which could be coupled with MTCs in a single unit to produce electricity as a valuable by-product of the primary biotechnological product. Additionally, we propose that small portable MTCs could be conceived and inoculated with suitable thermophilic of hyperthermophilic starter cultures and used for powering small electric devices. PMID:23468862

Key process parameters to modify the porosity of cerium dioxide microspheres formed in the internal gelation process

DOE PAGES

Hunt, Rodney Dale; Collins, Jack Lee; Reif, Tyler J.; ...

2017-08-04

Recently, an internal gelation study demonstrated that the use of heated urea and hexamethylenetetramine can have a pronounced impact on the porosity and sintering characteristics of cerium dioxide (CeO 2) microspheres. This effort has identified process variables that can significantly change the initial porosity of the CeO 2 microspheres with slight modifications. A relatively small difference in the sample preparation of cerium ammonium nitrate and ammonium hydroxide solution had a large reproducible impact on the porosity and slow pour density of the produced microspheres. Increases in the gelation temperature as small as 0.5 K also produced a noticeable increase inmore » the slow pour density. If the gelation temperature was increased too high, the use of the heated hexamethylenetetramine and urea was no longer observed to be effective in increasing the porosity of the CeO 2 microspheres. In conclusion, the final process variable was the amount of dispersing agent, Span™ 80, which can increase the slow pour density and produce significantly smaller microspheres.« less

Key process parameters to modify the porosity of cerium dioxide microspheres formed in the internal gelation process

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

Hunt, Rodney Dale; Collins, Jack Lee; Reif, Tyler J.

Recently, an internal gelation study demonstrated that the use of heated urea and hexamethylenetetramine can have a pronounced impact on the porosity and sintering characteristics of cerium dioxide (CeO 2) microspheres. This effort has identified process variables that can significantly change the initial porosity of the CeO 2 microspheres with slight modifications. A relatively small difference in the sample preparation of cerium ammonium nitrate and ammonium hydroxide solution had a large reproducible impact on the porosity and slow pour density of the produced microspheres. Increases in the gelation temperature as small as 0.5 K also produced a noticeable increase inmore » the slow pour density. If the gelation temperature was increased too high, the use of the heated hexamethylenetetramine and urea was no longer observed to be effective in increasing the porosity of the CeO 2 microspheres. In conclusion, the final process variable was the amount of dispersing agent, Span™ 80, which can increase the slow pour density and produce significantly smaller microspheres.« less

The ferrosilicon process for the generation of hydrogen

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weaver, E R; Berry, W M; Bohnson, V L; Gordon, B D

1920-01-01

Report describes the generation of hydrogen by the reaction between ferrosilicon, sodium hydroxide, and water. This method known as the ferrosilicon method is especially adapted for use in the military field because of the relatively small size and low cost of the generator required to produce hydrogen at a rapid rate, the small operating force required, and the fact that no power is used except the small amount required to operate the stirring and pumping machinery. These advantages make it possible to quickly generate sufficient hydrogen to fill a balloon with a generator which can be transported on a motor truck. This report gives a summary of the details of the ferrosilicon process and a critical examination of the means which are necessary in order to make the process successful.

Effect of Producing Different Phenazines on Bacterial Fitness and Biological Control in Pseudomonas chlororaphis 30-84

PubMed Central

Yu, Jun Myoung; Wang, Dongping; Pierson, Leland S.; Pierson, Elizabeth A.

2018-01-01

Pseudomonas chlororaphis 30-84 is a biological control agent selected for its ability to suppress diseases caused by fungal pathogens. P. chlororaphis 30-84 produces three phenazines: phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA), 2-hydroxy-phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (2OHPCA) and a small amount of 2-hydroxy-phenazine (2OHPHZ), and these are required for fungal pathogen inhibition and wheat rhizosphere competence. The two, 2-hydroxy derivatives are produced from PCA via the activity of a phenazine-modifying enzyme encoded by phzO. In addition to the seven biosynthetic genes responsible for the production of PCA, many other Pseudomonas strains possess one or more modifying genes, which encode enzymes that act independently or together to convert PCA into other phenazine derivatives. In order to understand the fitness effects of producing different phenazines, we constructed isogenic derivatives of P. chlororaphis 30-84 that differed only in the type of phenazines produced. Altering the type of phenazines produced by P. chlororaphis 30-84 enhanced the spectrum of fungal pathogens inhibited and altered the degree of take-all disease suppression. These strains also differed in their ability to promote extracellular DNA release, which may contribute to the observed differences in the amount of biofilm produced. All derivatives were equally important for survival over repeated plant/harvest cycles, indicating that the type of phenazines produced is less important for persistence in the wheat rhizosphere than whether or not cells produce phenazines. These findings provide a better understanding of the effects of different phenazines on functions important for biological control activity with implications for applications that rely on introduced or native phenazine producing populations. PMID:29422787

Effects of entanglement in an ideal optical amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franson, J. D.; Brewster, R. A.

2018-04-01

In an ideal linear amplifier, the output signal is linearly related to the input signal with an additive noise that is independent of the input. The decoherence of a quantum-mechanical state as a result of optical amplification is usually assumed to be due to the addition of quantum noise. Here we show that entanglement between the input signal and the amplifying medium can produce an exponentially-large amount of decoherence in an ideal optical amplifier even when the gain is arbitrarily close to unity and the added noise is negligible. These effects occur for macroscopic superposition states, where even a small amount of gain can leave a significant amount of which-path information in the environment. Our results show that the usual input/output relation of a linear amplifier does not provide a complete description of the output state when post-selection is used.

Conifers have a unique small RNA silencing signature

PubMed Central

Dolgosheina, Elena V.; Morin, Ryan D.; Aksay, Gozde; Sahinalp, S. Cenk; Magrini, Vincent; Mardis, Elaine R.; Mattsson, Jim; Unrau, Peter J.

2008-01-01

Plants produce small RNAs to negatively regulate genes, viral nucleic acids, and repetitive elements at either the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level in a process that is referred to as RNA silencing. While RNA silencing has been extensively studied across the different phyla of the animal kingdom (e.g., mouse, fly, worm), similar studies in the plant kingdom have focused primarily on angiosperms, thus limiting evolutionary studies of RNA silencing in plants. Here we report on an unexpected phylogenetic difference in the size distribution of small RNAs among the vascular plants. By extracting total RNA from freshly growing shoot tissue, we conducted a survey of small RNAs in 24 vascular plant species. We find that conifers, which radiated from the other seed-bearing plants ∼260 million years ago, fail to produce significant amounts of 24-nucleotide (nt) RNAs that are known to guide DNA methylation and heterochromatin formation in angiosperms. Instead, they synthesize a diverse population of small RNAs that are exactly 21-nt long. This finding was confirmed by high-throughput sequencing of the small RNA sequences from a conifer, Pinus contorta. A conifer EST search revealed the presence of a novel Dicer-like (DCL) family, which may be responsible for the observed change in small RNA expression. No evidence for DCL3, an enzyme that matures 24-nt RNAs in angiosperms, was found. We hypothesize that the diverse class of 21-nt RNAs found in conifers may help to maintain organization of their unusually large genomes. PMID:18566193

Conifers have a unique small RNA silencing signature.

PubMed

Dolgosheina, Elena V; Morin, Ryan D; Aksay, Gozde; Sahinalp, S Cenk; Magrini, Vincent; Mardis, Elaine R; Mattsson, Jim; Unrau, Peter J

2008-08-01

Plants produce small RNAs to negatively regulate genes, viral nucleic acids, and repetitive elements at either the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level in a process that is referred to as RNA silencing. While RNA silencing has been extensively studied across the different phyla of the animal kingdom (e.g., mouse, fly, worm), similar studies in the plant kingdom have focused primarily on angiosperms, thus limiting evolutionary studies of RNA silencing in plants. Here we report on an unexpected phylogenetic difference in the size distribution of small RNAs among the vascular plants. By extracting total RNA from freshly growing shoot tissue, we conducted a survey of small RNAs in 24 vascular plant species. We find that conifers, which radiated from the other seed-bearing plants approximately 260 million years ago, fail to produce significant amounts of 24-nucleotide (nt) RNAs that are known to guide DNA methylation and heterochromatin formation in angiosperms. Instead, they synthesize a diverse population of small RNAs that are exactly 21-nt long. This finding was confirmed by high-throughput sequencing of the small RNA sequences from a conifer, Pinus contorta. A conifer EST search revealed the presence of a novel Dicer-like (DCL) family, which may be responsible for the observed change in small RNA expression. No evidence for DCL3, an enzyme that matures 24-nt RNAs in angiosperms, was found. We hypothesize that the diverse class of 21-nt RNAs found in conifers may help to maintain organization of their unusually large genomes.

Effect of Grain Refinement and Cooling Rate on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Secondary Al-Si-Cu Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Timelli, Giulio; Camicia, Giordano; Ferraro, Stefano

2014-02-01

The effect of AlTi5B1 grain refinement and different solidification rates on metallurgical and mechanical properties of a secondary AlSi7Cu3Mg alloy is reported. While the Ti content ranges from 0.04 up to 0.225 wt.%, the cooling rate varies between 0.1 and 5.5 °C/s. Metallographic and thermal analysis techniques have been used to quantitatively examine the macro- and microstructural changes occurring with grain refiner addition at various cooling rates. The results indicate that a small AlTi5B1 addition produces the greatest refinement, while no significant reduction of grain size is obtained with a great amount of grain refiner. On increasing the cooling rate, a lower amount of AlTi5B1 master alloy is necessary to produce a uniform grain size throughout the casting. The combined addition of AlTi5B1 and Sr does not produce any reciprocal interaction or effect on primary α-Al and eutectic solidification. The grain refinement improves the plastic behavior of the alloy and increases the reliability of castings, as evidenced by the Weibull statistics.

Development of Nanothermite Projectile for Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) Neutralization. National Institute of Justice Final Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-01

projectiles containing small amounts of a reactive material. The mechanism is that limited deflagration of the ANFO creates sufficient pressure to...resulting pressurization of the container causes the container to rupture, thus producing a render-safe solution. Several free-field shots demonstrated...the ANFO creates sufficient pressure to rupture plastic or steel containers. 1 Introduction Vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) have

Process Evaluation - Steam Reforming of Diesel Fuel Oil

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-02-15

Table 9. HIDROGEN CONVERSION RELATIVE TO TEMPERATURE, SPACE, VELOCITY, AND H20/C RATIO Oil Feed, Gas Product ,Run No. Temperature, *F H2,O/C Ratio igram...steam reforming diesel fuel, but with the production of naphthalene after 30 hours. Hydrogen production remained stable through the 86 hours of the test...79-C-0048. Hydrogen-rich gas was produced over a wide range of reaction conditions. This product gas contained small amounts of ethylene and !nzene

Positive electrode for a lithium battery

DOEpatents

Park, Sang-Ho; Amine, Khalil

2015-04-07

A method for producing a lithium alkali transition metal oxide for use as a positive electrode material for lithium secondary batteries by a precipitation method. The positive electrode material is a lithium alkali transition metal composite oxide and is prepared by mixing a solid state mixed with alkali and transition metal carbonate and a lithium source. The mixture is thermally treated to obtain a small amount of alkali metal residual in the lithium transition metal composite oxide cathode material.

Low NO.sub.x combustor

DOEpatents

Taylor, Jack R.

1987-01-01

A combustor having an annular first stage, a generally cylindrically-shaped second stage, and an annular conduit communicably connecting the first and second stages. The conduit has a relatively small annular height and a large number of quench holes in the walls thereof such that quench air injected into the conduit through the quench holes will mix rapidly with, or quench, the combustion gases flowing through the conduit. The rapid quenching reduces the amount of NO.sub.x produced in the combustor.

Drought Management, Service Interruption, and Water Pricing: Evidence From Hong Kong

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woo, Chi-Keung

1992-10-01

Supply shortage is a common problem faced by an urban water supply system. Nonmarket programs are often used to reduce consumption. Using monthly water consumption data collected for Hong Kong for the period 1973-1984, we estimate the effect of service interruption on per capita consumption. The findings show that this effect is statistically significant but relatively small in size. A price increase of 16-35% could have produced the same amount of consumption reduction.

Resolving Inadequacies of the Navy Industrial Fund Cost Accounting System to Enable Its Use in the RAMP SMP (Rapid Acquisition of Manufactured Parts Small Manufactured Parts) Facility

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-12-01

maintenance, depreciation , rent, utilities, insurance, and taxes. 6 Historically, manufacturing activities have been labor intensive and man-paced...developed and produced which renders older equipment obsolete sooner. As a result, equipment must be replaced more frequently and depreciation is charged...McIlhattan, 1987). As previously mentioned, automated manufacturing activities incur greater amounts of depreciation expenses more rapidly than a

Improvement of Physico-mechanical Properties of Partially Amorphous Acetaminophen Developed from Hydroalcoholic Solution Using Spray Drying Technique

PubMed Central

Sadeghi, Fatemeh; Torab, Mansour; Khattab, Mostafa; Homayouni, Alireza; Afrasiabi Garekani, Hadi

2013-01-01

Objective(s): This study was performed aiming to investigate the effect of particle engineering via spray drying of hydroalcoholic solution on solid states and physico-mechanical properties of acetaminophen. Materials and Methods: Spray drying of hydroalcoholic solution (25% v/v ethanol/water) of acetaminophen (5% w/v) in the presence of small amounts of polyninylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP) (0, 1.25, 2.5 and 5% w/w based on acetaminophen weight) was carried out. The properties of spray dried particles namely morphology, surface characteristics, particle size, crystallinity, dissolution rate and compactibility were evaluated. Results: Spray drying process significantly changed the morphology of acetaminophen crystals from acicular (rod shape) to spherical microparticle. Differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) and x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) studies ruled out any polymorphism in spray dried samples, however, a major reduction in crystallinity up to 65%, especially for those containing 5% w/w PVP was observed. Spray dried acetaminophen particles especially those obtained in the presence of PVP exhibited an obvious improvement of the dissolution and compaction properties. Tablets produced from spray dried samples exhibited excellent crushing strengths and no tendency to cap. Conclusions: The findings of this study revealed that spray drying of acetaminophen from hydroalcoholic solution in the presence of small amount of PVP produced partially amorphous particles with improved dissolution and excellent compaction properties. PMID:24379968

Ustilago maydis killer toxin as a new tool for the biocontrol of the wine spoilage yeast Brettanomyces bruxellensis.

PubMed

Santos, Antonio; Navascués, Eva; Bravo, Enrique; Marquina, Domingo

2011-01-31

Brettanomyces bruxellensis is one of the most damaging species for wine quality, and tools for controlling its growth are limited. In this study, thirty-nine strains belonging to Saccharomyces cerevisiae and B. bruxellensis have been isolated from wineries, identified and then tested against a panel of thirty-nine killer yeasts. Here, for the first time, the killer activity of Ustilago maydis is proven to be effective against B. bruxellensis. Mixed cultures in winemaking conditions show that U. maydis CYC 1410 has the ability to inhibit B. bruxellensis, while S. cerevisiae is fully resistant to its killer activity, indicating that it could be used in wine fermentation to avoid the development of B. bruxellensis without undesirable effects on the fermentative yeast. The characterization of the dsRNAs isolated and purified from U. maydis CYC 1410 indicated that this strain produces a KP6-related toxin. Killer toxin extracts were active against B. bruxellensis at pH values between 3.0 and 4.5 and temperatures comprised between 15 °C and 25 °C, confirming their biocontrol activity in winemaking and wine aging conditions. Furthermore, small amounts (100 AU/ml) of killer toxin extracts from U. maydis significantly reduced the amount of 4-ethylphenol produced by B. bruxellensis, indicating that in addition to the growth inhibition observed for high killer toxin concentrations (ranging from 400 to 2000 AU/ml), small amounts of the toxin are able to reduce the production of volatile phenols responsible for the aroma defects in wines caused by B. bruxellensis. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simulation of soil iron oxide production via alteration of ferrihydrite confirms direct formation of maghemite and partially oxidized magnetite—Implication for magnetic enhancement models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, S. K.; Smale, J.; Bilardello, D.; Feinberg, J. M.; Soltis, J. A.

2016-12-01

In spite of the empirical success of the correlation between rainfall and magnetic mineral enhancement in soils across China, Russia and elsewhere, a generally acceptable model of enhancement has eluded our community. Recent field and laboratory studies demonstrate the importance of both strongly magnetic (magnetite, maghemite) as well as weakly magnetic (goethite, hematite) nano-phase minerals forming in response to rainfall and temperature. In particular, the ferrihydrite -> (hydro) maghemite -> hematite pathway of Torrent et al. (2003, et seq.) and formation of magnetite or hematite from nano-goethite under reducing or oxidizing atmosphere by Till et al. (2014) are particularly instructive. Here we report ferrihydrite alteration in constant pH=6.8 at 90°C even without the presence of any strongly adsorbing organic ligand. Aging of an initially pure 2-line ferrihydrite over 4 hours, and freeze-drying the specimens to prevent further alteration, produces small amounts of a mixture of maghemite, hematite and a small amount of partially oxidized magnetite, as identified by its isotropic point, detected by cooling an SIRM imparted at 300K. The details of the precise pathways of initial, intermediate and final products and their relative amounts are difficult to estimate in mixtures, but in future experiments we will attempt to do just that. However, since both the strongly and weakly magnetic products were formed from the same ferrihydrite starting material, it may not be necessary to assume that magnetite -> maghemite, or maghemite -> hematite, or hematite -> magnetite are unique pathways for production of magnetic enhancement in soils. Instead, it appears that multiple, simultaneously active pathways may allow ferrihydrite to directly produce weakly and strongly magnetic iron oxides in soil at the same near normal pH.

The synthesis, structure and properties of N-acetylated derivatives of ethyl 3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate.

PubMed

Kusakiewicz-Dawid, Anna; Masiukiewicz, Elzbieta; Rzeszotarska, Barbara; Dybała, Izabela; Kozioł, Anna Eugenia; Broda, Małgorzata Anna

2007-05-01

Ethyl 3-amino-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate (1) was yielded through total synthesis and reacted with acetic anhydride to give the acetylated products 2-6. Compounds 1-6 were studied with HPLC, X-ray, FT-IR, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR and MS. Acetylation was carried out in solvents of various polarity, namely; chloroform; dioxane; DMF; acetic anhydride, at room temperature and at boiling points; and in the presence and absence of DMAP. The acetylated products are mainly nitrogen atoms in the ring. The position of the ring proton in the solution was based on NOESY; multinuclear HMBC, HSQC spectra and calculations. For equivalent amounts (1-1.5 mol) of acetic anhydride at room temperature two products of monoacetylation are produced in the ring: 2 and 3, ca. 2 : 1 and at the same time only small amount of the third product of monoacetylated, 5 in DMF, as well the product diacetylated, 4. The greatest amount of the product 4 is produced during the reaction with chloroform. However, in this solvent and in dioxane no product 5 is produced. Compound 2 is, largely, formed in dimethylformamide, in the presence DMAP, 0.2 eq. In the presence of this catalytic base, for the first hour, there is a mixture 2 and 3 to the ratio ca. 95 : 5. With 8 eq of Ac(2)O at reflux, after another hour, the compounds 3, 4 and 6 appear about equal amounts. After a longer time, the compound, which appears most in this mixture is triacetylated derivative 6. The structural and spectroscopic characteristics of compounds 1-6 have been given and the methods for their preparation have been provided.

Carbon particles

DOEpatents

Hunt, Arlon J.

1984-01-01

A method and apparatus whereby small carbon particles are made by pyrolysis of a mixture of acetylene carried in argon. The mixture is injected through a nozzle into a heated tube. A small amount of air is added to the mixture. In order to prevent carbon build-up at the nozzle, the nozzle tip is externally cooled. The tube is also elongated sufficiently to assure efficient pyrolysis at the desired flow rates. A key feature of the method is that the acetylene and argon, for example, are premixed in a dilute ratio, and such mixture is injected while cool to minimize the agglomeration of the particles, which produces carbon particles with desired optical properties for use as a solar radiant heat absorber.

Carbon-particle generator

DOEpatents

Hunt, A.J.

1982-09-29

A method and apparatus whereby small carbon particles are made by pyrolysis of a mixture of acetylene carried in argon. The mixture is injected through a nozzle into a heated tube. A small amount of air is added to the mixture. In order to prevent carbon build-up at the nozzle, the nozzle tip is externally cooled. The tube is also elongated sufficiently to assure efficient pyrolysis at the desired flow rates. A key feature of the method is that the acetylene and argon, for example, are premixed in a dilute ratio, and such mixture is injected while cool to minimize the agglomeration of the particles, which produces carbon particles with desired optical properties for use as a solar radiant heat absorber.

Fuel thermal stability effects on spray characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lefebvre, A. H.; Nickolaus, D.

1987-01-01

The propensity of a heated hydrocarbon fuel toward solids deposition within a fuel injector is investigated experimentally. Fuel is arranged to flow through the injector at constant temperature, pressure, and flow rate and the pressure drop across the nozzle is monitored to provide an indication of the amount of deposition. After deposits have formed, the nozzle is removed from the test rig and its spray performance is compared with its performance before deposition. The spray characteristics measured include mean drop size, drop-size distribution, and radial and circumferential fuel distribution. It is found that small amounts of deposition can produce severe distortion of the fuel spray pattern. More extensive deposition restores spray uniformity, but the nozzle flow rate is seriously curtailed.

Dissociative properties of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane obtained by computational chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayashi, Toshio; Ishikawa, Kenji; Sekine, Makoto; Hori, Masaru

2018-06-01

The electronic properties and dissociative channels of the alternative to the CCl2F2 (CFC-12) refrigerant, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) with a low global warming potential (GWP, 1430), were revealed by computational chemistry. The results show that CF3 + and CHF2 + ions are mainly produced by ionization. The CF3CH2 + ion is produced by ion pair formation and by direct ionization in the energy region higher than approximately 15 eV, but also in small amounts by the ionization of the dissociated CF3CH2 radical. This information is useful for etching process engineers in leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing.

Estimation of Potential Shale Gas Yield Amount and Land Degradation in China by Landcover Distribution regarding Water-Food-Energy and Forest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, N.; Heo, S.; Lim, C. H.; Lee, W. K.

2017-12-01

Shale gas is gain attention due to the tremendous reserves beneath the earth. The two known high reservoirs are located in United States and China. According to U.S Energy Information Administration China have estimated 7,299 trillion cubic feet of recoverable shale gas and placed as world first reservoir. United States had 665 trillion cubic feet for the shale gas reservoir and placed fourth. Unlike the traditional fossil fuel, spatial distribution of shale gas is considered to be widely spread and the reserved amount and location make the resource as energy source for the next generation. United States dramatically increased the shale gas production. For instance, shale gas production composes more than 50% of total natural gas production whereas China and Canada shale gas produce very small amount of the shale gas. According to U.S Energy Information Administration's report, in 2014 United States produced shale gas almost 40 billion cubic feet per day but China only produced 0.25 billion cubic feet per day. Recently, China's policy had changed to decrease the coal powerplants to reduce the air pollution and the energy stress in China is keep increasing. Shale gas produce less air pollution while producing energy and considered to be clean energy source. Considering the situation of China and characteristics of shale gas, soon the demand of shale gas will increase in China. United States invested 71.7 billion dollars in 2013 but it Chinese government is only proceeding fundamental investment due to land degradation, limited water resources, geological location of the reservoirs.In this study, firstly we reviewed the current system and technology of shale gas extraction such as hydraulic Fracturing. Secondly, listed the possible environmental damages, land degradations, and resource demands for the shale gas extraction. Thirdly, invested the potential shale gas extraction amount in China based on the location of shale gas reservoirs and limited resources for the gas extraction. Fourthly, invested the potential land degradation on agricultural, surface water, and forest in developing shale gas extraction scenario. In conclusion, we suggested possible environmental damages and social impacts from shale gas extraction in China.

Factors influencing alternative splice site utilization in vivo.

PubMed Central

Fu, X Y; Manley, J L

1987-01-01

To study factors that influence the choice of alternative pre-mRNA splicing pathways, we introduced plasmids expressing either wild-type or mutated simian virus 40 (SV40) early regions into tissue culture cells and then measured the quantities of small-t and large-T RNAs produced. One important element controlling splice site selection was found to be the size of the intron removed in the production of small-t mRNA; expansion of this intron (from 66 to 77 or more nucleotides) resulted in a substantial increase in the amount of small-t mRNA produced relative to large-T mRNA. This suggests that in the normal course of SV40 early pre-mRNA processing, large-T splicing is at a competitive advantage relative to small-t splicing because of the small size of the latter intron. Several additional features of the pre-mRNA that can influence splice site selection were also identified by analyzing the effects of mutations containing splice site duplications. These include the strengths of competing 5' splice sites and the relative positions of splice sites in the pre-mRNA. Finally, we showed that the ratio of small-t to large-T mRNA was 10 to 15-fold greater in human 293 cells than in HeLa cells or other mammalian cell types. These results suggest the existence of cell-specific trans-acting factors that can dramatically alter the pattern of splice site selection in a pre-mRNA. Images PMID:3029566

The Use of the Roentgen Ray by the Medical Department of the United States Army in the War with Spain (1898)

DTIC Science & Technology

1900-01-01

scientific value by showing the character of the bone lesions, the form of fracture, and the amount of bone comminution produced by the small-caliber and...without increasing its value. As the scientific value of the plates depends upon their being true representations of the objects as shown by the Rintgen...is adopted, and in such cases one of the metthods of localization by multiple observation must be resorted to. LOCALIZATION BY MULTIPLE OBSERVATION

Laser beam interactions with vapor plumes during Nd:YAG laser welding on aluminum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peebles, H. C.; Russo, A. J.; Hadley, G. R.; Akau, R. L.

Welds produced on pure aluminum targets using pulsed Nd:YAG lasers can be accurately described using a relatively simple conduction mode heat transfer model provided that the fraction of laser energy absorbed is known and the amount of metal vaporized is smalled however at laser fluences commonly used in many production welding schedules significant aluminum vaporization does occur. The possible mechanisms have been identified which could result in laser beam attenuation by the vapor plume.

CELLULAR DIFFERENTIATION AND THE AGING PROCESS IN CARTILAGINOUS TISSUES

PubMed Central

Shulman, Herbert J.; Meyer, Karl

1968-01-01

Primary cell cultures of differentiated chondrocytes were shown to produce chondroitin-4-sulfate as the predominant mucopolysaccharide, with suggestive evidence for the synthesis of keratan sulfate and possibly chondroitin-6-sulfate. Chicken embryonic cartilage was shown to be composed mainly of chondroitin-4-sulfate, with a small amount of chondroitin-6-sulfate, but essentially no keratan sulfate. These findings were compared to the data of others, and a hypothesis explaining the aging process in cartilage in terms of cellular differentiation was presented. PMID:5688079

Application of a Two-Dimensional Model of Hydrodynamics and Water Quality (CE-QUAL-W2) to Cordell Hull Reservoir, Tennessee

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-08-01

the four navigation projects on the Cumberland River. It houses a run-of- the-river hydropower facility with three hydroturbines capable of producing...a total of 100 MW. Releases from the structure are made primarily through the hydroturbines with a small amount of flow discharged through lockages...intake. The intakes for the hydroturbines are shown in Figure 3. These intakes spanned several layers vertically, and individual discharges for the

Gas Debris Disks: A New Way to Produce Dust Patterns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kuchner, Marc J.

2012-01-01

Debris disks like those around Fomalhaut and Beta Pictoris show striking dust patterns often attributed to planets. But adding a bit of gas to our models of these disks--too little to detect-could alter this interpretation. Small amounts of gas lead to new dynamical instabilities that may mimic the narrow eccentric rings and other structures planets would create in a gas-free disk. rll discuss these phenomena and whether or not we can still use dust patterns as indicators of hidden exoplanets.

Peregrine: A rapid and unbiased method to produce strand-specific RNA-Seq libraries from small quantities of starting material.

PubMed

Langevin, Stanley A; Bent, Zachary W; Solberg, Owen D; Curtis, Deanna J; Lane, Pamela D; Williams, Kelly P; Schoeniger, Joseph S; Sinha, Anupama; Lane, Todd W; Branda, Steven S

2013-04-01

Use of second generation sequencing (SGS) technologies for transcriptional profiling (RNA-Seq) has revolutionized transcriptomics, enabling measurement of RNA abundances with unprecedented specificity and sensitivity and the discovery of novel RNA species. Preparation of RNA-Seq libraries requires conversion of the RNA starting material into cDNA flanked by platform-specific adaptor sequences. Each of the published methods and commercial kits currently available for RNA-Seq library preparation suffers from at least one major drawback, including long processing times, large starting material requirements, uneven coverage, loss of strand information and high cost. We report the development of a new RNA-Seq library preparation technique that produces representative, strand-specific RNA-Seq libraries from small amounts of starting material in a fast, simple and cost-effective manner. Additionally, we have developed a new quantitative PCR-based assay for precisely determining the number of PCR cycles to perform for optimal enrichment of the final library, a key step in all SGS library preparation workflows.

Methane Pyrolysis and Disposing Off Resulting Carbon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sharma, P. K.; Rapp, D.; Rahotgi, N. K.

1999-01-01

Sabatier/Electrolysis (S/E) is a leading process for producing methane and oxygen for application to Mars ISPP. One significant problem with this process is that it produces an excess of methane for combustion with the amount of oxygen that is produced. Therefore, one must discard roughly half of the methane to obtain the proper stoichiometric methane/oxygen mixture for ascent from Mars. This is wasteful of hydrogen, which must be brought from Earth and is difficult to transport to Mars and store on Mars. To reduced the problem of transporting hydrogen to Mars, the S/E process can be augmented by another process which reduces overall hydrogen requirement. Three conceptual approaches for doing this are (1) recover hydrogen from the excess methane produced by the S/E process, (2) convert the methane to a higher hydrocarbon or other organic with a lower H/C ratio than methane, and (3) use a separate process (such as zirconia or reverse water gas shift reaction) to produce additional oxygen, thus utilizing all the methane produced by the Sabatier process. We report our results here on recovering hydrogen from the excess methane using pyrolysis of methane. Pyrolysis has the advantage that it produces almost pure hydrogen, and any unreacted methane can pass through the S/E process reactor. It has the disadvantage that disposing of the carbon produced by pyrolysis presents difficulties. Hydrogen may be obtained from methane by pyrolysis in the temperature range 10000-12000C. The main reaction products are hydrogen and carbon, though very small amounts of higher hydrocarbons, including aromatic hydrocarbons are formed. The conversion efficiency is about 95% at 12000C. One needs to distinguish between thermodynamic equilibrium conversion and conversion limited by kinetics in a finite reactor.

Formation of Highly Twisted Ribbons in a Carboxymethylcellulase Gene-Disrupted Strain of a Cellulose-Producing Bacterium

PubMed Central

Sugano, Yasushi; Shoda, Makoto; Sakakibara, Hitoshi; Oiwa, Kazuhiro; Tuzi, Satoru; Imai, Tomoya; Sugiyama, Junji; Takeuchi, Miyuki; Yamauchi, Daisuke

2013-01-01

Cellulases are enzymes that normally digest cellulose; however, some are known to play essential roles in cellulose biosynthesis. Although some endogenous cellulases of plants and cellulose-producing bacteria are reportedly involved in cellulose production, their functions in cellulose production are unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that disruption of the cellulase (carboxymethylcellulase) gene causes irregular packing of de novo-synthesized fibrils in Gluconacetobacter xylinus, a cellulose-producing bacterium. Cellulose production was remarkably reduced and small amounts of particulate material were accumulated in the culture of a cmcax-disrupted G. xylinus strain (F2-2). The particulate material was shown to contain cellulose by both solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Electron microscopy revealed that the cellulose fibrils produced by the F2-2 cells were highly twisted compared with those produced by control cells. This hypertwisting of the fibrils may reduce cellulose synthesis in the F2-2 strains. PMID:23243308

Thermal alteration experiments on organic matter from recent marine sediments in relation to petroleum genesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ishiwatari, R.; Ishiwatari, M.; Rohrback, B. G.; Kaplan, I. R.

1977-01-01

Three fractions of organic matter: lipid (benzene:methanol-extractable), humic acid (alkali-extractable) and kerogen (residue) were extracted from a young marine sediment (Tanner Basin, offshore southern California) and heated for different times (5-116 hr) and temperatures (150-410 C). The volatile (gases) and liquid products, as well as residual material, were then analyzed. On a weight basis, the lipid fraction produced 58% of the total identified n-alkanes, the kerogen fraction 41%, and the humic acid less than 1%. The volatiles produced by heating the lipid and humic acid fractions were largely CO2 and water, whereas those produced from heated kerogen also included methane, hydrogen gas and small amounts of C2-C4 hydrocarbons. A mechanism for hydrocarbon production due to the thermal alteration of organic constituents of marine sediment is discussed.

Water-Rock Differentiation of Icy Bodies by Darcy law, Stokes law, and Two-Phase Flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neumann, Wladimir; Breuer, Doris; Spohn, Tilman

2016-10-01

The early Solar system produced a variety of bodies with different properties. Among the small bodies, objects that contain notable amounts of water ice are of particular interest. Water-rock separation on such worlds is probable and has been confirmed in some cases. We couple accretion and water-rock separation in a numerical model. The model is applicable to Ceres, icy satellites, and Kuiper belt objects, and is suited to assess the thermal metamorphism of the interior and the present-day internal structures. The relative amount of ice determines the differentiation regime according to porous flow or Stokes flow. Porous flow considers differentiation in a rock matrix with a small degree of ice melting and is typically modelled either with the Darcy law or two-phase flow. We find that for small icy bodies two-phase flow differs from the Darcy law. Velocities derived from two-phase flow are at least one order of magnitude smaller than Darcy velocities. The latter do not account for the matrix resistance against the deformation and overestimate the separation velocity. In the Stokes regime that should be used for large ice fractions, differentiation is at least four orders of magnitude faster than porous flow with the parameters used here.

Double acting bit holder

DOEpatents

Morrell, Roger J.; Larson, David A.; Ruzzi, Peter L.

1994-01-01

A double acting bit holder that permits bits held in it to be resharpened during cutting action to increase energy efficiency by reducing the amount of small chips produced. The holder consist of: a stationary base portion capable of being fixed to a cutter head of an excavation machine and having an integral extension therefrom with a bore hole therethrough to accommodate a pin shaft; a movable portion coextensive with the base having a pin shaft integrally extending therefrom that is insertable in the bore hole of the base member to permit the moveable portion to rotate about the axis of the pin shaft; a recess in the movable portion of the holder to accommodate a shank of a bit; and a biased spring disposed in adjoining openings in the base and moveable portions of the holder to permit the moveable portion to pivot around the pin shaft during cutting action of a bit fixed in a turret to allow front, mid and back positions of the bit during cutting to lessen creation of small chip amounts and resharpen the bit during excavation use.

Minimum magnetic curvature for resilient divertors using Compact Toroidal Hybrid geometry

DOE PAGES

Bader, Aaron; Hegna, C. C.; Cianciosa, Mark R.; ...

2018-03-16

The properties of resilient divertors are explored using equilibria derived from Compact Toroidal Hybrid (CTH) geometries. Resilience is defined here as the robustness of the strike point patterns as the plasma geometry and/or plasma profiles are changed. The addition of plasma current in the CTH configurations significantly alters the shape of the last closed flux surface and the rotational transform profile, however, it does not alter the strike point pattern on the target plates, and hence has resilient divertor features. The limits of when a configuration transforms to a resilient configuration is then explored. New CTH-like configurations are generated thatmore » vary from a perfectly circular cross section to configurations with increasing amounts of toroidal shaping. It is found that even small amounts of toroidal shaping lead to strike point localization that is similar to the standard CTH configuration. Lastly, these results show that only a small degree of three-dimensional shaping is necessary to produce a resilient divertor, implying that any highly shaped optimized stellarator will possess the resilient divertor property.« less

Duodenal Bacteria From Patients With Celiac Disease and Healthy Subjects Distinctly Affect Gluten Breakdown and Immunogenicity.

PubMed

Caminero, Alberto; Galipeau, Heather J; McCarville, Justin L; Johnston, Chad W; Bernier, Steve P; Russell, Amy K; Jury, Jennifer; Herran, Alexandra R; Casqueiro, Javier; Tye-Din, Jason A; Surette, Michael G; Magarvey, Nathan A; Schuppan, Detlef; Verdu, Elena F

2016-10-01

Partially degraded gluten peptides from cereals trigger celiac disease (CD), an autoimmune enteropathy occurring in genetically susceptible persons. Susceptibility genes are necessary but not sufficient to induce CD, and additional environmental factors related to unfavorable alterations in the microbiota have been proposed. We investigated gluten metabolism by opportunistic pathogens and commensal duodenal bacteria and characterized the capacity of the produced peptides to activate gluten-specific T-cells from CD patients. We colonized germ-free C57BL/6 mice with bacteria isolated from the small intestine of CD patients or healthy controls, selected for their in vitro gluten-degrading capacity. After gluten gavage, gliadin amount and proteolytic activities were measured in intestinal contents. Peptides produced by bacteria used in mouse colonizations from the immunogenic 33-mer gluten peptide were characterized by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and their immunogenic potential was evaluated using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from celiac patients after receiving a 3-day gluten challenge. Bacterial colonizations produced distinct gluten-degradation patterns in the mouse small intestine. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen from CD patients, exhibited elastase activity and produced peptides that better translocated the mouse intestinal barrier. P aeruginosa-modified gluten peptides activated gluten-specific T-cells from CD patients. In contrast, Lactobacillus spp. from the duodenum of non-CD controls degraded gluten peptides produced by human and P aeruginosa proteases, reducing their immunogenicity. Small intestinal bacteria exhibit distinct gluten metabolic patterns in vivo, increasing or reducing gluten peptide immunogenicity. This microbe-gluten-host interaction may modulate autoimmune risk in genetically susceptible persons and may underlie the reported association of dysbiosis and CD. Copyright © 2016 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Industrial production quantities and uses of ten engineered nanomaterials in Europe and the world

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piccinno, Fabiano; Gottschalk, Fadri; Seeger, Stefan; Nowack, Bernd

2012-09-01

Not much is known so far about the amounts of engineered nanomaterials (ENM) that are produced but this information is crucial for environmental exposure assessment. This paper provides worldwide and Europe-wide estimates for the production and use of ten different ENM (TiO2, ZnO, FeO x , AlO x , SiO2, CeO2, Ag, quantum dots, CNT, and fullerenes) based on a survey sent to companies producing and using ENM. The companies were asked about their estimate of the worldwide or regional market and not about their company-specific production, information that they would be less likely to communicate. The study focused on the actual production quantities and not the production capacities. The survey also addressed information on distribution of the produced ENM to different product categories. The results reveal that some ENM are produced in Europe in small amounts (less than 10 t/year for Ag, QDs and fullerenes). The most produced ENM is TiO2 with up to 10,000 t of worldwide production. CeO2, FeO x , AlO x , ZnO, and CNT are produced between 100 and 1000 t/year. The data for SiO2 cover the whole range from less than 10 to more than 10,000 t/year, which is indicative of problems related to the definition of this material (is pyrogenic silica considered an ENM or not?). For seven ENM we have obtained the first estimates for their distribution to different product categories, information that also forms the base for life-cycle based exposure analysis.

Fast Abiotic Production of Methane at Temperatures Below 100°C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Etiope, G.; Ionescu, A.

2015-12-01

Fischer-Tropsch Type (FTT) reactions, e.g., the Sabatier synthesis between H2 and CO2, are considered a main source of abiotic methane on Earth and likely on other planets. Several laboratory FTT experiments demonstrated abiotic CH4 production at temperatures above 200°C, by using Fe, Ni or Cr catalysts, simulating hydrothermal conditions in peridotite-hosted systems in mid-ocean ridges. Nevertheless, at least on laboratory experiment time-scale, Fe-Ni-Cr catalysts do not support CH4 generation at T<100°C, such as those of land-based serpentinization systems. We have recently reported rapid production of considerable amounts of CH4 (>800 ppmv in 155 mL bottles after 1 day) via Sabatier reaction at 90, 50 and 25°C, using small concentrations of non-pretreated ruthenium (Ru) equivalent to those occurring in chromitites in continental ultramafic rocks (Etiope & Ionescu, 2014; Geofluids, doi:10.1111/gfl.12106). We have repeated the experiments by using 13C-enriched CO2 and we confirm fast production of CH4at percentage levels. The experiments performed so far show that: 1. considerable amounts of CH4can be produced in dry conditions below 100°C with small quantities of Ru; 2. under the same experimental conditions (<100°C), Fe, Ni and Cr oxides do not produce CH4; 3. low T Sabatier reaction can produce CH4 with a large C isotope fractionation between CO2 and CH4, leading to relatively " light" (13C-depleted) CH4, resembling microbial gas; 4. the CO2-CH4isotope separation decreases over time and by increasing the temperature; 5. minor amounts of C2-C6hydrocarbons are also generated. Our laboratory data are compatible with the isotopic patterns of CH4 naturally occurring in land-based seeps and springs. Our experiments suggest that Ru-enriched chromitites could potentially generate CH4 at low T. Since Ru is reported in Martian meteorites, low T abiotic CH4 production on Mars via Sabatier reaction cannot be excluded (Etiope et al. 2013, Icarus, 224, 276-285).

Production and Purification of a Staphylococcus epidermidis Bacteriocin

PubMed Central

Jetten, A. M.; Vogels, G. D.; de Windt, F.

1972-01-01

Liquid cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis 1580 contained rather small amounts of a bacteriocin, staphylococcin 1580, which was found both in the supernatant fluid and in the cell pellet. It could be extracted from the cells with 5% NaCl solution. The staphylococcin production could not be induced by ultraviolet irradiation or treatment with mitomycin C. Bacteria grown on semisolid medium produced a much larger amount of the compound with a high specific activity. The staphylococcin was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation, ultracentrifugation, and chromatography on Sephadex columns. The purified material was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight was between 150,000 and 400,000. The bacteriocin was composed of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid and consisted of subunits exhibiting a molecular weight of about 20,000. Images PMID:5079063

Dietary Formulas Fortify Antioxidant Supplements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2013-01-01

The astronaut's life and work is so different from our own daily experiences that it s easy to forget that astronauts are people, too. Just like everyone else, astronauts have basic nutritional needs, such as five to nine servings of fruit and vegetables per day, in order to maintain optimal health. Here on Earth, it can be a challenge to incorporate the recommended amount of fruit and veggies into our diets, despite easy access to fresh produce. In space, it becomes even more difficult, as astronauts must take everything they need with them. And in the harsh conditions of space, many miles from medical assistance, proper nutrition takes on added importance. As NASA makes plans to send astronauts on missions that could take months and even years, the Agency explores new ways to provide astronauts with a daily dose of nutrition equivalent to that provided by fresh produce. These foods are critically important because they provide the essential vitamins, minerals, pigments, and other micronutrients (substances required in small amounts for human health) that promote everything from healthy skin to a strong heart.

Degradation of C60 Fullerol by White-Rot Basidiomycete Fungi: Implications for Environmental Release of Nanomaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schreiner, K. M.; Filley, T. R.; Bolskar, R. D.; Blanchette, R. A.

2008-12-01

Industrially produced carbon-based nanomaterials, including fullerenes and fullerols, will be introduced into the environment in increasing amounts over the next century. Oxygenated fullerenes are likely to be produced in the environment through both biotic and abiotic weathering, and yet the environmental fate of compounds like hydroxylated fullerenes are almost unknown. This study examines the ability of two white rot basidiomycete fungi (Phlebia tremellosa and Trametes versicolor) to metabolize and degrade 13C-labeled C60 fullerol. Both of these fungi were shown to degrade fullerol to CO2 both in the presence of wood tissue and without, and incorporate trace amounts of the carbon into fungal biomass. Absorbance data also indicate that a significant portion of the original fullerol was broken down into small molecular weight metabolites. Phlebia tremellosa proved to be, in general, more aggressive towards fullerol degradation than Trametes versicolor. These findings represent the report of fungal degradation of this important nanomaterial and also provide valuable information about the possible environmental fates of this compound.

Planetesimal Collisions as a Chondrule Forming Event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wakita, Shigeru; Matsumoto, Yuji; Oshino, Shoichi; Hasegawa, Yasuhiro

2017-01-01

Chondritic meteorites contain unique spherical materials named chondrules: sub-mm sized silicate grains once melted in a high temperature condition in the solar nebula. We numerically explore one of the chondrule forming processes—planetesimal collisions. Previous studies have found that impact jetting via protoplanet-planetesimal collisions can make chondrules with 1% of the impactors’ mass, when the impact velocity exceeds 2.5 km s-1. Based on the mineralogical data of chondrules, undifferentiated planetesimals would be more suitable for chondrule-forming collisions than potentially differentiated protoplanets. We examine planetesimal-planetesimal collisions using a shock physics code and find two things: one is that planetesimal-planetesimal collisions produce nearly the same amount of chondrules as protoplanet-planetesimal collisions (˜1%). The other is that the amount of produced chondrules becomes larger as the impact velocity increases when two planetesimals collide with each other. We also find that progenitors of chondrules can originate from deeper regions of large targets (planetesimals or protoplanets) than small impactors (planetesimals). The composition of targets is therefore important, to fully account for the mineralogical data of currently sampled chondrules.

78 FR 64232 - Notice of Adjustment of Disaster Grant Amounts

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-28

... maximum amount of any Small Project Grant made to State, Tribal, and local governments or to the owner or... Disaster Grant Amounts AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: FEMA gives notice of an increase of the maximum amount for Small Project Grants made to State, Tribal, and...

75 FR 62135 - Notice of Adjustment of Disaster Grant Amounts

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-07

... amount of any Small Project Grant made to the State, local government, or to the owner or operator of an... Disaster Grant Amounts AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: FEMA gives notice of an increase of the maximum amount for Small Project Grants to State and local...

Guinea pigs inbred for studies of respiratory anaphylaxis.

PubMed

Lundberg, L

1979-02-01

A selective inbreeding of approximately 24 generations of albino guinea pigs by brother x sister mating has resulted in two strains, registered IMM/S and IMM/R, with high and low responsiveness, respectively, to ovalbumin-induced respiratory anaphylaxis. The two guinea pig strains differed in their ability to be immunized by the inhalation of antigen and produce antibodies, as well as to develop respiratory anaphylaxis. A correlation between the strength of the anaphylactic reactions and the amount of hemagglutinating antibodies produced was observed. When immunization was carried out by an intradermal injection of ovalbumin (OA), even in small doses incorporated in FCA, guinea pigs from both strains produced hemagglutinating antibodies in nearly the same amount. These antibodies do not influence the ability of the animals to react with a high respectively low anaphylactic response on subsequent challenge by inhalation of OA, neither in the actively sensitized animals nor in passively sensitized animals. However, with repeated inhalations of OA, desensitization occurred in the intradermally immunized high-responders, while the passively immunized high-responders could be provoked several times without any signs of desensitization. No systematical differences between the two strains with regard to sensitivity to inhalations of histamine were demonstrated. The low responders were found to be less resistant to infections than high-responders.

Small maritime target detection through false color fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toet, Alexander; Wu, Tirui

2008-04-01

We present an algorithm that produces a fused false color representation of a combined multiband IR and visual imaging system for maritime applications. Multispectral IR imaging techniques are increasingly deployed in maritime operations, to detect floating mines or to find small dinghies and swimmers during search and rescue operations. However, maritime backgrounds usually contain a large amount of clutter that severely hampers the detection of small targets. Our new algorithm deploys the correlation between the target signatures in two different IR frequency bands (3-5 and 8-12 μm) to construct a fused IR image with a reduced amount of clutter. The fused IR image is then combined with a visual image in a false color RGB representation for display to a human operator. The algorithm works as follows. First, both individual IR bands are filtered with a morphological opening top-hat transform to extract small details. Second, a common image is extracted from the two filtered IR bands, and assigned to the red channel of an RGB image. Regions of interest that appear in both IR bands remain in this common image, while most uncorrelated noise details are filtered out. Third, the visual band is assigned to the green channel and, after multiplication with a constant (typically 1.6) also to the blue channel. Fourth, the brightness and colors of this intermediate false color image are renormalized by adjusting its first order statistics to those of a representative reference scene. The result of these four steps is a fused color image, with naturalistic colors (bluish sky and grayish water), in which small targets are clearly visible.

[Problems of tobacco smoke and positive effects of quit-smoking on human health].

PubMed

Abe, Mayumi

2013-03-01

Cigarette smoking dominates among Japanese smokers. A smoker takes a small amount of nicotine into the body by one aspiration of cigarette; this amount is not large enough to cause acute symptoms. The way of consuming one cigarette by about 10 aspirations may supply a sufficient amount of nicotine to the body without producing unpleasant symptoms of acute toxicity. Cigarette is very effective goods of nicotine delivery to increase the nicotine-dependent patients. In addition, owing to the tricky image strategy by a tobacco company, the citizens in Japan have not become sufficiently aware of hazards of tobacco. For health hazards of smoking, people do not fully understand cigarette smoking may affect the whole body because of the strong impression of "cancer" particularly "lung cancer" as the disease of smoking. Therefore, we, healthcare professionals, should treat diseases with accurate knowledge of tobacco hazards and also should play a positive role to enlighten people about the truth of tobacco hazards, which do not mean cancer alone.

Production of colourful pigments consisting of amorphous arrays of silica particles.

PubMed

Yoshioka, Shinya; Takeoka, Yukikazu

2014-08-04

It is desirable to produce colourful pigments that have anti-fading properties and are environmentally friendly. In this Concept, we describe recently developed pigments that exhibit such characteristics. The pigments consist of amorphous arrays of submicron silica particles, and they exhibit saturated and angle-independent structural colours. Variously coloured pigments can be produced by changing the size of the particles, and the saturation of the colour can be controlled by incorporating small amounts of black particles. We review a simple analysis that is useful for interpreting the angular independence of the structural colours and discuss the remaining tasks that must be accomplished for the realistic application of these pigments. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Plasma treatment for producing electron emitters

DOEpatents

Coates, Don Mayo; Walter, Kevin Carl

2001-01-01

Plasma treatment for producing carbonaceous field emission electron emitters is disclosed. A plasma of ions is generated in a closed chamber and used to surround the exposed surface of a carbonaceous material. A voltage is applied to an electrode that is in contact with the carbonaceous material. This voltage has a negative potential relative to a second electrode in the chamber and serves to accelerate the ions toward the carbonaceous material and provide an ion energy sufficient to etch the exposed surface of the carbonaceous material but not sufficient to result in the implantation of the ions within the carbonaceous material. Preferably, the ions used are those of an inert gas or an inert gas with a small amount of added nitrogen.

[The immuno-endocrine system. A new endocrine theory: the problem of the packed transport].

PubMed

Csaba, György

2011-05-15

Since the eighties of the last century hormone content was justified in immune cells (lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages and mast cells), which produce, store and secrete these hormones. Although the amount of these materials in immune cells is relatively small, the mass of the producers (immune cells) is so large, that the phenomenon must be considered from endocrinological point of view, underlying the important differences between the "classical" and immuno-endocrine systems. Cells of the classic (built-in) endocrine system are mono-producers, while immune cells can synthesize many types of hormones (polyproducers). In addition, these cells can transport the whole hormone-producing machinery to the site of need, producing a local effect. This can be observed, for example, in the case of endorphin producing immune cells during inflammation and during early pregnancy around the chorionic villi. Hormone producing immune cells also have receptors for many hormones, so that they are poly-receivers. Via hormone producing and receiving capacity there is a bidirectional connection between the neuro-endocrine and immuno-endocrine systems. In addition, there is a network inside the immuno-endocrine system. The packed transport theory attempts to explain the mechanism and importance of the immuno-endocrine system.

Identification of transcribed sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana by using high-resolution genome tiling arrays

PubMed Central

Stolc, Viktor; Samanta, Manoj Pratim; Tongprasit, Waraporn; Sethi, Himanshu; Liang, Shoudan; Nelson, David C.; Hegeman, Adrian; Nelson, Clark; Rancour, David; Bednarek, Sebastian; Ulrich, Eldon L.; Zhao, Qin; Wrobel, Russell L.; Newman, Craig S.; Fox, Brian G.; Phillips, George N.; Markley, John L.; Sussman, Michael R.

2005-01-01

Using a maskless photolithography method, we produced DNA oligonucleotide microarrays with probe sequences tiled throughout the genome of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. RNA expression was determined for the complete nuclear, mitochondrial, and chloroplast genomes by tiling 5 million 36-mer probes. These probes were hybridized to labeled mRNA isolated from liquid grown T87 cells, an undifferentiated Arabidopsis cell culture line. Transcripts were detected from at least 60% of the nearly 26,330 annotated genes, which included 151 predicted genes that were not identified previously by a similar genome-wide hybridization study on four different cell lines. In comparison with previously published results with 25-mer tiling arrays produced by chromium masking-based photolithography technique, 36-mer oligonucleotide probes were found to be more useful in identifying intron–exon boundaries. Using two-dimensional HPLC tandem mass spectrometry, a small-scale proteomic analysis was performed with the same cells. A large amount of strongly hybridizing RNA was found in regions “antisense” to known genes. Similarity of antisense activities between the 25-mer and 36-mer data sets suggests that it is a reproducible and inherent property of the experiments. Transcription activities were also detected for many of the intergenic regions and the small RNAs, including tRNA, small nuclear RNA, small nucleolar RNA, and microRNA. Expression of tRNAs correlates with genome-wide amino acid usage. PMID:15755812

Identification of transcribed sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana by using high-resolution genome tiling arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stolc, Viktor; Samanta, Manoj Pratim; Tongprasit, Waraporn; Sethi, Himanshu; Liang, Shoudan; Nelson, David C.; Hegeman, Adrian; Nelson, Clark; Rancour, David; Bednarek, Sebastian;

Preliminary volcano hazard assessment for the Emmons Lake volcanic center, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Waythomas, Christopher; Miller, Thomas P.; Mangan, Margaret T.

2006-01-01

The Emmons Lake volcanic center is a large stratovolcano complex on the Alaska Peninsula near Cold Bay, Alaska. The volcanic center includes several ice- and snow-clad volcanoes within a nested caldera structure that hosts Emmons Lake and truncates a shield-like ancestral Mount Emmons edifice. From northeast to southwest, the main stratovolcanoes of the center are: Pavlof Sister, Pavlof, Little Pavlof, Double Crater, Mount Hague, and Mount Emmons. Several small cinder cones and vents are located on the floor of the caldera and on the south flank of Pavlof Volcano. Pavlof Volcano, in the northeastern part of the center, is the most historically active volcano in Alaska (Miller and others, 1998) and eruptions of Pavlof pose the greatest hazards to the region. Historical eruptions of Pavlof Volcano have been small to moderate Strombolian eruptions that produced moderate amounts of near vent lapilli tephra fallout, and diffuse ash plumes that drifted several hundreds of kilometers from the vent. Cold Bay, King Cove, Nelson Lagoon, and Sand Point have reported ash fallout from Pavlof eruptions. Drifting clouds of volcanic ash produced by eruptions of Pavlof would be a major hazard to local aircraft and could interfere with trans-Pacific air travel if the ash plume achieved flight levels. During most historical eruptions of Pavlof, pyroclastic material erupted from the volcano has interacted with the snow and ice on the volcano producing volcanic mudflows or lahars. Lahars have inundated most of the drainages heading on the volcano and filled stream valleys with variable amounts of coarse sand, gravel, and boulders. The lahars are often hot and would alter or destroy stream habitat for many years following the eruption. Other stratocones and vents within the Emmons Lake volcanic center are not known to have erupted in the past 300 years. However, young appearing deposits and lava flows suggest there may have been small explosions and minor effusive eruptive activity within the caldera during this time interval. Mount Hague may have experienced minor steam eruptions. The greatest hazards in order of importance are described below and summarized on plate 1.

Origin of the outer layer of martian low-aspect ratio layered ejecta craters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boyce, Joseph M.; Wilson, Lionel; Barlow, Nadine G.

2015-01-01

Low-aspect ratio layered ejecta (LARLE) craters are one of the most enigmatic types of martian layered ejecta craters. We propose that the extensive outer layer of these craters is produced through the same base surge mechanism as that which produced the base surge deposits generated by near-surface, buried nuclear and high-explosive detonations. However, the LARLE layers have higher aspect ratios compared with base surge deposits from explosion craters, a result of differences in thicknesses of these layers. This characteristics is probably caused by the addition of large amounts of small particles of dust and ice derived from climate-related mantles of snow, ice and dust in the areas where LARLE craters form. These deposits are likely to be quickly stabilized (order of a few days to a few years) from eolian erosion by formation of duricrust produced by diffusion of water vapor out of the deposits.

Room temperature synthesis of copper indium diselenide in non-aqueous solution using an organoindium reagent

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hepp, Aloysius F.; Andras, Maria T.; Bailey, Sheila G.; Duraj, Stan A.

1992-01-01

A novel two-phase synthesis of CuInSe2 at 25 C from Cu2Se and Cp3In in 4-methylpyridine has been discovered. Characterization of the material produced shows it to be platelet-shaped crystallites with an average particle size of 10 microns, less than 2 percent C and H, with a small amount of unidentified crystalline impurity. The results demonstrate that it is possible to produce from solution a material that is ordinarily synthesized in bulk or films at much higher temperatures or using extraneous reagents and/or electrons. The use of a solid-state reagent as a starting material which is converted to another solid-state compound by an organometallic reagent has tremendous potential to produce precursors for a wide range of solid-state materials of interest to the electronics, defense, and aerospace communities.

Production of Antiserum to LH-Releasing Hormone (LH-RH) Associated with Gonadal Atrophy in Rabbits: Development of Radioimmunoassays for LH-RH

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

ARIMURA, A.; SATO, H.; KUMASAKA, T.

1973-11-01

Repeated injections of synthetic LH -- RH decapeptide, adsorbed on polyvinylpyrrolidone and emulsified with complete Freund's adjuvant, resulted in the production of a specific antiserum to LH-- RH in two of three rabbits. The animals that produced this antiserum showed a reduction of pituitary LH content and marked atrophy of the testes. The antiserum-antibody complex was detected by the complement flxation test. The antiserum was capable of binding /sup 125/I- labeled LH--RH. After iodination of LHRH (using /sup 125/I and either the chloramine T or lactoperoxidase method) separation of the iodination products on CMC yielded three main peaks of radioactivity:more » The first was free iodide, the second was labeled peptide with low immunoreactivity, and the third was immunoreactive peptide. This 3rd peak consisted of two or three subpeaks; the leading subpeak(s) were more readily bound by antiserum than the trailing one(s). Binding of these fractions to antiserum was increased in the presence of small amounts of unlabeled LH--RH (a phenomenon called paradoxical binding or hock effect) but inhibited by larger amounts. Both the augmentation and the inhibition effects were dose-related, allowing the development of two different radioimmunoassay (RIA) systems for LH--RH. An ordinary (coinpetitive) type of RIA was developed in which a small amount (0.31 ng/assay tube) of unlabeled LH-- RH was added to the labeled peptide. This saturated the antiserum's capacity for paradoxical binding, so that further addition of LH-- RH (from 0.04 to 2.5 ng/ tube) inhibited binding of labeled LH--RH. The assay developed using paradoxical binding omitted the premixing of labeled and unlabeled LH--RH; in this assay addition of very small amounts (0.5 to 310 pg) of unlabeled LH--RH to the assay tubes increased the amount of label bound to antiserum and allowed construction of a parabolic curve of positive slope when B/T was plotted against arithmetic dose. The assays seem to be highly specific for LH--RH although both polymers and degradation products of LH--RH appeared to have some immunoreactivity.« less

Casein polymorphism heterogeneity influences casein micelle size in milk of individual cows.

PubMed

Day, L; Williams, R P W; Otter, D; Augustin, M A

2015-06-01

Milk samples from individual cows producing small (148-155 nm) or large (177-222 nm) casein micelles were selected to investigate the relationship between the individual casein proteins, specifically κ- and β-casein phenotypes, and casein micelle size. Only κ-casein AA and β-casein A1A1, A1A2 and A2A2 phenotypes were found in the large casein micelle group. Among the small micelle group, both κ-casein and β-casein phenotypes were more diverse. κ-Casein AB was the dominant phenotype, and 3 combinations (AA, AB, and BB) were present in the small casein micelle group. A considerable mix of β-casein phenotypes was found, including B and I variants, which were only found in the small casein micelle group. The relative amount of κ-casein to total casein was significantly higher in the small micelle group, and the nonglycosylated and glycosylated κ-casein contents were higher in the milks with small casein micelles (primarily with κ-casein AB and BB variants) compared with the large micelle group. The ratio of glycosylated to nonglycosylated κ-casein was higher in the milks with small casein micelles compared with the milks with large casein micelles. This suggests that although the amount of κ-casein (both glycosylated and nonglycosylated) is associated with micelle size, an increased proportion of glycosylated κ-casein could be a more important and favorable factor for small micelle size. This suggests that the increased spatial requirement due to addition of the glycosyl group with increasing extent of glycosylation of κ-casein is one mechanism that controls casein micelle assembly and growth. In addition, increased electrostatic repulsion due to the sialyl residues on the glycosyl group could be a contributory factor. Copyright © 2015 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Relation of structure to mechanical properties of thin thoria dispersion strengthened nickel-chromium (TD-NiCr alloy sheet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whittenberger, J. D.

1975-01-01

A study of the relation between structure and mechanical properties of thin TD-NiCr sheet indicated that the elevated temperature tensile, stress-rupture, and creep strength properties depend primarily on the grain aspect ratio and sheet thickness. In general, the strength properties increased with increasing grain aspect ratio and sheet thickness. Tensile testing revealed an absence of ductility at elevated temperatures. A threshold stress for creep appears to exist. Even small amounts of prior creep deformation at elevated temperatures can produce severe creep damage.

Electric conductivity of high explosives with carbon nanotubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubtsov, I. A.; Pruuel, E. R.; Ten, K. A.; Kashkarov, A. O.; Kremenko, S. I.

2017-09-01

The paper presents a technique for introducing carbon nanotubes into high explosives (HEs). For a number of explosives (trinitrotoluene, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, benzotrifuroxan), it was possible to achieve the appearance of conductivity by adding a small amount (up to 1% by mass) of single-walled carbon nanotubes TUBALL COATE H2O (CNTs) produced by OCSiAl. Thus it is possible to reduce the sensitivity of explosives to static electricity by adding an insignificant part of conductive nanotubes. This will increase safety of HEs during production and application and will reduce the number of accidents.

Hitler's penicillin.

PubMed

Wainwright, Milton

2004-01-01

During the Second World War, the Germans and their Axis partners could only produce relatively small amounts of penicillin, certainly never enough to meet their military needs; as a result, they had to rely upon the far less effective sulfonamides. One physician who put penicillin to effective use was Hitler's doctor, Theodore Morell. Morell treated the Führer with penicillin on a number of occasions, most notably following the failed assassination attempt in July 1944. Some of this penicillin appears to have been captured from, or inadvertently supplied by, the Allies, raising the intriguing possibility that Allied penicillin saved Hitler's life.

A solar engine using the thermal expansion of metals.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beam, R.; Jedlicka, J.

1973-01-01

A thermal engine which uses solid metal as the single-phase working substance to convert solar energy into small amounts of mechanical energy is described. Test data are given for an engine whose working substance was annealed 304-type steel welded into a thin-walled tube that was mounted in a bearing at each end (making it free to rotate about its axis) with a flywheel mass at its midpoint. When heated on its upper surface, the tube rotates producing steady power. The theory of the engine is outlined.

Open Source Software Tool Skyline Reaches Key Agreement with Mass Spectrometer Vendors | Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research

Cancer.gov

The full proteomics analysis of a small tumor sample (similar in mass to a few grains of rice) produces well over 500 megabytes of unprocessed "raw" data when analyzed on a mass spectrometer (MS). Thus, for every proteomics experiment there is a vast amount of raw data that must be analyzed and interrogated in order to extract biological information. Moreover, the raw data output from different MS vendors are generally in different formats inhibiting the ability of labs to productively work together.

Fluidizable zinc titanate materials with high chemical reactivity and attrition resistance

DOEpatents

Gupta, Raghubir P.; Gangwal, Santosh K.; Jain, Suresh C.

1993-01-01

Highly durable and chemically reactive zinc titanate materials are prepared in a particle size range of 50 to 400 .mu.m suitable for a fluidized-bed reactor for removing reduced sulfur species in a gaseous form by granulating a mixture of fine zinc oxide and titanium oxide with inorganic and organic binders and by optional additions of small amounts of activators such as CoO and MoO.sub.3 ; and then indurating it at 800.degree. to 900.degree. C. for a time sufficient to produce attrition-resistant granules.

Fluidizable zinc titanate materials with high chemical reactivity and attrition resistance

DOEpatents

Gupta, R.P.; Gangwal, S.K.; Jain, S.C.

1993-10-19

Highly durable and chemically reactive zinc titanate materials are prepared in a particle size range of 50 to 400 [mu]m suitable for a fluidized-bed reactor for removing reduced sulfur species in a gaseous form by granulating a mixture of fine zinc oxide and titanium oxide with inorganic and organic binders and by optional additions of small amounts of activators such as CoO and MoO[sub 3]; and then indurating it at 800 to 900 C for a time sufficient to produce attrition-resistant granules.

Multi-Disciplinary Research for High Energy Chemical Lasers, Closed-Cycle ElectricOIL Technology

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-10-31

flow iodine from one reservoir and trap it in another. The principal advantage of the hybrid EOIL system is trading a small fixed mass in electrical...rapidly modulate the production of the 02(a) which have motivated investigations into methods to produce significant amounts of 02(a) using flowing...RF power is used for the production of ChC’Ag) in a cylindrical tube (R=2.54 cm and length of 10 cm) with a volume of 200 cm3 at 4.2 torr of pure O2

America`s water: Federal roles and responsibilities

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

Rogers, P.

1993-12-31

The author has developed a history and source book of federal water policies. Only a small amount of guidance is given for evaluating these policies. For example. all federal acts, authorizations, and court decisions since 1776 are given by year. Fifteen significant policy studies in the 20th century are cited. A basic summary of water hydrology is provided. The author`s discussion of political imperatives describes the interactions of interest groups, politicians, voters, and the relevant agencies in producing water legislation and case studies to illustrate the processes.

Natural low-molecular mass organic compounds with oxidase activity as organocatalysts.

PubMed

Nishiyama, Tatsuya; Hashimoto, Yoshiteru; Kusakabe, Hitoshi; Kumano, Takuto; Kobayashi, Michihiko

2014-12-02

Organocatalysts, low-molecular mass organic compounds composed of nonmetallic elements, are often used in organic synthesis, but there have been no reports of organocatalysts of biological origin that function in vivo. Here, we report that actinorhodin (ACT), a natural product derived from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), acts as a biocatalyst. We purified ACT and assayed its catalytic activity in the oxidation of L-ascorbic acid and L-cysteine as substrates by analytical methods for enzymes. Our findings were as follows: (i) oxidation reactions producing H2O2 proceeded upon addition of ACT to the reaction mixture; (ii) ACT was not consumed during the reactions; and (iii) a small amount (catalytic amount) of ACT consumed an excess amount of the substrates. Even at room temperature, atmospheric pressure, and neutral pH, ACT showed catalytic activity in aqueous solution, and ACT exhibited substrate specificity in the oxidation reactions. These findings reveal ACT to be an organocatalyst. ACT is known to show antibiotic activity, but its mechanism of action remains unknown. On the basis of our results, we propose that ACT kills bacteria by catalyzing the production of toxic levels of H2O2. We also screened various other natural products of bacterial, plant, and animal origins and found that several of the compounds exhibited catalytic activity, suggesting that living organisms produce and use these compounds as biocatalysts in nature.

Fire history reconstruction in grassland ecosystems: amount of charcoal reflects local area burned

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leys, Bérangère; Brewer, Simon C.; McConaghy, Scott; Mueller, Joshua; McLauchlan, Kendra K.

2015-11-01

Fire is one of the most prevalent disturbances in the Earth system, and its past characteristics can be reconstructed using charcoal particles preserved in depositional environments. Although researchers know that fires produce charcoal particles, interpretation of the quantity or composition of charcoal particles in terms of fire source remains poorly understood. In this study, we used a unique four-year dataset of charcoal deposited in traps from a native tallgrass prairie in mid-North America to test which environmental factors were linked to charcoal measurements on three spatial scales. We investigated small and large charcoal particles commonly used as a proxy of fire activity at different spatial scales, and charcoal morphotypes representing different types of fuel. We found that small (125-250 μm) and large (250 μm-1 mm) particles of charcoal are well-correlated (Spearman correlation = 0.88) and likely reflect the same spatial scale of fire activity in a system with both herbaceous and woody fuels. There was no significant relationship between charcoal pieces and fire parameters <500 m from the traps. Moreover, local area burned (<5 km distance radius from traps) explained the total charcoal amount, and regional burning (200 km radius distance from traps) explained the ratio of non arboreal to total charcoal (NA/T ratio). Charcoal variables, including total charcoal count and NA/T ratio, did not correlate with other fire parameters, vegetation cover, landscape, or climate variables. Thus, in long-term studies that involve fire history reconstructions, total charcoal particles, even of a small size (125-250 μm), could be an indicator of local area burned. Further studies may determine relationships among amount of charcoal recorded, fire intensity, vegetation cover, and climatic parameters.

Recovery of 131I from alkaline solution of n-irradiated tellurium target using a tiny Dowex-1 column.

PubMed

Chattopadhyay, Sankha; Saha Das, Sujata

2010-10-01

A simple and inexpensive ion-exchange chromatography method for the separation of medically useful no-carrier-added (nca) iodine radionuclides from bulk amounts of irradiated tellurium dioxide (TeO(2)) target was developed and tested using (131)I. The radiochemical separation was performed using a very small Dowex-1x8 ion-exchange column. The overall radiochemical yield for the complete separation of (131)I was 92+/-1.8 (standard deviation) % (n=8). The separated nca (131)I was of high, approximately 99%, radionuclidic and radiochemical purity and did not contain detectable amounts of the target material. This method may be adopted for the radiochemical separation of other different iodine radionuclides produced from tellurium matrices through cyclotron as well as reactor irradiation. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy: Still more questions than answers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tatu, C.A.; Orem, W.H.; Finkelman, R.B.; Feder, G.L.

1998-01-01

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) has attracted increasing attention as a possible environmental disease, and a significant amount of research from complementary scientific fields has been dedicated to its etiology. There are two actual competing theories attempting to explain the cause of this kidney disease: 1) the mycotoxin hypothesis, which considers that BEN is produced by ochratoxin A ingested intermittently in small amounts by the individuals in the endemic regions, and 2) the Pliocene lignite hypothesis, which proposes that the disease is caused by long-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other toxic organic compounds leaching into the well drinking water from low rank coals underlying or proximal to the endemic settlements. We outline the current developments and future prospects in the study of BEN and differentiate possible factors and cofactors in disease etiology.

Small Convenience Stores and the Local Food Environment: An Analysis of Resident Shopping Behavior Using Multilevel Modeling.

PubMed

Ruff, Ryan Richard; Akhund, Ali; Adjoian, Tamar

2016-01-01

Local food environments can influence the diet and health of individuals through food availability, proximity to retail stores, pricing, and promotion. This study focused on how small convenience stores, known in New York City as bodegas, influence resident shopping behavior and the food environment. Using a cross-sectional design, 171 bodegas and 2118 shoppers were sampled. Small convenience stores in New York City. Any bodega shopper aged 18+ who purchased food or beverage from a participating store. Data collection consisted of a store assessment, a health and behavior survey given to exiting customers, and a bag check that recorded product information for all customer purchases. Descriptive statistics were generated for bodega store characteristics, shopper demographics, and purchase behavior. Multilevel models were used to assess the influence of product availability, placement, and advertising on consumer purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), water, and fruits and vegetables. Seventy-one percent of participants reported shopping at bodegas five or more times per week, and 35% reported purchasing all or most of their monthly food allotment at bodegas. Model results indicated that lower amounts of available fresh produce were significantly and independently associated with a higher likelihood of SSB purchases. A second, stratified multilevel model showed that the likelihood of purchasing an SSB increased with decreasing varieties of produce when produce was located at the front of the store. No significant effects were found for water placement and beverage advertising. Small convenience stores in New York City are an easily accessible source of foods and beverages. Bodegas may be suitable for interventions designed to improve food choice and diet.

Principal thorium resources in the United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Staatz, Mortimer Hay; Armbrustmacher, T.J.; Olson, J.C.; Brownfield, I.K.; Brock, M.R.; Lemons, J.F.; Coppa, L.V.; Clingan, B.V.

1979-01-01

Resources were assessed for thorium in the higher grade and better known deposits in the United States in: (1) veins, (2) massive carbonatites, (3) stream placers of North and South Carolina, and (4) disseminated deposits. Thorium resources for the first three categories were divided into reserves and probable potential resources. Each of these then were separated into the following cost categories: (1) the amount of ThO2 producible at less than $15 per pound, (2) the amount producible at between $15 and $30 per pound, and (3) the amount producible at more than $50 per pound. The type of mining and milling needed at each deposit determines the capital, operating, and fixed costs of both mining and milling. Costs start with the clearing of land and are carried through to the final product, which for all deposits is ThO2. Capital costs of mining are affected most by the type of mining and the size of the mine. Those of milling are affected most by the kind of mill, its size, and whether or not extra circuits are needed for the separation of rare earths or some other byproduct. Veins, massive carbonatites, and stream placers of North and South Carolina have reserves of 188,000 short tons of ThO2 and probable potential resources of 505,000 tons of ThO2. Approximately half of the reserves and probable potential resources can be produced at less than $30 per pound of ThO2. Veins are the highest grade source in the United States and have total reserves of 142,000 tons of ThO2 and probable potential resources of 343,000 tons. About 90 percent of the reserves and 91 percent of the probable potential resources can be produced at less than $15 per pound of ThO2. Seven vein districts were evaluated: (1) Lemhi Pass, Mont.-Idaho, (2) Wet Mountains, Colo., (3) Powderhorn, Colo., (4) Hall Mountain, Idaho, (5) Diamond Creek, Idaho, (6) Bear Lodge Mountains, Wyo. and (7) Mountain Pass, Calif. Eighty-seven percent of the total reserves and probable potential resources are in the Lemhi Pass and Wet Mountains Districts. The first district has reserves of 68,000 tons of ThO2 and probable potential resources of 124,000 tons that can be produced at less than $15 per pound; the second district has 54,000 tons of reserves and 141,000 tons of probable potential resources producible at less than $15 per pound. Rare earths are a common byproduct, and in many veins they are from one-half to several times as abundant as thorium. Massive carbonatite bodies are large-tonnage low-grade deposits. Thorium in these deposits would be a byproduct either of rare earth or of niobium mining. The Iron Hill carbonatite body in the Powderhorn district, Colorado, and the Sulfide Queen carbonatite body in the Mountain Pass district, California, were evaluated. These two deposits contain 40,800 tons of ThO2 in reserves and 125,000 tons of ThO2 in probable potential resources. More than 80 percent of this total is in the Iron Hill carbonatite. This thorium is entirely a byproduct and is producible at less than $15 per pound of ThO2. The Sulphide Queen massive carbonatite deposit was being mined in 1977 for rare earths, and thorium could be recovered by adding an extra circuit to the existing mill. Stream placers in North and South Carolina occur both in the Piedmont and just east of the Fall Line. The reserves of these deposits total 5,270 tons of ThO2, and the probable potential resources are 36,800 tons of ThO2. The Piedmont placers are all too small to produce ThO2 at a cost of less than $50 per pound. One placer on Hollow Creek, S.C., just east of the Fall Line had reserves of 2,040 tons of ThO2 that is producible at between $15 and $30 per pound. Thorium occurs in monazite in these placers. Other heavy minerals that would be recovered with the monazite include rutile, zircon, and ilmenite. In addition to thorium, monazite contains large amounts of rare earths and small amounts of uranium; both can be recovered during the process that separates thorium fr

Pharmaceutical production of tableting granules in an ultra-small-scale high-shear granulator as a pre-formulation study.

PubMed

Ogawa, Tatsuya; Uchino, Tomohiro; Takahashi, Daisuke; Izumi, Tsuyoshi; Otsuka, Makoto

2012-11-01

In some of drug developments, the amount of bulk drug powder to use in early stages is limited and it is not easy to supply a sufficient drug amount for conventional preparation methods. Therefore, an ultra-small-scale high-shear granulator (less than 5 g) (USG) was developed and applied to small-scale granulation as a pre-formulation. The sample powder consisted of 66.5% lactose, 28.5% microcrystalline cellulose and 5.0% hydroxypropylcellulose. The granules were obtained to agitate 5 g of the sample powder with 1.0 mL of water at 300 rpm for 5 min after pre-powder mixing for 3 min by the USG and the manual hand (HM) methods. The granules were evaluated by the 10% and 90% accumulated particle size and the recoveries of the granules and the powder solid. Median particle size for the USG and the HM methods was 159.2 ± 2.3 and 270.9 ± 14.9 µm, respectively. The USG method had a narrower particle size distribution than those by the HM method. The recovery of the granules by USG was significantly larger than that by the HM method. Characteristics of all of the granules indicated that the USG method could produce higher quality granules within a shorter time than the HM methods.

77 FR 61423 - Notice of Adjustment of Disaster Grant Amounts

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-09

... any Small Project Grant made to the State, local government, or to the owner or operator of an... Disaster Grant Amounts AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: FEMA gives notice of an increase of the maximum amount for Small Project Grants to State and local...

The influence of mechanical gear on the efficiency of small hydropower

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferenc, Zbigniew; Sambor, Aleksandra

2017-11-01

Pursuant to the "Strategy of development of renewable energy", an increase in the share of renewable energy sources in the national fuel-energy balance up to 14% by 2020 is planned in the structure of usage of primary energy carriers. The change in the participation of the clean energy in the energy balance may be done not only by the erection of new and renovation of the already existing plants, but also through an improvement of their energetic efficiency. The study presents the influence of the mechanical gear used on the quantity of energy produced by a small hydropower on the basis of SHP Rzepcze in Opole province in 2005-2010. The primary kinematic system was composed of a Francis turbine of a vertical axis, a toothed intersecting axis gear of 1:1 ratio, a belt gear of a double ratio. After a modernization the system was simplified by means of reducing the intersecting axis gear and the double ratio of the belt gear. The new kinematic system utilized a single-ratio belt gear of a vertical axis. After the kinematic system was rearranged, a significant improvement of efficiency of the small hydropower was concluded, which translates into an increase of the amount of energy produced.

Small deformation viscoelastic and thermal behaviours of pomegranate seed pips CMC gels.

PubMed

Savadkoohi, Sobhan; Farahnaky, Asgar

2015-07-01

The current investigation presents an exploration in phase behaviour of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) produced from pomegranate seed pips compared to low and high viscosity CMCs (LMCMC and HMCMC) primarily at low solid concentrations. Cellulose was extracted with 10 % NaOH at 35 °C for 22 h from pomegranate seed pips and converted to CMC by etherification process. Thermomechanical analysis and micro-imaging were carried out using small deformation dynamic oscillation in shear, modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results emphasize the importance of molecular interaction and the degree of substitution in produced CMC. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) thermograms showed an initial weight loss in pomegranate seed pips CMC (PSCMC) sample, which we attribute to presence of amount of moisture in sample powder. MDSC analysis of PSCMC showed five different peaks at 84, 104, 173, 307 and 361 °C. Moreover, G' and G" changes were found to be dependent on both concentration and frequency. The results of frequency sweep and tan δ indicate that PSCMC solutions can be classified as weak gels.

Studies of Itokawa's Surface Exposure by Measurements of Cosmic-ray Produced Nuclides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caffee, M. W.; Nishiizumi, K.; Tsuchiyama, A.; Uesugi, M.; Zolensky, M. E.

2014-01-01

We plan to investigate the evolutionary history of surface materials from 25143 Itokawa, the Hayabusa samples. Our studies are based on the measurement of nuclides produced in asteroidal surface materials by cosmic rays. Cosmogenic radionuclides are used to determine the duration and nature of the exposure of materials to energetic particles. Our goals are to understand both the fundamental processes on the asteroidal surface and the evolutionary history of its surface materials. They are also key to understanding the history of Itokawa's surface and asteroid-meteoroid evolutionary dynamics. To achieve our key goals, in particular reconstructing the evolutionary histories of the asteroidal surface, we proposed: (1) characterizing Itokawa particles using SXCT, SXRD, and FE-SEM without modification of the sample; (2) embedding each particle in acrylic resin, then slicing a small corner with an ultra-microtome and examining it using super-STEM and SIMS for characterizing surface morphology, space weathering, and oxygen three-isotope analysis; and finally (3) measuring small amounts of cosmogenic radionuclides (104-105 atoms) in Hayabusa samples by AMS. However, we have to modify our plan due to unexpected situation.

Monitoring of biogenic amines in cheeses manufactured at small-scale farms and in fermented dairy products in the Czech Republic.

PubMed

Buňková, Leona; Adamcová, Gabriela; Hudcová, Kateřina; Velichová, Helena; Pachlová, Vendula; Lorencová, Eva; Buňka, František

2013-11-01

The aim of the study was the monitoring of six biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, phenylethylamine, tryptamine, putrescine, and cadaverine) and two polyamines (spermidine and spermine) in 112 samples of dairy products purchased in the Czech Republic, namely in 55 cheeses made in small-scale farms and in 57 fermented dairy products. The products were tested at the end of their shelf-life period. Neither tryptamine nor phenylethylamine was detected in the monitored samples; histamine was found only in four cheese samples containing up to 25mg/kg. The contents of spermine and spermidine were low and did not exceed the values of 35 mg/kg. Significant amounts of tyramine, putrescine, and cadaverine occurred especially in cheeses produced from ewe's milk or in long-term ripened cheeses. In about 10% of the tested cheeses, the total concentration of all the monitored biogenic amines and polyamines exceeded the level of 200mg/kg, which can be considered toxicologically significant. In fermented dairy products, the tested biogenic amines occurred in relatively low amounts (generally up to 30 mg/kg) that are regarded safe for the consumer's health. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of a small amount of sodium carbonate on konjac glucomannan-induced changes in wheat starch gel.

PubMed

Zhou, Yun; Zhao, Dan; Winkworth-Smith, Charles G; Foster, Tim J; Nirasawa, Satoru; Tatsumi, Eizo; Cheng, Yongqiang

2015-02-13

Wheat starch gels were produced with konjac glucomannan (KGM) and low concentrations of Na2CO3 (0.1-0.2 wt% of starch) using a rapid viscosity analyzer (RVA). The gelling properties of wheat starch in varying ratios of KGM and Na2CO3 were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). A small amount of Na2CO3 resulted in gels with increased elasticity whereas structural ordering during retrogradation was insignificantly affected. Comparison of CLSM images of composite gels revealed that Na2CO3 at 0.2 wt% of starch allowed the formation of fiber-like extensions around scattered swollen granules by KGM and amylose interaction, making swollen granules disperse within the micro phase, which was not typical in CLSM images of gels in the absence of Na2CO3. Dynamic storage modulus and dynamic power law exponent were substantially higher than those observed for the same concentration of KGM in the presence of Na2CO3, supporting the hypothesis that Na2CO3 could promote strong interchain associations between KGM and starch components. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dilute Acid and Autohydrolysis Pretreatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Bin; Wyman, Charles E.

Exposure of cellulosic biomass to temperatures of about 120-210°C can remove most of the hemicellulose and produce cellulose-rich solids from which high glucose yields are possible with cellulase enzymes. Furthermore, the use of dilute sulfuric acid in this pretreatment operation can increase recovery of hemicellulose sugars substantially to about 85-95% of the maximum possible versus only about 65% if no acid is employed. The use of small-diameter tubes makes it possible to employ high solids concentrations similar to those preferred for commercial operations, with rapid heat-up, good temperature control, and accurate closure of material balances. Mixed reactors can be employed to pretreat larger amounts of biomass than possible in such small-diameter tubes, but solids concentrations are limited to about 15% or less to provide uniform temperatures. Pretreatment of large amounts of biomass at high solids concentrations is best carried out using direct steam injection and rapid pressure release, but closure of material balances in such “steam gun” devices is more difficult. Although flow of water alone or containing dilute acid is not practical commercially, such flow-through configurations provide valuable insight into biomass deconstruction kinetics not possible in the batch tubes, mixed reactors, or steam gun systems.

Characterizing the Lyman-alpha forest flux probability distribution function using Legendre polynomials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cieplak, Agnieszka; Slosar, Anze

2018-01-01

The Lyman-alpha forest has become a powerful cosmological probe at intermediate redshift. It is a highly non-linear field with much information present beyond the power spectrum. The flux probability flux distribution (PDF) in particular has been a successful probe of small scale physics. However, it is also sensitive to pixel noise, spectrum resolution, and continuum fitting, all of which lead to possible biased estimators. Here we argue that measuring the coefficients of the Legendre polynomial expansion of the PDF offers several advantages over measuring the binned values as is commonly done. Since the n-th Legendre coefficient can be expressed as a linear combination of the first n moments of the field, this allows for the coefficients to be measured in the presence of noise and allows for a clear route towards marginalization over the mean flux. Additionally, in the presence of noise, a finite number of these coefficients are well measured with a very sharp transition into noise dominance. This compresses the information into a small amount of well-measured quantities. Finally, we find that measuring fewer quasars with high signal-to-noise produces a higher amount of recoverable information.

Role of Pb for Ag growth on H-passivated Si(1 0 0) surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathew, S.; Satpati, B.; Joseph, B.; Dev, B. N.

2005-08-01

We have deposited Ag on hydrogen passivated Si(1 0 0) surfaces under high vacuum conditions at room temperature. The deposition, followed by annealing at 250 °C for 30 min, produced silver islands of an average lateral size 36±14 nm. Depositing a small amount of Pb prior to Ag deposition reduced the average island size to 14±5 nm. A small amount of Pb, initially present at the Ag-Si interface, is found to be segregating to the surface of Ag after annealing. Both these aspects, namely, reduction of the island size and Pb floating on the Ag surface conform to the surfactant action of Pb. Samples have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS). A selective etching process that preferentially removes Pb, in conjunction with RBS, was used to detect surface segregation of Pb involving depth scales below the resolution of conventional RBS. The annealing and etching process leaves only smaller Ag islands on the surface with complete removal of Pb. Ag growth in the presence of Pb leads to smaller Ag islands with a narrower size distribution.

Site alteration effects from rocket exhaust impingment during a simulated Viking Mars landing. Part 1: Nozzle development and physical site alternation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Romine, G. L.; Reisert, T. D.; Gliozzi, J.

1973-01-01

A potential interference problem for the Viking '75 scientific investigation of the Martian surface resulting from retrorocket exhaust plume impingement of the surface was investigated experimentally and analytically. It was discovered that the conventional bell nozzle originally planned for the Viking Lander retrorockets would produce an unacceptably large amount of physical disturbance to the landing site. An experimental program was subsequently undertaken to find and/or develop a nozzle configuration which would significantly reduce the site alteration. A multiple nozzle configuration, consisting of 18 small bell nozzles, was shown to produce a level of disturbance that was considered by the Viking Lander Science Teams to be acceptable on the basis of results from full-scale tests on simulated Martian soils.

Antiphagocytic Effect of Slime from a Mucoid Strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

PubMed Central

Schwarzmann, Stephen; Boring, John R.

1971-01-01

Mucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa produce a viscid slime when grown on the surface of agar media. These strains are known to colonize persistently the tracheobronchial tree of children with cystic fibrosis. Colonization may result from inhibition of phagocytosis due to slime produced by the organism. Slime separated from one mucoid strain was examined to determine whether it possessed antiphagocytic activity in vitro. Cells of P. aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were rapidly phagocytized by rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes when mixtures were rotated for 2 hr at 37 C in the absence of slime. The addition of relatively small amounts of slime to bacteria and leukocytes inhibited phagocytosis as measured by phagocytic killing of the organisms. Inhibition was found to be most complete with P. aeruginosa. PMID:16558051

Simultaneous stack gas scrubbing wastewater purification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1978-01-01

Variations of a process for removing sulfur dioxide from stack gases and using it to treat municipal waste water are described. The once-through system lowers the pH of the scrubbing water from minor depressions to a pH of about 2.5 under certain conditions. A recycle system uses iron for catalytic oxidation of sulfurous acid to sulfuric acid allowing very large amounts of sulfur dioxide to be absorbed in a small portion of water. The partial recycle system uses municipal wastewater and iron as a scrubbing medium, followed by neutralization of the wastewater with lime to produce an iron hydroxide precipitation which, when removed, produces tertiary quality treated wastewater. The SO2 scrubber is described, test results are analyzed, and a preliminary capital cost estimate for the three processes is included.

Development of high-emittance scales on thoriated nickel-chromium-aluminum-base alloys. [produced by high temperature oxidation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seltzer, M. S.; Wright, I. G.; Wilcox, B. A.

1973-01-01

The surface regions of a DSNiCrAl alloy have been doped, by a pack diffusion process, with small amounts of Mn, Fe, or Co, and the effect of these dopants on the total normal emissivity of the scales produced by subsequent high temperature oxidation has been measured. While all three elements lead to a modest increase in emissivity, (up to 23% greater than the undoped alloy) only the change caused by manganese is thermally stable. However, this increased emissivity is within 85 percent of that of TDNiCr oxidized to form a chromia scale. The maganese-doped alloy is some 50 percent weaker than undoped DSNiCrAl after the doping treatment, and approximately 30 percent weaker after oxidation.

Method of forming a relatively stable slip of silicon metal particles and yttrium containing particles

DOEpatents

Dickie, Ray A.; Mangels, John A.

1984-01-01

The method concerns forming a relatively stable slip of silicon metal particles and yttrium containing particles. In one embodiment, a casting slip of silicon metal particles is formed in water. Particles of a yttrium containing sintering aid are added to the casting slip. The yttrium containing sintering aid is a compound which has at least some solubility in water to form Y.sup.+3 ions which have a high potential for totally flocculating the silicon metal particles into a semiporous solid. A small amount of a fluoride salt is added to the casting slip which contains the yttrium containing sintering aid. The fluoride salt is one which will produce fluoride anions when dissolved in water. The small amount of the fluoride anions produced are effective to suppress the flocculation of the silicon metal particles by the Y.sup.+3 ions so that all particles remain in suspension in the casting slip and the casting slip has both an increased shelf life and can be used to cast articles having a relatively thick cross-section. The pH of the casting slip is maintained in a range from 7.5 to 9. Preferably, the fluoride salt used is one which is based on a monovalent cation such as sodium or ammonia. The steps of adding the yttrium containing sintering aid and the fluoride salt may be interchanged if desired, and the salt may be added to a solution containing the sintering aid prior to addition of the silicon metal particles.

High and escalating levels of cocaine intake are dissociable from subsequent incentive motivation for the drug in rats.

PubMed

Allain, Florence; Bouayad-Gervais, Karim; Samaha, Anne-Noël

2018-01-01

Taking high and increasing amounts of cocaine is thought to be necessary for the development of addiction. Consequently, a widely used animal model of drug self-administration involves giving animals continuous drug access during long sessions (LgA), as this produces high and escalating levels of intake. However, human cocaine addicts likely use the drug with an intermittent rather than continuous pattern, producing spiking brain cocaine levels. Using an intermittent-access (IntA) cocaine self-administration procedure in rats, we studied the relationship between escalation of cocaine intake and later incentive motivation for the drug, as measured by responding under a progressive ratio schedule of cocaine reinforcement. First, under IntA, rats escalated their cocaine use both within and between sessions. However, escalation did not predict later incentive motivation for the drug. Second, incentive motivation for cocaine was similar in IntA-rats limited to low- and non-escalating levels of drug intake (IntA-Lim) and in IntA-rats that took high and escalating levels of drug. Finally, IntA-Lim rats took much less cocaine than rats given continuous drug access during each self-administration session (LgA-rats). However, IntA-Lim rats later responded more for cocaine under a progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement. Taking large and escalating quantities of cocaine does not appear necessary to increase incentive motivation for the drug. Taking cocaine in an intermittent pattern-even in small amounts-is more effective in producing this addiction-relevant change. Thus, beyond the amount of drug taken, the temporal kinetics of drug use predict change in drug use over time.

Production of High Amounts of Hepatotoxin Nodularin and New Protease Inhibitors Pseudospumigins by the Brazilian Benthic Nostoc sp. CENA543

PubMed Central

Jokela, Jouni; Heinilä, Lassi M. P.; Shishido, Tânia K.; Wahlsten, Matti; Fewer, David P.; Fiore, Marli F.; Wang, Hao; Haapaniemi, Esa; Permi, Perttu; Sivonen, Kaarina

2017-01-01

Nostoc is a cyanobacterial genus, common in soils and a prolific producer of natural products. This research project aimed to explore and characterize Brazilian cyanobacteria for new bioactive compounds. Here we report the production of hepatotoxins and new protease inhibitors from benthic Nostoc sp. CENA543 isolated from a small, shallow, saline-alkaline lake in the Nhecolândia, Pantanal wetland area in Brazil. Nostoc sp. CENA543 produces exceptionally high amounts of nodularin-R. This is the first free-living Nostoc that produces nodularin at comparable levels as the toxic, bloom-forming, Nodularia spumigena. We also characterized pseudospumigins A–F, which are a novel family of linear tetrapeptides. Pseudospumigins are structurally related to linear tetrapeptide spumigins and aeruginosins both present in N. spumigena but differ in respect to their diagnostic amino acid, which is Ile/Leu/Val in pseudospumigins, Pro/mPro in spumigins, and Choi in aeruginosins. The pseudospumigin gene cluster is more similar to the spumigin biosynthetic gene cluster than the aeruginosin gene cluster. Pseudospumigin A inhibited trypsin (IC50 4.5 μM after 1 h) in a similar manner as spumigin E from N. spumigena but was almost two orders of magnitude less potent. This study identifies another location and environment where the hepatotoxic nodularin has the potential to cause the death of eukaryotic organisms. PMID:29062311

Progress toward national estimates of police use of force

PubMed Central

Garner, Joel H.; Malega, Ronald W.; Maxwell, Christopher D.

2018-01-01

This research builds on three decades of effort to produce national estimates of the amount and rate of force used by law enforcement officers in the United States. Prior efforts to produce national estimates have suffered from poor and inconsistent measurements of force, small and unrepresentative samples, low survey and/or item response rates, and disparate reporting of rates of force. The present study employs data from a nationally representative survey of state and local law enforcement agencies that has a high survey response rate as well as a relatively high rate of reporting uses of force. Using data on arrests for violent offenses and the number of sworn officers to impute missing data on uses of force, we estimate a total of 337,590 use of physical force incidents among State and local law enforcement agencies during 2012 with a 95 percent confidence interval of +/- 10,470 incidents or +/- 3.1 percent. This article reports the extent to which the number and rate of force incidents vary by the type and size of law enforcement agencies. Our findings demonstrate the willingness of a large proportion of law enforcement agencies to voluntarily report the amount of force used by their officers and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) program to produce nationally representative information about police behavior. PMID:29447295

Analysis of Atmospheric Aerosols Collected in an Urban Area in Upstate NY Using Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) Spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, Jeremy; Ali, Salina; Nadareski, Benjamin; Safiq, Alexandrea; Yoskowitz, Joshua; Labrake, Scott; Vineyard, Michael

2013-10-01

We examined atmospheric aerosol samples collected in Schenectady NY for evidence of pollution. We collected aerosol samples using a nine stage cascade impactor which distributes the particulate matter by aerodynamic size onto 7.5 μm Kapton foils. We then used a 1MV electrostatic Pelletron accelerator to produce a 2.2 MeV proton beam to hit the impacted foils. X-ray intensity versus energy spectra were collected using an Amptek x-ray detector where the x-rays are produced from the proton beam interacting with the sample. This is called PIXE. The elemental composition and concentrations of the elements present in the aerosol samples were determined using a software package called GUPIX. We have found elements ranging from Al to Pb and in particular have found significant amounts of Pb and Br on some of our impacted foils, with a Br/Pb ratio of 0.6 +/- 0.2 which agrees with previous studies. This result suggests the presence of leaded aviation fuel perhaps due to the proximity of the collection site to a small airport with a significant amount of general aviation traffic. Union College.

Effect of Micro- and Nanomagnetite on Printing Toner Properties

PubMed Central

Ataeefard, Maryam; Ghasemi, Ebrahim; Ebadi, Mona

2014-01-01

Toner is a main component of electrophotographic printing and copying processes. One of the most important ingredients of toner is magnetite (Fe3O4) which provides the tribocharging property for toner particles. In this study, nano- and microparticles of Fe3O4 were synthesized using the coprecipitation method and different amounts of lauric acid as a surfactant. The synthesized nano and micro Fe3O4 was then used as the charge control agent to produce toner by emulsion aggregation. The Fe3O4 and toner were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), atomic gradient force magnetometry (AGFM), dynamic laser scattering (DLS), particle size analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the optimum amount of surfactant not only reduced particle size but also reduced the magnetite properties of Fe3O4. It was found that the magnetite behavior of the toner is not similar to the Fe3O4 used to produce it. Although small-sized Fe3O4 created toner with a smaller size, toners made with micro Fe3O4 showed better magnetite properties than toner made with nano Fe3O4. PMID:24574911

Thermal and catalytic degradation of high and low density polyethylene into fuel oil

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

Uddin, Azhar; Koizumi, Kazuo; Sakata, Yusaku

1996-12-31

The degradation of four different types of polyethylene (PE) namely high density PE (HDPE), low density PE (LDPE), linear low density PE (LLDPE), and cross-linked PE (XLPE) was carried out at 430 {degrees}C by batch operation using silica-alumina as a solid acid catalyst and thermally without any catalyst. For thermal degradation, both HDPE and XLPE produced significant amount of wax-like compounds and the yield of liquid products were lower than that of LDPE and LLDPE. LDPE and LLDPE also produced small amount of wax-like compounds. Thus the structure of the degrading polymers influenced the product yields. The liquid products frommore » thermal degradation were broadly distributed in the carbon fraction of n-C{sub 5} to n-C{sub 25} (boiling point range, 36-405 C). With silica-alumina, the polyethylenes were converted to liquid products with high yields (77-83 wt%) and without any wax production. The liquid products were distributed in the range of n-C{sub 5} to n-C{sub 20} (Mostly C{sub 5}-C{sub 12}). Solid acid catalyst indiscriminately degraded the various types of polyethylene into light fuel oil. 5 refs., 4 figs., 1 tab.« less

Test results for fuel cell operation on anaerobic digester gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spiegel, R. J.; Preston, J. L.

EPA, in conjunction with ONSI, embarked on a project to define, design, test, and assess a fuel cell energy recovery system for application at anaerobic digester waste water (sewage) treatment plants. Anaerobic digester gas (ADG) is produced at these plants during the process of treating sewage anaerobically to reduce solids. ADG is primarily comprised of methane (57-66%), carbon dioxide (33-39%), nitrogen (1-10%), and a small amount of oxygen (<0.5%). Additionally, ADG contains trace amounts of fuel cell catalyst contaminants consisting of sulfur-bearing compounds (principally hydrogen sulfide) and halogen compounds (chlorides). The project has addressed two major issues: development of a cleanup system to remove fuel cell contaminants from the gas and testing/assessing of a modified ONSI PC25 C fuel cell power plant operating on the cleaned, but dilute, ADG. Results to date demonstrate that the ADG fuel cell power plant can, depending on the energy content of the gas, produce electrical output levels close to full power (200 kW) with measured air emissions comparable to those obtained by a natural gas fuel cell. The cleanup system results show that the hydrogen sulfide levels are reduced to below 10 ppbv and halides to approximately 30 ppbv.

Bis(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-iminato) titanium complexes as effective catalysts for the monodisperse polymerization of propylene.

PubMed

Sharma, Manab; Yameen, Haneen Simaan; Tumanskii, Boris; Filimon, Sabina-Alexandra; Tamm, Matthias; Eisen, Moris S

2012-10-17

The use of bis(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-iminato) titanium dichloride (1) and dimethyl (2) complexes in the polymerization of propylene is presented. The complexes were activated using different amounts of methylalumoxane (MAO), giving in each case a very active catalytic mixture and producing polymers with a narrow molecular weight distribution (polydispersity = 1.10). The use of the cocatalyst triphenylcarbenium (trityl) tetra(pentafluorophenyl)borate totally inhibits the reaction, producing the corresponding bis(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-iminato) titanium(III) methyl complex, the trityl radical ((•)CPh(3)), the anionic MeB(C(6)F(5))(4)(-), B(C(6)F(5))(3), and the bis(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-iminato) titanium(IV) dimethyl·B(C(6)F(5))(3) complex. The use of a combination of physical methods such as NMR, ESR-C(60), and MALDI-TOF analyses enabled us to propose a plausible mechanism for the polymerization of propylene, presenting that the polymerization is mainly carried out in a living fashion. In addition, we present a slow equilibrium toward a small amount of a dormant species responsible for 2,1-misinsertions and chain transfer processes.

Risks associated with endotoxins in feed additives produced by fermentation.

PubMed

Wallace, R John; Gropp, Jürgen; Dierick, Noël; Costa, Lucio G; Martelli, Giovanna; Brantom, Paul G; Bampidis, Vasileios; Renshaw, Derek W; Leng, Lubomir

2016-01-15

Increasingly, feed additives for livestock, such as amino acids and vitamins, are being produced by Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli. The potential therefore exists for animals, consumers and workers to be exposed to possibly harmful amounts of endotoxin from these products. The aim of this review was to assess the extent of the risk from endotoxins in feed additives and to calculate how such risk can be assessed from the properties of the additive. Livestock are frequently exposed to a relatively high content of endotoxin in the diet: no additional hazard to livestock would be anticipated if the endotoxin concentration of the feed additive falls in the same range as feedstuffs. Consumer exposure will be unaffected by the consumption of food derived from animals receiving endotoxin-containing feed, because the small concentrations of endotoxin absorbed do not accumulate in edible tissues. In contrast, workers processing a dusty additive may be exposed to hazardous amounts of endotoxin even if the endotoxin concentration of the product is low. A calculation method is proposed to compare the potential risk to the worker, based on the dusting potential, the endotoxin concentration and technical guidance of the European Food Safety Authority, with national exposure limits.

Impact melting early in lunar history

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lange, M. A.; Ahrens, T. J.

1979-01-01

The total amount of impact melt produced during early lunar history is examined in light of theoretically and experimentally determined relations between crater diameter (D) and impact melt volume. The time dependence of the melt production is given by the time dependent impact rate as derived from cratering statistics for two different crater-size classes. Results show that small scale cratering (D less than or equal to 30 km) leads to melt volumes which fit selected observations specifying the amount of impact melt contained in the lunar regolith and in craters with diameters less than 10 km. Larger craters (D greater than 30 km) are capable of forming the abundant impact melt breccias found on the lunar surface. The group of large craters (D greater than 30 km) produces nearly 10 times as much impact melt as all the smaller craters, and thus, the large impacts dominate the modification of the lunar surface. A contradiction between the distribution of radiometric rock ages and a model of exponentially decreasing cratering rate going back to 4.5 b.y. is reflected in uncertainty in the distribution of impact melt as a function of time on the moon.

Comparison of emissions and toxicological properties of fine particles from wood and oil boilers in small (20-25 kW) and medium (5-10 MW) scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaivosoja, T.; Jalava, P. I.; Lamberg, H.; Virén, A.; Tapanainen, M.; Torvela, T.; Tapper, U.; Sippula, O.; Tissari, J.; Hillamo, R.; Hirvonen, M.-R.; Jokiniemi, J.

2013-10-01

The aim of this study was to compare four alternatives for providing decentralized energy production in small communities in terms of their flue gas emissions and toxicological properties of the emissions. In this study, two different size classes of boilers were examined and the use of fossil fuel oils was compared against wood fuels. The lowest PM1 emission, 0.1 mg MJ-1, was observed from small-scale light fuel oil combustion. In medium-scale wood combustion, PM1 emission values from a grate fired wood combustion boiler (10 MW) without particulate filtration were the highest (264 mg MJ-1) but were substantially reduced down to 0.6 mg MJ-1 due to the usage of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP). The wood combustion particles were mainly formed of potassium salts. In light fuel oil combustion, one of the main components in the particles was sulphate whereas in heavy fuel oil combustion also significant amounts of V and Ni were emitted. Pellet combustion produced the lowest PAH emissions. Overall, oil combustion produced higher amount of PAHs than wood combustion. This was indicated also as a higher cytotoxicity of the oil combustion samples when compared to those from wood combustion in the corresponding scale of boilers. However, when calculated on an equal mass basis, the particles collected after ESP were even more cytotoxic which can be explained by the altered chemical characteristics of the emissions in the ESP. Due to the variation in the emissions and in the toxicity of the emissions, we propose that in the long term, not only the emission levels but also the toxicity of the emissions should be taken into account in the regulations of the emission limits of the combustion plants.

High performance ammonium nitrate propellant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, F. A. (Inventor)

1979-01-01

A high performance propellant having greatly reduced hydrogen chloride emission is presented. It is comprised of: (1) a minor amount of hydrocarbon binder (10-15%), (2) at least 85% solids including ammonium nitrate as the primary oxidizer (about 40% to 70%), (3) a significant amount (5-25%) powdered metal fuel, such as aluminum, (4) a small amount (5-25%) of ammonium perchlorate as a supplementary oxidizer, and (5) optionally a small amount (0-20%) of a nitramine.

Potency of Amylase-producing Bacteria and Optimization Amylase Activities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Indriati, G.; Megahati, R. R. P.; Rosba, E.

2018-04-01

Enzymes are capable to act as biocatalyst for a wide variety of chemical reactions. Amylase have potential biotechnological applications in a wide range of industrial processes and account for nearly 30% of the world’s enzyme market. Amylase are extracellular enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of internal α-1,4-glycosidic linkages in starch to dextrin, and other small carbohydrate molecules constituted of glucose units. Although enzymes are produced from animal and plant sources, the microbial sources are generally the most suitable for commercial applications. Bacteria from hot springs is widely used as a source of various enzymes, such as amylase. But the amount of amylase-producing bacteria is still very limited. Therefore it is necessary to search sources of amylase-producing bacteria new, such as from hot springs Pariangan. The purpose of this study was to isolation of amylase-producing bacteria from Pariangan hot spring, West Sumatera and amylase activity optimization. The results were obtained 12 isolates of thermophilic bacteria and 5 isolates of amyalse-producing bacteria with the largest amylolytic index of 3.38 mm. The highest amylase activity was obtained at 50°C and pH 7.5.

Steroid injections - tendon, bursa, joint

MedlinePlus

... a small amount of corticosteroid and a local anesthetic into the bursa. JOINT Any joint problem, such ... A small amount of corticosteroid and a local anesthetic will be injected into the joint. TENDON A ...

An Insight into the Secondary Metabolism of Muscodor yucatanensis: Small-Molecule Epigenetic Modifiers Induce Expression of Secondary Metabolism-Related Genes and Production of New Metabolites in the Endophyte.

PubMed

Qadri, Masroor; Nalli, Yedukondalu; Jain, Shreyans K; Chaubey, Asha; Ali, Asif; Strobel, Gary A; Vishwakarma, Ram A; Riyaz-Ul-Hassan, Syed

2017-05-01

Muscodor spp. are proficient producers of bioactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with many potential applications. However, all members of this genus produce varying amounts and types of VOCs which suggests the involvement of epigenetics as a possible explanation. The members of this genus are poorly explored for the production of soluble compounds (extrolites). In this study, the polyketide synthase (PKS) and non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes from an endophyte, Muscodor yucatanensis Ni30, were cloned and sequenced. The PKS genes belonged to reduced, partially reduced, non-reduced, and highly reduced subtypes. Strains over-expressing PKS genes were developed through the use of small-molecule epigenetic modifiers (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and 5-azacytidine). The putative epigenetic variants of this organism differed considerably from the wild type in morphological features and cultural characteristics as well as metabolites that were produced. Each variant produced a different set of VOCs distinct from the wild type, and several VOCs including methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)hexane-2,4-diol and 2-carboxymethyl-3-n-hexylmaleic appeared in the variant strains, the production of which could be attributed to the activity of otherwise silent PKS genes. The bioactive extrolite brefeldin A was isolated and characterized from the wild type. However, this metabolite was not detected in EV-1, but instead, two other products were isolated and characterized as ergosterol and xylaguaianol C. Hence, M. yucatanensis has the genetic potential to produce several previously undetectable VOCs and organic solvent soluble products. It is also the case that small-molecule epigenetic modifiers can be used to produce stable variant strains of fungi with the potential to produce new molecules. Finally, this work hints to the prospect that the epigenetics of an endophytic microorganism can be influenced by any number of environmental and chemical factors associated with its host plant which may help to explain the enormous chemical diversity of secondary metabolic products found in Muscodor spp.

Monitoring Cellular Events in Living Mast Cells Stimulated with an Extremely Small Amount of Fluid on a Microchip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Munaka, Tatsuya; Abe, Hirohisa; Kanai, Masaki; Sakamoto, Takashi; Nakanishi, Hiroaki; Yamaoka, Tetsuji; Shoji, Shuichi; Murakami, Akira

2006-07-01

We successfully developed a measurement system for real-time analysis of cellular function using a newly designed microchip. This microchip was equipped with a micro cell incubation chamber (240 nl) and was stimulated by a very small amount of stimuli (as small as 24 nl). Using the microchip system, cultivation of mast cells was successfully carried out. Monitoring of the cellular events after stimulation with an extremely small amount of fluid on a microchip was performed. This system could be applicable for various types of cellular analysis including real-time monitoring of cellular response by stimulation.

An estimation of the artisanal small-scale production of gold in the world.

PubMed

Seccatore, Jacopo; Veiga, Marcello; Origliasso, Chiara; Marin, Tatiane; De Tomi, Giorgio

2014-10-15

The increase in gold price of over 400% between 2002 and 2012, due to a shift towards safe investments in a period of crisis in the global economy, created a rapid increase in gold production. A response to this shift in production was observed for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) units in remote locations of the world, but this phenomenon has not been quantified yet. The work presented here was done to provide a quantitative tool for estimation of the gold (Au) produced by ASM and the population of workers involved in the production process, and assessment of mercury (Hg) consumed. The following hypotheses were addressed: i) It is possible to estimate, on first approximation, the amount of Au production in the world by artisanal mining; ii) Au production by artisanal mining varies by country and continent and iii) Hg consumption due to ASM can be correlated with the methods applied in the different countries and continents for the production of Au. To do this we estimated the number of miners, calculated the change in Au price and production and then applied an adjustment factor to calculate Hg production by country and continent. The amount of Au produced depends on technology of the miners by continents (highest in South America, medium in Asia and Central America, and lowest in Africa), and the geologic setting (not investigated here). The results of the estimation show that, as of 2011, over 16 million Artisanal Miners, in the world, were involved in gold extraction (mining or treatment), producing between 380 and 450 t of gold per year, with clear global behavior between the continents in terms of recovery efficiency, confirmed by data on Hg release that is higher in countries with lower technology. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

SPAR: small RNA-seq portal for analysis of sequencing experiments.

PubMed

Kuksa, Pavel P; Amlie-Wolf, Alexandre; Katanic, Živadin; Valladares, Otto; Wang, Li-San; Leung, Yuk Yee

2018-05-04

The introduction of new high-throughput small RNA sequencing protocols that generate large-scale genomics datasets along with increasing evidence of the significant regulatory roles of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) have highlighted the urgent need for tools to analyze and interpret large amounts of small RNA sequencing data. However, it remains challenging to systematically and comprehensively discover and characterize sncRNA genes and specifically-processed sncRNA products from these datasets. To fill this gap, we present Small RNA-seq Portal for Analysis of sequencing expeRiments (SPAR), a user-friendly web server for interactive processing, analysis, annotation and visualization of small RNA sequencing data. SPAR supports sequencing data generated from various experimental protocols, including smRNA-seq, short total RNA sequencing, microRNA-seq, and single-cell small RNA-seq. Additionally, SPAR includes publicly available reference sncRNA datasets from our DASHR database and from ENCODE across 185 human tissues and cell types to produce highly informative small RNA annotations across all major small RNA types and other features such as co-localization with various genomic features, precursor transcript cleavage patterns, and conservation. SPAR allows the user to compare the input experiment against reference ENCODE/DASHR datasets. SPAR currently supports analyses of human (hg19, hg38) and mouse (mm10) sequencing data. SPAR is freely available at https://www.lisanwanglab.org/SPAR.

Interior. Distillation apparatus used for extracting small test amounts of ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

Interior. Distillation apparatus used for extracting small test amounts of latex from plant fiber. - Thomas A. Edison Laboratories, Building No. 2, Main Street & Lakeside Avenue, West Orange, Essex County, NJ

Diagnostic imaging of small amounts of pleural fluid: pleural effusion vs. physiologic pleural fluid.

PubMed

Kocijancic, Igor

2007-12-01

The aim of this article is to present an overview of our 10 years clinical research work and early clinical experience with small pleural effusions. Small amounts of pleural fluid are severely difficult to identify with imaging methods (chest x-rays and ultrasound). Nevertheless, it may be an important finding, sometimes leading to a definitive diagnosis of pleural carcinomatosis, infection or other pathologic condition. Chest x-rays were used for many years for the diagnosis of small pleural effusions. Lateral decubitus chest radiographs represented a gold standard for imaging of small amounts of plural fluid for more than 80 years. In the last two decades, ultrasonography of pleural space became a leading real-time method for demonstrating small pleural effusions. Furthermore, the advent of sonographic technology actually enables detection of physiologic pleural fluid in some otherwise healthy individuals. In conclusion, new definitions of the key terms in the field of diagnostic imaging of small amounts of pleural fluid seem to be justified. We suggest that the term pleural fluid should determine physiologic pleural space condition while the term pleural effusion should only be used in the cases of pleural involvement or pleural illness.

The etiology of Balkan endemic nephropathy: still more questions than answers.

PubMed Central

Tatu, C A; Orem, W H; Finkelman, R B; Feder, G L

1998-01-01

Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) has attracted increasing attention as a possible environmental disease, and a significant amount of research from complementary scientific fields has been dedicated to its etiology. There are two actual competing theories attempting to explain the cause of this kidney disease: 1) the mycotoxin hypothesis, which considers that BEN is produced by ochratoxin A ingested intermittently in small amounts by the individuals in the endemic regions, and 2) the Pliocene lignite hypothesis, which proposes that the disease is caused by long-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other toxic organic compounds leaching into the well drinking water from low rank coals underlying or proximal to the endemic settlements. We outline the current developments and future prospects in the study of BEN and differentiate possible factors and cofactors in disease etiology. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 PMID:9799184

Expansion of chromospheric matter in the gradual phase of solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohki, K.

1975-01-01

Interferometric observations at 17 GHz of several small X-ray flares are presented along with soft X-ray observations of preflare active regions to show that a large mass increase accompanies the formation of an X-ray hot region in the corona. The total amount of energy contained in a hot coronal region is estimated, and a model is proposed in which a significant amount of the hot matter is supplied to the corona from the chromosphere during each flare. According to this model, energy produced by some coronal instability is transported by thermal conduction to the chromosphere, where dense gas is heated and subsequently expands into the corona. It is shown that impulsive heating of the chromosphere by nonthermal electrons cannot be the energy source of this model because the total energy supplied to the hot region during the gradual phase must be much greater than that supplied during the impulsive phase.

Cross-contamination in Porcelain Mortars.

PubMed

Bauer-Brandl, A; Falck, A; Ingebrigtsen, L; Nilson, C

2001-01-01

Porcelain mortars and pestles are frequently used to comminute drug substances on a small scale and (in some cases) in the production of liquid and semisolid suspensions. Although it is generally accepted that removal of a drug substance from a rough surface by rinsing may be difficult and may lead to cross-contamination, no hard data support that theory. In this study, the amount of salicylic acid remaining on a porcelain mortar after different washing procedures was quantified and compared with the amount remaining on a plastic mortar. Drug residues in the "mg" range on the porcelain mortars made common rinsing procedures appear inappropriate, but no traces of drug were detected on plastic mortars. In addition, the quality of suspension ointments with respect to particle size and homogeneity produced by the two types of mortars was compared. Porcelain and plastic mortars appeared equally suitable for use in the production of semisolid suspensions.

Sensitivity of Stratospheric Geoengineering with Black Carbon to Aerosol Size and Altitude of Injection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kravitz, Ben; Robock, Alan; Shindell, Drew T.; Miller, Mark A.

2012-01-01

Simulations of stratospheric geoengineering with black carbon (BC) aerosols using a general circulation model with fixed sea surface temperatures show that the climate effects strongly depend on aerosol size and altitude of injection. 1 Tg BC/a injected into the lower stratosphere would cause little surface cooling for large radii but a large amount of surface cooling for small radii and stratospheric warming of over 60 C. With the exception of small particles, increasing the altitude of injection increases surface cooling and stratospheric warming. Stratospheric warming causes global ozone loss by up to 50% in the small radius case. The Antarctic shows less ozone loss due to reduction of polar stratospheric clouds, but strong circumpolar winds would enhance the Arctic ozone hole. Using diesel fuel to produce the aerosols is likely prohibitively expensive and infeasible. Although studying an absorbing aerosol is a useful counterpart to previous studies involving sulfate aerosols, black carbon geoengineering likely carries too many risks to make it a viable option for deployment.

Low-cost high-quality Fe-based shape memory alloys suitable for pipe joints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kajiwara, Setsuo; Baruj, Albert L.; Kikuchi, Takehiko; Shinya, Norio

2003-08-01

By addition of small amount of Nb and C to the conventional Fe-Mn-Si based shape memory alloys, shape memory properties are greatly improved in such an extent that the costly 'training' heat treatment is no more necessary. The key to this remarkable improvement of shape memory effect is to produce small NbC precipitates of about several nm in size in austenite. In order to generate such very small NbC particles, the sample is firstly rolled at 870 K and then aged at 1070 K. An example of Fe-28Mn-6Si-5Cr-0.53Nb-0.06C (mass %) alloy is shown; 95% shape recovery for initial strain of 4% is obtained and the shape recovery stress of about 300 MPa is attained for the sample pre-rolled 14%, which is well above the criterion for industry application of pipe jointing. A pipe jointing with this material is demonstrated.

Seed sprout production: Consumables and a foundation for higher plant growth in space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Day, Michelle; Thomas, Terri; Johnson, Steve; Luttges, Marvin

1990-01-01

Seed sprouts can be produced as a source of fresh vegetable materials and as higher plant seedlings in space. Sprout production was undertaken to evaluate the mass accumulations possible, the technologies needed, and the reliability of the overall process. Baseline experiments corroborated the utility of sprout production protocols for a variety of seed types. The automated delivery of saturated humidity effectively supplants labor intensive manual soaking techniques. Automated humidification also lend itself to modest centrifugal sprout growth environments. A small amount of ultraviolet radiation effectively suppressed bacterial and fungal contamination, and the sprouts were suitable for consumption.

Feasibility study of wind-generated electricity for rural applications in southwestern Ohio

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kohring, G. W.

The parameters associated with domestic production of wind generated electricity for direct use by small farms and rural homes in the southwestern Ohio region are discussed. The project involves direct utility interfaced electricity generation from a horizontal axis, down-wind, fixed pitch, wind powered induction generator system. Goals of the project are to determine: the ability to produce useful amounts of domestic wind generated electricity in the southwestern Ohio region; economic justification for domestic wind generated electrical production; and the potential of domestic wind generated electricity for reducing dependence on non-renewable energy resources in the southwestern Ohio region.

Ovalization of Tubes Under Bending and Compression

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Demer, L J; Kavanaugh, E S

1944-01-01

An empirical equation has been developed that gives the approximate amount of ovalization for tubes under bending loads. Tests were made on tubes in the d/t range from 6 to 14, the latter d/t ratio being in the normal landing gear range. Within the range of the series of tests conducted, the increase in ovalization due to a compression load in combination with a bending load was very small. The bending load, being the principal factor in producing the ovalization, is a rather complex function of the bending moment, d/t ratio, cantilever length, and distance between opposite bearing faces. (author)

Advanced Cloud Forecasting for Solar Energy’s Impact on Grid Modernization

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

Werth, D.; Nichols, R.

Solar energy production is subject to variability in the solar resource – clouds and aerosols will reduce the available solar irradiance and inhibit power production. The fact that solar irradiance can vary by large amounts at small timescales and in an unpredictable way means that power utilities are reluctant to assign to their solar plants a large portion of future energy demand – the needed power might be unavailable, forcing the utility to make costly adjustments to its daily portfolio. The availability and predictability of solar radiation therefore represent important research topics for increasing the power produced by renewable sources.

2010 Program of Study: Swirling and Swimming in Turbulence

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-01

total transit time for half the particle path is then T = −12 log a− 1 + 3 2 log 2− b −1 . (10) For small a, the first term dominates the travel time... the half -saturation density, which provides a limitation to the amount of prey that can be eaten at large P , i.e. Z depends linearly on P until the ...implies that, for example, a new generation of Z00 is produced by all interactions between two Z00, half of the interactions between Z00 and Z01, and 1 in

Low resistance contacts for shallow junction semiconductors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fatemi, Navid S. (Inventor); Weizer, Victor G. (Inventor)

1994-01-01

A method of enhancing the specific contact resistivity in InP semiconductor devices and improved devices produced thereby are disclosed. Low resistivity values are obtained by using gold ohmic contacts that contain small amounts of gallium or indium and by depositing a thin gold phosphide interlayer between the surface of the InP device and the ohmic contact. When both the thin interlayer and the gold-gallium or gold-indium contact metallizations are used, ultra low specific contact resistivities are achieved. Thermal stability with good contact resistivity is achieved by depositing a layer of refractory metal over the gold phosphide interlayer.

Integrated Platform for Expedited Synthesis–Purification–Testing of Small Molecule Libraries

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The productivity of medicinal chemistry programs can be significantly increased through the introduction of automation, leading to shortened discovery cycle times. Herein, we describe a platform that consolidates synthesis, purification, quantitation, dissolution, and testing of small molecule libraries. The system was validated through the synthesis and testing of two libraries of binders of polycomb protein EED, and excellent correlation of obtained data with results generated through conventional approaches was observed. The fully automated and integrated platform enables batch-supported compound synthesis based on a broad array of chemical transformations with testing in a variety of biochemical assay formats. A library turnaround time of between 24 and 36 h was achieved, and notably, each library synthesis produces sufficient amounts of compounds for further evaluation in secondary assays thereby contributing significantly to the shortening of medicinal chemistry discovery cycles. PMID:28435537

Supercritical water gasification of biomass: Thermodynamic constraints.

PubMed

Castello, Daniele; Fiori, Luca

2011-08-01

In the present work, the supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of biomass is analyzed with a view to outlining the possible thermodynamic constraints that must be taken into account to develop this new process. In particular, issues concerning the formation of solid carbon and the process heat duty are discussed. The analysis is conducted by means of a two-phase non-stoichiometric thermodynamic model, based on Gibbs free energy minimization. Results show that char formation at equilibrium only occurs at high biomass concentrations, with a strong dependence on biomass composition. As regards the process heat duty, SCWG is mostly endothermic when biomass concentration is low, although a very small amount of oxidizing agent is able to make the process exothermic, with only a small loss in the heating value of the syngas produced. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of chitosan on the heat stability of whey protein solution as a function of pH.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhengtao; Xiao, Qian

2017-03-01

Chitosan was reported to interact with proteins through electrostatic interactions. Their interaction was influenced by pH, which was not fully characterized. Further research on the interactions between protein and chitosan at different pH and their influence on the thermal denaturation of proteins is necessary. In this research, the effect of chitosan on the heat stability of whey protein solution at pH 4.0-6.0 was studied. At pH 4.0, a small amount chitosan was able to prevent the heat-induced denaturation and aggregation of whey protein molecules. At higher pH values (5.5 and 6.0), whey proteins complexed with chitosan through electrostatic attraction. The formation of chitosan-whey protein complexes at pH 5.5 improved the heat stability of dispersions and no precipitation could be detected up to 20 days. The dispersion with a medium amount of chitosan (chitosan:whey protein 1:5) produced the most stable particles, which had an average radius of 135 ± 14 nm and a zeta potential value of 36 ± 1 mV. In contrast, at pH 6.0 only the dispersion with a high amount of chitosan (chitosan:whey protein 1:2) showed good shelf stability up to 20 days. It was possible to produce heat-stable whey protein beverages by regulating the interaction between chitosan and whey protein molecules. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Allocation to Floral Structures in Thalictrum pubescens (Ranunculaceae), a Cryptically Dioecious Species

PubMed Central

DAVIS, SANDRA L.

2002-01-01

Females of Thalictrum pubescens produce stamens that contain sterile pollen, whereas males are both functionally and morphologically unisexual. This study examines the investment in stamen production by females of T. pubescens by comparing the female structures with those of their fully functional male counterparts. Stamens from females had the same biomass and contained the same amount of nitrogen and phosphorus as stamens from males. Anther size was the same in males and females, but filaments were longer in stamens from males. Females produced more pollen per anther than males, and pollen size was the same in both sexes. Within flowers, there was a positive correlation between the amount of pollen per anther and the length of anthers in males, but not in females. This would be expected if males growing in better environmental conditions or with greater vigour invested more resources in pollen production, thereby increasing fitness. Females, who receive no fitness benefits from increased pollen production, did not show this pattern. There was also evidence of a trade‐off within female flowers between the number of stamens and the number of pistils. This trade‐off was noted in conditions when variance among plants was reduced, namely in the field during a year when flower size was particularly small and in a previous glasshouse study. Therefore, it appears that when environmental variance is low, stamens are produced at the expense of producing more pistils, and hence seeds. In conclusion, stamen production does not appear to be inconsequential to females of Thalictrum pubescens. PMID:12125765

Interfacial Studies of Chemical Vapor Infiltrated (CVI) Ceramic Matrix Composites

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-10-01

carbon layer exists at the fiber/matrix interface. From Fig. 6, it can also be seen that a small amount of Cl exists at the interface and in the CVD SiC...matrix interface, most of which stayed on the fiber surface upon fracture. A small amount of oxygen (3-5 at*/) was found to be present in the CVI SiC. The... small amount of oxygen (1-2%). The results of MTS precursor coatings applied to Nextel 440 and Nicalon fibers preceded by an argon flush of the reactor

Relatively high motivation for context-evoked reward produces the magnitude effect in rats.

PubMed

Yuki, Shoko; Okanoya, Kazuo

2014-09-01

Using a concurrent-chain schedule, we demonstrated the effect of absolute reinforcement (i.e., the magnitude effect) on choice behavior in rats. In general, animals' simultaneous choices conform to a relative reinforcement ratio between alternatives. However, studies in pigeons and rats have found that on a concurrent-chain schedule, the overall reinforcement ratio, or absolute amount, also influences choice. The effect of reinforcement amount has also been studied in inter-temporal choice situations, and this effect has been referred to as the magnitude effect. The magnitude effect has been observed in humans under various conditions, but little research has assessed it in animals (e.g., pigeons and rats). The present study confirmed the effect of reinforcement amount in rats during simultaneous and inter-temporal choice situations. We used a concurrent-chain procedure to examine the cause of the magnitude effect during inter-temporal choice. Our results suggest that rats can use differences in reinforcement amount as a contextual cue during choice, and the direction of the magnitude effect in rats might be similar to humans when using the present procedure. Furthermore, our results indicate that the magnitude effect was caused by the initial-link effect when the reinforcement amount was relatively small, while a loss aversion tendency was observed when the reinforcement amount changed within a session. The emergence of the initial-link effect and loss aversion suggests that rats make choices through cognitive processes predicted by prospect theory. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Adoption of radio-frequency identification to establish traceability in Taiwanese eel exported to the Japanese market.

PubMed

Jeng, Shu-Ching; Wu, Chun-Lung; Yang, I-Da

2013-01-01

Eel culture and export to the Japanese market is an important industry in Taiwan; however, the average amount produced by each farm is small. Eels from different farms might be mixed before export, making it difficult to determine which farm is responsible for eels containing drug residues. Therefore, the Taiwanese government uses a two-stage procedure of inspection and accreditation for validating the use of good practice in aquaculture farming. Nevertheless, it is still difficult to trace any farm that has produced eels containing drug residues. Radio-frequency identification has the potential to establish traceability in eel products. Here we suggest that Japanese eel importers should insist on the use of radio-frequency identification by Taiwanese eel exporters to enable verification of the safety of eel products being exported to the Japanese market.

A new sensitive method for detecting human endogenous (leukocyte) pyrogen.

PubMed

Bodel, P; Miller, H

1978-03-01

Endogenous, or leukocyte pyrogen (EP), the mediator of fever, is currently detected by injection of pyrogen-containing supernatants into rabbits. This assay has been of little value in the study of human fever because it required injection of relatively large amounts of pyrogen. We now report that injection of medium containing human EP produces fever in mice. Supernatant from 1 c 10(5) granulocytes, stimulated by phagocytosis of staphylococci and incubated overnight, or 1 x 10(4) monocytes similarly treated, produce clear pyrogenic responses. This method for detecting EP is about 100-fold more sensitive than the rabbit assay, and it appears to be specific for EP. Preliminary studies of EP released by small samples of needle liver biopsies from febrile and afebrile patients suggests that this sensitive assay may be useful for investigations into the mechanisms of clinical fever.

Primordial soup was edible: abiotically produced Miller-Urey mixture supports bacterial growth.

PubMed

Xie, Xueshu; Backman, Daniel; Lebedev, Albert T; Artaev, Viatcheslav B; Jiang, Liying; Ilag, Leopold L; Zubarev, Roman A

2015-09-28

Sixty years after the seminal Miller-Urey experiment that abiotically produced a mixture of racemized amino acids, we provide a definite proof that this primordial soup, when properly cooked, was edible for primitive organisms. Direct admixture of even small amounts of Miller-Urey mixture strongly inhibits E. coli bacteria growth due to the toxicity of abundant components, such as cyanides. However, these toxic compounds are both volatile and extremely reactive, while bacteria are highly capable of adaptation. Consequently, after bacterial adaptation to a mixture of the two most abundant abiotic amino acids, glycine and racemized alanine, dried and reconstituted MU soup was found to support bacterial growth and even accelerate it compared to a simple mixture of the two amino acids. Therefore, primordial Miller-Urey soup was perfectly suitable as a growth media for early life forms.

Inhibitory effect of trichodermanone C, a sorbicillinoid produced by Trichoderma citrinoviride associated to the green alga Cladophora sp., on nitrite production in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

PubMed

Marra, Roberta; Nicoletti, Rosario; Pagano, Ester; DellaGreca, Marina; Salvatore, Maria Michela; Borrelli, Francesca; Lombardi, Nadia; Vinale, Francesco; Woo, Sheridan L; Andolfi, Anna

2018-05-31

From the green alga Cladophora sp. collected in Italy, the marine fungal strain A12 of Trichoderma citrinoviride was isolated, identified and characterized. LC-MS qTOF analysis was applied to perform a metabolic profile of the fungal culture. Chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic methods were used to isolate and characterize the major secondary metabolites produced by this strain in liquid culture. In particular, four known sorbicillinoids (trichodermanone C, spirosorbicillinol A, vertinolide and sorbicillin) were purified and identified, together with 2-phenylethanol and tyrosol. Moreover, metabolomic analysis allowed to detect small amounts of trichodimerol, rezishanone A, 2',3'-dihydrosorbicillin and bisvertinol. For the first time a significant inhibitory effect on nitrite levels has been shown for trichodermanone C in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated J774A.1 macrophages.

Minor metals and renewable energy—Diversifying America’s energy sources

USGS Publications Warehouse

Singerling, Sheryl A.; Nassar, Nedal T.

2017-08-16

Solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine technologies are projected to make up an increasing proportion of electricity generation capacity in the United States in the coming decades. By 2050, they will account for 36 percent (or 566 gigawatts) of capacity compared with about 11 percent (or 118 gigawatts) in 2016 (fig. 1; EIA, 2017). There are several different types of commercial solar PV and wind turbine technologies, and each type makes use of different minor metals. “Minor metal” is the term used for metals for which world production is small compared with the more widely produced base metals, and they are often produced as byproducts of the mining or processing of base metals. Minor metals used in renewable energy technologies often have complex supply chains, are often produced primarily outside of the United States, and are also used in many other applications. A larger amount of minor metals will be needed in the future to support the projected increases in solar PV and wind energy production capacity (Nassar and others, 2016).

Estimation of the nitric oxide formed from hydroxylamine by Nitrosomonas

PubMed Central

Anderson, J. H.

1965-01-01

1. Nitric oxide that was produced by reducing nitrite with an excess of acidified potassium iodide under nitrogen in Warburg respirometer flasks was rapidly absorbed by a solution of permanganate in sodium hydroxide held in the side arm. A small amount of nitrous oxide (or nitrogen) that was also produced was not absorbed. 2. By using a quantitative method for the recovery of nitrite from samples of the alkaline permanganate, it was found that the sum of the nitrite N formed and the residual nitrous oxide N was equivalent to the nitrite N used to generate the gases. These results showed that alkaline permanganate completely oxidized nitric oxide to nitrite. The method was suitable for determining 0·4–20 μmoles of nitric oxide. 3. The technique was used to determine the nitric oxide content of the nitrogenous gas that was produced anaerobically from hydroxylamine by an extract of the autotrophic nitrifying micro-organism Nitrosomonas in the presence of methylene blue as electron acceptor. PMID:14342235

Production of novel microbial flocculants by Klebsiella sp. TG-1 using waste residue from the food industry and its use in defecating the trona suspension.

PubMed

Liu, Zhan-Ying; Hu, Zhi-Quan; Wang, Tao; Chen, Yan-Ying; Zhang, Jianbin; Yu, Jing-Ran; Zhang, Tong; Zhang, Yong-Feng; Li, Yong-Li

2013-07-01

A microbial-flocculants-producing (MBF-producing) bacterium, named TG-1, was isolated from waste water of a starch factory, and identified as Klebsiella sp. TG-1. The microbial flocculants (MBF) produced by TG-1, named as MBF-TG-1, was applied to defecating the strong basic trona suspension in the trona industry. After optimizing medium and culturing conditions with single-factor and orthogonal designs, the highest flocculation rate of 86.9% was achieved. Chemical analysis showed that the purified microbial flocculants (MBF-TG-1) was mainly composed of polysaccharides (84.6%), with a small amount of protein or amino acid (11.1%). Bridging mechanism was supposed as the main flocculation mechanism by analyzing the flocculation process and the biochemistry properties of MBF-TG-1. The high flocculation rate (84%) was also achieved with a low-cost medium (the solid residue of tofu production from food industry). Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

High intensity portable fluorescent light

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kendall, F. B.

1972-01-01

Eight high intensity portable fluorescent lights were produced. Three prototype lights were also produced, two of which were subsequently updated to the physical and operational configuration of the qualification and flight units. Positioning of lamp apertures and reflectors in these lights is such that the light is concentrated and intensified in a specific pattern rather than widely diffused. Indium amalgam control of mercury vapor pressure in the lamp gives high output at lamp ambient temperatures up to 105 C. A small amount of amalgam applied to each electrode stem helps to obtain fast warm-up. Shrinking a Teflon sleeve on the tube and potting metal caps on each end of the lamp minimizes dispersion of mercury vapor and glass particles in the event of accidental lamp breakage. Operation at 20 kHz allows the lamps to consume more power than at low frequency, thus increasing their light output and raising their efficiency. When used to expose color photographic film, light from the lamps produces results approximately equal to sunlight.

Atypical patterns of neural infection produced in mice by drug-resistant strains of herpes simplex virus.

PubMed

Field, H J; Anderson, J R; Wildy, P

1982-03-01

Mice inoculated intracerebrally (i.c.) with a mutant strain of HSV were found to develop cataracts 1 to 2 months after inoculation. Cataract formation was subsequently shown to follow an acute retinitis which commenced within 1 week of inoculation. The mutant had been selected for high resistance to the nucleoside analogue acyclovir and has been shown previously to be defective in the induction of thymidine kinase and also to express an altered DNA polymerase. The LD50 for mice inoculated i.c. was greater than 10(5) p.f.u. compared with approx 7 p.f.u. for the parental strain. Studies of virus replication following i.c. inoculation with a sublethal dose of the mutant revealed that only small amounts of infectious virus were produced in the brain, but during a period from 6 to 12 days after inoculation vigorous replication occurred in retinal tissue, producing very high titres of virus.

PRMT7, a new protein arginine methyltransferase that synthesizes symmetric dimethylarginine.

PubMed

Lee, Jin-Hyung; Cook, Jeffry R; Yang, Zhi-Hong; Mirochnitchenko, Olga; Gunderson, Samuel I; Felix, Arthur M; Herth, Nicole; Hoffmann, Ralf; Pestka, Sidney

2005-02-04

The cDNA for PRMT7, a recently discovered human protein-arginine methyltransferase (PRMT), was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells. Immunopurified PRMT7 actively methylated histones, myelin basic protein, a fragment of human fibrillarin (GAR) and spliceosomal protein SmB. Amino acid analysis showed that the modifications produced were predominantly monomethylarginine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA). Examination of PRMT7 expressed in E. coli demonstrated that peptides corresponding to sequences contained in histone H4, myelin basic protein, and SmD3 were methylated. Furthermore, analysis of the methylated proteins showed that symmetric dimethylarginine and relatively small amounts of monomethylarginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine were produced. SDMA was also formed when a GRG tripeptide was methylated by PRMT7, indicating that a GRG motif is by itself sufficient for symmetric dimethylation to occur. Symmetric dimethylation is reduced dramatically compared with monomethylation as the concentration of the substrate is increased. The data demonstrate that PRMT7 (like PRMT5) is a Type II methyltransferase capable of producing SDMA modifications in proteins.

Extremely small bandgaps, engineered by controlled multi-scale ordering in InAsSb

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

Sarney, W. L.; Svensson, S. P.; Lin, Y.

2016-06-07

The relationship between the effective bandgap and the crystalline structure in ordered InAsSb material has been studied. Modulation of the As/Sb ratio was induced along the growth direction during molecular beam epitaxy, producing a strained layer superlattice. To enable the use of concentration ratios near unity in both layers in the period, the structures were grown with negligible net strain on a virtual substrate with a lattice constant considerably larger than that of GaSb. The bandgap line-up of InAsSb layers with different compositions is such that a type II superlattice is formed, which exhibits smaller bandgaps than either of themore » two constituents. It can also be smaller than the possible minimum direct-bandgap of the alloy. From observations of CuPt ordering in bulk layers with small amounts of strain of both signs, we postulate that strain is the main driving force for atomic ordering in InAsSb. Because the modulated structures exhibit small but opposing amounts of strain, both layers in the period exhibit ordering at the atomic scale throughout the structure. Since the strain can be controlled, the ordering can be controlled and sustained for arbitrary thick layers, unlike the situation in uniform bulk layers where the residual strain eventually leads to dislocation formation. This offers a unique way of using ordering at two different scales to engineer the band-structure.« less

Thermal hydrocracking of coal derived liquid from mild gasification (production of phenols, BTX and naphthalenes)

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

Sato, Yoshiki; Kodera, Yoichi; Kamo, Tohru

1997-12-31

Coal derived liquid from mild gasification contains more than 40% of alkylphenols with alkylnaphthalenes and a small amount of benzofuran, naphthol and condensed aromatic derivatives. In this study, thermal hydrocracking of the coal derived liquid, and related model compounds have been investigated using a small atmospheric flow apparatus at temperatures of 700--770 C with residence time of 3--10 sec, and hydrogen-to-reactant molar ratio of about 3--10. In the experiments using m-cresol and 2,5-dimethylphenol, dealkylation and dehydroxylation proceeded concurrently with high selectivity in the presence of excess hydrogen. The rates of hydrocracking of m-cresol and 2,5-dimethylphenol were in accordance with first-ordermore » rate law with respect to reactant. This indicates that the same kinetic equation for the demethylation of alkylbenzenes can be applied. Rates of demethylation and dehydroxylation for cresols and dimethylphenols have been measured at 700 C by using toluene as an internal reference, and discussed in terms of chemical structure. Thermal hydrocracking of the coal derived liquid produced 20--40 wt% gases and 60--80 wt% liquids. Gaseous products mainly consisted of carbon monoxide and methane with small amounts of C{sub 2} and C{sub 3} hydrocarbon gases. Liquid products, obtained at 770 C, contained 24 wt% of BTX, 40 wt% of phenol and cresols, and 12 wt% of naphthalene and methylnaphthalenes. Yield of useful chemicals, having simple aromatic structure in the liquid product increased with temperature and residence time.« less

Quantification of Trichothecene-Producing Fusarium Species in Harvested Grain by Competitive PCR To Determine Efficacies of Fungicides against Fusarium Head Blight of Winter Wheat

PubMed Central

Edwards, S. G.; Pirgozliev, S. R.; Hare, M. C.; Jenkinson, P.

2001-01-01

We developed a PCR-based assay to quantify trichothecene-producing Fusarium based on primers derived from the trichodiene synthase gene (Tri5). The primers were tested against a range of fusarium head blight (FHB) (also known as scab) pathogens and found to amplify specifically a 260-bp product from 25 isolates belonging to six trichothecene-producing Fusarium species. Amounts of the trichothecene-producing Fusarium and the trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) in harvested grain from a field trial designed to test the efficacies of the fungicides metconazole, azoxystrobin, and tebuconazole to control FHB were quantified. No correlation was found between FHB severity and DON in harvested grain, but a good correlation existed between the amount of trichothecene-producing Fusarium and DON present within grain. Azoxystrobin did not affect levels of trichothecene-producing Fusarium compared with those of untreated controls. Metconazole and tebuconazole significantly reduced the amount of trichothecene-producing Fusarium in harvested grain. We hypothesize that the fungicides affected the relationship between FHB severity and the amount of DON in harvested grain by altering the proportion of trichothecene-producing Fusarium within the FHB disease complex and not by altering the rate of DON production. The Tri5 quantitative PCR assay will aid research directed towards reducing amounts of trichothecene mycotoxins in food and animal feed. PMID:11282607

The Model-Based Study of the Effectiveness of Reporting Lists of Small Feature Sets Using RNA-Seq Data.

PubMed

Kim, Eunji; Ivanov, Ivan; Hua, Jianping; Lampe, Johanna W; Hullar, Meredith Aj; Chapkin, Robert S; Dougherty, Edward R

2017-01-01

Ranking feature sets for phenotype classification based on gene expression is a challenging issue in cancer bioinformatics. When the number of samples is small, all feature selection algorithms are known to be unreliable, producing significant error, and error estimators suffer from different degrees of imprecision. The problem is compounded by the fact that the accuracy of classification depends on the manner in which the phenomena are transformed into data by the measurement technology. Because next-generation sequencing technologies amount to a nonlinear transformation of the actual gene or RNA concentrations, they can potentially produce less discriminative data relative to the actual gene expression levels. In this study, we compare the performance of ranking feature sets derived from a model of RNA-Seq data with that of a multivariate normal model of gene concentrations using 3 measures: (1) ranking power, (2) length of extensions, and (3) Bayes features. This is the model-based study to examine the effectiveness of reporting lists of small feature sets using RNA-Seq data and the effects of different model parameters and error estimators. The results demonstrate that the general trends of the parameter effects on the ranking power of the underlying gene concentrations are preserved in the RNA-Seq data, whereas the power of finding a good feature set becomes weaker when gene concentrations are transformed by the sequencing machine.

Butyric acid production from red algae by a newly isolated Clostridium sp. S1.

PubMed

Lee, Kyung Min; Choi, Okkyoung; Kim, Ki-Yeon; Woo, Han Min; Kim, Yunje; Han, Sung Ok; Sang, Byoung-In; Um, Youngsoon

2015-09-01

To produce butyric acid from red algae such as Gelidium amansii in which galactose is a main carbohydrate, microorganisms utilizing galactose and tolerating inhibitors in hydrolysis including levulinic acid and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are required. A newly isolated bacterium, Clostridium sp. S1 produced butyric acid not only from galactose as the sole carbon source but also from a mixture of galactose and glucose through simultaneous utilization. Notably, Clostridium sp. S1 produced butyric acid and a small amount of acetic acid with the butyrate:acetate ratio of 45.4:1 and it even converted acetate to butyric acid. Clostridium sp. S1 tolerated 0.5-2 g levulinic acid/l and recovered from HMF inhibition at 0.6-2.5 g/l, resulting in 85-92% butyric acid concentration of the control culture. When acid-pretreated G. amansii hydrolysate was used, Clostridium sp. S1 produced 4.83 g butyric acid/l from 10 g galactose/l and 1 g glucose/l. Clostridium sp. S1 produces butyric acid from red algae due to its characteristics in sugar utilization and tolerance to inhibitors, demonstrating its advantage as a red algae-utilizing microorganism.

A theoretical model for the production of Ac-225 for cancer therapy by photon-induced transmutation of Ra-226.

PubMed

Melville, G; Fan Liu, Sau; Allen, B J

2006-09-01

Radium needles that were once implanted into tumours as a cancer treatment are now obsolete and constitute a radioactive waste problem, as their half-life is 1600 years. We are investigating the reduction of radium by transmutation on a small scale by bombarding Ra-226 with high-energy photons from a medical linear accelerator (linac) to produce Ra-225, which subsequently decays to Ac-225, which can be used as a generator to produce Bi-213 for use in 'targeted alpha therapy' for cancer. This paper examines the possibility of producing Ac-225 with a linac using an accurate theoretical model in which the bremsstrahlung photon spectrum at 18 MV linac electron energy is convoluted with the corresponding photonuclear cross sections of Ra-226. The total integrated yield can then be obtained and is compared with a computer simulation. This study shows that at 18 MV, the photonuclear reaction on Ra-226 can produce low activities of Ac-225 with a linac. However, a high power linac with high current, pulse length and frequency is needed to produce practical amounts of Ac-225 and a useful reduction of Ra-226.

A method to press powder at 6000 ton using small amount of explosive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hilmi, Ahmad Humaizi; Azmi, Nor Azmaliana; Ismail, Ariffin

2017-12-01

Large die hydraulic press forces are one of the key instruments in making jumbo planes. The machine can produce aircraft components such as wing spars, landing gear supports and armor plates. Superpower nations such as USA, Russia, Germany, Japan, Korea and China have large die hydraulic press which can press 50,000 tons. In Malaysia, heavy-duty press is available from companies such as Proton that builds chassis for cars. However, that heavy-duty press is not able to produce better bulkhead for engines, fuselage, and wings of an aircraft. This paper presents the design of an apparatus that uses 50 grams of commercial grade explosives to produce 6000 tons of compaction. This is a first step towards producing larger scale apparatus that can produce 50,000-ton press. The design was done using AUTODYN blast simulation software. According to the results, the maximum load the apparatus can withstand was 6000 tons which was contributed by 50 grams of commercial explosive(Emulex). Explosive size larger than 50 grams will lead to catastrophic failure. Fabrication of the apparatus was completed. However, testing of the apparatus is not presented in this article.

78 FR 11795 - Minimum Technical Standards for Class II Gaming Systems and Equipment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-20

... threshold amount. The Commission increased that amount in the MICS from $1,000,000 to $3,000,000. The... considered to be small entities for the purposes of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act The proposed rule is not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804(2), the Small Business...

Augmented Expression of Polysaccharide Intercellular Adhesin in a Defined Staphylococcus epidermidis Mutant with the Small-Colony-Variant Phenotype▿

PubMed Central

Al Laham, Nahed; Rohde, Holger; Sander, Gunnar; Fischer, Andreas; Hussain, Muzaffar; Heilmann, Christine; Mack, Dietrich; Proctor, Richard; Peters, Georg; Becker, Karsten; von Eiff, Christof

2007-01-01

While coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), with their ability to form a thick, multilayered biofilm on foreign bodies, have been identified as the major cause of implant-associated infections, no data are available about biofilm formation by staphylococcal small-colony variants (SCVs). In the past years, a number of device-associated infections due to staphylococcal SCVs were described, among them, several pacemaker infections due to SCVs of CoNS auxotrophic to hemin. To test the characteristics of SCVs of CoNS, in particular, to study the ability of SCVs to form a biofilm on foreign bodies, we generated a stable mutant in electron transport by interrupting one of the hemin biosynthetic genes, hemB, in Staphylococcus epidermidis. In fact, this mutant displayed a stable SCV phenotype with tiny colonies showing strong adhesion to the agar surface. When the incubation time was extended to 48 h or a higher inoculum concentration was used, the mutant produced biofilm amounts on polystyrene similar to those produced by the parent strain. When grown under planktonic conditions, the mutant formed markedly larger cell clusters than the parental strain which were completely disintegrated by the specific β-1,6-hexosaminidase dispersin B but were resistant to trypsin treatment. In a dot blot assay, the mutant expressed larger amounts of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) than the parent strain. In conclusion, interrupting a hemin biosynthetic gene in S. epidermidis resulted in an SCV phenotype. Markedly larger cell clusters and the ability of the hemB mutant to form a biofilm are related to the augmented expression of PIA. PMID:17449620

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

Viani, Alberto, E-mail: viani@itam.cas.cz; Sotiriadis, Konstantinos; Len, Adél

Full characterization of fired-clay bricks is crucial for the improvement of process variables in manufacturing and, in case of old bricks, for restoration/replacement purposes. To this aim, five bricks produced in a plant in Czech Republic in the past have been investigated with a combination of analytical techniques in order to derive information on the firing process. An additional old brick from another brickyard was also used to study the influence of different raw materials on sample microstructure. The potential of X-ray diffraction with the Rietveld method and small angle neutron scattering technique has been exploited to describe the phasemore » transformations taking place during firing and characterize the brick microstructure. Unit-cell parameter of spinel and amount of hematite are proposed as indicators of the maximum firing temperature, although for the latter, limited to bricks produced from the same raw material. The fractal quality of the surface area of pores obtained from small angle neutron scattering is also suggested as a method to distinguish between bricks produced from different raw clays. - Highlights: • Rietveld method helps in describing microstructure and physical properties of bricks. • XRPD derived cell parameter of spinel is proposed as an indicator of firing temperature. • SANS effectively describes brick micro and nanostructure, including closed porosity. • Fractal quality of pore surface is proposed as ‘fingerprint’ of brick manufacturing.« less

Antireflective graded index silica coating, method for making

DOEpatents

Yoldas, Bulent E.; Partlow, Deborah P.

1985-01-01

Antireflective silica coating for vitreous material is substantially non-reflecting over a wide band of radiations. This is achieved by providing the coating with a graded degree of porosity which grades the index of refraction between that of air and the vitreous material of the substrate. To prepare the coating, there is first prepared a silicon-alkoxide-based coating solution of particular polymer structure produced by a controlled proportion of water to alkoxide and a controlled concentration of alkoxide to solution, along with a small amount of catalyst. The primary solvent is alcohol and the solution is polymerized and hydrolized under controlled conditions prior to use. The prepared solution is applied as a film to the vitreous substrate and rapidly dried. It is thereafter heated under controlled conditions to volatilize the hydroxyl radicals and organics therefrom and then to produce a suitable pore morphology in the residual porous silica layer. The silica layer is then etched in order to enlarge the pores in a graded fashion, with the largest of the pores remaining being sufficiently small that radiations to be passed through the substrate are not significantly scattered. For use with quartz substrates, extremely durable coatings which display only 0.1% reflectivity have been prepared.

The Development of Microbiota and Metabolome in Small Intestine of Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) from Birth to Weaning

PubMed Central

Li, Zhipeng; Wang, Xiaoxu; Zhang, Ting; Si, Huazhe; Nan, Weixiao; Xu, Chao; Guan, Leluo; Wright, André-Denis G.; Li, Guangyu

2018-01-01

The dense and diverse community of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of ruminant animals plays critical roles in the metabolism and absorption of nutrients, and gut associated immune function. Understanding microbial colonization in the small intestine of new born ruminants is a vital first step toward manipulating gut function through interventions during early life to produce long-term positive effects on host productivity and health. Yet the knowledge of microbiota colonization and its induced metabolites of small intestine during early life is still limited. In the present study, we examined the microbiota and metabolome in the jejunum and ileum of neonatal sika deer (Cervus nippon) from birth to weaning at days 1, 42, and 70. The microbial data showed that diversity and richness were increased with age, but a highly individual variation was observed at day 1. Principal coordinate analysis revealed significant differences in microbial community composition across three time points in the jejunum and ileum. The abundance of Halomonas spp., Lactobacillus spp., Escherichia–Shigella, and Bacteroides spp. tended to be decreased, while the proportion of Intestinibacter spp., Cellulosilyticum spp., Turicibacter spp., Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Romboutsia spp. was significantly increased with age. For metabolome, metabolites separated from each other across the three time points in both jejunum and ileum. Moreover, the amounts of methionine, threonine, and putrescine were increased, while the amounts of myristic acid and pentadecanoic acid were decreased with age, respectively. The present study demonstrated that microbiota colonization and the metabolome becomes more developed in the small intestine with age. This may shed new light on the microbiota-metabolome-immune interaction during development. PMID:29410651

The Development of Microbiota and Metabolome in Small Intestine of Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) from Birth to Weaning.

PubMed

Li, Zhipeng; Wang, Xiaoxu; Zhang, Ting; Si, Huazhe; Nan, Weixiao; Xu, Chao; Guan, Leluo; Wright, André-Denis G; Li, Guangyu

2018-01-01

The dense and diverse community of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract of ruminant animals plays critical roles in the metabolism and absorption of nutrients, and gut associated immune function. Understanding microbial colonization in the small intestine of new born ruminants is a vital first step toward manipulating gut function through interventions during early life to produce long-term positive effects on host productivity and health. Yet the knowledge of microbiota colonization and its induced metabolites of small intestine during early life is still limited. In the present study, we examined the microbiota and metabolome in the jejunum and ileum of neonatal sika deer ( Cervus nippon ) from birth to weaning at days 1, 42, and 70. The microbial data showed that diversity and richness were increased with age, but a highly individual variation was observed at day 1. Principal coordinate analysis revealed significant differences in microbial community composition across three time points in the jejunum and ileum. The abundance of Halomonas spp., Lactobacillus spp., Escherichia - Shigella , and Bacteroides spp. tended to be decreased, while the proportion of Intestinibacter spp., Cellulosilyticum spp., Turicibacter spp., Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and Romboutsia spp. was significantly increased with age. For metabolome, metabolites separated from each other across the three time points in both jejunum and ileum. Moreover, the amounts of methionine, threonine, and putrescine were increased, while the amounts of myristic acid and pentadecanoic acid were decreased with age, respectively. The present study demonstrated that microbiota colonization and the metabolome becomes more developed in the small intestine with age. This may shed new light on the microbiota-metabolome-immune interaction during development.

Chaperones are necessary for the expression of catalytically active potato apyrases in prokaryotic cells.

PubMed

Porowińska, Dorota; Czarnecka, Joanna; Komoszyński, Michał

2014-07-01

NTPDases (nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases) (also called in plants apyrases) hydrolyze nucleoside 5'-tri- and/or diphosphate bonds producing nucleosides di or monophosphate and inorganic phosphate. For years, studies have been carried out to use both plant and animal enzymes for medicine. Therefore, there is a need to develop an efficient method for the quick production of large amounts of homogeneous proteins with high catalytic activity. Expression of proteins in prokaryotic cells is the most common way for the protein production. The aim of our study was to develop a method of expression of potato apyrase (StAPY4, 5, and 6) genes in bacterial cells under conditions that allowed the production of catalytically active form of these enzymes. Apyrase 4 and 6 were overexpressed in BL21-CodonPlus (DE3) bacteria strain but they were accumulated in inclusion bodies, regardless of the culture conditions and induction method. Co-expression of potato apyrases with molecular chaperones allowed the expression of catalytically active apyrase 5. However, its high nucleotidase activity could be toxic for bacteria and is therefore synthesized in small amounts in cells. Our studies show that each protein requires other conditions for maturation and even small differences in amino acid sequence can essentially affect protein folding regardless of presence of chaperones.

Adhesive Properties of Cured Phenylethynyl Containing Imides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jensen, Brian J.; Chang, Alice C.

1997-01-01

Considerable attention has been directed towards acetylene terminated oligomers over the last 20 years' and recent work has focused on phenylethynyl terminated imide (PETI) oligomers. These reactive oligomers possess several features which make them attractive candidates for use as composite matrices and adhesives. The phenylethynyl group can be readily incorporated into many different functionalized oligomers. The reactive oligomers possess relatively low melt viscosities and thermally cure without the evolution of volatile by-products. Once cured, they typically display high glass transition temperatures (Tgs), excellent solvent resistance and high mechanical properties. new modified phenylethynyl-terminated imide (LaRC MPEI) oligomers were synthesized at various molecular weights utilizing a small amount of trifunctional amine. As long as the amount of triamine is relatively small, this approach produces a mixture of linear, star-shaped and branched polymer chains that has lower melt and solution viscosity than an equivalent molecular weight linear phenylethynyl terminated imide oligomers. The work reported herein involves the synthesis and characterization of a copolymer using this approach and the preparation of blends utilizing a phenylethynyl containing reactive plasticizer of lower molecular weight called LaRC LV-121. The chemistry and properties of this new MPEI as well as some blends of MPEI with LV-121, are presented and compared to the linear version, LARC-PETI-5.

Melt Extrusion of High-Dose Co-Amorphous Drug-Drug Combinations : Theme: Formulation and Manufacturing of Solid Dosage Forms Guest Editors: Tony Zhou and Tonglei Li.

PubMed

Arnfast, Lærke; Kamruzzaman, Md; Löbmann, Korbinian; Aho, Johanna; Baldursdottir, Stefania; Rades, Thomas; Rantanen, Jukka

2017-12-01

Many future drug products will be based on innovative manufacturing solutions, which will increase the need for a thorough understanding of the interplay between drug material properties and processability. In this study, hot melt extrusion of a drug-drug mixture with minimal amount of polymeric excipient was investigated. Using indomethacin-cimetidine as a model drug-drug system, processability of physical mixtures with and without 5% (w/w) of polyethylene oxide (PEO) were studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Small Amplitude Oscillatory Shear (SAOS) rheometry. Extrudates containing a co-amorphous glass solution were produced and the solid-state composition of these was studied with DSC. Rheological analysis indicated that the studied systems display viscosities higher than expected for small molecule melts and addition of PEO decreased the viscosity of the melt. Extrudates of indomethacin-cimetidine alone displayed amorphous-amorphous phase separation after 4 weeks of storage, whereas no phase separation was observed during the 16 week storage of the indomethacin-cimetidine extrudates containing 5% (w/w) PEO. Melt extrusion of co-amorphous extrudates with low amounts of polymer was found to be a feasible manufacturing technique. Addition of 5% (w/w) polymer reduced melt viscosity and prevented phase separation.

Sources of Hydrogen as Food for Deep Microbial Communities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freund, Friedemann; Fonda, Mark (Technical Monitor)

1998-01-01

To survive in deep subsurface environments autolithotrophic microbial communities require a sustainable food supply. One possible source is H2 which forms when H2O reacts with ferrous iron at rock surfaces or mineral grain boundaries to produce H2 plus ferric iron. The amount of H2 that can be supplied in this way, however, is relatively small and may not last for more than a few hundred or thousand years. A much larger reservoir of H2 exists in the rocks, inside mineral grains, arising from an as yet little-known redox conversion that affects OH- in nominally anhydrous minerals. These OH- represent small amounts of "water" that become incorporated during crystallization in H2O-laden environments. A corollary of the H2 formation from OH- is the formation of peroxy, an oxidized form of oxygen. While the peroxy become part of the mineral structure, the H2 molecules are diffusively mobile and can escape from within the mineral grains, entering the intergranular space. Assuming cautiously realistic number densities of OH- undergoing the in situ redox conversion to H2 plus peroxy, a 10 km deep rock column is expected to contain enough H2 to allow for a constant degassing rate of 50-100 nmole H2 per day per sq cm over 30 million years.

Recreational technical diving part 1: an introduction to technical diving methods and activities.

PubMed

Mitchell, Simon J; Doolette, David J

2013-06-01

Technical divers use gases other than air and advanced equipment configurations to conduct dives that are deeper and/or longer than typical recreational air dives. The use of oxygen-nitrogen (nitrox) mixes with oxygen fractions higher than air results in longer no-decompression limits for shallow diving, and faster decompression from deeper dives. For depths beyond the air-diving range, technical divers mix helium, a light non-narcotic gas, with nitrogen and oxygen to produce 'trimix'. These blends are tailored to the depth of intended use with a fraction of oxygen calculated to produce an inspired oxygen partial pressure unlikely to cause cerebral oxygen toxicity and a nitrogen fraction calculated to produce a tolerable degree of nitrogen narcosis. A typical deep technical dive will involve the use of trimix at the target depth with changes to gases containing more oxygen and less inert gas during the decompression. Open-circuit scuba may be used to carry and utilise such gases, but this is very wasteful of expensive helium. There is increasing use of closed-circuit 'rebreather' devices. These recycle expired gas and potentially limit gas consumption to a small amount of inert gas to maintain the volume of the breathing circuit during descent and the amount of oxygen metabolised by the diver. This paper reviews the basic approach to planning and execution of dives using these methods to better inform physicians of the physical demands and risks.

A Mechanism for Recent Production of Liquid Water on Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hecht, M. H.; Bridges, N. T.

2003-01-01

Though Mars is a cold, dry planet, with respect to the thermal stability of liquid water at low altitudes it is not terribly different from comparably cold places on Earth. In dry air such water would evaporate faster on Mars, at a rate comparable to a 60 C hot spring on Earth, but the heat loss associated with that evaporation would be mitigated by the poor thermal convection in the thin Martian air. Even at higher altitudes where the atmospheric pressure does not reach the triple point of water, liquid water might theoretically exist in a low-vapor pressure form such as wet soil, in a briny solution, or simply under a layer of dust or snow. The theoretical stability of liquid water does not suggest its occurrence, either on Mars or in Antarctica. In fact, global models have suggested that locations capable of providing sufficient heat for melting are, precisely for that reason, too dry for water to be present. However, the temperature of irregular local structures such as trenches or craters can be markedly warmer than those of the uniform surfaces of global models. The work described here suggests a plausible scenario in which seasonal liquid water might be produced locally, in sheltered locations, through a process of condensation, cold-trapping, buffering, and melting. While the amounts produced in the present climate would be small, copious amounts of meltwater may have been produced at other phases of the orbital cycle, as recently as 20,000 years ago.

Phenazines and Other Redox-Active Antibiotics Promote Microbial Mineral Reduction

PubMed Central

Hernandez, Maria E.; Kappler, Andreas; Newman, Dianne K.

2004-01-01

Natural products with important therapeutic properties are known to be produced by a variety of soil bacteria, yet the ecological function of these compounds is not well understood. Here we show that phenazines and other redox-active antibiotics can promote microbial mineral reduction. Pseudomonas chlororaphis PCL1391, a root isolate that produces phenazine-1-carboxamide (PCN), is able to reductively dissolve poorly crystalline iron and manganese oxides, whereas a strain carrying a mutation in one of the phenazine-biosynthetic genes (phzB) is not; the addition of purified PCN restores this ability to the mutant strain. The small amount of PCN produced relative to the large amount of ferric iron reduced in cultures of P. chlororaphis implies that PCN is recycled multiple times; moreover, poorly crystalline iron (hydr)oxide can be reduced abiotically by reduced PCN. This ability suggests that PCN functions as an electron shuttle rather than an iron chelator, a finding that is consistent with the observation that dissolved ferric iron is undetectable in culture fluids. Multiple phenazines and the glycopeptidic antibiotic bleomycin can also stimulate mineral reduction by the dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR1. Because diverse bacterial strains that cannot grow on iron can reduce phenazines, and because thermodynamic calculations suggest that phenazines have lower redox potentials than those of poorly crystalline iron (hydr)oxides in a range of relevant environmental pH (5 to 9), we suggest that natural products like phenazines may promote microbial mineral reduction in the environment. PMID:14766572

Bio-charcoal production from municipal organic solid wastes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

AlKhayat, Z. Q.

2017-08-01

The economic and environmental problems of handling the increasingly huge amounts of urban and/or suburban organic municipal solid wastes MSW, from collection to end disposal, in addition to the big fluctuations in power supply and other energy form costs for the various civilian needs, is studied for Baghdad city, the ancient and glamorous capital of Iraq, and a simple control device is suggested, built and tested by carbonizing these dried organic wastes in simple environment friendly bio-reactor in order to produce low pollution potential, economical and local charcoal capsules that might be useful for heating, cooking and other municipal uses. That is in addition to the solve of solid wastes management problem which involves huge human and financial resources and causes many lethal health and environmental problems. Leftovers of different social level residential campuses were collected, classified for organic materials then dried in order to be supplied into the bio-reactor, in which it is burnt and then mixed with small amounts of sugar sucrose that is extracted from Iraqi planted sugar cane, to produce well shaped charcoal capsules. The burning process is smoke free as the closed burner’s exhaust pipe is buried 1m underground hole, in order to use the subsurface soil as natural gas filter. This process has proved an excellent performance of handling about 120kg/day of classified MSW, producing about 80-100 kg of charcoal capsules, by the use of 200 l reactor volume.

In vitro and in vivo response after exposure to man-made mineral and asbestos insulation fibers.

PubMed

Pickrell, J A; Hill, J O; Carpenter, R L; Hahn, F F; Rebar, A H

1983-08-01

The relative in vitro and in vivo toxicity of several types of manufactured fibrous glass insulation and crocidolite asbestos was investigated to aid in selection of a suitable glass fiber for subsequent use in inhalation exposures. The in vitro cytotoxicity to pulmonary alveolar macrophages of small glass fibers from microfiber insulation (count median diameter (CMD) approximately 0.1-0.2 micrometer) was greater than that of the larger fibers from household insulation (CMD approximately 2.4 micrometers). To screen for in vivo pulmonary toxicity, 2-21 mg of glass or asbestos fibers were administered in divided doses to male Syrian hamsters by intratracheal instillation. Animals were sacrificed at 1, 3.5 and 11 months following initial administration of material. One type of glass microfiber [count median diameter (CMD) approximately 0.1 micrometer] caused deaths from pulmonary edema at early times after instillation. High levels of asbestos, a second glass microfiber (CMD approximately 0.2 micrometer) and one type of household insulation fiber (CMD 2.3 micrometers) all resulted in increase in total collagen and mild pulmonary fibrosis at later times after instillation, although microfiber insulation produced a greater response than household insulation. Asbestos insulation produced the greatest response. A five-day inhalation exposure to a high level of glass microfibers deposited in lung less than 10 percent of the lowest instilled amount which elicited indications of lung injury. This amount did not produce significant biological changes at 1 to 12 months after exposure.

Geochemistry, geochronology, mineralogy, and geology suggest sources of and controls on mineral systems in the southern Toquima Range, Nye County, Nevada; with geochemistry maps of gold, silver, mercury, arsenic, antimony, zinc, copper, lead, molybdenum, bismuth, iron, titanium, vanadium, cobalt, beryllium, boron, fluorine, and sulfur; and with a section on lead associations, mineralogy and paragenesis, and isotopes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shawe, Daniel R.; Hoffman, James D.; Doe, Bruce R.; Foord, Eugene E.; Stein, Holly J.; Ayuso, Robert A.

2003-01-01

Geochemistry maps showing the distribution and abundance of 18 elements in about 1,400 rock samples, both mineralized and unmineralized, from the southern Toquima Range, Nev., indicate major structural and lithologic controls on mineralization, and suggest sources of the elements. Radiometric age data, lead mineralogy and paragenesis data, and lead-isotope data supplement the geochemical and geologic data, providing further insight into timing, sources, and controls on mineralization. Major zones of mineralization are centered on structural margins of calderas and principal northwest-striking fault zones, as at Round Mountain, Manhattan, and Jefferson mining districts, and on intersections of low-angle and steep structures, as at Belmont mining district. Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, mostly limestones (at Manhattan, Jefferson, and Belmont districts), and porous Oligocene ash-flow tuffs (at Round Mountain district) host the major deposits, although all rock types have been mineralized as evidenced by numerous prospects throughout the area. Principal mineral systems are gold-silver at Round Mountain where about 7 million ounces of gold and more than 4 million ounces of silver has been produced; gold at Gold Hill in the west part of the Manhattan district where about a half million ounces of gold has been produced; gold-mercury-arsenic-antimony in the east (White Caps) part of the Manhattan district where a few hundred thousand ounces of gold has been produced; and silver-lead-antimony at Belmont where more than 150,000 ounces of silver has been produced. Lesser amounts of gold and silver have been produced from the Jefferson district and from scattered mines elsewhere in the southern Toquima Range. A small amount of tungsten was produced from mines in the granite of the Round Mountain pluton exposed east of Round Mountain, and small amounts of arsenic, antimony, and mercury have been produced elsewhere in the southern Toquima Range. All elements show unique distribution patterns that suggest specific sources and lithologic influences on deposition, as well as multiple episodes of mineralization. Principal episodes of mineralization are Late Cretaceous (molybdenum and tungsten in and near granite; silver at Belmont and Silver Point mines), early Oligocene [tourmaline and base- and precious-metals around the granodiorite of Dry Canyon stock as well as at Manhattan(?)], late Oligocene (gold at Round Mountain and Jefferson), and Miocene (gold at Manhattan). Most likely principal sources of molybdenum, tungsten, silver, and bismuth are Cretaceous granites; of antimony, arsenic, and mercury are intermediate-composition early Oligocene intrusives; and of gold are early and late Oligocene and early Miocene magmas of the volcanic cycle. Lead may have been derived principally from Cretaceous granitic magma and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks. Several areas prospective for undiscovered mineral deposits are suggested by spatial patterns of element distributions related to geologic features. The Manhattan district in the vicinity of the White Caps mine may be underlain by a copper-molybdenum porphyry system related to a buried stock; peripheral high-grade gold veins and skarn deposits may be present below deposits previously mined. The Jefferson district also may be underlain by a copper-molybdenum porphyry system related to a buried stock, it too with peripheral high-grade gold deposits. The Bald Mountain Canyon belt of small gold veins has potential for deeper deposits in buried porous ash-flow tuff similar to the huge Round Mountain low-grade gold-silver deposit. Several other areas have potential for a variety of mineral deposits. Altogether the geochemical, geochronologic, mineralogic, and geologic evidence suggests recurring mineralizing episodes of varied character, from Late Cretaceous to late Tertiary time, related to a long-lived hot spot deep in the crust or in the upper mantle. Granite plutons of Late Cretaceous age were minerali

Biowaste separate collection and composting in a Small Island Developing State: The case study of São Tomé and Principe, West Africa.

PubMed

Vaz, João M; Ferreira, José S; Dias-Ferreira, Celia

2015-12-01

São Tomé and Principe archipelago in West Africa is a Small Island Developing State facing acute waste management problems. This article describes the implementation of selective collection of biowaste combined with composting in São Tomé, as a case-study of an innovative action in the framework of a Small Island Developing State. Collection was designed to gather 225 t y(-1), targeting non-domestic biowaste producers, namely local businesses, municipal markets and municipal green waste. A municipal composting plant was built using basic facilities and windrow composting. The total investment amounted to €50,000, mainly supported by external aid. Biowaste producers reacted very positively, source segregating enthusiastically. Irregular service - collection collapsed each time the old vehicle was repaired - together with political disengagement and unmotivated work force were the major constrains. Biowaste was intermittently delivered to the composting plant and yielded 2 t of compost from July to December 2013 and 10 t during 2014. Compost was sold as organic fertiliser to a touristic resource, to small farmers and to gardeners, at a market price slightly below production costs, meaning the process is not economically sustainable without support. Nevertheless, biowaste is one of the few waste fractions (other than glass) that can be turned into a product that has both market value and a real demand, showing the enormous potential of composting source-separated biowaste in this part of the world. © The Author(s) 2015.

Mechanical properties of the cement of the stalked barnacle Dosima fascicularis (Cirripedia, Crustacea)

PubMed Central

Zheden, Vanessa; Klepal, Waltraud; Gorb, Stanislav N.; Kovalev, Alexander

2015-01-01

The stalked barnacle Dosima fascicularis secretes foam-like cement, the amount of which usually exceeds that produced by other barnacles. When Dosima settles on small objects, this adhesive is additionally used as a float which gives buoyancy to the animal. The dual use of the cement by D. fascicularis requires mechanical properties different from those of other barnacle species. In the float, two regions with different morphological structure and mechanical properties can be distinguished. The outer compact zone with small gas-filled bubbles (cells) is harder than the interior one and forms a protective rind presumably against mechanical damage. The inner region with large, gas-filled cells is soft. This study demonstrates that D. fascicularis cement is soft and visco-elastic. We show that the values of the elastic modulus, hardness and tensile stress are considerably lower than in the rigid cement of other barnacles. PMID:25657833

Fuel change possibilities in small heat source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durčanský, Peter; Kapjor, Andrej; Jandačka, Jozef

2017-09-01

Rural areas are characterized by a larger number of older family houses with higher fuel consumption for heating. Some areas are not gasified, which means that the fuel base for heating the buildings is very limited. Heating is mainly covered by solid fuels with high emissions and low efficiency. But at the same time, the amount of energy in the form of biowaste can be evaluated and used further. We will explore the possibilities to convert biogas to heat of using a gas burner in a small heat source. However, the heat produced can be used other than for heating or hot water production. The added value for heat generation can be the production of electricity, in the use of heat energy through cogeneration unit with unconventional heat engine. The proposed solution could economically benefit the entire system, because electricity is a noble form of energy and its use is versatile.

Phenomenological in-situ TEM gas exposure studies of palladium particles on MgO at room temperature

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heinemann, K.; Poppa, H.; Osaka, T.

1983-01-01

It has been found that very small vapor-deposited catalytically active metal particles in the 1-2 nm size range on metal oxide substrates can undergo significant changes when they are exposed to gases such as oxygen or air, or even when allowed to 'anneal' at room temperature (RT) under vacuum conditions. The present investigation is concerned with continued in-situ gas exposures of as-deposited, 1 to 2 nm size palladium particles on MgO to air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, CO, and water vapor at RT. It is found that the low-pressure exposure to various gases at RT can significantly affect small palladium particles supported on MgO surfaces. Exposure to oxygen for 3 min at 0.0002 m bar produces a considerable amount of coalescence, flattening of the particles, and some distinct crystallographic particle shapes.

Demystifying the Complexities of Gravity Wave Dynamics in the Middle Atmosphere: a Roadmap to Improved Weather Forecasts through High-Fidelity Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mixa, T.; Fritts, D. C.; Bossert, K.; Laughman, B.; Wang, L.; Lund, T.; Kantha, L. H.

2017-12-01

Gravity waves play a profound role in the mixing of the atmosphere, transporting vast amounts of momentum and energy among different altitudes as they propagate vertically. Above 60km in the middle atmosphere, high wave amplitudes enable a series of complex, nonlinear interactions with the background environment that produce highly-localized wind and temperature variations which alter the layering structure of the atmosphere. These small-scale interactions account for a significant portion of energy transport in the middle atmosphere, but they are difficult to characterize, occurring at spatial scales that are both challenging to observe with ground instruments and prohibitively small to include in weather forecasting models. Using high fidelity numerical simulations, these nuanced wave interactions are analyzed to better our understanding of these dynamics and improve the accuracy of long-term weather forecasting.

Preparation of interesterified plastic fats from fats and oils free of trans fatty acid.

PubMed

Lee, Jeung Hee; Akoh, Casimir C; Himmelsbach, David S; Lee, Ki-Teak

2008-06-11

Interesterified plastic fats were produced with trans-free substrates of fully hydrogenated soybean oil, extra virgin olive oil, and palm stearin in a weight ratio of 10:20:70, 10:40:50, and 10:50:40, respectively, by lipase catalysis. The major fatty acids of the products were palmitic (32.2-47.4%), stearic (12.0-12.4%), and oleic acid (33.6-49.5%). After storage at 5 degrees C (refrigerator temperature) or 24 degrees C (room temperature) for 16 h, the physical properties were evaluated for solid fat content, texture, melting, and crystallization behavior, viscoelastic properties, crystal polymorphism, and crystal microstructure. The interesterified fats contained desirable crystal polymorphs (beta' form) as determined by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. They exhibited a wide plastic range of solid fat content of 52-58% at 10 degrees C and 15% at 40 degrees C. The physical properties were influenced by the ratio of palm stearin and olive oil. Harder and more brittle texture, crystallization and melting at higher temperature, higher solid fat contents, and more elastic (G') or viscous (G') characteristics were observed in the produced fats containing a higher content of palm stearin and lower content of olive oil. The produced fats stored at 5 degrees C consisted mostly of beta' form crystal together with a small content of beta form, while those at 24 degrees C had only beta' form. The produced fat with a higher amount of palm stearin appeared to have more beta' form crystal and small size crystal clusters. Thus, the physical properties of the produced plastic fats may be desirable for use in a bakery product.

The simulation of the LANFOS-H food radiation contamination detector using Geant4 package

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piotrowski, Lech Wiktor; Casolino, Marco; Ebisuzaki, Toshikazu; Higashide, Kazuhiro

2015-02-01

Recent incident in the Fukushima power plant caused a growing concern about the radiation contamination and resulted in lowering the Japanese limits for the permitted amount of 137Cs in food to 100 Bq/kg. To increase safety and ease the concern we are developing LANFOS (Large Food Non-destructive Area Sampler)-a compact, easy to use detector for assessment of radiation in food. Described in this paper LANFOS-H has a 4 π coverage to assess the amount of 137Cs present, separating it from the possible 40K food contamination. Therefore, food samples do not have to be pre-processed prior to a test and can be consumed after measurements. It is designed for use by non-professionals in homes and small institutions such as schools, showing safety of the samples, but can be also utilized by specialists providing radiation spectrum. Proper assessment of radiation in food in the apparatus requires estimation of the γ conversion factor of the detectors-how many γ photons will produce a signal. In this paper we show results of the Monte Carlo estimation of this factor for various approximated shapes of fish, vegetables and amounts of rice, performed with Geant4 package. We find that the conversion factor combined from all the detectors is similar for all food types and is around 37%, varying maximally by 5% with sample length, much less than for individual detectors. The different inclinations and positions of samples in the detector introduce uncertainty of 1.4%. This small uncertainty validates the concept of a 4 π non-destructive apparatus.

Sources, fates, toxicity, and risks of trifluoroacetic acid and its salts: Relevance to substances regulated under the Montreal and Kyoto Protocols.

PubMed

Solomon, Keith R; Velders, Guus J M; Wilson, Stephen R; Madronich, Sasha; Longstreth, Janice; Aucamp, Pieter J; Bornman, Janet F

2016-01-01

Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a breakdown product of several hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC), regulated under the Montreal Protocol (MP), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) used mainly as refrigerants. Trifluoroacetic acid is (1) produced naturally and synthetically, (2) used in the chemical industry, and (3) a potential environmental breakdown product of a large number (>1 million) chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and polymers. The contribution of these chemicals to global amounts of TFA is uncertain, in contrast to that from HCFC and HFC regulated under the MP. TFA salts are stable in the environment and accumulate in terminal sinks such as playas, salt lakes, and oceans, where the only process for loss of water is evaporation. Total contribution to existing amounts of TFA in the oceans as a result of the continued use of HCFCs, HFCs, and hydrofluoroolefines (HFOs) up to 2050 is estimated to be a small fraction (<7.5%) of the approximately 0.2 μg acid equivalents/L estimated to be present at the start of the millennium. As an acid or as a salt TFA is low to moderately toxic to a range of organisms. Based on current projections of future use of HCFCs and HFCs, the amount of TFA formed in the troposphere from substances regulated under the MP is too small to be a risk to the health of humans and environment. However, the formation of TFA derived from degradation of HCFC and HFC warrants continued attention, in part because of a long environmental lifetime and due many other potential but highly uncertain sources.

Aluminum and Alzheimer's disease: after a century of controversy, is there a plausible link?

PubMed

Tomljenovic, Lucija

2011-01-01

The brain is a highly compartmentalized organ exceptionally susceptible to accumulation of metabolic errors. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease of the elderly and is characterized by regional specificity of neural aberrations associated with higher cognitive functions. Aluminum (Al) is the most abundant neurotoxic metal on earth, widely bioavailable to humans and repeatedly shown to accumulate in AD-susceptible neuronal foci. In spite of this, the role of Al in AD has been heavily disputed based on the following claims: 1) bioavailable Al cannot enter the brain in sufficient amounts to cause damage, 2) excess Al is efficiently excreted from the body, and 3) Al accumulation in neurons is a consequence rather than a cause of neuronal loss. Research, however, reveals that: 1) very small amounts of Al are needed to produce neurotoxicity and this criterion is satisfied through dietary Al intake, 2) Al sequesters different transport mechanisms to actively traverse brain barriers, 3) incremental acquisition of small amounts of Al over a lifetime favors its selective accumulation in brain tissues, and 4) since 1911, experimental evidence has repeatedly demonstrated that chronic Al intoxication reproduces neuropathological hallmarks of AD. Misconceptions about Al bioavailability may have misled scientists regarding the significance of Al in the pathogenesis of AD. The hypothesis that Al significantly contributes to AD is built upon very solid experimental evidence and should not be dismissed. Immediate steps should be taken to lessen human exposure to Al, which may be the single most aggravating and avoidable factor related to AD.

Interaction of sunscreen TiO2 nanoparticles with skin and UV light: penetration, protection, phototoxicity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popov, Alexey; Lademann, Jürgen; Priezzhev, Alexander; Myllylä, Risto

2009-07-01

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are extensively used nowadays in sunscreens as protective compounds for human skin from UV radiation. In this paper, such particles are investigated from the viewpoint of penetration into living skin, UV protective properties (compared with silicon (Si) particles) and as sources of free radicals if UV-irradiated. We show that: a) even after multiple applications, the particles are located within the uppermost 3-μm-thick part of the skin; b) the optimal sizes are found to be 62 nm and 55 nm, respectively for TiO2 and Si particles for 310-nm light and, correspondingly, 122 and 70 nm - for 400-nm radiation; c) if applied onto glass, small particles of 25 nm in diameter produce an increased amount of free radicals compared to the larger ones of 400 nm in diameter and placebo itself; however, if applied onto porcine skin in vitro, there is no statistically distinct difference in the amount of radicals generated by the two kinds of particles on skin and by the skin itself. This proves that although particles as part of sunscreens produce free radicals, the effect is negligible in comparison to the production of radicals by skin in vitro.

Passive inhalation of marijuana smoke: urinalysis and room air levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol

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

Cone, E.J.; Johnson, R.E.; Darwin, W.D.

In two separate studies, 5 drug-free male volunteers with a history of marijuana use were passively exposed to the sidestream smoke of 4 and 16 marijuana cigarettes (2.8% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)) for 1 h each day for 6 consecutive days. A third study was similarly performed with 2 marijuana-naive subjects passively exposed to the smoke of 16 marijuana cigarettes. Passive smoke exposure was conducted in a small, unventilated room. Room air levels of THC and CO were monitored frequently. All urine specimens were collected and analyzed by EMIT d.a.u. assay, Abuscreen radioimmunoassay and GC/MS. The studies show that significant amounts ofmore » THC were absorbed by all subjects at the higher level of passive smoke exposure (eg., smoke from 16 marijuana cigarettes), resulting in urinary excretion of significant amounts of cannabinoid metabolites. However, it seems improbable that subjects would unknowingly tolerate the noxious smoke conditions produced by this exposure. At the lower level of passive marijuana-smoke exposure, specimens tested positive only infrequently or were negative. Room air levels of THC during passive smoke exposure appeared to be the most critical factor in determining whether a subject produced cannabinoid-positive urine specimens.« less

27 CFR 19.245 - Bonds and penal sums of bonds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

...) Distiller The amount of tax on spirits produced during a period of 15 days $5,000 $100,000 (ii) Warehouseman... gallons ......do 5,000 50,000 (iii) Distiller and warehouseman The amount of tax on spirits produced... transit to bonded premises 10,000 200,000 (iv) Distiller and processor The amount of tax on spirits...

Native prairie filter strips reduce runoff from hillslopes under annual row-crop systems in Iowa, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernandez-Santana, V.; Zhou, X.; Helmers, M. J.; Asbjornsen, H.; Kolka, R.; Tomer, M.

2013-01-01

SummaryIntensively managed annual cropping systems have produced high crop yields but have often produced significant ecosystem services alteration, in particular hydrologic regulation loss. Reconversion of annual agricultural systems to perennial vegetation can lead to hydrologic function restoration, but its effect is still not well understood. Therefore, our objective was to assess the effects of strategic introduction of different amounts and location of native prairie vegetation (NPV) within agricultural landscapes on hydrological regulation. The study was conducted in Iowa (USA), and consisted of a fully balanced, replicated, incomplete block design whereby 12 zero-order ephemeral flow watersheds received four treatments consisting of varying proportions (0%, 10%, and 20%) of prairie vegetation located in different watershed positions (footslope vs. contour strips). Runoff volume and rate were measured from 2008 to 2010 (April-October) with an H-Flume installed in each catchment, and automated ISCO samplers. Over the entire study period, we observed a total of 129 runoff events with an average runoff volume reduction of 37% based on the three treatments with NPV compared to watersheds with row crops. We observed a progressively greater reduction across the 3 years of the study as the perennial strips became established with the greatest differences among treatments occurring in 2010. The differences among the watersheds were attributed mainly to NPV amount and position, with the 10% NPV at footslope treatment having the greatest runoff reduction probably because the portion of NPV filter strip that actually contacted watershed runoff was greater with the 10% NPV at footslope. We observed greater reductions in runoff in spring and fall likely because perennial prairie plants were active and crops were absent or not fully established. High antecedent soil moisture sometimes led to little benefit of the NPV treatments but in general the NPV treatments were effective during both small and large events. We conclude that, small amounts of NPV strategically incorporated into corn-soybean watersheds in the Midwest US can be used to effectively reduce runoff.

Logic programming and metadata specifications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lopez, Antonio M., Jr.; Saacks, Marguerite E.

1992-01-01

Artificial intelligence (AI) ideas and techniques are critical to the development of intelligent information systems that will be used to collect, manipulate, and retrieve the vast amounts of space data produced by 'Missions to Planet Earth.' Natural language processing, inference, and expert systems are at the core of this space application of AI. This paper presents logic programming as an AI tool that can support inference (the ability to draw conclusions from a set of complicated and interrelated facts). It reports on the use of logic programming in the study of metadata specifications for a small problem domain of airborne sensors, and the dataset characteristics and pointers that are needed for data access.

Fuel from Tobacco and Arundo Donax: Synthetic Crop for Direct Drop-in Biofuel Production through Re-routing the Photorespiration Intermediates and Engineering Terpenoid Pathways

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

None

PETRO Project: Biofuels offer renewable alternatives to petroleum-based fuels that reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to nearly zero. However, traditional biofuels production is limited not only by the small amount of solar energy that plants convert through photosynthesis into biological materials, but also by inefficient processes for converting these biological materials into fuels. Farm-ready, non-food crops are needed that produce fuels or fuel-like precursors at significantly lower costs with significantly higher productivity. To make biofuels cost-competitive with petroleum-based fuels, biofuels production costs must be cut in half.

Structure of the orthorhombic form of Mn(2)Al(7), Fe(2)Al(7), and (Mn(0.7)Fe(0.3))(2)Al(7) that by twinning produces grains with decagonal point-group symmetry.

PubMed

Pauling, L

1988-04-01

Analysis of electron diffraction photographs of grains of Mn(2)Al(7), Fe(2)Al(7), and (Mn(0.7)Fe(0.3))(2)Al(7) leads to the conclusion that they are 5-fold twins of a 1664-atom orthorhombic crystal with a = 32.86 A, b = 31.23 A, and c = 24.80 A and with 16 icosahedral clusters of 104 atoms in positions shifted by small amounts from those of the cubic beta-tungsten structure.

Structure of the orthorhombic form of Mn2Al7, Fe2Al7, and (Mn0.7Fe0.3)2Al7 that by twinning produces grains with decagonal point-group symmetry

PubMed Central

Pauling, Linus

1988-01-01

Analysis of electron diffraction photographs of grains of Mn2Al7, Fe2Al7, and (Mn0.7Fe0.3)2Al7 leads to the conclusion that they are 5-fold twins of a 1664-atom orthorhombic crystal with a = 32.86 Å, b = 31.23 Å, and c = 24.80 Å and with 16 icosahedral clusters of 104 atoms in positions shifted by small amounts from those of the cubic β-tungsten structure. PMID:16593921

The obesity epidemic: too much food for thought?

PubMed

Davey, R C

2004-06-01

Traditional treatment strategies and public health interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of obesity are proving inadequate at controlling the global epidemic of this condition. The main focus of any intervention should be on preventing small excesses of weight, which lead to large weight gain over time, as once a large amount of excess weight is gained, it is very difficult to lose. The only effective approach is for governments to implement radical policy change, to regulate food consumption and control the food industry in a similar way to that of the tobacco industry, by banning the advertising of selected produce, taxing certain foods, and rationing the purchase of others.

Pile-up corrections in laser-driven pulsed X-ray sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernández, G.; Fernández, F.

2018-06-01

A formalism for treating the pile-up produced in solid-state detectors by laser-driven pulsed X-ray sources has been developed. It allows the direct use of X-ray spectroscopy without artificially decreasing the number of counts in the detector, assuming the duration of a pulse is much shorter than the detector response time and the loss of counts from the energy window of the detector can be modeled or neglected. Experimental application shows that having a small amount of pile-up subsequently corrected improves the signal-to-noise ratio, which would be more beneficial than the strict single-hit condition usually imposed on this detectors.

Secure information transport by transverse localization of light

PubMed Central

Leonetti, Marco; Karbasi, Salman; Mafi, Arash; DelRe, Eugenio; Conti, Claudio

2016-01-01

A single-photon beating with itself can produce even the most elaborate optical fringe pattern. However, the large amount of information enclosed in such a pattern is typically inaccessible, since the complete distribution can be visualized only after many detections. In fact this limitation is only true for delocalized patterns. Here we demonstrate how reconfigurable localized optical patterns allow to encode up to 6 bits of information in disorder-induced high transmission channels, even using a small number of photon counts. We developed a quantum key distribution scheme for fiber communication in which high information capacity is achieved through position and momentum complementarity. PMID:27436283

Secure information transport by transverse localization of light.

PubMed

Leonetti, Marco; Karbasi, Salman; Mafi, Arash; DelRe, Eugenio; Conti, Claudio

2016-07-20

A single-photon beating with itself can produce even the most elaborate optical fringe pattern. However, the large amount of information enclosed in such a pattern is typically inaccessible, since the complete distribution can be visualized only after many detections. In fact this limitation is only true for delocalized patterns. Here we demonstrate how reconfigurable localized optical patterns allow to encode up to 6 bits of information in disorder-induced high transmission channels, even using a small number of photon counts. We developed a quantum key distribution scheme for fiber communication in which high information capacity is achieved through position and momentum complementarity.

Manufacturing demonstration of microbially mediated zinc sulfide nanoparticles in pilot-plant scale reactors

DOE PAGES

Moon, Ji-Won; Phelps, Tommy J.; Fitzgerald Jr, Curtis L.; ...

2016-04-27

The thermophilic anaerobic metal-reducing bacterium Thermoanaerobacter sp. X513 efficiently produces zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles (NPs) in laboratory-scale ( ≤24-L) reactors. To determine whether this process can be up-scaled and adapted for pilot-plant production while maintaining NP yield and quality, a series of meso-scale experiments were performed using 100-l and 900-l reactors. Pasteurization and N 2-sparging replaced autoclaving and boiling for deoxygenating media in the transition from small-scale to pilot-plant reactors. Consecutive 100-L batches using new or recycled media produced ZnS NPs with highly reproducible ~2 nm average crystallite size (ACS) and yields of ~0.5g L -1, similar to small-scale batches.more » The 900-L pilot plant reactor produced ~ 320 g ZnS without process optimization or replacement of used medium; this quantity would be sufficient to form a ZnS thin film with ~120 nm thickness over 0.5 m width 13 km length. At all scales, the bacteria produced significant amounts of acetic, lactic and formic acids, which could be neutralized by the controlled addition of sodium hydroxide without the use of an organic pH buffer, eliminating 98% of the buffer chemical costs. In conclusion, the final NP products were characterized using XRD, ICP-OES, FTIR, DLS, and C/N analyses, which confirmed the growth medium without organic buffer enhanced the ZnS NP properties by reducing carbon and nitrogen surface coatings and supporting better dispersivity with similar ACS.« less

Manufacturing demonstration of microbially mediated zinc sulfide nanoparticles in pilot-plant scale reactors.

PubMed

Moon, Ji-Won; Phelps, Tommy J; Fitzgerald, Curtis L; Lind, Randall F; Elkins, James G; Jang, Gyoung Gug; Joshi, Pooran C; Kidder, Michelle; Armstrong, Beth L; Watkins, Thomas R; Ivanov, Ilia N; Graham, David E

2016-09-01

The thermophilic anaerobic metal-reducing bacterium Thermoanaerobacter sp. X513 efficiently produces zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles (NPs) in laboratory-scale (≤ 24-L) reactors. To determine whether this process can be up-scaled and adapted for pilot-plant production while maintaining NP yield and quality, a series of pilot-plant scale experiments were performed using 100-L and 900-L reactors. Pasteurization and N2-sparging replaced autoclaving and boiling for deoxygenating media in the transition from small-scale to pilot plant reactors. Consecutive 100-L batches using new or recycled media produced ZnS NPs with highly reproducible ~2-nm average crystallite size (ACS) and yields of ~0.5 g L(-1), similar to the small-scale batches. The 900-L pilot plant reactor produced ~320 g ZnS without process optimization or replacement of used medium; this quantity would be sufficient to form a ZnS thin film with ~120 nm thickness over 0.5 m width × 13 km length. At all scales, the bacteria produced significant amounts of acetic, lactic, and formic acids, which could be neutralized by the controlled addition of sodium hydroxide without the use of an organic pH buffer, eliminating 98 % of the buffer chemical costs. The final NP products were characterized using XRD, ICP-OES, TEM, FTIR, PL, DLS, HPLC, and C/N analyses, which confirmed that the growth medium without organic buffer enhanced the ZnS NP properties by reducing carbon and nitrogen surface coatings and supporting better dispersivity with similar ACS.

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

Xu, Pei-quan; Li, Leijun, E-mail: leijun.li@ualberta.ca; Zhang, Chunbo

The as-welded microstructure of laser-welded Ti-6Al-4V is characterized as a function of CO2 key-hole mode laser welding speed. Martensitic α′ is the predominant phase, with some α and retained β. Phase transformation is affected by the cooling rate through laser welding speed. A higher welding speed of 1.6 to 2.0 m/min produced more martensite α′ and less retained β in the welds. 1.4 m/min welding speed produced small amounts of α, besides the martensite α′. A trace of δ titanium hydride phase seems to have formed in the weld fusion zone. Moiré fringes are a common feature in the TEMmore » microstructure, due to abundance of multi-phase interfaces. Tensile twins and clusters of dislocations indicate that plastic deformation has happened in the as-welded microstructure, indicating the local stress levels to be approaching the yield stress on-cooling during laser welding.« less

Nitrogen removal from wastewater by a catalytic oxidation method.

PubMed

Huang, T L; Macinnes, J M; Cliffe, K R

2001-06-01

The ammonia-containing waste produced in industries is usually characterized by high concentration and high temperature, and is not treatable by biological methods directly. In this study, a hydrophobic Pt/SDB catalyst was first used in a trickle-bed reactor to remove ammonia from wastewater. In the reactor, both stripping and catalytic oxidation occur simultaneously. It was found that higher temperature and higher oxygen partial pressure enhanced the ammonia removal. A reaction pathway, which involves oxidizing ammonia to nitric oxide, which then further reacts with ammonia to produce nitrogen and water, was confirmed. Small amounts of by-products, nitrites and nitrates were also detected in the resultant reaction solution. These compounds came from the absorption of nitrogen oxides. Both the minimum NO2- selectivity and maximum ammonia removal were achieved when the resultant pH of treated water was near 7.5 for a feed of unbuffered ammonia solution.

History of Chandra X-Ray Observatory

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-07-04

Giving scientists their first look, Chandra observed x-rays produced by fluorescent radiation from oxygen atoms of the Sun in the sparse upper atmosphere of Mars, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) above its surface. The x-ray power detected from the Martian atmosphere is very small, amounting to only 4 megawatts, comparable to the x-ray power of about ten thousand medical x-ray machines. At the time of the Chandra observation, a huge dust storm developed on Mars that covered about one hemisphere, later to cover the entire planet. This hemisphere rotated out of view over the 9-hour observation, but no change was observed in the x-ray intensity indicating that the dust storm did not affect the upper atmosphere. Scientists also observed a halo of x-rays extending out to 7,000 kilometers above the surface of Mars believed to be produced by collisions of ions racing away from the Sun (the solar wind).

Predictive simulation of bidirectional Glenn shunt using a hybrid blood vessel model.

PubMed

Li, Hao; Leow, Wee Kheng; Chiu, Ing-Sh

2009-01-01

This paper proposes a method for performing predictive simulation of cardiac surgery. It applies a hybrid approach to model the deformation of blood vessels. The hybrid blood vessel model consists of a reference Cosserat rod and a surface mesh. The reference Cosserat rod models the blood vessel's global bending, stretching, twisting and shearing in a physically correct manner, and the surface mesh models the surface details of the blood vessel. In this way, the deformation of blood vessels can be computed efficiently and accurately. Our predictive simulation system can produce complex surgical results given a small amount of user inputs. It allows the surgeon to easily explore various surgical options and evaluate them. Tests of the system using bidirectional Glenn shunt (BDG) as an application example show that the results produc by the system are similar to real surgical results.

Are extrusive rhyolites produced from permeable foam eruptions?

USGS Publications Warehouse

Friedman, I.

1989-01-01

The permeable foam hypothesis is suggested by Eichelberger el al. (1986) to explain a major loss of water from rhyolithic magmas in the volcanic conduit. Evidence for the high-water content of the major portion of the magmas is herein examined and rejected. Eichelberger's hypothesis does not take into account the large (~2 orders of magnitude) viscosity change that would occur in the conduit as a result of water loss. It also requires that the permeable foam collapse and weld to form an obsidian that in thin section displays no evidence of the foam. An alternate hypothesis to explain the existence of small amounts of high water content rhyolite glasses in acid volcanoes is that rhyolite magmas are relatively dry (0.1-0.3% H2O) and that water enters the magma from the environment to produce a water-rich selvage which then is kneaded into the body of the magma. -Author

Halothane hepatotoxicity and the reduced derivative, 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane.

PubMed Central

Brown, B R; Sipes, I G; Baker, R K

1977-01-01

Halothane (1,1,1-trifluoro-2-bromo-2-chloroethane) is a safe, clinically useful inhalation anesthetic. Rare, unpredictable cases of liver necrosis have been reported following its use. Although the mechanism of this reaction in man is unknown the most plausible is biotransformation to reactive intermediates compounds. The oxidative metabolism of halothane appears to be benign. There is early evidence that reductive (nonoxygen dependent) may be harmful. Since the bromine atom of halothane appears to possess weak bond energy, the reduced, debrominated derivative of halothane, 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane, was synthesized and tested for hepatotoxicity in the rat. The derivative is unstable and thus was prepared anaerobically and trapped in propylene glycol solvent. Injection of small amounts of this compound into the portal vein of rats produces extensive liver necrosis. It is postulated that biotransformation of halothane via a reductive pathway could produce this reactive intermediate metabolite. Images FIGURE 1. PMID:612444

Study on the pollution status and control measures for the livestock and poultry breeding industry in northeastern China.

PubMed

Wang, Hanxi; Xu, Jianling; Liu, Xuejun; Sheng, Lianxi; Zhang, Di; Li, Longwei; Wang, Aixia

2018-02-01

Livestock and poultry breeding industry is one of the main economic pillars of northeastern China. However, the amount of pollutants produced is much higher than that in other parts of China. Through a questionnaire survey, indoor experiment, and outdoor experiment, it was found that the resource utilization rate of livestock and poultry manure in the northeastern region is low, with the pollution of livestock and poultry breeding mainly including air and water pollution. The alarm level of cultivated land and manure is II. While the livestock and poultry breeding is relatively concentrated area, its level is higher than grade II. Based on the pollution status of small farms, biogas can be produced through fermentation, along with the preparation of organic fertilizer, to completely utilize the manure and straw, while obtaining higher economic value, and effectively controlling the pollution from livestock and poultry breeding.

Chandra Image Gives First Look at Mars Emitted X-Rays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2001-01-01

Giving scientists their first look, Chandra observed x-rays produced by fluorescent radiation from oxygen atoms of the Sun in the sparse upper atmosphere of Mars, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) above its surface. The x-ray power detected from the Martian atmosphere is very small, amounting to only 4 megawatts, comparable to the x-ray power of about ten thousand medical x-ray machines. At the time of the Chandra observation, a huge dust storm developed on Mars that covered about one hemisphere, later to cover the entire planet. This hemisphere rotated out of view over the 9-hour observation, but no change was observed in the x-ray intensity indicating that the dust storm did not affect the upper atmosphere. Scientists also observed a halo of x-rays extending out to 7,000 kilometers above the surface of Mars believed to be produced by collisions of ions racing away from the Sun (the solar wind).

Stability of sonicated aqueous suspensions of phospholipids under air.

PubMed

Almog, R; Forward, R; Samsonoff, C

1991-12-01

The stability of phospholipids in liposomal aqueous suspension against oxidative degradation in air was investigated using spectrophotometric indices, glutathione peroxidase reactivity and thin layer chromatography. Zwitterionic phospholipid was found to be susceptible to degradation via oxidation of polyunsaturated hydrocarbon chains and ester hydrolysis, producing oxidized lysophosphatide and free fatty acid derivatives. These products were characterized as hydroperoxides based on their reactivity with the selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase isolated from human erythrocytes. Lecithin in Tris buffer was more resistant to hydrolysis than in water. The sonication of 8.0 mM of soybean phosphatidylcholine (SB-PC) suspension in 0.1 M Tris (pH 7.5) in the presence of air produced relatively high concentration of conjugated diene hydroperoxide, but a small amount of hydrolyzed products. Anionic phospholipids, such as egg-phosphatidylglycerol (egg-PG), demonstrated higher resistance to air oxidation than the zwitterionic lecithin, but its oxidation was promoted by sonication.

PBxplore: a tool to analyze local protein structure and deformability with Protein Blocks

PubMed Central

Craveur, Pierrick; Joseph, Agnel Praveen; Jallu, Vincent

2017-01-01

This paper describes the development and application of a suite of tools, called PBxplore, to analyze the dynamics and deformability of protein structures using Protein Blocks (PBs). Proteins are highly dynamic macromolecules, and a classical way to analyze their inherent flexibility is to perform molecular dynamics simulations. The advantage of using small structural prototypes such as PBs is to give a good approximation of the local structure of the protein backbone. More importantly, by reducing the conformational complexity of protein structures, PBs allow analysis of local protein deformability which cannot be done with other methods and had been used efficiently in different applications. PBxplore is able to process large amounts of data such as those produced by molecular dynamics simulations. It produces frequencies, entropy and information logo outputs as text and graphics. PBxplore is available at https://github.com/pierrepo/PBxplore and is released under the open-source MIT license. PMID:29177113

Ozone production process in pulsed positive dielectric barrier discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ono, Ryo; Oda, Tetsuji

2007-01-01

The ozone production process in a pulsed positive dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is studied by measuring the spatial distribution of ozone density using a two-dimensional laser absorption method. DBD occurs in a 6 mm point-to-plane gap with a 1 mm-thick glass plate placed on the plane electrode. First, the propagation of DBD is observed using a short-gated ICCD camera. It is shown that DBD develops in three phases: primary streamer, secondary streamer and surface discharge phases. Next, the spatial distribution of ozone density is measured. It is shown that ozone is mostly produced in the secondary streamer and surface discharge, while only a small amount of ozone is produced in the primary streamer. The rate coefficient of the ozone production reaction, O + O2 + M → O3 + M, is estimated to be 2.5 × 10-34 cm6 s-1.

Heat produced by the dark-adapted bullfrog retina in response to light pulses.

PubMed

Tasaki, I; Nakaye, T

1986-08-01

By using a pyroelectric detector constructed with a polyvinylidene fluoride film, a rapid rise in the temperature of the dark-adapted bullfrog retina induced by light was demonstrated. In the bullfrog retina, as in the squid retina examined previously, the heat generated in response to a brief light pulse was found to be far greater than the amount produced by conversion of the entire radiant energy of the stimulus into heat. The thermal responses consist of the heat generated by the photoreceptor and the postsynaptic elements in the retina, preceded by a small signal reflecting conversion of a portion of the radiant energy of the stimulus into heat. The dependence of the thermal responses on the light intensity, on the wavelength and on a variety of physical and chemical agents was examined. The exothermic process underlying the production of heat by the photoreceptor was found to precede the electrophysiological response of the retina.

Disorganized Steroidogenesis in Adrenocortical Carcinoma, a Case Study.

PubMed

Uchida, Toyoyoshi; Nishimoto, Koshiro; Fukumura, Yuki; Asahina, Miki; Goto, Hiromasa; Kawano, Yui; Shimizu, Fumitaka; Tsujimura, Akira; Seki, Tsugio; Mukai, Kuniaki; Kabe, Yasuaki; Suematsu, Makoto; Gomez-Sanchez, Celso E; Yao, Takashi; Horie, Shigeo; Watada, Hirotaka

2017-03-01

Most adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) produce excessive amounts of steroid hormones including aldosterone, cortisol, and steroid precursors. However, aldosterone- and cortisol-producing cells in ACCs have not yet been immunohistochemically described. We present a case of ACC causing mild primary aldosteronism and subclinical Cushing's syndrome. Removal of the tumor cured both conditions. In order to examine the expression patterns of the steroidogenic enzymes responsible for adrenocortical hormone production, 10 tumor portions were immunohistochemically analyzed for aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2), 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1, cortisol-synthesizing enzyme), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD, upstream enzyme for both CYP11B2 and CYP11B1), and 17α-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (CYP17, upstream enzyme for CYP11B1, but not for CYP11B1). CYP11B2, CYP11B1, and 3βHSD were expressed sporadically, and their expression patterns varied significantly among the different tumor portions examined. The expression of these enzymes was random and not associated with each other. CYP17 was expressed throughout the tumor, even in CYP11B2-positive cells. Small tumor cell populations were aldosterone- or cortisol-producing cells, as judged by 3βHSD coinciding with either CYP11B2 or CYP11B1, respectively. These results suggest that the tumor produced limited amounts of aldosterone and cortisol due to the lack of the coordinated expression of steroidogenic enzymes, which led to mild clinical expression in this case. We delineated the expression patterns of steroidogenic enzymes in ACC. The coordinated expression of steroidogenic enzymes in normal and adenoma cells was disturbed in ACC cells, resulting in the inefficient production of steroid hormones in relation to the large tumor volume.

Variations in Stratospheric Inorganic Chlorine Between 1991 and 2006

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lary, D. J.; Waugh, D. W.; Douglass, A. R.; Stolarski, R. S.; Newman, P. A.; Mussa, H.

2007-01-01

So how quickly will the ozone hole recover? This depends on how quickly the chlorine content (Cl2) of the atmosphere will decline. The ozone hole forms over the Antarctic each southern spring (September and October). The extremely small ozone amounts in the ozone hole are there because of chemical reactions of ozone with chlorine. This chlorine originates largely from industrially produced chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compounds. An international agreement, the Montreal Protocol, is drastically reducing the amount of chlorine-containing compounds that we are releasing into the atmosphere. To be able to attribute changes in stratospheric ozone to changes in chlorine we need to know the distribution of atmospheric chlorine. However, due to a lack of continuous observations of all the key chlorine gases, producing a continuous time series of stratospheric chlorine has not been achieved to date. We have for the first time devised a technique to make a 17-year time series for stratospheric chlorine that uses the long time series of HCl observations made from several space borne instruments and a neural network. The neural networks allow us to both inter-calibrate the various HCl instruments and to infer the total amount of atmospheric chlorine from HCl. These new estimates of Cl, provide a much needed critical test for current global models that currently predict significant differences in both Cl(sub y) and ozone recovery. These models exhibit differences in their projection of the recovery time and our chlorine content time series will help separate the good from the bad in these projections.

Environmental impact evaluation of feeds prepared from food residues using life cycle assessment.

PubMed

Ogino, Akifumi; Hirooka, Hiroyuki; Ikeguchi, Atsuo; Tanaka, Yasuo; Waki, Miyoko; Yokoyama, Hiroshi; Kawashima, Tomoyuki

2007-01-01

There is increasing concern about feeds prepared from food residues (FFR) from an environmental viewpoint; however, various forms of energy are consumed in the production of FFR. Environmental impacts of three scenarios were therefore investigated and compared using life cycle assessment (LCA): production of liquid FFR by sterilization with heat (LQ), production of dehydrated FFR by dehydration (DH), and disposal of food residues by incineration (IC). The functional unit was defined as 1 kg dry matter of produced feed standardized to a fixed energy content. The system boundaries included collection of food residues and production of feed from food residues. In IC, food residues are incinerated as waste, and thus the impacts of production and transportation of commercial concentrate feeds equivalent to the FFR in the other scenarios are included in the analysis. Our results suggested that the average amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from LQ, DH, and IC were 268, 1073, and 1066 g of CO(2) equivalent, respectively. The amount of GHG emissions from LQ was remarkably small, indicating that LQ was effective for reducing the environmental impact of animal production. Although the average amount of GHG emissions from DH was nearly equal to that from IC, a large variation of GHG emissions was observed among the DH units. The energy consumption of the three scenarios followed a pattern similar to that of GHG emissions. The water consumption of the FFR-producing units was remarkably smaller than that of IC due to the large volumes of water consumed in forage crop production.

Nanoengineered Carbon-Based Materials For Reactive Adsorption of Toxic Industrial Compounds

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-01-13

in phenolic, sulfonic, thioethers and pyrrolic groups. 29. Addition of small amount of sulfanilic acid (grafting with acid) to silica-carbons...thioethers and pyrrolic groups. 29. Addition of small amount of sulfanilic acid (grafting with acid) to silica-carbons composites increases NO2

Intracellular activation of the fibrinolytic cascade in the Quebec Platelet Disorder.

PubMed

Sheth, Prameet M; Kahr, Walter H A; Haq, M Anwar; Veljkovic, Dragoslava Kika; Rivard, Georges E; Hayward, Catherine P M

2003-08-01

The Quebec Platelet Disorder (QPD) is an unusual bleeding disorder associated with increased platelet stores of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) and proteolysis of platelet alpha-granule proteins. The increased u-PA and proteolyzed plasminogen in QPD platelets led us to investigate possible contributions of intracellular plasmin generation to QPD alpha-granule proteolysis. ELISA indicated there were normal amounts of plasminogen and plasmin-alpha(2)-antiplasmin (PAP) complexes in QPD plasmas. Like normal platelets, QPD platelets contained only a small proportion of the blood plasminogen, however, they contained an increased amount of PAP complexes compared to normal platelets (P < 0.005). The quantities of plasminogen stored in platelets were important to induce QPD-like proteolysis of normal alpha-granule proteins by two chain u-PA (tcu-PA) in vitro. Moreover, adding supplemental plasminogen to QPD, but not to control, platelet lysates, triggered further alpha-granule protein proteolysis to forms that comigrated with plasmin degraded proteins. These data suggest the generation of increased but limiting amounts of plasmin within platelets is involved in producing the unique phenotypic changes to alpha-granule proteins in QPD platelets. The QPD is the only known bleeding disorder associated with chronic, intracellular activation of the fibrinolytic cascade.

Relationship between food waste, diet quality, and environmental sustainability

PubMed Central

Niles, Meredith T.; Neher, Deborah A.; Roy, Eric D.; Tichenor, Nicole E.; Jahns, Lisa

2018-01-01

Improving diet quality while simultaneously reducing environmental impact is a critical focus globally. Metrics linking diet quality and sustainability have typically focused on a limited suite of indicators, and have not included food waste. To address this important research gap, we examine the relationship between food waste, diet quality, nutrient waste, and multiple measures of sustainability: use of cropland, irrigation water, pesticides, and fertilizers. Data on food intake, food waste, and application rates of agricultural amendments were collected from diverse US government sources. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015. A biophysical simulation model was used to estimate the amount of cropland associated with wasted food. This analysis finds that US consumers wasted 422g of food per person daily, with 30 million acres of cropland used to produce this food every year. This accounts for 30% of daily calories available for consumption, one-quarter of daily food (by weight) available for consumption, and 7% of annual cropland acreage. Higher quality diets were associated with greater amounts of food waste and greater amounts of wasted irrigation water and pesticides, but less cropland waste. This is largely due to fruits and vegetables, which are health-promoting and require small amounts of cropland, but require substantial amounts of agricultural inputs. These results suggest that simultaneous efforts to improve diet quality and reduce food waste are necessary. Increasing consumers’ knowledge about how to prepare and store fruits and vegetables will be one of the practical solutions to reducing food waste. PMID:29668732

14 CFR 1274.103 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

.... Subcontracting dollar threshold. The dollar amount of the cooperative agreement subject to the small business subcontracting policies (includes small business, veteran-owned small business, service-disabled veteran-owned small business, historically underutilized small business, small disadvantaged business, women-owned...

Ensuring Resiliency of the Milk and Dairy Industry in California

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

cannot be zero. Also, the upper bound cannot exceed the capacity of raw milk that the milk producing cows can make in each county. Between the...the amount of milk producing cows in each county and multiplying by the daily average amount of raw milk produced. RawMilkProd = NumMilkProdCows...the total number of milk producing cows . 365 TotalMilkProdDailyAvgAmtMilkProdPerCow TotalMilkProdCows = × We get the number of milk producing cows

Gamma Interferon Production Is Critical for Protective Immunity to Infection with Blood-Stage Plasmodium berghei XAT but Neither NO Production nor NK Cell Activation Is Critical

PubMed Central

Yoneto, Toshihiko; Yoshimoto, Takayuki; Wang, Chrong-Reen; Takahama, Yasuhiro; Tsuji, Moriya; Waki, Seiji; Nariuchi, Hideo

1999-01-01

We have examined the roles of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), nitric oxide (NO), and natural killer (NK) cells in the host resistance to infection with the blood-stage malarial parasite Plasmodium berghei XAT, an irradiation-induced attenuated variant of the lethal strain P. berghei NK65. Although the infection with P. berghei XAT enhanced NK cell lytic activity of splenocytes, depletion of NK1.1+ cells caused by the treatment of mice with anti-NK1.1 antibody affected neither parasitemia nor IFN-γ production by their splenocytes. The P. berghei XAT infection induced a large amount of NO production by splenocytes during the first peak of parasitemia, while P. berghei NK65 infection induced a small amount. Unexpectedly, however, mice deficient in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS−/−) cleared P. berghei XAT after two peaks of parasitemia were observed, as occurred for wild-type control mice. Although the infected iNOS−/− mouse splenocytes did not produce a detectable level of NO, they produced an amount of IFN-γ comparable to that produced by wild-type control mouse splenocytes, and treatment of these mice with neutralizing anti-IFN-γ antibody led to the progression of parasitemia and fatal outcome. CD4−/− mice infected with P. berghei XAT could not clear the parasite, and all these mice died with apparently reduced IFN-γ production. Furthermore, treatment with carrageenan increased the susceptibility of mice to P. berghei XAT infection. These results suggest that neither NO production nor NK cell activation is critical for the resistance to P. berghei XAT infection and that IFN-γ plays an important role in the elimination of malarial parasites, possibly by the enhancement of phagocytic activity of macrophages. PMID:10225894

Determination of small amounts of molybdenum in tungsten and molybdenum ores

USGS Publications Warehouse

Grimaldi, F.S.; Wells, R.C.

1943-01-01

A rapid method has been developed for the determination of small amounts of molybdenum in tungsten and molybdenum ores. After removing iron and other major constituents the molybdenum thiocyanate color is developed in water-acetone solutions, using ammonium citrate to eliminate the interference of tungsten. Comparison is made by titrating a blank with a standard molybdenum solution. Aliquots are adjusted to deal with amounts of molybdenum ranging from 0.01 to 1.30 mg.

Excavation on the Moon: Regolith Collection for Oxygen Production and Outpost Site Preparation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caruso, John J.; Spina, Dan C.; Greer, Lawrence C.; John, Wentworth T.; Michele, Clem; Krasowski, Mike J.; Prokop, Norman F.

2008-01-01

The development of a robust regolith moving system for lunar and planetary processing and construction is critical to the NASA mission to the Moon and Mars. Oxygen production may require up to 200 metric tons of regolith collection per year; outpost site development may require several times this amount. This paper describes progress in the small vehicle implement development and small excavation system development. Cratos was developed as a platform for the ISRU project to evaluate the performance characteristics of a low center of gravity, small (0.75m x 0.75m x 0.3m), low-power, tracked vehicle performing excavation, load, haul, and dump operations required for lunar ISRU. It was tested on loose sand in a facility capable of producing level and inclined surfaces, and demonstrated the capability to pick up, carry, and dump sand, allowing it to accomplish the delivery of material to a site. Cratos has demonstrated the capability to pick up and deliver simulant to a bury an inflatable habitat, to supply an oxygen production plant, and to build a ramp.

Electron Bombardment Ion Thruster

NASA Image and Video Library

1970-08-21

Researchers at the Lewis Research Center had been studying different methods of electric rocket propulsion since the mid-1950s. Harold Kaufman created the first successful engine, the electron bombardment ion engine, in the early 1960s. Over the ensuing decades Lewis researchers continued to advance the original ion thruster concept. A Space Electric Rocket Test (SERT) spacecraft was launched in June 1964 to test Kaufman’s engine in space. SERT I had one cesium engine and one mercury engine. The suborbital flight was only 50 minutes in duration but proved that the ion engine could operate in space. This was followed in 1966 by the even more successful SERT II, which operated on and off for over ten years. Lewis continued studying increasingly more powerful ion thrusters. These electric engines created and accelerated small particles of propellant material to high exhaust velocities. Electric engines have a very small amount of thrust and are therefore not capable of lifting a spaceship from the surface of the Earth. Once lofted into orbit, however, electric engines are can produce small, continuous streams of thrust for several years.

Notable local floods of 1942-43, Floods of July 18, 1942 in north-central Pennsylvania, with a section on descriptive details of the storm and floods

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eisenlohr, William Stewart; Stewart, J.E.

1952-01-01

During the night of August 4-5, 1943, a violent thunderstorm of unusual intensity occurred in parts of Braxton, Calhoun, Gilmer, Ritchie, and Wirth Counties in the Little Kanawha River Basin in central West Virginia. Precipitation amounted to as much as 15 inches in 2 hours in some sections. As a result, many small streams and a reach of the Little Kanawha River in the vicinity of Burnsville and Gilmer reached the highest stages known. Computations based on special surveys made at suitable sites on representative small streams in the areas of intense flooding indicate that peak discharges closely approach 50 percent of the Jarvis scale. Twenty-three lives were lost on the small tributaries as numerous homes were swept away by the flood, which developed with incredible rapidity during the early morning hours. Damage estimated at $1,300,000 resulted to farm buildings, crops, land, livestock, railroads, highways, and gas- and oil-producing facilities. Considerable permanent land damage resulted from erosion and deposition of sand and gravel.

Charge movements and transverse tubular ultrastructure in organ cultured skeletal muscle.

PubMed

Cullen, M J; Hollingworth, S; Marshall, M W; Robson, E

1990-04-01

A study was made of charge movements and the transverse tubular systems in rat EDL and soleus muscle fibres maintained for up to five days in organ culture. In the cultured EDL muscle the maximum amount of charge moved was about one third of that in innervated muscle. Charge movements in innervated soleus fibres are small, less than 10 nC/microF, and difficult to resolve. They remain small following organ culturing. The ultrastructural study examined the concentration of junctional feet because of their proposed key role in excitation-contraction coupling. The general architecture of the triads and the spacing of the feet in both muscle types was largely unchanged by culturing. In cultured EDL muscles the small changes in feet concentration did not parallel the large fall in charge movement. The results reported here support a previous conclusion that, in mammalian muscle, there is not a simple relation between charge and feet. The stimulation of cultured soleus muscles with a fast twitch pattern of electrical activity produced no observable changes in morphology.

Measurement of surface water runoff from plots of two different sizes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joel, Abraham; Messing, Ingmar; Seguel, Oscar; Casanova, Manuel

2002-05-01

Intensities and amounts of water infiltration and runoff on sloping land are governed by the rainfall pattern and soil hydraulic conductivity, as well as by the microtopography and soil surface conditions. These components are closely interrelated and occur simultaneously, and their particular contribution may change during a rainfall event, or their effects may vary at different field scales. The scale effect on the process of infiltration/runoff was studied under natural field and rainfall conditions for two plot sizes: small plots of 0·25 m2 and large plots of 50 m2. The measurements were carried out in the central region of Chile in a piedmont most recently used as natural pastureland. Three blocks, each having one large plot and five small plots, were established. Cumulative rainfall and runoff quantities were sampled every 5 min. Significant variations in runoff responses to rainfall rates were found for the two plot sizes. On average, large plots yielded only 40% of runoff quantities produced on small plots per unit area. This difference between plot sizes was observed even during periods of continuous runoff.

Statistical Analysis Techniques for Small Sample Sizes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Navard, S. E.

1984-01-01

The small sample sizes problem which is encountered when dealing with analysis of space-flight data is examined. Because of such a amount of data available, careful analyses are essential to extract the maximum amount of information with acceptable accuracy. Statistical analysis of small samples is described. The background material necessary for understanding statistical hypothesis testing is outlined and the various tests which can be done on small samples are explained. Emphasis is on the underlying assumptions of each test and on considerations needed to choose the most appropriate test for a given type of analysis.

Survival and metabolic activity of the GanedenBC30 strain of Bacillus coagulans in a dynamic in vitro model of the stomach and small intestine.

PubMed

Maathuis, A J H; Keller, D; Farmer, S

2010-03-01

We have investigated the survival and activity of GanedenBC(30) during passage through the upper gastro-intestinal tract. GanedenBC(30) was tested in a dynamic, validated, in vitro model of the stomach and small intestine (TIM-1) on survival and its potential to aid in digestion of milk protein, lactose and fructose. The survival of GanedenBC(30) was high (70%), although germination of the spores was minimal (<10%) under the conditions tested. Survival of the strain in the presence of lactose and fructose was markedly lower (56-59%) than in the absence of the sugars. The amount of digested milk protein available for absorption was somewhat higher (+0.2 g) when GanedenBC(30) was added to the milk. When GanedenBC(30) was tested with lactose or fructose added to the meal, the cumulative amount of lactate produced was slightly higher (+0.12-0.18 mmol) compared to the GanedenBC(30) alone. In conclusion, although the differences in survival of GanedenBC(30) are small, these results show the potential of GanedenBC(30) to aid in protein digestion and in the digestion of lactose and fructose. If a larger fraction of the Bacillus coagulans cells had germinated, the influence on protein and carbohydrate digestion would probably have been much greater. Importance of the findings: the potential of GanedenBC(30) to aid in the digestion of lactose and fructose could be used to prevent occurrence of intestinal symptoms in individuals sensitive to these carbohydrates.

Health insurers' financial performance and quality improvement expenditures in the Affordable Care Act's second year.

PubMed

McCue, Michael J; Hall, Mark

2015-02-01

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurers to rebate any amounts less than 80%-85% of their premiums that they fail to spend on medical claims or quality improvement. This study uses the new comprehensive reporting under this law to examine changes in insurers' financial performance and differences in their quality improvement expenditures. In the ACA's second year (2012), insurers' median medical loss ratios continued to increase and their median administrative cost ratios dropped, producing moderate operating margins in the group markets but a small operating loss in the individual market, at the median. For-profit insurers showed larger changes, in general, than did nonprofits. For quality improvement, insurers reported spending a significantly greater amount per member in their government plans than they did on their self-insured members, with spending on commercial insurance being in between these two extremes. The magnitude and source of these differences varied by corporate ownership. © The Author(s) 2014.

The biochemical consequences of hypoxia.

PubMed Central

Alberti, K G

1977-01-01

The various phases of energy production have been described. These include glycolysis which is unique in its ability to produce ATP anaerobically, the tricarboxylic acid cycle with its major contribution to ATP production coming through the generation of NADH, and the cytochrome system at which reducing equivalents are converted to water, the released energy being incorporated into high-energy phosphates. The regulation of these pathways has been briefly described and the importance of the small amount of ATP generated anaerobically emphasized. The adaptation of muscle to periods of hypoxia through the presence of myoglobin, creatine phosphate and large amounts of glycogen is then discussed. The role of pH in limiting anaerobic glycolysis in muscle and the importance of the circulation in providing oxygen for exercising muscle are outlined. The effects of hypoxia on certain other tissues such as liver and brain have been detailed and finally methods for assessment of tissue hypoxia in man such as the measurement of the lactate:pyruvate ratio in blood are presented. PMID:198434

Softly-confined water cluster between freestanding graphene sheets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agustian, Rifan; Akaishi, Akira; Nakamura, Jun

2018-01-01

Confined water could adopt new forms not seen in the open air, such as a two-dimensional (2D) square ice trapped between two graphene sheets [Algara-Siller et al., Nature 519, 443-445 (2015)]. In this study, in order to investigate how the flexibility of graphene affects the confined structure of water molecules, we employed classical molecular dynamics simulations with Adaptive Intermolecular Reactive Empirical Bond Order (AIREBO) potential to produce a soft-confining property of graphene. We discovered various solid-like structures of water molecules ranging from two-dimensional to three-dimensional structure encapsulated between two freestanding graphene sheets even at room temperature (300K). A small amount of water encapsulation leads to a layered two-dimensional form with triangular structure. On the other hand, large amounts of water molecules take a three-dimensional flying-saucer-like form with the square ice intra-layer structure. There is also a metastable state where both two-dimensional and three-dimensional structures coexist.

The milk mucus belief: sensations associated with the belief and characteristics of believers.

PubMed

Arney, W K; Pinnock, C B

1993-02-01

The belief that milk produces mucus is widespread in the community and is associated with a significant reduction in milk consumption. Sensations associated with milk drinking were reported by otherwise healthy believers and non-believers in the milk-mucus effect (N = 169) in an unstructured interview, with further responses prompted about the duration, type and amount of milk causing the effect. The site predominantly affected was the throat, with sensations related to difficulty in swallowing and perceived thickness of mucus and salivary secretions, rather than excessive mucus production. The effect required only a small amount of milk and was reported to be of short duration. The chronic respiratory symptom history and dairy product intake of 130 of these subjects were also assessed. Milk-mucus believers were different from non-believers, reporting more respiratory symptoms and consuming less milk and dairy products. Symptoms consistent with the known effects of food allergy or intolerance were not reported.

Development of a novel microbial sensor with baker's yeast cells for monitoring temperature control during cold food chain.

PubMed

Kogure, H; Kawasaki, S; Nakajima, K; Sakai, N; Futase, K; Inatsu, Y; Bari, M L; Isshiki, K; Kawamoto, S

2005-01-01

A novel microbial sensor containing a commercial baker's yeast with a high freeze tolerance was developed for visibly detecting inappropriate temperature control of food. When the yeast cells fermented glucose, the resulting gas production triggered the microbial sensor. The biosensor was a simple, small bag containing a solution of yeast cells, yeast extract, glucose, and glycerol sealed up with multilayer transparent film with barriers against oxygen and humidity. Fine adjustment of gas productivity in the biosensor at low temperatures was achieved by changing either or both concentrations of glucose and yeast cells. Moreover, the amount of time that food was exposed to inappropriate temperatures could be deduced by the amount of gas produced in the biosensor. The biosensor was stable without any functional loss for up to 1 week in frozen storage. The biosensor could offer a useful tool for securing food safety by maintaining low-temperature control in every stage from farm to fork, including during transportation, in the store, and at home.

Activation of DNA Damage Repair Pathways by Murine Polyomavirus

PubMed Central

Heiser, Katie; Nicholas, Catherine; Garcea, Robert L.

2016-01-01

Nuclear replication of DNA viruses activates DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways, which are thought to detect and inhibit viral replication. However, many DNA viruses also depend on these pathways in order to optimally replicate their genomes. We investigated the relationship between murine polyomavirus (MuPyV) and components of DDR signaling pathways including CHK1, CHK2, H2AX, ATR, and DNAPK. We found that recruitment and retention of DDR proteins at viral replication centers was independent of H2AX, as well as the viral small and middle T-antigens. Additionally, infectious virus production required ATR kinase activity, but was independent of CHK1, CHK2, or DNAPK signaling. ATR inhibition did not reduce the total amount of viral DNA accumulated, but affected the amount of virus produced, indicating a defect in virus assembly. These results suggest that MuPyV may utilize a subset of DDR proteins or non-canonical DDR signaling pathways in order to efficiently replicate and assemble. PMID:27529739

Slow pyrolysis enhances the recovery and reuse of phosphorus and reduces metal leaching from biosolids.

PubMed

Roberts, David A; Cole, Andrew J; Whelan, Anna; de Nys, Rocky; Paul, Nicholas A

2017-06-01

In this study, biochar is produced from biosolids with and without alum at a range of temperatures and simulated oxidative aging of the biochars is conducted to quantify the long-term leaching of P and metals. While biosolids containing alum had negligible amounts of plant-available P, after pyrolysis >90% of the P became immediately available for plant growth. When biosolids with no alum were converted into biochar there was a small increase in the availability of P but a larger pool was available after oxidation. Both of the biosolids leached significant amounts of metals after oxidation. In contrast, the biochars had a very low available metal content and this did not increase with oxidation, demonstrating a stable metal content. Pyrolysis is an effective waste management strategy for biosolids that can simultaneously reduce the leaching of metals and increase the efficiency of recycling of P for beneficial re-use. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lime kiln dust as a potential raw material in portland cement manufacturing

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, M. Michael; Callaghan, Robert M.

2004-01-01

In the United States, the manufacture of portland cement involves burning in a rotary kiln a finely ground proportional mix of raw materials. The raw material mix provides the required chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron, and small amounts of other ingredients. The majority of calcium is supplied in the form of calcium carbonate usually from limestone. Other sources including waste materials or byproducts from other industries can be used to supply calcium (or lime, CaO), provided they have sufficiently high CaO content, have low magnesia content (less than 5 percent), and are competitive with limestone in terms of cost and adequacy of supply. In the United States, the lime industry produces large amounts of lime kiln dust (LKD), which is collected by dust control systems. This LKD may be a supplemental source of calcium for cement plants, if the lime and cement plants are located near enough to each other to make the arrangement economical.

A study of amplifying the response of an LR115 solid state track detector by combining it with electret.

PubMed

Nikezić, D; Krstić, D

1995-12-01

Radon progeny are positively charged immediately after formation. A negatively charged electret collects radon progeny atoms which are produced in the diffusion chamber. The detector sensitivity may be increased by using an electret in front of solid state nuclear track detector. Dependence of detection sensitivity on distance between electret and detector LR115 II is studied theoretically and experimentally in this paper. A relatively small fraction of 218Po atoms that formed in the diffusion chamber are collected by the electret. We estimated that the attracted fraction of 218Po was 17% while the attracted fraction of 214Bi-214Po is considerably larger and amounted to approximately 60%. These results confirm previous finding that 218Po atoms discharge quickly after their formation. The comparative radon measurements using diffusion chambers with and without electrets were performed. The amplification of detector sensitivity due to the electret amounted to approximately 80%.

The Chemistry of Population III Supernova Ejecta. II. The Nucleation of Molecular Clusters as a Diagnostic for Dust in the Early Universe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cherchneff, Isabelle; Dwek, Eli

2010-04-01

We study the formation of molecular precursors to dust in the ejecta of Population III supernovae (Pop. III SNe) using a chemical kinetic approach to follow the evolution of small dust cluster abundances from day 100 to day 1000 after explosion. Our work focuses on zero-metallicity 20 M sun and 170 M sun progenitors, and we consider fully macroscopically mixed and unmixed ejecta. The dust precursors comprise molecular chains, rings, and small clusters of chemical composition relevant to the initial elemental composition of the ejecta under study. The nucleation stage for small silica, metal oxides and sulfides, pure metal, and carbon clusters is described with a new chemical reaction network highly relevant to the kinetic description of dust formation in hot circumstellar environments. We consider the effect of the pressure dependence of critical nucleation rates and test the impact of microscopically mixed He+ on carbon dust formation. Two cases of metal depletion on silica clusters (full and no depletion) are considered to derive upper limits to the amounts of dust produced in SN ejecta at 1000 days, while the chemical composition of clusters gives a prescription for the type of dust formed in Pop. III SNe. We show that the cluster mass produced in the fully mixed ejecta of a 170 M sun progenitor is ~ 25 M sun whereas its 20 M sun counterpart forms ~ 0.16 M sun of clusters. The unmixed ejecta of a 170 M sun progenitor SN synthesize ~5.6 M sun of small clusters, while its 20 M sun counterpart produces ~0.103 M sun. Our results point to smaller amounts of dust formed in the ejecta of Pop. III SNe by a factor of ~ 5 compared to values derived by previous studies, and to different dust chemical compositions. Such deviations result from some erroneous assumptions made, the inappropriate use of classical nucleation theory to model dust formation, and the omission of the synthesis of molecules in SN ejecta. We also find that the unmixed ejecta of massive Pop. III SNe chiefly form silica and/or silicates, and pure silicon grains whereas their lower mass counterparts form a dust mixture dominated by silica and/or silicates, pure silicon, and iron sulfides. Amorphous carbon can only condense via the nucleation of carbon chains and rings characteristic of the synthesis of fullerenes when the ejecta carbon-rich zone is deprived of He+. The first dust enrichment to the primordial gas in the early universe from Pop. III massive SN comprises primarily pure silicon, silica, and silicates. If carbon dust is present at redshift z > 6, alternative dust sources must be considered.

Large-scale volcano-ground ice interactions on Mars

USGS Publications Warehouse

Squyres, S. W.; Wilhelms, D.E.; Moosman, A.C.

1987-01-01

The process of volcano-ground ice interaction on Mars is investigated by thermodynamic calculations and observations of Viking Orbiter images. We develop a numerical model of volcano-ground ice interaction that includes heat transport by conduction, radiation from the surface, heat transfer to the atmosphere, and H2O phase changes in an ice-rich permafrost. We consider eruption of lava flows over permafrost, and intrusion of sills into permafrost. For eruption of lava over permafrost, most of the heat in the flow is lost by radiation and atmospheric effects. The amount of H2O liquid and vapor produced is small, and its removal would not be sufficient to cause collapse that would lower the surface of the lava flow below the surrounding terrain. For intrusion of a sill, most of the heat in the sill eventually goes into H2O phase changes, producing much larger amounts of water that could have profound geomorphic and geochemical effects. Approximate meltwater discharge rates are calculated for both extrusive and intrusive interactions. We examine two large regions of large-scale volcano-ground ice interactions. Near Aeolis Mensae, intrusion of a complex of dikes and sills into ice-rich ground has produced substantial melting, with mobilization and flow of material. This interaction probably also produced large quantities of palagonite tuff and breccia. Morphologic evidence for progressive fluidization implies that meltwater was stored beneath the surface for some time, and that most of the release of water and volcanic mudflow took place late in the interaction. Northeast of Hellas, several large channels emanate from the area near the volcano Hadriaca Patera. If genetically related to the volcanic activity, large collapse features at the sources of some channels must have originated due to heat from large buried magma bodies. A channel emerging directly from the base of Hadriaca Patera may have originated from release of heat from thick extruded material. Other small channels in the region results from heat released from surface lava flows. Inferred channel discharges may be compared to discharge rates calculated for lava-ground ice interactions. Such comparisons show that meltwater probably accumulated beneath the surface and then was released rapidly, with a discharge rate limited by soil permeability. Volcano-ground ice interaction has been a widespread and important geologic process on Mars, and may be the primary source of palagonites making up the ubiquitous Martian dust. ?? 1987.

Intracellular calcium rise is not a necessary step for the stimulated actin polymerization

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

Yassin, R.

1986-03-01

Stimulation of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils by many chemotactic (formyl Methionyl-Leucyl-Phenylalanine (fMLP), Leukotriene B/sub 4/ (LTB/sub 4/)) and non-chemotactic (phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate (PMA), platelet activating factor (PAF), and the calcium ionophore A23187) factors produces rapid and dose dependent increases in the amount of actin associated with the cytoskeleton. The stimulated increase in cytoskeletal actin does not appear to require a rise in the intracellular concentration of free calcium. The increase in cytoskeletal actin produced by A23187 is transient and does not depend on the presence of calcium in the suspending medium. In the presence of extracellular calcium, the effect of themore » ionophore is biphasic with respect to concentration. The increases in actin association with cytoskeletal produced by fMLP, LTB/sub 4/, and A23187 but not by PMA, are inhibited by hyperosmolarity and pertussis toxin pretreatment. On the other hand, the addition of hyperosmolarity or pertussis toxin has small effect on the rise in the intracellular calcium produced by A23187. The results presented here suggest that an increase in the intracellular concentration of free calcium is not necessary for the stimulated increases in cytoskeletal actin.« less

Small Packages, Big Returns: Uncovering the Venom Diversity of Small Invertebrate Conoidean Snails.

PubMed

Gorson, J; Holford, M

2016-11-01

Venomous organisms used in research were historically chosen based on size and availability. This opportunity-driven strategy created a species bias in which snakes, scorpions, and spiders became the primary subjects of venom research. Increasing technological advancements have enabled interdisciplinary studies using genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics to expand venom investigation to animals that produce small amounts of venom or lack traditional venom producing organs. One group of non-traditional venomous organisms that have benefitted from the rise of -omic technologies is the Conoideans. The Conoidean superfamily of venomous marine snails includes, the Terebridae, Turridae (s.l), and Conidae. Conoidea venom is used for both predation and defense, and therefore under strong selection pressures. The need for conoidean venom peptides to be potent and specific to their molecular targets has made them important tools for investigating cellular physiology and bioactive compounds that are beneficial to improving human health. A convincing case for the potential of Conoidean venom is made with the first commercially available conoidean venom peptide drug Ziconotide (Prialt®), an analgesic derived from Conus magus venom that is used to treat chronic pain in HIV and cancer patients. Investigation of conoidean venom using -omics technology provides significant insights into predator-driven diversification in biodiversity and identifies novel compounds for manipulating cellular communication, especially as it pertains to disease and disorders. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

Heterogeneous distribution of water in the mantle transition zone beneath United States inferred from seismic observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Y.; Pavlis, G. L.; Li, M.

2017-12-01

The amount of water in the Earth's deep mantle is critical for the evolution of the solid Earth and the atmosphere. Mineral physics studies have revealed that Wadsleyite and Ringwoodite in the mantle transition zone could store several times the volume of water in the ocean. However, the water content and its distribution in the transition zone remain enigmatic due to lack of direct observations. Here we use seismic data from the full deployment of the Earthscope Transportable Array to produce 3D image of P to S scattering of the mantle transition zone beneath the United States. We compute the image volume from 141,080 pairs of high quality receiver functions defined by the Earthscope Automated Receiver Survey, reprocessed by the generalized iterative deconvolution method and imaged by the plane wave migration method. We find that the transition zone is filled with previously unrecognized small-scale heterogeneities that produce pervasive, negative polarity P to S conversions. Seismic synthetic modeling using a point source simulation method suggests two possible structures for these objects: 1) a set of randomly distributed blobs of slight difference in size, and 2) near vertical diapir structures from small scale convections. Combining with geodynamic simulations, we interpret the observation as compositional heterogeneity from small-scale, low-velocity bodies that are water enriched. Our results indicate there is a heterogeneous distribution of water through the entire mantle transition zone beneath the contiguous United States.

The effect of light and dark periods on the production of ethylene from water-stressed wheat leaves.

PubMed

Wright, S T

1981-10-01

Light was found to inhibit substantially (i.e. up to 88%) the production of ethylene induced by water stress in excised wheat leaves and from the shoots of intact plants. The relatively small amounts of ethylene emanating fron non-stressed leaves were also inhibited by light but to a smaller degree (i.e. up to 61%). In water-stressed leaves the degree of light inhibition of ethylene production was shown to be related to the age of the leaves; the amounts of ethylene diffusing from young leaves (i.e. 6-days old) was inhibited 52% by light whereas in older leaves (i.e. 9-days old) it was inhibited by 85%. Previous studies [Wright (1979) Planta 144, 179-188 and (1980) Planta 148, 381-388] had shown that application of 6-benzyladenine (BA) to leaves a day before wilting, greatly increases the amount of ethylene diffusing from the leaves following wilting (e.g. 8-fold), and to smaller degrees do applications of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA3). On the other hand abscisic acid (ABA) treatment reduces the amount of ethylene produced. In these earlier experiments the ethylene was collected from leaves held under dark or near-dark conditions, so in the present study the activities of these growth regulators (10(-4) mol l(-1) solutions) under dark and light conditions were compared. It was found that they maintained the same relative activities on ethylene emanation (i.e. BA>IAA>GA3>water controls>ABA) under both light and dark conditions. However, because of the inhibitory effect of light, the absolute amounts of ethylene produced from all treatments were always much higher in the dark than in the light (usually about a 6-fold difference). An interesting effect of light treatment on ethylene biosynthesis was found when water-stressed leaves were kept in dark chambers for 41/2 h and then transferred to light. Quite unexpectedly, instead of the rate of ethylene production falling immediately, it continued to be produced at the dark rate (i.e. no light inhibition!) for over 2 h before the rate began to decline, and for a much longer period (i.e. in excess of 41/2 h) if the leaves had previously been sprayed with BA. Predictably, leaves placed in the light (i.e. in leaf chambers) and then transferred to darkness, immediately or very soon produced ethylene at the dark rate. One explanation of these results, which is discussed, would be that the biosynthesis of an ethylene precursor requires an obligatory dark stage. The possible implications of these studies to a survival role of ethylene in plants during periods of water stress is discussed.

Metal accumulation potential of wild plants in tannery effluent contaminated soil of Kasur, Pakistan: field trials for toxic metal cleanup using Suaeda fruticosa.

PubMed

Firdaus-e Bareen; Tahira, Syeda Anjum

2011-02-15

The tannery effluent contaminated lands, adjacent to Depalpur Road, Kasur, Pakistan, have been rendered infertile due to long term effluent logging from the leather industry. The area has been colonized by twelve plant species among which Suaeda fruticosa, Salvadora oleoides and Calatropis procera have been found to be the most common and high biomass producing plants. S. fruticosa was subjected to further experimentation because of its high biomass and phytoextraction capabilities for metals. The pot and field experiments were carried out simultaneously. Pot experiments were conducted using the same field soil in column pots with stoppard bottoms to obtain the leachate. EDTA treatment caused a greater solubility of Cr in the soil pore water. In higher doses more amount of the heavy metal was leached. The increase in the amount of EDTA significantly caused a decrease in the biomass of plants without toxicity symptoms. A higher biomass of plants was observed in the field as compared to the pot experiment. The greatest amount of Na was accumulated by leaves of S. fruticosa followed by stem and roots. Similarly, the greatest amount of Cr was bioaccumulated by leaves of S. fruticosa, but followed by roots and then stem. S. fruticosa can be employed in rehabilitation of tannery effluent contaminated soil using small doses of EDTA. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The impact of regulatory compliance behavior on hazardous waste generation in European private healthcare facilities.

PubMed

Botelho, Anabela

2013-10-01

This study empirically evaluates whether the increasingly large numbers of private outpatient healthcare facilities (HCFs) within the European Union (EU) countries comply with the existing European waste legislation, and whether compliance with such legislation affects the fraction of healthcare waste (HCW) classified as hazardous. To that end, this study uses data collected by a large survey of more than 700 small private HCFs distributed throughout Portugal, a full member of the EU since 1986, where 50% of outpatient care is currently dominated by private operators. The collected data are then used to estimate a hurdle model, i.e. a statistical specification in which there are two processes: one is the process by which some HCFs generate zero or some positive fraction of hazardous HCW, and another is the process by which HCFs generate a specific positive fraction of hazardous HCW conditional on producing any. Taken together, the results show that although compliance with the law is far from ideal, it is the strongest factor influencing hazardous waste generation. In particular, it is found that higher compliance has a small and insignificant effect on the probability of generating (or reporting) positive amounts of hazardous waste, but it does have a large and significant effect on the fraction of hazardous waste produced, conditional on producing any, with a unit increase in the compliance rate leading to an estimated decrease in the fraction of hazardous HCW by 16.3 percentage points.

Anaerobic sequencing batch reactor in pilot scale for treatment of tofu industry wastewater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahayu, Suparni Setyowati; Purwanto, Budiyono

2015-12-01

The small industry of tofu production process releases the waste water without being processed first, and the wastewater is directly discharged into water. In this study, Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor in Pilot Scale for Treatment of Tofu Industry was developed through an anaerobic process to produce biogas as one kind of environmentally friendly renewable energy which can be developed into the countryside. The purpose of this study was to examine the fundamental characteristics of organic matter elimination of industrial wastewater with small tofu effective method and utilize anaerobic active sludge with Anaerobic Sequencing Bath Reactor (ASBR) to get rural biogas as an energy source. The first factor is the amount of the active sludge concentration which functions as the decomposers of organic matter and controlling selectivity allowance to degrade organic matter. The second factor is that HRT is the average period required substrate to react with the bacteria in the Anaerobic Sequencing Bath Reactor (ASBR).The results of processing the waste of tofu production industry using ASBR reactor with active sludge additions as starter generates cumulative volume of 5814.4 mL at HRT 5 days so that in this study it is obtained the conversion 0.16 L of CH4/g COD and produce biogas containing of CH4: 81.23% and CO2: 16.12%. The wastewater treatment of tofu production using ASBR reactor is able to produce renewable energy that has economic value as well as environmentally friendly by nature.

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

Rahayu, Suparni Setyowati, E-mail: suparnirahayu@yahoo.co.id; Department of Mechanical Engineering, State Polytechnic of Semarang, Semarang Indonesia; Purwanto,, E-mail: p.purwanto@che.undip.ac.id

The small industry of tofu production process releases the waste water without being processed first, and the wastewater is directly discharged into water. In this study, Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor in Pilot Scale for Treatment of Tofu Industry was developed through an anaerobic process to produce biogas as one kind of environmentally friendly renewable energy which can be developed into the countryside. The purpose of this study was to examine the fundamental characteristics of organic matter elimination of industrial wastewater with small tofu effective method and utilize anaerobic active sludge with Anaerobic Sequencing Bath Reactor (ASBR) to get rural biogasmore » as an energy source. The first factor is the amount of the active sludge concentration which functions as the decomposers of organic matter and controlling selectivity allowance to degrade organic matter. The second factor is that HRT is the average period required substrate to react with the bacteria in the Anaerobic Sequencing Bath Reactor (ASBR).The results of processing the waste of tofu production industry using ASBR reactor with active sludge additions as starter generates cumulative volume of 5814.4 mL at HRT 5 days so that in this study it is obtained the conversion 0.16 L of CH{sub 4}/g COD and produce biogas containing of CH{sub 4}: 81.23% and CO{sub 2}: 16.12%. The wastewater treatment of tofu production using ASBR reactor is able to produce renewable energy that has economic value as well as environmentally friendly by nature.« less

Overturning dogma: tolerance of insects to mixed-sterol diets is not universal.

PubMed

Behmer, Spencer T

2017-10-01

Insects cannot synthesize sterols de novo, but like all eukaryotes they use them as cell membrane inserts where they influence membrane fluidity and rigidity. They also use a small amount for metabolic purposes, most notably as essential precursors for steroid hormones. It has been a long-held view that most insects require a small amount of specific sterol (often cholesterol) for metabolic purposes, but for membrane purposes (where the bulk of sterols are used) specificity in sterol structure was less important. Under this model, it was assumed that insects could tolerate mixed-sterol diets as long as a small amount of cholesterol was available. In the current paper this dogma is overturned, using data from plant-feeding insects that were fed mixed-sterol diets with different amounts and ratios of dietary sterols. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

76 FR 64354 - Burden of Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act Fee Amounts on Small...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-18

... DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0529] Burden of Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act Fee Amounts on Small Business; Extension of Comment Period AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice; extension of comment...

Automating data analysis during the inspection of boiler tubes using line scanning thermography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ley, Obdulia; Momeni, Sepand; Ostroff, Jason; Godinez, Valery

2012-05-01

Failures in boiler waterwalls can occur when a relatively small amount of corrosion and loss of metal have been experienced. This study presents our efforts towards the application of Line Scanning Thermography (LST) for the analysis of thinning in boiler waterwall tubing. LST utilizes a line heat source to thermally excite the surface to be inspected and an infrared detector to record the transient surface temperature increase observed due to the presence of voids, thinning or other defects. In waterwall boiler tubes the defects that can be detected using LST correspond to corrosion pitting, hydrogen damage and wall thinning produced by inadequate burner heating or problems with the water chemistry. In this paper we discuss how the LST technique is implemented to determine thickness from the surface temperature data, and we describe our efforts towards developing a semiautomatic analysis tool to speed up the time between scanning, reporting and implementing repairs. We compare the density of data produced by the common techniques used to assess wall thickness and the data produced by LST.

H2-rich fluids from serpentinization: Geochemical and biotic implications

PubMed Central

Sleep, N. H.; Meibom, A.; Fridriksson, Th.; Coleman, R. G.; Bird, D. K.

2004-01-01

Metamorphic hydration and oxidation of ultramafic rocks produces serpentinites, composed of serpentine group minerals and varying amounts of brucite, magnetite, and/or FeNi alloys. These minerals buffer metamorphic fluids to extremely reducing conditions that are capable of producing hydrogen gas. Awaruite, FeNi3, forms early in this process when the serpentinite minerals are Fe-rich. Olivine with the current mantle Fe/Mg ratio was oxidized during serpentinization after the Moon-forming impact. This process formed some of the ferric iron in the Earth's mantle. For the rest of Earth's history, serpentinites covered only a small fraction of the Earth's surface but were an important prebiotic and biotic environment. Extant methanogens react H2 with CO2 to form methane. This is a likely habitable environment on large silicate planets. The catalytic properties of FeNi3 allow complex organic compounds to form within serpentinite and, when mixed with atmospherically produced complex organic matter and waters that circulated through basalts, constitutes an attractive prebiotic substrate. Conversely, inorganic catalysis of methane by FeNi3 competes with nascent and extant life. PMID:15326313

The disulfide-rich Metridia luciferase refolded from E. coli inclusion bodies reveals the properties of a native folded enzyme produced in insect cells.

PubMed

Markova, Svetlana V; Larionova, Marina D; Gorbunova, Darya A; Vysotski, Eugene S

2017-10-01

The bioluminescence of a marine copepod Metridia longa is determined by a small secreted coelenterazine-dependent luciferase that uses coelenterazine as a substrate of enzymatic reaction to generate light (λ max =480nm). To date, four different isoforms of the luciferase differing in size, sequences, and properties have been cloned by functional screening. All of them contain ten conserved Cys residues that suggests up to five SS intramolecular bonds per luciferase molecule. Whereas the use of copepod luciferases as bioluminescent reporters in biomedical research in vivo is growing from year to year, their application for in vitro assays is still limited by the difficulty in obtaining significant amounts of luciferase. The most cost-effective host for producing recombinant proteins is Escherichia coli. However, prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells maintain the reductive environment in cytoplasm that hinders the disulfide bond formation and consequently the proper folding of luciferase. Here we report the expression of the MLuc7 isoform of M. longa luciferase in E. coli cells and the efficient procedure for refolding from inclusion bodies yielding a high-active monomeric protein. Furthermore, in a set of identical experiments we demonstrate that bioluminescent and structural features of MLuc7 produced in bacterial cells are identical to those of MLuc7 isoform produced from culture medium of insect cells. Although the yield of high-purity protein is only 6mg/L, the application of E. coli cells to produce the luciferase is simpler and more cost-effective than the use of insect cells. We expect that the suggested technology of Metridia luciferase production allows obtaining of sufficient amounts of protein both for the development of novel in vitro analytical assays with the use of MLuc7 as a label and for structural studies. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

76 FR 63933 - Notice of Adjustment of Disaster Grant Amounts

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-14

... amount for Small Project Grants to State and local governments and private nonprofit facilities for... DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Notice of Adjustment of Disaster Grant Amounts AGENCY: Federal... grant amount made under section 422, Simplified Procedures, relating to the Public Assistance program...

Severe hypokalaemia with paralysis induced by small doses of liquorice.

PubMed Central

Cumming, A. M.; Boddy, K.; Brown, J. J.; Fraser, R.; Lever, A. F.; Padfield, P. L.; Robertson, J. I.

1980-01-01

A patient, who presented with a flaccid quadriplegia due to profound hypokalaemia, is described. Hypokalaemia and myoglobinuria were caused by the ingestion of small amounts of liquorice contained in a laxative preparation. Subsequent controlled administration of small amounts of this preparation induced marked hypokalaemia. This was associated with sodium retention and potassium loss confirming a mineralocorticoid-like action. The sodium retention was associated with suppression of plasma levels of renin and aldosterone. PMID:7443613

Establishment of powder dustiness evaluation method by dustmeter with small amount of pharmaceutical ingredients.

PubMed

Ohta, Tomoaki; Maeda, Hiroyuki; Kubota, Ryuji; Koga, Akiko; Terada, Katsuhide

2014-09-10

The ratio of high potent materials in the new chemical entities has recently increased in the pharmaceutical industry. Generally, most of them are highly hazardous, but there is little toxicity information about the active pharmaceutical ingredients in the early development period. Even if their handling amount is quite small, the dustiness of high potent powder generated in the manufacturing process has an important impact on worker health; thus, it is important to understand the powder dustiness. The purpose of this study was to establish a method to evaluate the powder dustiness by the consumption of small amount of samples. The optimized measurement conditions for a commercially available dustmeter were confirmed using lactose monohydrate and naproxen sodium. The optimized test conditions were determined: the dustmeter mode, the flow rate, the drum rotation speed, the total measurement time, and sample loaded weight were type I mode, 4 L/min, 10 rpm, 1 min and 1-10 g , respectively. The setup conditions of the dustmeter are considerably valuable to pharmaceutical industries, especially, at the early development stage and especially for expensive materials, because the amount of air-borne dust can be evaluated with accuracy by the consumption of small amount of samples. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In Situ Manufacturing is a Necessary Part of Any Planetary Architecture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edmunson, Jennifer E.; McLemore, Carole A.

2012-01-01

The key to any sustainable presence in space is the ability to manufacture necessary tools, parts, structures, spares, etc. in situ and on demand. Cost, volume, and up-mass constraints prohibit launching everything needed for long-duration or long-distance missions from Earth, including spare parts and replacement systems. There are many benefits to building items as-needed in situ using computer aided drafting (CAD) models and additive manufacturing technology: (1) Cost, up-mass, and volume savings for launch due to the ability to manufacture specific parts when needed. (2) CAD models can be generated on Earth and transmitted to the station or spacecraft, or they can be designed in situ for any task. Thus, multiple people in many locations can work on a single problem. (3) Items can be produced that will enhance the safety of crew and vehicles (e.g., latches or guards). (4) Items can be produced on-demand in a small amount of time (i.e., hours or days) compared to traditional manufacturing methods and, therefore, would not require the lengthy amount of time needed to machine the part from a solid block of material nor the wait time required if the part had to be launched from Earth. (5) Used and obsolete parts can be recycled into powder or wire feedstock for use in later manufacturing. (6) Ultimately, the ability to produce items as-needed will reduce mission risk, as one will have everything they need to fix a broken system or fashion a new part making it available on a more timely basis.

The role of Aspergillus flavus veA in the production of extracellular proteins during growth on starch substrates.

PubMed

Duran, Rocio M; Gregersen, Scott; Smith, Timothy D; Bhetariya, Preetida J; Cary, Jeffrey W; Harris-Coward, Pamela Y; Mattison, Christopher P; Grimm, Casey; Calvo, Ana M

2014-06-01

The aflatoxin-producer and opportunistic plant pathogenic, filamentous fungus Aspergillus flavus is responsible for the contamination of corn and other important agricultural commodities. In order to obtain nutrients from the host A. flavus produces a variety of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. Interestingly, A. flavus amylase and protease activity are dependent on the global regulator veA, a gene known to regulate morphogenesis and secondary metabolism in numerous fungi. Analysis of starch degradation by fungal enzymes secreted into broths of starch- or corn kernel-based media showed a notable accumulation of glucose in samples of the A. flavus control strain while the deletion veA sample accumulated high levels of maltose and maltotriose and only a small amount of glucose. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE and proteomics analysis of culture broths from starch- or corn kernel-based media demonstrated differential production of a number of proteins that included a reduction in the amount of a glucoamylase protein in the veA mutant compared to the control strain, while an alpha-amylase was produced in greater quantities in the veA mutant. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analyses using anti-glucoamylase or alpha-amylase antisera supported the proteomics results. Additionally, an overall reduction in protease activity was observed in the veA mutant including production of the alkaline protease, oryzin, compared to the control strain. These findings contribute to our knowledge of mechanisms controlling production of hydrolases and other extracellular proteins during growth of A. flavus on natural starch-based substrates.

The Introduction into Bacillus sphaericus of the Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. medellin cyt1Ab1 Gene Results in Higher Susceptibility of Resistant Mosquito Larva Populations to B. sphaericus

PubMed Central

Thiéry, I.; Hamon, S.; Delécluse, A.; Orduz, S.

1998-01-01

The fragment containing the gene encoding the cytolytic Cyt1Ab1 protein from Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. medellin and its flanking sequences (I. Thiery, A. Delécluse, M. C. Tamayo, and S. Orduz, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 63:468–473, 1997) was introduced into Bacillus sphaericus toxic strains 2362, 2297, and Iab872 by electroporation with the shuttle vector pMK3. Only small amounts of the protein were produced in recombinant strains 2362 and Iab872. The protein was detected in these strains only by Western blotting and immunodetection with antibody raised against Cyt1Ab1 protein. Large amounts of Cyt1Ab1 protein were produced in B. sphaericus recombinant strain 2297, and there was an additional crystal, other than that of the binary toxin, within the exosporium. The production of the Cyt1Ab1 protein in addition to the binary toxin did not increase the larvicidal activity of the B. sphaericus recombinant strain against susceptible mosquito populations of Culex pipiens or Aedes aegypti. However, it partially restored (10 to 20 times) susceptibility of the resistant mosquito populations of C. pipiens (SPHAE) and Culex quinquefasciatus (GeoR) to the binary toxin. The Cyt1Ab1 protein produced in recombinant B. thuringiensis SPL407(pcyt1Ab1) was synthesized in two types of crystal—one round and with various dense areas, surrounded by an envelope, and the other a regular cuboid crystal, very similar to that found in the B. sphaericus recombinant strain. PMID:9758818

Profile of small interfering RNAs from cotton plants infected with the polerovirus Cotton leafroll dwarf virus.

PubMed

Silva, Tatiane F; Romanel, Elisson A C; Andrade, Roberto R S; Farinelli, Laurent; Østerås, Magne; Deluen, Cécile; Corrêa, Régis L; Schrago, Carlos E G; Vaslin, Maite F S

2011-08-24

In response to infection, viral genomes are processed by Dicer-like (DCL) ribonuclease proteins into viral small RNAs (vsRNAs) of discrete sizes. vsRNAs are then used as guides for silencing the viral genome. The profile of vsRNAs produced during the infection process has been extensively studied for some groups of viruses. However, nothing is known about the vsRNAs produced during infections of members of the economically important family Luteoviridae, a group of phloem-restricted viruses. Here, we report the characterization of a population of vsRNAs from cotton plants infected with Cotton leafroll dwarf virus (CLRDV), a member of the genus Polerovirus, family Luteoviridae. Deep sequencing of small RNAs (sRNAs) from leaves of CLRDV-infected cotton plants revealed that the vsRNAs were 21- to 24-nucleotides (nt) long and that their sequences matched the viral genome, with higher frequencies of matches in the 3- region. There were equivalent amounts of sense and antisense vsRNAs, and the 22-nt class of small RNAs was predominant. During infection, cotton Dcl transcripts appeared to be up-regulated, while Dcl2 appeared to be down-regulated. This is the first report on the profile of sRNAs in a plant infected with a virus from the family Luteoviridae. Our sequence data strongly suggest that virus-derived double-stranded RNA functions as one of the main precursors of vsRNAs. Judging by the profiled size classes, all cotton DCLs might be working to silence the virus. The possible causes for the unexpectedly high accumulation of 22-nt vsRNAs are discussed. CLRDV is the causal agent of Cotton blue disease, which occurs worldwide. Our results are an important contribution for understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in this and related diseases.

Method for the enzymatic production of hydrogen

DOEpatents

Woodward, Jonathan; Mattingly, Susan M.

1999-01-01

The present invention is an enzymatic method for producing hydrogen comprising the steps of: a) forming a reaction mixture within a reaction vessel comprising a substrate capable of undergoing oxidation within a catabolic reaction, such as glucose, galactose, xylose, mannose, sucrose, lactose, cellulose, xylan and starch. The reaction mixture further comprises an amount of glucose dehydrogenase in an amount sufficient to catalyze the oxidation of the substrate, an amount of hydrogenase sufficient to catalyze an electron-requiring reaction wherein a stoichiometric yield of hydrogen is produced, an amount of pH buffer in an amount sufficient to provide an environment that allows the hydrogenase and the glucose dehydrogenase to retain sufficient activity for the production of hydrogen to occur and also comprising an amount of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate sufficient to transfer electrons from the catabolic reaction to the electron-requiring reaction; b) heating the reaction mixture at a temperature sufficient for glucose dehydrogenase and the hydrogenase to retain sufficient activity and sufficient for the production of hydrogen to occur, and heating for a period of time that continues until the hydrogen is no longer produced by the reaction mixture, wherein the catabolic reaction and the electron-requiring reactions have rates of reaction dependent upon the temperature; and c) detecting the hydrogen produced from the reaction mixture.

Method for the enzymatic production of hydrogen

DOEpatents

Woodward, J.; Mattingly, S.M.

1999-08-24

The present invention is an enzymatic method for producing hydrogen comprising the steps of: (a) forming a reaction mixture within a reaction vessel comprising a substrate capable of undergoing oxidation within a catabolic reaction, such as glucose, galactose, xylose, mannose, sucrose, lactose, cellulose, xylan and starch; the reaction mixture also comprising an amount of glucose dehydrogenase in an amount sufficient to catalyze the oxidation of the substrate, an amount of hydrogenase sufficient to catalyze an electron-requiring reaction wherein a stoichiometric yield of hydrogen is produced, an amount of pH buffer in an amount sufficient to provide an environment that allows the hydrogenase and the glucose dehydrogenase to retain sufficient activity for the production of hydrogen to occur and also comprising an amount of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate sufficient to transfer electrons from the catabolic reaction to the electron-requiring reaction; (b) heating the reaction mixture at a temperature sufficient for glucose dehydrogenase and the hydrogenase to retain sufficient activity and sufficient for the production of hydrogen to occur, and heating for a period of time that continues until the hydrogen is no longer produced by the reaction mixture, wherein the catabolic reaction and the electron-requiring reactions have rates of reaction dependent upon the temperature; and (c) detecting the hydrogen produced from the reaction mixture. 8 figs.

The Implementation of Satellite Attitude Control System Software Using Object Oriented Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reid, W. Mark; Hansell, William; Phillips, Tom; Anderson, Mark O.; Drury, Derek

1998-01-01

NASA established the Small Explorer (SNMX) program in 1988 to provide frequent opportunities for highly focused and relatively inexpensive space science missions. The SMEX program has produced five satellites, three of which have been successfully launched. The remaining two spacecraft are scheduled for launch within the coming year. NASA has recently developed a prototype for the next generation Small Explorer spacecraft (SMEX-Lite). This paper describes the object-oriented design (OOD) of the SMEX-Lite Attitude Control System (ACS) software. The SMEX-Lite ACS is three-axis controlled and is capable of performing sub-arc-minute pointing. This paper first describes high level requirements governing the SMEX-Lite ACS software architecture. Next, the context in which the software resides is explained. The paper describes the principles of encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism with respect to the implementation of an ACS software system. This paper will also discuss the design of several ACS software components. Specifically, object-oriented designs are presented for sensor data processing, attitude determination, attitude control, and failure detection. Finally, this paper will address the establishment of the ACS Foundation Class (AFC) Library. The AFC is a large software repository, requiring a minimal amount of code modifications to produce ACS software for future projects.

An experimental investigation of two large annular diffusers with swirling and distorted inflow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Eckert, W. T.; Johnston, J. P.; Simons, T. D.; Mort, K. W.; Page, V. R.

1980-01-01

Two annular diffusers downstream of a nacelle-mounted fan were tested for aerodynamic performance, measured in terms of two static pressure recovery parameters (one near the diffuser exit plane and one about three diameters downstream in the settling duct) in the presence of several inflow conditions. The two diffusers each had an inlet diameter of 1.84 m, an area ratio of 2.3, and an equivalent cone angle of 11.5, but were distinguished by centerbodies of different lengths. The dependence of diffuser performance on various combinations of swirling, radially distorted, and/or azimuthally distorted inflow was examined. Swirling flow and distortions in the axial velocity profile in the annulus upstream of the diffuser inlet were caused by the intrinsic flow patterns downstream of a fan in a duct and by artificial intensification of the distortions. Azimuthal distortions or defects were generated by the addition of four artificial devices (screens and fences). Pressure recovery data indicated beneficial effects of both radial distortion (for a limited range of distortion levels) and inflow swirl. Small amounts of azimuthal distortion created by the artificial devices produced only small effects on diffuser performance. A large artificial distortion device was required to produce enough azimuthal flow distortion to significantly degrade the diffuser static pressure recovery.

Experimental study of the use of refrigeration systems as cooling and heating systems in the production process of the VCO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulawarman, AANB; Arsana, M. E.; Temaja, I. W.; Sukadana, IBP

2018-01-01

Coconut oil extracted from the coconut milk obtained from fresh coconuts s often called virgin coconut oil (VCO). VCO is beneficial to health as an anti-oxidant and can lower HDL cholesterol in the blood while increasing blood LDL levels. In Indonesia most of VCO being produced on a small scale of home industries. Its production capacity still needs to be increased by improving production processes and implementing an appropriate technology accordingly. This research aims to conduct a study on making small-scale production machinery needed to produce VCO with reduced production time and improved quality of VCO in accordance with ISO 7381 quality criteria. The experimental results of the VCO machine has been develop and tested show good Coefficient of Performance of the system in amount of 3.93 and 2.8 for heating and cooling system respectively. Temperature of the VCO cooling chamber can be maintained in the range of 8°C to 10°C, as well as for heating, the reactor temperature can be maintained from 39°C to 42°C. The expected goal of this research developing a prototype of VCO production machine was done with ability to provide more efficient production process able to increase volume of VCO result by 23%.

An evaluation of tyramide signal amplification and archived fixed and frozen tissue in microarray gene expression analysis

PubMed Central

Karsten, Stanislav L.; Van Deerlin, Vivianna M. D.; Sabatti, Chiara; Gill, Lisa H.; Geschwind, Daniel H.

2002-01-01

Archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded and ethanol-fixed tissues represent a potentially invaluable resource for gene expression analysis, as they are the most widely available material for studies of human disease. Little data are available evaluating whether RNA obtained from fixed (archival) tissues could produce reliable and reproducible microarray expression data. Here we compare the use of RNA isolated from human archival tissues fixed in ethanol and formalin to frozen tissue in cDNA microarray experiments. Since an additional factor that can limit the utility of archival tissue is the often small quantities available, we also evaluate the use of the tyramide signal amplification method (TSA), which allows the use of small amounts of RNA. Detailed analysis indicates that TSA provides a consistent and reproducible signal amplification method for cDNA microarray analysis, across both arrays and the genes tested. Analysis of this method also highlights the importance of performing non-linear channel normalization and dye switching. Furthermore, archived, fixed specimens can perform well, but not surprisingly, produce more variable results than frozen tissues. Consistent results are more easily obtainable using ethanol-fixed tissues, whereas formalin-fixed tissue does not typically provide a useful substrate for cDNA synthesis and labeling. PMID:11788730

Critical assessment of the performance of electronic moisture analyzers for small amounts of environmental samples and biological reference materials.

PubMed

Krachler, M

2001-12-01

Two electronic moisture analyzers were critically evaluated with regard to their suitability for determining moisture in small amounts (< or = 200 mg) of various environmental matrices such as leaves, needles, soil, peat, sediments, and sewage sludge, as well as various biological reference materials. To this end, several homogeneous bulk materials were prepared which were subsequently employed for the development and optimization of all analytical procedures. The key features of the moisture analyzers included a halogen or ceramic heater and an integrated balance with a resolution of 0.1 mg, which is an essential prerequisite for obtaining precise results. Oven drying of the bulk materials in a conventional oven at 105 degrees C until constant mass served as reference method. A heating temperature of 65degrees C was found to provide accurate and precise results for almost all matrices investigated. To further improve the accuracy and precision, other critical parameters such as handling of sample pans, standby temperature, and measurement delay were optimized. Because of its ponderous heating behavior, the performance of the ceramic radiator was inferior to that of the halogen heater, which produced moisture results comparable to those obtained by oven drying. The developed drying procedures were successfully applied to the fast moisture analysis (1.4-6.3 min) of certified biological reference materials of similar provenance to the investigated the bulk materials. Moisture results for 200 mg aliquots ranged from 1.4 to 7.8% and good agreement was obtained between the recommended drying procedure for the reference materials and the electronic moisture analyzers with absolute uncertainties amounting to 0.1% and 0.2-0.3%, respectively.

A comparison of shoreline seines with fyke nets for sampling littoral fish communities in floodplain lakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Clark, S.J.; Jackson, J.R.; Lochmann, S.E.

2007-01-01

We compared shoreline seines with fyke nets in terms of their ability to sample fish species in the littoral zone of 22 floodplain lakes of the White River, Arkansas. Lakes ranged in size from less than 0.5 to 51.0 ha. Most contained large amounts of coarse woody debris within the littoral zone, thus making seining in shallow areas difficult. We sampled large lakes (>2 ha) using three fyke nets; small lakes (<2 ha) were sampled using two fyke nets. Fyke nets were set for 24 h. Large lakes were sampled with an average of 11 seine hauls/ lake and small lakes were sampled with an average of 3 seine hauls/lake, but exact shoreline seining effort varied among lakes depending on the amount of open shoreline. Fyke nets collected more fish and produced greater species richness and diversity measures than did seining. Species evenness was similar for the two gear types. Two species were unique to seine samples, whereas 13 species and 3 families were unique to fyke-net samples. Although fyke nets collected more fish and more species than did shoreline seines, neither gear collected all the species present in the littoral zone of floodplain lakes. These results confirm the need for a multiple-gear approach to fully characterize the littoral fish assemblages in floodplain lakes. ?? Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 2007.

Bauxite and alumina

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bray, E.L.

2012-01-01

The United States is import-reliant for nearly all of the bauxite that it consumes. Small amounts of bauxite and bauxitic clays are produced in Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia for nonmetallurgical uses. Metallurgical-grade bauxite (crude dry) imports in 2011 totaled 9.54 Mt (10.5 million st), 18 percent more than the quantity imported in 2010. Jamaica (54 percent). Guinea (25 percent) and Brazil (18 percent) were the leading suppliers to the United States in 2011. In 2011,117 kt (129,000 st) of refractory-grade calcined bauxite was imported, a 69-percent decrease compared with imports in 2010. This decrease was partly attributed to an increase in net imports of refractory products such as bricks and crucibles, which were 39 percent higher than in the prior year. Imports of refractory-grade calcined bauxite from Brazil declined by 99 percent and by 75 percent from Greece. Restrictions on exports of raw materials from China also might have contributed a small amount to the decrease in imports. Imports from China declined by 45 percent. Guyana (42 percent), China (35 percent) and Greece (22 percent) were the leading sources of U.S. refractory-grade calcined bauxite imports. Imports of nonrefractory-grade calcined bauxite in 2011 totaled 236 kt (260,000 st), 23 percent less than the quantity imported in 2010. Guyana (51 percent), Australia (37 percent) and China (7 percent) were the leading sources

Solar energy conversion through biophotolysis. Third annual report, 1 April 1978-31 March 1979

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

Benemann, J.R.; Murry, M.A.; Hallenbeck, P.C.

This report covers the progress during the third year of this project. The state-of-the-art of biophotolysis was reviewed and a bioengineering analysis carried out. The conclusions were that practical biophotolysis systems are feasible; however, they will require, in most cases, relatively long-term R and D. The biophotolysis system developed under this project, utilizing heterocystous blue-green algae, was demonstrated both indoors and outdoors with a model converter system using the heterocystous blue-grees alga Anabaena cylindrica. Maximal light energy conversion efficiencies were 2.5% indoors and about 0.2% outdoors, averaged for periods of about two weeks. Achievement of such rates required optimization ofmore » N/sub 2/ supply and culture density. A small amount of N/sub 2/ in the argon gas phase used to sparge the cultures was beneficial to the stability of a long-term hydrogen-production activity. A relatively small amount of the hydrogen produced by these cultures can be ascribed to the activity of the reversible hydrogenase which was studied by nitrogenase inactivation through poisoning with tungstate. The regulation of nitrogenase activity in these algae was studied through physiological and immunochemical methods. In particular, the oxygen protection mechanism was examined. Thermophilic blue-green algae have potential for biophotolysis; hydrogen production was studied in the laboratory. Preliminary experiments on the photofermentation of organic substrates to hydrogen was studied with photosynthetic bacteria.« less

Solar energy conversion through biophotolysis. Third annual report, April 1, 1978-March 31, 1979

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

Benemann, J.R.; Murry, M.A.; Hallenbeck, P.C.

This report covers the progress during the third year of this project. The state-of-the-art of biophotolysis was reviewed and a bioengineering analysis carried out. The conclusions were that practical biophotolysis systems are feasible; however, they will require, in most cases, relatively long-term R and D. The biophotolysis system developed under this project, utilizing heterocystous blue-green algae, was demonstrated both indoors and outdoors with a model converter system using the heterocystous blue-green alga Anabaena cylindrica. Maximal light energy conversion efficiencies were 2.5% indoors and about 0.2% outdoors, averaged for periods of about two weeks. Achievement of such rates required optimization ofmore » N/sub 2/ supply and culture density. A small amount of N/sub 2/ in the argon gas phase used to sparge the cultures was beneficial to the stability of a long-term hydrogen-production activity. A relatively small amount of the hydrogen produced by these cultures can be ascribed to the activity of the reversible hydrogenase which was studied by nitrogenase inactivation through poisoning with tungstate. The regulation of nitrogenase activity in these algae was studied through physiological and immunochemical methods. In particular, the oxygen protection mechanism was examined. Thermophilic blue-green algae have potential for biophotolysis; hydrogen production was studied in the laboratory. Preliminary experiments on the photofermentation of organic substrates to hydrogen was studied with photosynthetic bacteria.« less

Plastic waste to liquid oil through catalytic pyrolysis using natural and synthetic zeolite catalysts.

PubMed

Miandad, R; Barakat, M A; Rehan, M; Aburiazaiza, A S; Ismail, I M I; Nizami, A S

2017-11-01

This study aims to examine the catalytic pyrolysis of various plastic wastes in the presence of natural and synthetic zeolite catalysts. A small pilot scale reactor was commissioned to carry out the catalytic pyrolysis of polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and their mixtures in different ratios at 450°C and 75min. PS plastic waste resulted in the highest liquid oil yield of 54% using natural zeolite and 50% using synthetic zeolite catalysts. Mixing of PS with other plastic wastes lowered the liquid oil yield whereas all mixtures of PP and PE resulted in higher liquid oil yield than the individual plastic feedstocks using both catalysts. The GC-MS analysis revealed that the pyrolysis liquid oils from all samples mainly consisted of aromatic hydrocarbons with a few aliphatic hydrocarbon compounds. The types and amounts of different compounds present in liquid oils vary with some common compounds such as styrene, ethylbenzene, benzene, azulene, naphthalene, and toluene. The FT-IR data also confirmed that liquid oil contained mostly aromatic compounds with some alkanes, alkenes and small amounts of phenol group. The produced liquid oils have high heating values (HHV) of 40.2-45MJ/kg, which are similar to conventional diesel. The liquid oil has potential to be used as an alternative source of energy or fuel production. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Passive inhalation of cocaine.

PubMed

Cone, E J; Yousefnejad, D; Hillsgrove, M J; Holicky, B; Darwin, W D

1995-10-01

Six healthy male volunteers were exposed to the vapor of 100 and 200 mg freebase cocaine heated to a temperature of 200 degrees C in an unventilated room (12,600-L volume) for a period of 1 h. No pharmacological effects were detected as a result of the exposure. Blood specimens collected immediately following exposure were negative for cocaine and metabolites. Urine specimens analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry contained peak concentrations of benzoylecgonine that ranged from 22 to 123 ng/mL. The peak excretion time for benzoylecgonine following passive exposure was approximately 5 h. The amount of cocaine inhaled by the subjects during passive exposure was estimated from room air measurements of cocaine to be approximately 0.25 mg. The total amount of cocaine (cocaine plus metabolites) excreted in urine by the six subjects ranged from 0.04 to 0.21 mg. For comparison, the six subjects also received an intravenous injection of 1 mg cocaine hydrochloride. Four of six subjects screened positive (300-ng/mL cutoff concentration) following the injection, indicating that the minimum amount of cocaine in these subjects necessary to produce positive results was approximately 1 mg. A second passive inhalation study was undertaken in which specimens were collected from research staff who assisted in a series of experimental studies with "crack" (freebase cocaine) smokers. The research staff remained in close vicinity while the crack smokers smoked three doses of freebase cocaine (12.5, 25, and 50 mg) over a period of 4 h. As a result, staff members were passively exposed to sidestream smoke from crack pipes and to breath exhalation from the crack smokers. Urine specimens from the staff members contained a maximum of 6 ng/mL benzoylecgonine. Only traces (less than 1 ng/mL) of cocaine were detected in any specimen. Overall, these studies demonstrated that individuals exposed to cocaine smoke under naturalistic or artificial conditions absorbed small amounts of cocaine that were insufficient to produce positive urine specimens at standard Department of Health and Human Services cutoffs. However, passive exposure conditions that would result in absorption of cocaine in amounts exceeding 1 mg could result in the production of cocaine-positive urine specimens.

Nutritional levels of diets fed to captive Amazon parrots: does mixing seed, produce, and pellets provide a healthy diet?

PubMed

Brightsmith, Donald J

2012-09-01

Poor nutrition is a serious problem in captive psittacine birds. Seed-based diets are known to contain excess fat, low calcium:phosphorus ratios, and other nutrient deficiencies, whereas many consider nutritionally superior, formulated diets to be monotonous. As a result, many bird owners feed a mixture of seed, produce, and formulated diet. However, the nutritional contents of such mixed diets have rarely been evaluated. In this study, we describe the nutrient contents of diets consumed by 7 adult (>6 years old), captive Amazon parrots offered produce (50% fresh weight), formulated diet (25%), and seed (25%). Diets consumed were deficient in calcium, sodium, and iron and contained more than the recommended amount of fat. In addition, the birds chose foods that exacerbated these imbalances. Birds offered low-seed diets (60% pellet, 22% produce, 18% seed, wet weight) consumed diets with more fat than recommended but acceptable levels of calcium and all other nutrients measured, as well as acceptable calcium:phosphorus ratios. This suggests that small quantities of seeds may not result in nutritionally imbalanced diets. Birds fed 75% formulated diet and 25% produce consumed diets within the recommendations for nearly all measured nutrients, demonstrating that owners of psittacine birds should be encouraged to supplement manufactured diets with low energy-density, fresh produce items to provide stimulation and foraging opportunities without fear of causing major nutritional imbalances.

Process for reproducibly preparing titanium subhydride

DOEpatents

Carlson, Richard S.

1982-01-01

Titanium subhydride is produced in a reactor by heating a selected amount of finely divided titanium compound at a selected temperature for a selected period of time under dynamic vacuum conditions. Hydrogen is removed substantially uniformly from each powder grain and there is produced a subhydride of substantially uniform titanium-hydrogen composition. Selection of the amount, temperature and time produces a subhydride of selected titanium-hydrogen composition.

Incorporation of Differential Global Positioning System Measurements Using an Extended Kalman Filter for Improved Reference System Performance

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-01

Kalman filtering. As GPS usage expands throughout the military and civilian communities, I hope this thesis provides a small contribution in this area...of the measurement’equation. In this thesis, some of the INS states not part of a measurement equation need a small amount of added noise to...estimating the state, but the variance often goes negative. A small amount of added noise in the filter keeps the variance of the state positive and does not

Smoke Invigoration Versus Inhibition of Clouds over the Amazon

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koren, Ilan; Martins, J. Vanderlei; Lorraine, A. Remer; Afargan, Hila

2008-01-01

The effect of anthropogenic aerosols on clouds is one of the most important and least understood aspects of human-induced climate change. Small changes in the amount of cloud coverage can produce a climate forcing equivalent in magnitude and opposite in sign to that caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gases, and changes in cloud height can shift the effect of clouds from cooling to warming. Focusing on the Amazon, we show a smooth transition between two opposing effects of aerosols on clouds: the microphysical and the radiative. We show how a feedback between the optical properties of aerosols and the cloud fraction can modify the aerosol forcing, changing the total radiative energy and redistributing it over the atmospheric column.

Investigation of Plutonium and Uranium Precipitation Behavior with Gadolinium as a Neutron Poison

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

Visser, A.E.

2003-07-07

The neutralization of solutions containing significant quantities of fissile material at the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site and the subsequent transfer of the slurry to the High Level Waste (HLW) system is accomplished with the addition of a neutron poison to ensure nuclear safety. Gd, depleted U, Fe, and Mn have been used as poisons in the caustic precipitation of process solutions prior to discarding to HLW. However, the use of Gd is preferred since only small amounts of Gd are necessary for effective criticality control, smaller volumes of metal hydroxides are produced, and the volume of HLW glassmore » resulting from this process is minimized.« less

Ablative Laser Propulsion Using Multi-Layered Material Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nehls, Mary; Edwards, David; Gray, Perry; Schneider, T.

2002-01-01

Experimental investigations are ongoing to study the force imparted to materials when subjected to laser ablation. When a laser pulse of sufficient energy density impacts a material, a small amount of the material is ablated. A torsion balance is used to measure the momentum produced by the ablation process. The balance consists of a thin metal wire with a rotating pendulum suspended in the middle. The wire is fixed at both ends. Recently, multi-layered material systems were investigated. These multi-layered materials were composed of a transparent front surface and opaque sub surface. The laser pulse penetrates the transparent outer surface with minimum photon loss and vaporizes the underlying opaque layer.

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

Perona, Ralph; Whicker, Jeffrey Jay; Mirenda, Richard J.

This report documents the calculation of Authorized Limits for radionuclides in soil to be used in the transfer of property by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The Authorized Limits support the evaluation process to clear land for release under different uses even though the soil contains small residual amounts of radioactivity. The Authorized Limits are developed for four exposure scenarios: residential, commercial/industrial, construction worker, and recreational. Exposure to radionuclides in soil under these scenarios is assessed for exposure routes that include incidental ingestion of soil; inhalation of soil particulates; ingestion of homegrown produce (residential only); and external irradiation frommore » soil. Inhalation and dermal absorption of tritiated water vapor in air are also assessed.« less

Effect of Dissolved Oxygen on the Filterability of Jet Fuels for Temperatures Between 300 Degrees and 400 Degrees F

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mckeown, Anderson B; Hibbard, Robert R

1955-01-01

The effect of dissolved oxygen in the filter-clogging characteristics of three JP-4 and two JP-5 fuels was studied at 300 degrees to 400 degrees F in a bench- scale rig, employing filter paper as the filter medium. The residence time of the fuel at the high temperature was approximately 6 seconds. For these conditions, the clogging characteristics of the fuels increased with both increasing temperature and increasing concentration of dissolved oxygen. The amount of insoluble material formed at high temperatures necessary to produce clogging of filters was very small, of the order of 1 milligram per gallon of fuel.

Effects of phosphoric acid on the lead-acid battery reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikeda, Osamu; Iwakura, Chiaki; Yoneyama, Hiroshi; Tamura, Hideo

1986-10-01

The addition of a small amount of phosphoric acid to 5 M H2SO4 (commercial electrolyte of lead-acid batteries) results in various positive effects on the lead-acid battery reactions: (1) depression of the corrosion rate of the lead substrate through a preferential formation of alpha-PbO2 on the substrate surface; (2) retardation of hard sulfate formation or of deactivation of active materials; and (3) change in the crystal morphology of PbSO2 formed on the discharge of PbO2. Most of these effects results from chemisorption of phosphoric acid on PbSO4 crystals produced in the discharge process of PbO2.

WHO influenza vaccine technology transfer initiative: role and activities of the Technical Advisory Group.

PubMed

Francis, Donald P; Grohmann, Gary

2011-07-01

In May 2006, the WHO published a Global Pandemic Influenza Action Plan. A significant part of that plan involves the transfer of technology necessary to build production capacity in developing countries. The WHO influenza technology transfer initiative has been successful. Clearly the relatively small WHO investments made in these companies to develop their own influenza vaccine production facilities have had quite dramatic results. A few companies are already producing large amounts of influenza vaccine. Others will soon follow. Whether they are developing egg-based or planning non-egg based influenza vaccine production, all companies are optimistic that their efforts will come to fruition. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Computational overlay metrology with adaptive data analytics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitt-Weaver, Emil; Subramony, Venky; Ullah, Zakir; Matsunobu, Masazumi; Somasundaram, Ravin; Thomas, Joel; Zhang, Linmiao; Thul, Klaus; Bhattacharyya, Kaustuve; Goossens, Ronald; Lambregts, Cees; Tel, Wim; de Ruiter, Chris

2017-03-01

With photolithography as the fundamental patterning step in the modern nanofabrication process, every wafer within a semiconductor fab will pass through a lithographic apparatus multiple times. With more than 20,000 sensors producing more than 700GB of data per day across multiple subsystems, the combination of a light source and lithographic apparatus provide a massive amount of information for data analytics. This paper outlines how data analysis tools and techniques that extend insight into data that traditionally had been considered unmanageably large, known as adaptive analytics, can be used to show how data collected before the wafer is exposed can be used to detect small process dependent wafer-towafer changes in overlay.

12 CFR 32.7 - Residential real estate loans, small business loans, and small farm loans.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... total outstanding amount of a national bank's loans and extensions of credit to one borrower made under... surplus. (5) The total outstanding amount of a national bank's loans and extensions of credit to all of... concerns about credit quality, undue concentrations in the bank's portfolio of residential real estate...

13 CFR 108.2020 - Amount of Operational Assistance grant.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 13 Business Credit and Assistance 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Amount of Operational Assistance grant. 108.2020 Section 108.2020 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION NEW... NMVC Companies and SSBICs § 108.2020 Amount of Operational Assistance grant. (a) Amount of grant to...

13 CFR 108.2020 - Amount of Operational Assistance grant.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 13 Business Credit and Assistance 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Amount of Operational Assistance grant. 108.2020 Section 108.2020 Business Credit and Assistance SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION NEW... NMVC Companies and SSBICs § 108.2020 Amount of Operational Assistance grant. (a) Amount of grant to...

Alternate propellant program, phase 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, F. A.; West, W. R.

1979-01-01

Candidate propellant systems for the shuttle booster solid rocket motor (SRM), which would eliminate, or greatly reduce, the amount of HCl produced in the exhaust of the shuttle SRM were investigated. Ammonium nitrate was selected for consideration as the main oxidizer, with ammonium perchlorate and the nitramine, cyclo-tetramethylene-tetranitramine as secondary oxidizers. The amount of ammonium perchlorate used was limited to an amount which would produce an exhaust containing no more than 3% HCl.

Water of Hydration Dynamics in Minerals Gypsum and Bassanite: Ultrafast 2D IR Spectroscopy of Rocks.

PubMed

Yan, Chang; Nishida, Jun; Yuan, Rongfeng; Fayer, Michael D

2016-08-03

Water of hydration plays an important role in minerals, determining their crystal structures and physical properties. Here ultrafast nonlinear infrared (IR) techniques, two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) and polarization selective pump-probe (PSPP) spectroscopies, were used to measure the dynamics and disorder of water of hydration in two minerals, gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) and bassanite (CaSO4·0.5H2O). 2D IR spectra revealed that water arrangement in freshly precipitated gypsum contained a small amount of inhomogeneity. Following annealing at 348 K, water molecules became highly ordered; the 2D IR spectrum became homogeneously broadened (motional narrowed). PSPP measurements observed only inertial orientational relaxation. In contrast, water in bassanite's tubular channels is dynamically disordered. 2D IR spectra showed a significant amount of inhomogeneous broadening caused by a range of water configurations. At 298 K, water dynamics cause spectral diffusion that sampled a portion of the inhomogeneous line width on the time scale of ∼30 ps, while the rest of inhomogeneity is static on the time scale of the measurements. At higher temperature, the dynamics become faster. Spectral diffusion accelerates, and a portion of the lower temperature spectral diffusion became motionally narrowed. At sufficiently high temperature, all of the dynamics that produced spectral diffusion at lower temperatures became motionally narrowed, and only homogeneous broadening and static inhomogeneity were observed. Water angular motions in bassanite exhibit temperature-dependent diffusive orientational relaxation in a restricted cone of angles. The experiments were made possible by eliminating the vast amount of scattered light produced by the granulated powder samples using phase cycling methods.

Fate of the naturally occurring radioactive materials during treatment of acid mine drainage with coal fly ash and aluminium hydroxide.

PubMed

Madzivire, Godfrey; Maleka, Peane P; Vadapalli, Viswanath R K; Gitari, Wilson M; Lindsay, Robert; Petrik, Leslie F

2014-01-15

Mining of coal is very extensive and coal is mainly used to produce electricity. Coal power stations generate huge amounts of coal fly ash of which a small amount is used in the construction industry. Mining exposes pyrite containing rocks to H2O and O2. This results in the oxidation of FeS2 to form H2SO4. The acidic water, often termed acid mine drainage (AMD), causes dissolution of potentially toxic elements such as, Fe, Al, Mn and naturally occurring radioactive materials such as U and Th from the associated bedrock. This results in an outflow of AMD with high concentrations of sulphate ions, Fe, Al, Mn and naturally occurring radioactive materials. Treatment of AMD with coal fly ash has shown that good quality water can be produced which is suitable for irrigation purposes. Most of the potentially toxic elements (Fe, Al, Mn, etc) and substantial amounts of sulphate ions are removed during treatment with coal fly ash. This research endeavours to establish the fate of the radioactive materials in mine water with coal fly ash containing radioactive materials. It was established that coal fly ash treatment method was capable of removing radioactive materials from mine water to within the target water quality range for drinking water standards. The alpha and beta radioactivity of the mine water was reduced by 88% and 75% respectively. The reduced radioactivity in the mine water was due to greater than 90% removal of U and Th radioactive materials from the mine water after treatment with coal fly ash as ThO2 and UO2. No radioisotopes were found to leach from the coal fly ash into the mine water. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Distribution and biokinetic analysis of 210Pb and 210Po in poultry due to ingestion of dicalcium phosphate.

PubMed

Casacuberta, N; Traversa, F L; Masqué, P; Garcia-Orellana, J; Anguita, M; Gasa, J; Garcia-Tenorio, R

2010-09-15

Dicalcium phosphate (DCP) is used as a calcium supplement for food producing animals (i.e., cattle, poultry and pig). When DCP is produced via wet acid digestion of the phosphate rock and depending on the acid used in the industrial process, the final product can result in enhanced (210)Pb and (210)Po specific activities (approximately 2000 Bq.kg(-1)). Both (210)Pb and (210)Po are of great interest because their contribution to the dose received by ingestion is potentially large. The aims of this work are to examine the accumulation of (210)Pb and (210)Po in chicken tissues during the first 42 days of life and to build a suitable single-compartment biokinetic model to understand the behavior of both radionuclides within the entire animal using the experimental results. Three commercial corn-soybean-based diets containing different amounts and sources of DCP were fed to broilers during a period of 42 days. The results show that diets containing enhanced concentrations of (210)Pb and (210)Po lead to larger specific accumulation in broiler tissues compared to the blank diet. Radionuclides do not accumulate homogeneously within the animal body: (210)Pb follows the calcium pathways to some extent and accumulates largely in bones, while (210)Po accumulates to a large extent in liver and kidneys. However, the total amount of radionuclide accumulation in tissues is small compared to the amounts excreted in feces. The single-compartment non-linear biokinetic model proposed here for (210)Pb and (210)Po in the whole animal takes into account the size evolution and is self-consistent in that no fitting parameterization of intake and excretions rates is required. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sulfur in serpentinized oceanic peridotites: Serpentinization processes and microbial sulfate reduction

USGS Publications Warehouse

Alt, J.C.; Shanks, Wayne C.

1998-01-01

The mineralogy, contents, and isotopic compositions of sulfur in oceanic serpentinites reflect variations in temperatures and fluid fluxes. Serpentinization of <1 Ma peridotites at Hess Deep occurred at high temperatures (200??-400??C) and low water/rock ratios. Oxidation of ferrous iron to magnetite maintained low fO2and produced a reduced, low-sulfur assemblage including NiFe alloy. Small amounts of sulfate reduction by thermophilic microbes occurred as the system cooled, producing low-??34S sulfide (1.5??? to -23.7???). In contrast, serpentinization of Iberian Margin peridotites occurred at low temperatures (???20??-200??C) and high water/rock ratios. Complete serpentinization and consumption of ferrous iron allowed evolution to higher fO2. Microbial reduction of seawater sulfate resulted in addition of low-??34S sulfide (-15 to -43???) and formation of higher-sulfur assemblages that include valleriite and pyrite. The high SO4/total S ratio of Hess Deep serpentinites (0.89) results in an increase of total sulfur and high ??34S of total sulfur (mean ??? 8???). In contrast, Iberian Margin serpentinites gained large amounts of 34S-poor sulfide (mean total S = 3800 ppm), and the high sulfide/total S ratio (0.61) results in a net decrease in ??34S of total sulfur (mean ??? -5???). Thus serpentinization is a net sink for seawater sulfur, but the amount fixed and its isotopic composition vary significantly. Serpentinization may result in uptake of 0.4-14 ?? 1012 g S yr-1 from the oceans, comparable to isotopic exchange in mafic rocks of seafloor hydrothermal systems and approaching global fluxes of riverine sulfate input and sedimentary sulfide output.

Phosphatidic Acid Produced by Phospholipase D Promotes RNA Replication of a Plant RNA Virus

PubMed Central

Hyodo, Kiwamu; Taniguchi, Takako; Manabe, Yuki; Kaido, Masanori; Mise, Kazuyuki; Sugawara, Tatsuya; Taniguchi, Hisaaki; Okuno, Tetsuro

2015-01-01

Eukaryotic positive-strand RNA [(+)RNA] viruses are intracellular obligate parasites replicate using the membrane-bound replicase complexes that contain multiple viral and host components. To replicate, (+)RNA viruses exploit host resources and modify host metabolism and membrane organization. Phospholipase D (PLD) is a phosphatidylcholine- and phosphatidylethanolamine-hydrolyzing enzyme that catalyzes the production of phosphatidic acid (PA), a lipid second messenger that modulates diverse intracellular signaling in various organisms. PA is normally present in small amounts (less than 1% of total phospholipids), but rapidly and transiently accumulates in lipid bilayers in response to different environmental cues such as biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. However, the precise functions of PLD and PA remain unknown. Here, we report the roles of PLD and PA in genomic RNA replication of a plant (+)RNA virus, Red clover necrotic mosaic virus (RCNMV). We found that RCNMV RNA replication complexes formed in Nicotiana benthamiana contained PLDα and PLDβ. Gene-silencing and pharmacological inhibition approaches showed that PLDs and PLDs-derived PA are required for viral RNA replication. Consistent with this, exogenous application of PA enhanced viral RNA replication in plant cells and plant-derived cell-free extracts. We also found that a viral auxiliary replication protein bound to PA in vitro, and that the amount of PA increased in RCNMV-infected plant leaves. Together, our findings suggest that RCNMV hijacks host PA-producing enzymes to replicate. PMID:26020241

Consumption patterns and household hazardous solid waste generation in an urban settlement in México.

PubMed

Otoniel, Buenrostro Delgado; Liliana, Márquez-Benavides; Francelia, Pinette Gaona

2008-01-01

Mexico is currently facing a crisis in the waste management field. Some efforts have just commenced in urban and in rural settlements, e.g., conversion of open dumps into landfills, a relatively small composting culture, and implementation of source separation and plastic recycling strategies. Nonetheless, the high heterogeneity of components in the waste, many of these with hazardous properties, present the municipal collection services with serious problems, due to the risks to the health of the workers and to the impacts to the environment as a result of the inadequate disposition of these wastes. A generation study in the domestic sector was undertaken with the aim of finding out the composition and the generation rate of household hazardous waste (HHW) produced at residences. Simultaneously to the generation study, a socioeconomic survey was applied to determine the influence of income level on the production of HHW. Results from the solid waste generation analysis indicated that approximately 1.6% of the waste stream consists of HHW. Correspondingly, it was estimated that in Morelia, a total amount of 442ton/day of domestic waste are produced, including 7.1ton of HHW per day. Furthermore, the overall amount of HHW is not directly related to income level, although particular byproducts do correlate. However, an important difference was observed, as the brands and the presentation sizes of goods and products used in each socioeconomic stratum varied.

Lipids of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cells Grown on Hydrocarbons and on Trypticase Soy Broth1

PubMed Central

Edmonds, Paul; Cooney, J. J.

1969-01-01

Lipids were extracted from cells of Pseudomonas aeruginosa grown on a pure hydrocarbon (tridecane), mixed hydrocarbons (JP-4 jet fuel), and on Trypticase Soy Broth. Total lipids produced from each substrate represented from 7.1 to 8.2% of cellular dry weight, of which 5.0 to 6.4% were obtained before cellular hydrolysis (free lipids) and 1.7 to 2.0% were extracted after cellular hydrolysis (bound lipids). Free lipids from cells grown on each medium were separated into four fractions by thin-layer chromatography. All fractions were present in cells from each type of medium, and the “neutral fraction” constituted the largest fraction. The fatty acid composition of free lipids was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Cells grown on each medium contained saturated and unsaturated C14 to C20 fatty acids. Trace amounts of C13 fatty acids were found in tridecane-grown cells. Saturated C16 and C18 were the major acids present in all cells. Quantitative differences were found in fatty acids produced on the three media, but specific correlations between substrate carbon sources and fatty acid content of cells were not evident. Tridecane-grown cells contained only traces of C13 acid and small amounts of C15 and C17 acids, suggesting that the organism's fatty acids were derived from de novo synthesis rather than by direct incorporation of the hydrocarbon. PMID:4976464

Process and system for removing sulfur from sulfur-containing gaseous streams

DOEpatents

Basu, Arunabha; Meyer, Howard S.; Lynn, Scott; Leppin, Dennis; Wangerow, James R.

2012-08-14

A multi-stage UCSRP process and system for removal of sulfur from a gaseous stream in which the gaseous stream, which contains a first amount of H.sub.2S, is provided to a first stage UCSRP reactor vessel operating in an excess SO.sub.2 mode at a first amount of SO.sub.2, producing an effluent gas having a reduced amount of SO.sub.2, and in which the effluent gas is provided to a second stage UCSRP reactor vessel operating in an excess H.sub.2S mode, producing a product gas having an amount of H.sub.2S less than said first amount of H.sub.2S.

Geology, mineralization, and hydrothermal alteration and relationships to acidic and metal-bearing surface waters in the Palmetto Gulch area, southwestern Colorado

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bove, Dana J.; Kurtz, Jeffrey P.; Wright, Winfield G.

2002-01-01

The Palmetto Gulch area is affected by low pH and metal-bearing drainage from abandoned mines, and perhaps, from natural weathering around vein zones. To investigate these anthropogenic and potential natural sources of acidity and metals, we mapped the geology, veins, and hydrothermally altered areas; conducted mine dump leachate studies; and collected reconnaissance water quality data. Several small abandoned mines are present in the Palmetto Gulch area that produced small amounts of relatively high-grade silver ore from fault-controlled polymetallic vein deposits. These veins are hosted in lavas, breccias, and related volcaniclastic sediments that ponded within the 28 Ma San Juan-Uncompahgre caldera complex. These rock units generally have conformable contacts and have shallow dips to the northwest. Lava flows of pyroxene andesite, which host the Roy-Pray mine, are massive near their base and typically grade upward into tightly jointed rock with 2-15 cm joint spacing. In general, most hydrothermally altered rock within the Palmetto Gulch area is restricted to envelopes surrounding the mineralized veins and faults. Composite zones of vein-related alteration vary from about 50 to 80 m wide along the high ridgelines and narrow to less than 10 to 15 m beneath an elevation of about 5,462 m. Where unaffected by surficial oxidation, these altered zones contain as much as 7 to 10 volume percent finely-disseminated pyrite. The majority of rocks in the area were affected by regional and vein-related propylitic alteration. These greenish-colored rocks have alteration products consisting of chlorite, illite, and calcite; and feldspars are typically weakly altered. Most of these rocks have detectable amounts of calcite, while as much as 11 percent by weight was detected in samples collected during this study. The Palmetto Gulch area is affected by low pH and metal-bearing drainage from abandoned mines, and perhaps, from natural weathering around vein zones. To investigate these anthropogenic and potential natural sources of acidity and metals, we mapped the geology, veins, and hydrothermally altered areas; conducted mine dump leachate studies; and collected reconnaissance water quality data. Several small abandoned mines are present in the Palmetto Gulch area that produced small amounts of relatively high-grade silver ore from fault-controlled polymetallic vein deposits. These veins are hosted in lavas, breccias, and related volcaniclastic sediments that ponded within the 28 Ma San Juan-Uncompahgre caldera complex. These rock units generally have conformable contacts and have shallow dips to the northwest. Lava flows of pyroxene andesite, which host the Roy-Pray mine, are massive near their base and typically grade upward into tightly jointed rock with 2-15 cm joint spacing. In general, most hydrothermally altered rock within the Palmetto Gulch area is restricted to envelopes surrounding the mineralized veins and faults. Composite zones of vein-related alteration vary from about 50 to 80 m wide along the high ridgelines and narrow to less than 10 to 15 m beneath an elevation of about 5,462 m. Where unaffected by surficial oxidation, these altered zones contain as much as 7 to 10 volume percent finely-disseminated pyrite. The majority of rocks in the area were affected by regional and vein-related propylitic alteration. These greenish-colored rocks have alteration products consisting of chlorite, illite, and calcite; and feldspars are typically weakly altered. Most of these rocks have detectable amounts of calcite, while as much as 11 percent by weight was detected in samples collected during this study.

12 CFR 345.22 - Lending test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... activities by considering a bank's home mortgage, small business, small farm, and community development... following criteria: (1) Lending activity. The number and amount of the bank's home mortgage, small business... distribution. The geographic distribution of the bank's home mortgage, small business, small farm, and consumer...

12 CFR 345.22 - Lending test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... activities by considering a bank's home mortgage, small business, small farm, and community development... following criteria: (1) Lending activity. The number and amount of the bank's home mortgage, small business... distribution. The geographic distribution of the bank's home mortgage, small business, small farm, and consumer...

The productivity of small animal species in small-scale mixed farming systems in subtropical Bolivia.

PubMed

Paterson, R T; Joaquín, N; Chamón, K; Palomino, E

2001-02-01

The productivity of the scavenging, small animal species (chickens, ducks, pigs, hair sheep and guinea-pigs) commonly found on small-scale farms at the forest margin in subtropical Bolivia was monitored over a full year. Chickens and guinea-pigs were kept mainly for home consumption, while ducks and pigs were kept mainly for sale. Sheep served both purposes, depending upon the family requirements. In the absence of veterinary treatment, the productivity varied greatly between farms. Pigs gave the greatest gross return, but received the largest amount of supplementary feed. Under the existing system, chickens, ducks and sheep all gave similar gross returns per breeding female, although chickens produced good returns and made a large contribution to the family diet where the reproductive efficiency was high and the chick mortality was low. Mortality resulting from disease was a major problem in poultry, while internal parasites appeared to be important limiting factors in pigs and sheep. Guinea-pigs showed no major problems apart from theft, and were an important dietary component for immigrant families from the highlands of the country. Small animal species have largely been ignored by agricultural research and development activities in Bolivia and elsewhere. They currently make significant contributions to the livelihoods of poor people in terms of both income and food security, and this could be greatly increased by simple improvements in animal husbandry.

Optical defocus: differential effects on size and contrast letter recognition thresholds.

PubMed

Rabin, J

1994-02-01

To determine if optical defocus produces a greater reduction in visual acuity or small-letter contrast sensitivity. Letter charts were used to measure visual acuity and small-letter contrast sensitivity (20/25 Snellen equivalent) as a function of optical defocus. Letter size (acuity) and contrast (contrast sensitivity) were varied in equal logarithmic steps to make the task the same for the two types of measurement. Both visual acuity and contrast sensitivity declined with optical defocus, but the effect was far greater in the contrast domain. However, measurement variability also was greater for contrast sensitivity. After correction for this variability, measurement in the contrast domain still proved to be a more sensitive (1.75x) index of optical defocus. Small-letter contrast sensitivity is a powerful technique for detecting subtle amounts of optical defocus. This adjunctive approach may be useful when there are small changes in resolution that are not detected by standard measures of visual acuity. Potential applications include evaluating the course of vision in refractive surgery, classification of cataracts, detection of corneal or macular edema, and detection of visual loss in the aging eye. Evaluation of candidates for occupations requiring unique visual abilities also may be enhanced by measuring resolution in the contrast domain.

Simultaneous Use of Multiple Answer Copying Indexes to Improve Detection Rates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wollack, James A.

2006-01-01

Many of the currently available statistical indexes to detect answer copying lack sufficient power at small [alpha] levels or when the amount of copying is relatively small. Furthermore, there is no one index that is uniformly best. Depending on the type or amount of copying, certain indexes are better than others. The purpose of this article was…

12 CFR 228.22 - Lending test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... assessment area(s) through its lending activities by considering a bank's home mortgage, small business... and amount of the bank's home mortgage, small business, small farm, and consumer loans, if applicable... bank's home mortgage, small business, small farm, and consumer loans, if applicable, based on the loan...

Sewage sludge ash (SSA) from large and small incineration plants as a potential source of phosphorus - Polish case study.

PubMed

Smol, Marzena; Kulczycka, Joanna; Kowalski, Zygmunt

2016-12-15

The aim of this research is to present the possibility of using the sewage sludge ash (SSA) generated in incineration plants as a secondary source of phosphorus (P). The importance of issues related to P recovery from waste materials results from European Union (UE) legislation, which indicated phosphorus as a critical raw material (CRM). Due to the risks of a shortage of supply and its impact on the economy, which is greater than other raw materials, the proper management of phosphorus resources is required in order to achieve global P security. Based on available databases and literature, an analysis of the potential use of SSA for P-recovery in Poland was conducted. Currently, approx. 43,000 Mg/year of SSA is produced in large and small incineration plants and according to in the Polish National Waste Management Plan 2014 (NWMP) further steady growth is predicted. This indicates a great potential to recycle phosphorus from SSA and to reintroduce it again into the value chain as a component of fertilisers which can be applied directly on fields. The amount of SSA generated in installations, both large and small, varies and this contributes to the fact that new and different P recovery technology solutions must be developed and put into use in the years to come (e.g. mobile/stationary P recovery installations). The creation of a database focused on the collection and sharing of data about the amount of P recovered in EU and Polish installations is identified as a helpful tool in the development of an efficient P management model for Poland. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Slow Cooling in Low Metallicity Clouds: An Origin of Globular Cluster Bimodality?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernandez, Ricardo; Bryan, Greg L.

2018-05-01

We explore the relative role of small-scale fragmentation and global collapse in low-metallicity clouds, pointing out that in such clouds the cooling time may be longer than the dynamical time, allowing the cloud to collapse globally before it can fragment. This, we suggest, may help to explain the formation of the low-metallicity globular cluster population, since such dense stellar systems need a large amount of gas to be collected in a small region (without significant feedback during the collapse). To explore this further, we carry out numerical simulations of low-metallicity Bonner-Ebert stable gas clouds, demonstrating that there exists a critical metallicity (between 0.001 and 0.01 Z⊙) below which the cloud collapses globally without fragmentation. We also run simulations including a background radiative heating source, showing that this can also produce clouds that do not fragment, and that the critical metallicity - which can exceed the no-radiation case - increases with the heating rate.

[Synthesis and spectral characteristic of Ga-Fe3O4 at room temperature].

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Deng, Tong; Yang, Cai-Qin; Lin, Yu-Long; Wang, Wei; Wu, Hai-Yan

2008-03-01

Gallium bearing ferrites with different gallium content were synthesized by oxidation of ferrous and gallium ions under alkaline condition and room temperature. The samples were subjected to IR, XRD, Mossbauer spectral analysis and magnetization characterization. The results indicated that the green-rust intermediate phase would be produced during the procedure of Ga-Fe3O4 formation, and the green-rust intermediate phase was converted to ferrites with spinel structure during the drying under hot-N2 atmosphere. With the introduction of gallium into the spinel structure, the interplanar crystal spacing of the spinel structure decreased, as indicated from XRD spectra, and the lattice vibration of M(T)-O-M(o) moved to the high-frequency resulting from IR spectra. A small amount gallium introduction entered the tetrahedral sites preferentially rather than the octahedral sites, and increasing gallium introduction would enhance the occupation of octahedral sites. Furthermore, a small content of gallium in the initial solution could prevent the formation of non-magnetic Fe2O3.

Fatal youth of the Universe: black hole threat for the electroweak vacuum during preheating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorbunov, Dmitry; Levkov, Dmitry; Panin, Alexander

2017-10-01

Small evaporating black holes were proposed to be dangerous inducing fast decay of the electroweak false vacuum. We observe that the flat-spectrum matter perturbations growing at the post-inflationary matter dominated stage can produce such black holes in a tiny amount which may nevertheless be sufficient to destroy the vacuum in the visible part of the Universe via the induced process. If the decay probability in the vicinity of Planck-mass black holes was of order one as suggested in literature, the absence of such objects in the early Universe would put severe constraints on inflation and subsequent stages thus excluding many well-motivated models (e.g. the R2-inflation) and supporting the need of new physics in the Higgs sector. We give a qualitative argument, however, that exponential suppression of the probability should persist in the limit of small black hole masses. This suppression relaxes our cosmological constraints, and, if sufficiently strong, may cancel them.

Environmental management systems as sustainable tools in the way of life for the SMEs and VSMEs.

PubMed

Zorpas, Antonis

2010-03-01

Small medium enterprises (SMEs) and very small medium enterprises (VSMEs) are the economic backbone of the most economies in Europe. Those VSMEs have mono-service or product, they feel economic pressure, they sell to the local market, they are family traditions and they are informal organizations, they have very "low management", they have employees from different nationalities, they have little access to adult training and to the new requirements of the market, they do not federate and they produce high amount of waste. The research question of our study was: why do SMEs build up environmental management systems (EMS)? This paper presents the need for the implementation of the EMS as a sustainable tool in order to monitor the production of the waste from SMEs and VSMEs. The paper presents benefits, disadvantages, motivation, differences from the international literature in order to present the necessity for the implementation of the EMS. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fatal youth of the Universe: black hole threat for the electroweak vacuum during preheating

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

Gorbunov, Dmitry; Levkov, Dmitry; Panin, Alexander, E-mail: gorby@ms2.inr.ac.ru, E-mail: levkov@ms2.inr.ac.ru, E-mail: panin@ms2.inr.ac.ru

Small evaporating black holes were proposed to be dangerous inducing fast decay of the electroweak false vacuum. We observe that the flat-spectrum matter perturbations growing at the post-inflationary matter dominated stage can produce such black holes in a tiny amount which may nevertheless be sufficient to destroy the vacuum in the visible part of the Universe via the induced process. If the decay probability in the vicinity of Planck-mass black holes was of order one as suggested in literature, the absence of such objects in the early Universe would put severe constraints on inflation and subsequent stages thus excluding manymore » well-motivated models (e.g. the R {sup 2}-inflation) and supporting the need of new physics in the Higgs sector. We give a qualitative argument, however, that exponential suppression of the probability should persist in the limit of small black hole masses. This suppression relaxes our cosmological constraints, and, if sufficiently strong, may cancel them.« less

Small Stirling dynamic isotope power system for multihundred-watt robotic missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bents, David J.

1991-01-01

Free Piston Stirling Engine (FPSE) and linear alternator (LA) technology is combined with radioisotope heat sources to produce a compact dynamic isotope power system (DIPS) suitable for multihundred watt space application which appears competitive with advance radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). The small Stirling DIPS is scalable to multihundred watt power levels or lower. The FPSE/LA is a high efficiency convertor in sizes ranging from tens of kilowatts down to only a few watts. At multihundred watt unit size, the FPSE can be directly integrated with the General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) via radiative coupling; the resulting dynamic isotope power system has a size and weight that compares favorably with the advanced modular (Mod) RTG, but requires less than a third the amount of isotope fuel. Thus the FPSE extends the high efficiency advantage of dynamic systems into a power range never previously considered competitive for DIPS. This results in lower fuel cost and reduced radiological hazard per delivered electrical watt.

Small Stirling dynamic isotope power system for multihundred-watt robotic missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bents, David J.

1991-01-01

Free piston Stirling Engine (FPSE) and linear alternator (LA) technology is combined with radioisotope heat sources to produce a compact dynamic isotope power system (DIPS) suitable for multihundred watt space application which appears competitive with advanced radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). The small Stirling DIPS is scalable to multihundred watt power levels or lower. The FPSE/LA is a high efficiency convertor in sizes ranging from tens of kilowatts down to only a few watts. At multihundred watt unit size, the FPSE can be directly integrated with the General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) via radiative coupling; the resulting dynamic isotope power system has a size and weight that compares favorably with the advanced modular (Mod) RTG, but requires less than a third the amount of isotope fuel. Thus the FPSE extends the high efficiency advantage of dynamic systems into a power range never previously considered competitive for DIPS. This results in lower fuel cost and reduced radiological hazard per delivered electrical watt.

Metabolic retroconversion of trimethylamine N-oxide and the gut microbiota.

PubMed

Hoyles, Lesley; Jiménez-Pranteda, Maria L; Chilloux, Julien; Brial, Francois; Myridakis, Antonis; Aranias, Thomas; Magnan, Christophe; Gibson, Glenn R; Sanderson, Jeremy D; Nicholson, Jeremy K; Gauguier, Dominique; McCartney, Anne L; Dumas, Marc-Emmanuel

2018-04-20

The dietary methylamines choline, carnitine, and phosphatidylcholine are used by the gut microbiota to produce a range of metabolites, including trimethylamine (TMA). However, little is known about the use of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) by this consortium of microbes. A feeding study using deuterated TMAO in C57BL6/J mice demonstrated microbial conversion of TMAO to TMA, with uptake of TMA into the bloodstream and its conversion to TMAO. Microbial activity necessary to convert TMAO to TMA was suppressed in antibiotic-treated mice, with deuterated TMAO being taken up directly into the bloodstream. In batch-culture fermentation systems inoculated with human faeces, growth of Enterobacteriaceae was stimulated in the presence of TMAO. Human-derived faecal and caecal bacteria (n = 66 isolates) were screened on solid and liquid media for their ability to use TMAO, with metabolites in spent media analysed by 1 H-NMR. As with the in vitro fermentation experiments, TMAO stimulated the growth of Enterobacteriaceae; these bacteria produced most TMA from TMAO. Caecal/small intestinal isolates of Escherichia coli produced more TMA from TMAO than their faecal counterparts. Lactic acid bacteria produced increased amounts of lactate when grown in the presence of TMAO but did not produce large amounts of TMA. Clostridia (sensu stricto), bifidobacteria, and coriobacteria were significantly correlated with TMA production in the mixed fermentation system but did not produce notable quantities of TMA from TMAO in pure culture. Reduction of TMAO by the gut microbiota (predominantly Enterobacteriaceae) to TMA followed by host uptake of TMA into the bloodstream from the intestine and its conversion back to TMAO by host hepatic enzymes is an example of metabolic retroconversion. TMAO influences microbial metabolism depending on isolation source and taxon of gut bacterium. Correlation of metabolomic and abundance data from mixed microbiota fermentation systems did not give a true picture of which members of the gut microbiota were responsible for converting TMAO to TMA; only by supplementing the study with pure culture work and additional metabolomics was it possible to increase our understanding of TMAO bioconversions by the human gut microbiota.

Fate and groundwater impacts of produced water releases at OSPER "B" site, Osage County, Oklahoma

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kharaka, Y.K.; Kakouros, E.; Thordsen, J.J.; Ambats, G.; Abbott, M.M.

2007-01-01

For the last 5 a, the authors have been investigating the transport, fate, natural attenuation and ecosystem impacts of inorganic and organic compounds in releases of produced water and associated hydrocarbons at the Osage-Skiatook Petroleum Environmental Research (OSPER) "A" and "B" sites, located in NE Oklahoma. Approximately 1.0 ha of land at OSPER "B", located within the active Branstetter lease, is visibly affected by salt scarring, tree kills, soil salinization, and brine and petroleum contamination. Site "B" includes an active production tank battery and adjacent large brine pit, two injection well sites, one with an adjacent small pit, and an abandoned brine pit and tank battery site. Oil production in this lease started in 1938, and currently there are 10 wells that produce 0.2-0.5 m3/d (1-3 bbl/d) oil, and 8-16 m3/d (50-100 bbl/d) brine. Geochemical data from nearby oil wells show that the produced water source is a Na-Ca-Cl brine (???150,000 mg/L TDS), with high Mg, but low SO4 and dissolved organic concentrations. Groundwater impacts are being investigated by detailed chemical analyses of water from repeated sampling of 41 boreholes, 1-71 m deep. The most important results at OSPER "B" are: (1) significant amounts of produced water from the two active brine pits percolate into the surficial rocks and flow towards the adjacent Skiatook reservoir, but only minor amounts of liquid petroleum leave the brine pits; (2) produced-water brine and minor dissolved organics have penetrated the thick (3-7 m) shale and siltstone units resulting in the formation of three interconnected plumes of high-salinity water (5000-30,000 mg/L TDS) that extend towards the Skiatook reservoir from the two active and one abandoned brine pits; and (3) groundwater from the deep section of only one well, BR-01 located 330 m upslope and west of the site, appear not to be impacted by petroleum operations. ?? 2007.

An Alkalophilic Bacillus sp. Produces 2-Phenylethylamine

PubMed Central

Hamasaki, Nobuko; Shirai, Shinji; Niitsu, Masaru; Kakinuma, Katsumi; Oshima, Tairo

1993-01-01

A large amount of 2-phenylethylamine was produced in cells of alkalophilic Bacillus sp. strain YN-2000. This amine is secreted in the medium during the cell growth. The amounts of 2-phenylethylamine in both cells and medium change upon changing the pH of the medium. PMID:16349025

26 CFR 1.993-4 - Definition of producer's loans.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 26 Internal Revenue 10 2014-04-01 2013-04-01 true Definition of producer's loans. 1.993-4 Section...'s research and experimental expenditures. The amount described in this subdivision is the aggregate amount, whether or not charged to capital account, of research and experimental expenditures (within the...

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) anabolism in Cupriavidus necator cultivated at various carbon-to-nitrogen ratios: insights from single-cell Raman spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tao, Zhanhua; Zhang, Pengfei; Qin, Zhaojun; Li, Yong-Qing; Wang, Guiwen

2016-09-01

Cupriavidus necator accumulates large amounts of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), a biodegradable substitute for petroleum-based plastics, under certain nutrient conditions. Conventional solvent-extraction-based methods for PHB quantification only obtain average information from cell populations and, thus, mask the heterogeneity among individual cells. Laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) was used to monitor dynamic changes in the contents of PHB, nucleic acids, and proteins in C. necator at the population and single-cell levels when the microorganism cells were cultivated at various carbon-to-nitrogen ratios. The biosynthetic activities of nucleic acids and proteins were maintained at high levels, and only a small amount of PHB was produced when the bacterial cells were cultured under balanced growth conditions. By contrast, the syntheses of nucleic acids and proteins were blocked, and PHB was accumulated in massive amount inside the microbial cells under nitrogen-limiting growth circumstances. Single-cell analysis revealed a relatively high heterogeneity in PHB level at the early stage of the bacterial growth. Additionally, bacterial cells in populations at certain cultivation stages were composed of two or three subpopulations on the basis of their PHB abundance. Overall, LTRS is a reliable single-cell analysis tool that can provide insights into PHB fermentation.

Improving Hierarchical Models Using Historical Data with Applications in High-Throughput Genomics Data Analysis.

PubMed

Li, Ben; Li, Yunxiao; Qin, Zhaohui S

2017-06-01

Modern high-throughput biotechnologies such as microarray and next generation sequencing produce a massive amount of information for each sample assayed. However, in a typical high-throughput experiment, only limited amount of data are observed for each individual feature, thus the classical 'large p , small n ' problem. Bayesian hierarchical model, capable of borrowing strength across features within the same dataset, has been recognized as an effective tool in analyzing such data. However, the shrinkage effect, the most prominent feature of hierarchical features, can lead to undesirable over-correction for some features. In this work, we discuss possible causes of the over-correction problem and propose several alternative solutions. Our strategy is rooted in the fact that in the Big Data era, large amount of historical data are available which should be taken advantage of. Our strategy presents a new framework to enhance the Bayesian hierarchical model. Through simulation and real data analysis, we demonstrated superior performance of the proposed strategy. Our new strategy also enables borrowing information across different platforms which could be extremely useful with emergence of new technologies and accumulation of data from different platforms in the Big Data era. Our method has been implemented in R package "adaptiveHM", which is freely available from https://github.com/benliemory/adaptiveHM.

Present Scenario of Long Non-Coding RNAs in Plants

PubMed Central

Bhatia, Garima; Goyal, Neetu; Sharma, Shailesh; Upadhyay, Santosh Kumar; Singh, Kashmir

2017-01-01

Small non-coding RNAs have been extensively studied in plants over the last decade. In contrast, genome-wide identification of plant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has recently gained momentum. LncRNAs are now being recognized as important players in gene regulation, and their potent regulatory roles are being studied comprehensively in eukaryotes. LncRNAs were first reported in humans in 1992. Since then, research in animals, particularly in humans, has rapidly progressed, and a vast amount of data has been generated, collected, and organized using computational approaches. Additionally, numerous studies have been conducted to understand the roles of these long RNA species in several diseases. However, the status of lncRNA investigation in plants lags behind that in animals (especially humans). Efforts are being made in this direction using computational tools and high-throughput sequencing technologies, such as the lncRNA microarray technique, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), RNA capture sequencing, (RNA CaptureSeq), etc. Given the current scenario, significant amounts of data have been produced regarding plant lncRNAs, and this amount is likely to increase in the subsequent years. In this review we have documented brief information about lncRNAs and their status of research in plants, along with the plant-specific resources/databases for information retrieval on lncRNAs. PMID:29657289

Bovine Colostral Antibody Against Verotoxin 2 Derived from Escherichia coli O157:H7: Resistance to Proteases and Effects in Beagle Dogs

PubMed Central

Kuribayashi, Takashi; Seita, Tetsuro; Matsumoto, Mariko; Furuhata, Katsunori; Tagata, Kazutoshi; Yamamoto, Shizuo

2009-01-01

A bovine colostral antibody against verotoxin (VT) 2 of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was administered orally to beagle dogs. The antibody remained in the dogs’ small intestine for at least 2 h, whereas little serum antibody remained 1.5 h after administration. Furthermore, the antibody activity of secretory IgA did not change until 2 h after administration; however, the activity of IgG and IgM antibodies decreased by approximately 60% and 40% at 2 h after administration, respectively. Seven beagle dogs inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 producing VT2 were administered bovine colostral antibody or bovine colostral whey without antibody. With administration of bovine colostral whey without antibody, the amount of VT2 in feces decreased gradually after administration and increased again at 5 d after inoculation, whereas bovine colostral antibody significantly reduced the amount of VT2 in feces on the day after administration. In addition, 9 beagle dogs were given bovine colostral antibody, bovine plasma antibody, or saline. The amount of VT2 in feces again decreased significantly more rapidly after administration of bovine colostral antibody than after administration of bovine plasma antibody or saline. PMID:19389308

Improving Hierarchical Models Using Historical Data with Applications in High-Throughput Genomics Data Analysis

PubMed Central

Li, Ben; Li, Yunxiao; Qin, Zhaohui S.

2016-01-01

Modern high-throughput biotechnologies such as microarray and next generation sequencing produce a massive amount of information for each sample assayed. However, in a typical high-throughput experiment, only limited amount of data are observed for each individual feature, thus the classical ‘large p, small n’ problem. Bayesian hierarchical model, capable of borrowing strength across features within the same dataset, has been recognized as an effective tool in analyzing such data. However, the shrinkage effect, the most prominent feature of hierarchical features, can lead to undesirable over-correction for some features. In this work, we discuss possible causes of the over-correction problem and propose several alternative solutions. Our strategy is rooted in the fact that in the Big Data era, large amount of historical data are available which should be taken advantage of. Our strategy presents a new framework to enhance the Bayesian hierarchical model. Through simulation and real data analysis, we demonstrated superior performance of the proposed strategy. Our new strategy also enables borrowing information across different platforms which could be extremely useful with emergence of new technologies and accumulation of data from different platforms in the Big Data era. Our method has been implemented in R package “adaptiveHM”, which is freely available from https://github.com/benliemory/adaptiveHM. PMID:28919931

High-performance self-compacting concrete with the use of coal burning waste

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakhrakh, Anton; Solodov, Artyom; Naruts, Vitaly; Larsen, Oksana; Alimov, Lev; Voronin, Victor

2017-10-01

Today, thermal power plants are the main producers of energy in Russia. Most of thermal power plants use coal as fuel. The remaining waste of coal burning is ash, In Russia ash is usually kept at dumps. The amount of utilized ash is quite small, less than 13%. Meanwhile, each ash dump is a local ecological disaster. Ash dumps take a lot of place and destroy natural landscape. The use of fly ash in building materials can solve the problem of fly ash dumps in Russia. A lot of papers of scientists are devoted to the use of fly ash as filler in concrete. The main advantage of admixing fly ash in concrete is decrease of amount of used cement. This investigation was held to find out if it is possible to utilize fly ash by its use in high amounts in self-compacting concrete. During experiments three mixtures of SCC with different properties were obtained. The first one is experimental and shows the possibility of obtaining SCC with high compressive strength with 60% of fly ash from the mass of cement. Two other mixtures were optimized with the help of the math planning method to obtain high 7-day and 28-day high compressive strength.

STUDIES ON THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED BY MIXTURES OF CYPRIDINA LUCIFERIN AND LUCIFERASE

PubMed Central

Stevens, Kenneth P.

1927-01-01

1. A photometric method was devised for measuring the intensities of light emitted per cc. of hiciferin solution and calculating the amount of light emitted per gm. of dried Cypridina powder. A total of 128 runs was made and the data are incorporated in this report. 2. The maximum amount of light emitted from 1 gm. of powder under the experimental conditions was 0.655 lumens. Different samples of powder vary greatly in amount of light production. 3. When the concentration of substrate is doubled, nearly twice as much light is emitted, or an average ratio 2C/C of 1.86. Calculations of total light emissions per gm. of powder at different concentrations indicate that slightly more light is produced from the smaller concentrations. The maximum amount of light was produced by the solutions made with neutral sea water and averaged 0.445 lumens. The least light was obtained from solutions in distilled water saturated with hydrogen. The technique allows too rapid spontaneous oxidation prior to the saturation with hydrogen. The maximum amount of light from such experiments was only 0.077 lumens. Acid sea water solutions subsequently neutralized gave an average maximum of 0.386 lumens per gm. of powder per second. 4. When the concentration of enzyme is doubled, approximately the same amount of light is produced by both concentrations, although the stronger concentrations are slightly less effective than weaker ones. This undoubtedly is due to the colloidal nature of the enzyme and is a function of surface rather than of mass. In dilute solutions greater dispersion probably allows for greater adsorption to the surface of the enzyme. The average maximum amount of light produced in the series of enzyme experiments is of the magnitude 0.56 lumens per gm. of powder. PMID:19872366

South-Tibetan partially molten batholiths: geophysical characterization and petrological assessment of their origin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hetényi, G.; Pistone, M.; Nabelek, P. I.; Baumgartner, L. P.

2017-12-01

Zones of partial melt in the middle crust of Lhasa Block, Southern Tibet, have been geophysically observed as seismically reflective "bright spots" in the past 20 years. These batholiths bear important relevance for geodynamics as they serve as the principal observation at depth supporting channel-flow models in the Himalaya-Tibet orogen. Here we assess the spatial abundance of and partial melt volume fraction within these crustal batholiths, and establish lower and upper estimate bounds using a joint geophysical-petrological approach.Geophysical imaging constrains the abundance of partial melt zones to 5.6 km3 per surface-km2 on average (minimum: 3.1 km3/km2, maximum: 7.6 km3/km2 over the mapped area). Physical properties detected by field geophysics and interpreted by laboratory measurements constrain the amount of partial melt to be between 5 and 26 percent.We evaluate the compatibility of these estimates with petrological modeling based on geotherms, crustal bulk rock compositions and water contents consistent with the Lhasa Block. These simulations determine: (a) the physico-chemical conditions of melt generation at the base of the Tibetan crust and its transport and emplacement in the middle crust; (b) the melt percentage produced at the source, transported and emplaced to form the observed "bright spots". Two main mechanisms are considered: (1) melting induced by fluids produced during mineral dehydration reactions in the underthrusting Indian lower crust; (2) dehydration-melting reactions caused by heating within the Tibetan crust. We find that both mechanisms demonstrate first-order match in explaining the formation of the partially molten "bright spots". Thermal modelling shows that the Lhasa Block batholiths have only small amounts of melt and only for geologically short times (<4.5 Myr), if not continuously fed. This, together with their small size compared to the Tibetan Plateau, suggests that these partially molten zones are ephemeral and local features of the geodynamic evolution. Their transience excludes both long-distance and long-lasting channel flow transport in Tibet.

Nonlinear restrictions on dynamo action. [in magnetic fields of astrophysical objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vainshtein, Samuel I.; Cattaneo, Fausto

1992-01-01

Astrophysical dynamos operate in the limit of small magnetic diffusivity. In order for magnetic reconnection to occur, very small magnetic structures must form so that diffusion becomes effective. The formation of small-scale fields is accompanied by the stretching of the field lines and therefore by an amplification of the magnetic field strength. The back reaction of the magnetic field on the motions leads to the eventual saturation of the dynamo process, thus posing a constraint on the amount of magnetic flux that can be generated by dynamo action, It is argued that in the limit of small diffusivity only a small amount of flux, many orders of magnitude less than the observed fluxes, can be created by dynamo processes.

12 CFR 195.42 - Data collection, reporting, and disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... calendar year: (1) Small business and small farm loan data. For each geography in which the savings association originated or purchased a small business or small farm loan, the aggregate number and amount of... each small business or small farm loan originated or purchased by the savings association: (1) A unique...

12 CFR 195.42 - Data collection, reporting, and disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... calendar year: (1) Small business and small farm loan data. For each geography in which the savings association originated or purchased a small business or small farm loan, the aggregate number and amount of... each small business or small farm loan originated or purchased by the savings association: (1) A unique...

12 CFR 228.42 - Data collection, reporting, and disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... data for each small business or small farm loan originated or purchased by the bank: (1) A unique... for the prior calendar year: (1) Small business and small farm loan data. For each geography in which the bank originated or purchased a small business or small farm loan, the aggregate number and amount...

12 CFR 195.42 - Data collection, reporting, and disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... calendar year: (1) Small business and small farm loan data. For each geography in which the savings association originated or purchased a small business or small farm loan, the aggregate number and amount of... each small business or small farm loan originated or purchased by the savings association: (1) A unique...

12 CFR 228.42 - Data collection, reporting, and disclosure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... data for each small business or small farm loan originated or purchased by the bank: (1) A unique... for the prior calendar year: (1) Small business and small farm loan data. For each geography in which the bank originated or purchased a small business or small farm loan, the aggregate number and amount...

Submerged culture conditions for the production of mycelial biomass and antimicrobial metabolites by Polyporus tricholoma Mont.

PubMed Central

Vieira, Gladys Rosane Thomé; Liebl, Mariane; Tavares, Lorena Benathar Ballod; Paulert, Roberta; Smânia Júnior, Artur

2008-01-01

Basidiomycete fungi of the Polyporus genus are a source of secondary metabolites which are of medicinal interest as antibacterial compounds. As these substances are produced in a small amount by the fungi, the study of the cultivation conditions in vitro that could possibly optimize their production seems of major importance. The effects of glucose and lactose, pH and agitation on biomass concentration and on the specific growth rate caused by the basidiomycete Polyporus tricholoma were investigated. The initial pH (4.5, 6.5 and 8.5) was autoregulated at pH 5.5, and the agitation increased the mycelial growth and the specific growth rate. The high concentration of carbon sources (4%) increased biomass production. The lactose concentration and the absence of agitation were determinant in the production of antibacterial metabolites. The characterization of the antibacterial substance by GC-MS indicated a major compound, isodrimenediol, produced by the fungus Polyporus tricholoma with activity against Staphylococcus aureus. PMID:24031266

Caracterización de un sistema de telescopios Cherenkov para la detección de rayos gamma de energías del TeV desde el CASLEO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melo, D.; Yelós, L. D.; Garcia, B.; Rovero, A. C.

2017-10-01

Gamma-ray astronomy opened the universe of the more energetic electromagnetic radiation using ground and orbiting instruments, which provide information for the understanding of sources of different types. Ground-based telescope arrays use Cherenkov light produced by the charged particles from extensive air showers generated in the Earth's atmosphere to identify gamma rays. This imposes a minimum energy threshold on the gamma rays to be detected. Towards the high-energy end of the spectrum, however, the amount of Cherenkov radiation produced by a gamma-ray photon guarantees its detectability, the limiting factor being the low flux of the sources. For this reason, the detection strategy consists in using arrays of small telescopes. In this work, we investigate the feasibility of detecting gamma-ray cascades using Cherenkov telescopes, in the range of 100 GeV to 2 TeV, at the CASLEO site, characterizing the response of a system of three Cherenkov telescopes.

Ground-Level Ozone Following Astrophysical Ionizing Radiation Events: An Additional Biological Hazard?

PubMed

Thomas, Brian C; Goracke, Byron D

2016-01-01

Astrophysical ionizing radiation events such as supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, and solar proton events have been recognized as a potential threat to life on Earth, primarily through depletion of stratospheric ozone and subsequent increase in solar UV radiation at Earth's surface and in the upper levels of the ocean. Other work has also considered the potential impact of nitric acid rainout, concluding that no significant threat is likely. Not yet studied to date is the potential impact of ozone produced in the lower atmosphere following an ionizing radiation event. Ozone is a known irritant to organisms on land and in water and therefore may be a significant additional hazard. Using previously completed atmospheric chemistry modeling, we examined the amount of ozone produced in the lower atmosphere for the case of a gamma-ray burst and found that the values are too small to pose a significant additional threat to the biosphere. These results may be extended to other ionizing radiation events, including supernovae and extreme solar proton events.

Design of k-Space Channel Combination Kernels and Integration with Parallel Imaging

PubMed Central

Beatty, Philip J.; Chang, Shaorong; Holmes, James H.; Wang, Kang; Brau, Anja C. S.; Reeder, Scott B.; Brittain, Jean H.

2014-01-01

Purpose In this work, a new method is described for producing local k-space channel combination kernels using a small amount of low-resolution multichannel calibration data. Additionally, this work describes how these channel combination kernels can be combined with local k-space unaliasing kernels produced by the calibration phase of parallel imaging methods such as GRAPPA, PARS and ARC. Methods Experiments were conducted to evaluate both the image quality and computational efficiency of the proposed method compared to a channel-by-channel parallel imaging approach with image-space sum-of-squares channel combination. Results Results indicate comparable image quality overall, with some very minor differences seen in reduced field-of-view imaging. It was demonstrated that this method enables a speed up in computation time on the order of 3–16X for 32-channel data sets. Conclusion The proposed method enables high quality channel combination to occur earlier in the reconstruction pipeline, reducing computational and memory requirements for image reconstruction. PMID:23943602

A conceptual weather-type classification procedure for the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area

USGS Publications Warehouse

McCabe, Gregory J.

1990-01-01

A simple method of weather-type classification, based on a conceptual model of pressure systems that pass through the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area, has been developed. The only inputs required for the procedure are daily mean wind direction and cloud cover, which are used to index the relative position of pressure systems and fronts to Philadelphia.Daily mean wind-direction and cloud-cover data recorded at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from January 1954 through August 1988 were used to categorize daily weather conditions. The conceptual weather types reflect changes in daily air and dew-point temperatures, and changes in monthly mean temperature and monthly and annual precipitation. The weather-type classification produced by using the conceptual model was similar to a classification produced by using a multivariate statistical classification procedure. Even though the conceptual weather types are derived from a small amount of data, they appear to account for the variability of daily weather patterns sufficiently to describe distinct weather conditions for use in environmental analyses of weather-sensitive processes.

Enhancing Fatty Acid Production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an Animal Feed Supplement.

PubMed

You, Seung Kyou; Joo, Young-Chul; Kang, Dae Hee; Shin, Sang Kyu; Hyeon, Jeong Eun; Woo, Han Min; Um, Youngsoon; Park, Chulhwan; Han, Sung Ok

2017-12-20

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is used for edible purposes, such as human food or as an animal feed supplement. Fatty acids are also beneficial as feed supplements, but S. cerevisiae produces small amounts of fatty acids. In this study, we enhanced fatty acid production of S. cerevisiae by overexpressing acetyl-CoA carboxylase, thioesterase, and malic enzyme associated with fatty acid metabolism. The enhanced strain pAMT showed 2.4-fold higher fatty acids than the wild-type strain. To further increase the fatty acids, various nitrogen sources were analyzed and calcium nitrate was selected as an optimal nitrogen source for fatty acid production. By concentration optimization, 672 mg/L of fatty acids was produced, which was 4.7-fold higher than wild-type strain. These results complement the low level fatty acid production and make it possible to obtain the benefits of fatty acids as an animal feed supplement while, simultaneously, maintaining the advantages of S. cerevisiae.

Asynchronous spore germination in isogenic natural isolates of Saccharomyces paradoxus.

PubMed

Stelkens, Rike B; Miller, Eric L; Greig, Duncan

2016-05-01

Spores from wild yeast isolates often show great variation in the size of colonies they produce, for largely unknown reasons. Here we measure the colonies produced from single spores from six different wild Saccharomyces paradoxus strains. We found remarkable variation in spore colony sizes, even among spores that were genetically identical. Different strains had different amounts of variation in spore colony sizes, and variation was not affected by the number of preceding meioses, or by spore maturation time. We used time-lapse photography to show that wild strains also have high variation in spore germination timing, providing a likely mechanism for the variation in spore colony sizes. When some spores from a laboratory strain make small colonies, or no colonies, it usually indicates a genetic or meiotic fault. Here, we demonstrate that in wild strains spore colony size variation is normal. We discuss and assess potential adaptive and non-adaptive explanations for this variation. © FEMS 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Production and Purification of the Native Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hsp12 in Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Léger, Antoine; Hocquellet, Agnès; Dieryck, Wilfrid; Moine, Virginie; Marchal, Axel; Marullo, Philippe; Josseaume, Annabelle; Cabanne, Charlotte

2017-09-20

Hsp12 is a small heat shock protein produced in many organisms, including the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It has been described as an indicator of yeast stress rate and has also been linked to the sweetness sensation of wine. To obtain a sufficient amount of protein, we produced and purified Hsp12 without tag in Escherichia coli. A simple fast two-step process was developed using a microplate approach and a design of experiments. A capture step on an anion-exchange salt-tolerant resin was followed by size exclusion chromatography for polishing, leading to a purity of 97%. Thereafter, specific anti-Hsp12 antibodies were obtained by rabbit immunization. An ELISA was developed to quantify Hsp12 in various strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The antibodies showed high specificity and allowed the quantitation of Hsp12 in the yeast. The quantities of Hsp12 measured in the strains differed in direct proportion to the level of expression found in previous studies.

The effect of CO2 on the plasma remediation of NxOy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gentile, Ann C.; Kushner, Mark J.

1996-04-01

Plasma remediation is being investigated for the removal of oxides of nitrogen (NxOy) from atmospheric pressure gas streams. In previous works we have investigated the plasma remediation of NxOy from N2/O2/H2O mixtures using repetitively pulsed dielectric barrier discharges. As combustion effluents contain large percentages of CO2, in this paper we discuss the consequences of CO2 in the gas mixture on the efficiency of remediation and on the end products. We find that there is a small increase in the efficiency of total NxOy remediation (molecules/eV) with increasing CO2 fraction, however the efficiency of NO remediation alone generally decreases with increasing CO2. This differential is more pronounced at low energy deposition per pulse. More remediation occurs through the reduction channel with increasing CO2 while less NO2 and HNOx are produced through the oxidation channel. CO is produced by electron impact of CO2 though negligible amounts of cyanides are generated.

Influence of the presence of Zymomonas anaerobia on the conversion of cellobiose, glucose, and xylose to ethanol by Clostridium saccharolyticum

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

Asther, M.; Khan, A.W.

1984-01-01

To convert sugar mixtures containing cellobiose, glucose, and xylose to ethanol in a single step, the possibility of using a coculture consisting of Clostridium saccharolyticum and Zymomonas anaerobia was studied. In monoculture, C. saccharolyticum utilized all three sugars; however, it preferentially utilized glucose and produced acetic acid in addition to ethanol. The formation of acetic acid from the metabolism of glucose inhibited the growth of C. saccharolyticum and, consequently, the utilization of cellobiose and xylose. In monoculture, Z. anaerobia utilized glucose at a rate of 50 g/L day, but it did not ferment cellobiose or xylose. In coculture, Z. anaerobiamore » converted most of the glucose to ethanol during the lag phase of growth of C. saccharolyticum, which then converted cellobiose and xylose to ethanol. The use of this coculture increased both the rate and the efficiency of the conversion of these three sugars to ethanol, and produced relatively small amounts of acetic acid.« less

STUDIES ON THE PATHOGENESIS OF FEVER

PubMed Central

Kaiser, Hans Klaus; Wood, W. Barry

1962-01-01

Determination of the dose-response curve for rabbit leucocytic pyrogen reveals a hyperthermic "ceiling" at which there is a marked insensitivity to dosage. This finding has important implications in relation to the quantitative assay of leucocytic pyrogen. Polymorphonuclear leucocytes separated from normal rabbit blood possess the capacity to produce less than 5 per cent of the pyrogen generated by the same number of rabbit granulocytes collected from acute peritoneal exudates. Blood granulocytes, separated in the cold from the buffy coat, contain no detectable preformed pyrogen. The amount of preformed pyrogen within exudate granulocytes represents but a small fraction of the pyrogen which the cells are capable of generating when incubated in normal saline at 37°C. It is suggested that the active pyrogen is formed from an inactive precursor within the cells. Under the conditions tested, cell fragments of rabbit granulocytes fail to produce endogenous pyrogen. The fact that the production of pyrogen is blocked at 4°C is in keeping with the hypothesis that it involves metabolic reactions within the cell. PMID:14453159

Introduction to metabolic genetic engineering for the production of valuable secondary metabolites in in vivo and in vitro plant systems.

PubMed

Benedito, Vagner A; Modolo, Luzia V

2014-01-01

Plants are capable of producing a myriad of chemical compounds. While these compounds serve specific functions in the plant, many have surprising effects on the human body, often with positive action against diseases. These compounds are often difficult to synthesize ex vivo and require the coordinated and compartmentalized action of enzymes in living organisms. However, the amounts produced in whole plants are often small and restricted to single tissues of the plant or even cellular organelles, making their extraction an expensive process. Since most natural products used in therapeutics are specialized, secondary plant metabolites, we provide here an overview of the classification of the main classes of these compounds, with its biochemical pathways and how this information can be used to create efficient in and ex planta production pipelines to generate highly valuable compounds. Metabolic genetic engineering is introduced in light of physiological and genetic methods to enhance production of high-value plant secondary metabolites.

Computer Controlled Optical Surfacing With Orbital Tool Motion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jones, Robert A.

1985-10-01

Asymmetric aspheric optical surfaces are very difficult to fabricate using classical techniques and laps the same size as the workpiece. Opticians can produce such surfaces by grinding and polishing, using small laps with orbital tool motion. However, hand correction is a time consuming process unsuitable for large optical elements. Itek has developed Computer Controlled Optical Surfacing (CCOS) for fabricating such aspheric optics. Automated equipment moves a nonrotating orbiting tool slowly over the workpiece surface. The process corrects low frequency surface errors by figuring. The velocity of the tool assembly over the workpiece surface is purposely varied. Since the amount of material removal is proportional to the polishing or grinding time, accurate control over material removal is achieved. The removal of middle and high frequency surface errors is accomplished by pad smoothing. For a soft pad material, the pad will compress to fit the workpiece surface producing greater pressure and more removal at the surface high areas. A harder pad will ride on only the high regions resulting in removal only for those locations.

Enzyme-resistant dextrins from potato starch for potential application in the beverage industry.

PubMed

Jochym, Kamila Kapusniak; Nebesny, Ewa

2017-09-15

The objective of this study was to produce soluble enzyme-resistant dextrins by microwave heating of potato starch acidified with small amounts of hydrochloric and citric acids and to characterize their properties. Twenty five samples were initially made and their solubility was determined. Three samples with the highest water solubility were selected for physico-chemical (dextrose equivalent, molecular weight distribution, pasting characteristics, retrogradation tendency), total dietary fiber (TDF) analysis, and stability tests. TDF content averaged 25%. Enzyme-resistant dextrins practically did not paste, even at 20% samples concentration, and were characterized by low retrogradation tendency. The stability of the samples, expressed as a percentage increase of initial and final reducing sugar content, at low pH and during heating at low pH averaged 10% and 15% of the initial value, respectively. The results indicate that microwave heating could be an effective and efficient method of producing highly-soluble, low-viscous, and enzyme-resistant potato starch dextrins. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Growth and fatbody cycles in feral populations of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis (Pipidae), in California with comments on reproduction

USGS Publications Warehouse

McCoid, M.J.; Fritts, T.H.

1989-01-01

Feral populations of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) exist in several areas of southern California. By following the first cohort of progeny produced by African clawed frogs at a recently colonized site, data on the growth rates and age at first maturity were obtained in field conditions. Females reached maturity at an earlier age than males, grew faster than males, and attained body lengths up to 25% larger than males. Larger females were capable of producing larger numbers of eggs than small females and, therefore, had greater reproductive potential. The relatively stable ambient temperatures of southern California contributed to the possibility of reproduction of clawed frogs during all but the coolest periods of the year. Cycles detected in the mass of fatbodies suggested that nutrients were mobilized from fat prior to and during ovulation. The amount of fat in females varied widely, but fat in males tended to accumulate as the males grew during the study period.

Growth and fat-body cycles in feral populations of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis (Pipidae), in California with comments on reproduction

USGS Publications Warehouse

McCoid, Michael J.; Fritts, Thomas H.

1989-01-01

Feral populations of the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) exist in several areas of southern California. By following the first cohort of progeny produced by African clawed frogs at a recently colonized site, data on the growth rates and age at first maturity were obtained in field conditions. Females reached maturity at an earlier age than males, grew faster than males, and attained body lengths up to 25% larger than males. Larger females were capable of producing larger numbers of eggs than small females and, therefore, had greater reproductive potential. The relatively stable ambient temperatures of southern California contributed to the possibility of reproduction of clawed frogs during all but the coolest periods of the year. Cycles detected in the mass of fatbodies suggested that nutrients were mobilized from fat prior to and during ovulation. The amount of fat in females varies widely, but fat in males tended to accumulate as the males grew during the study period.

The effects of specified chemical meals on food intake.

PubMed

Koopmans, H S; Maggio, C A

1978-10-01

Rats received intragastric infusions of various specified chemical meals and were subsequently tested for a reduction in food intake. A second experiment, using a novel technique, tested for conditioned aversion to the meal infusions. The nonnutritive substances, kaolin clay and emulsified fluorocarbon, had no significant effect on food intake. Infusions of 1 M glucose and 1 M sorbitol reduced feeding behavior, but the 1 M sorbitol infusion also produced a conditioned aversion to flavored pellets paired with the sorbitol infusion, showing that the reduced feeding could have been caused by discomfort. Infusion of a high-fat meal consisting of emulsified triolein mixed with small amounts of sugar and protein or the rat's normal liquid diet, Nutrament, also reduced food intake, and both infusions failed to produce a conditioned aversion. The use of specified meals to understand the chemical basis of satiety requires a sensitive behavioral test to establish that the meal does not cause discomfort or other nonspecific effects.

PCI: A PATRAN-NASTRAN model translator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheerer, T. J.

1990-01-01

The amount of programming required to develop a PATRAN-NASTRAN translator was surprisingly small. The approach taken produced a highly flexible translator comparable with the PATNAS translator and superior to the PATCOS translator. The coding required varied from around ten lines for a shell element to around thirty for a bar element, and the time required to add a feature to the program is typically less than an hour. The use of a lookup table for element names makes the translator also applicable to other versions of NASTRAN. The saving in time as a result of using PDA's Gateway utilities was considerable. During the writing of the program it became apparent that, with a somewhat more complex structure, it would be possible to extend the element data file to contain all data required to define the translation from PATRAN to NASTRAN by mapping of data between formats. Similar data files on property, material and grid formats would produce a completely universal translator from PATRAN to any FEA program, or indeed any CAE system.

Resolution of low-velocity control in golf putting differentiates professionals from amateurs.

PubMed

Hasegawa, Yumiko; Fujii, Keisuke; Miura, Akito; Yamamoto, Yuji

2017-07-01

It is difficult for humans to apply small amounts of force precisely during motor control. However, experts who have undergone extended training are thought to be able to control low-velocity movement with precision. We investigated the resolution of motor control in golf putting. A total of 10 professional and 10 high-level amateur golfers participated. Putting distances were 0.6-3.3 m, in increments of 0.3 m. We measured the impact velocity and the club-face angle at impact, and the acceleration profile of the downswing. The professionals showed significantly smaller coefficients of variation with respect to impact velocity and smaller root mean square errors in relation to acceleration profiles than did the amateurs. To examine the resolution of motor control for impact velocity, we investigated intra-participant differences in the impact velocity of the club head at two adjacent distances. We found that professionals had higher velocity precision when putting small distance intervals than did amateurs. That is, professionals had higher resolution of low-velocity control than did high-level amateurs. Our results suggest that outstanding performance at a task involves the ability to recognise small distinctions and to produce appropriate movements.

Observation of interstellar lithium in the low-metallicity Small Magellanic Cloud.

PubMed

Howk, J Christopher; Lehner, Nicolas; Fields, Brian D; Mathews, Grant J

2012-09-06

The primordial abundances of light elements produced in the standard theory of Big Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) depend only on the cosmic ratio of baryons to photons, a quantity inferred from observations of the microwave background. The predicted primordial (7)Li abundance is four times that measured in the atmospheres of Galactic halo stars. This discrepancy could be caused by modification of surface lithium abundances during the stars' lifetimes or by physics beyond the Standard Model that affects early nucleosynthesis. The lithium abundance of low-metallicity gas provides an alternative constraint on the primordial abundance and cosmic evolution of lithium that is not susceptible to the in situ modifications that may affect stellar atmospheres. Here we report observations of interstellar (7)Li in the low-metallicity gas of the Small Magellanic Cloud, a nearby galaxy with a quarter the Sun's metallicity. The present-day (7)Li abundance of the Small Magellanic Cloud is nearly equal to the BBN predictions, severely constraining the amount of possible subsequent enrichment of the gas by stellar and cosmic-ray nucleosynthesis. Our measurements can be reconciled with standard BBN with an extremely fine-tuned depletion of stellar Li with metallicity. They are also consistent with non-standard BBN.

Ultrasonic vibration double scratch morphology and scratching force of BK7 glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chu; Wang, Hongxiang; Liu, Junliang; Gao, Shi

2018-03-01

In this paper, the damage morphology and scratching force of BK7 glass components were analyzed by ultrasonic vibration double-scratch test. The results showed that there was surface damage caused by plastic flow and brittle fracture during the scratching process, and the scratching depth and the distance between the two scratches had effect on the propagation and overlapping of lateral cracks. When the scratching depth was small, the jagged scratch was produced on the surface, and accompanied by a small amount of tiny pieces of debris off. With the increase in scratching depth, the lateral cracks caused by scratching overlapped and expended to form a mesh sheet, and then fell off from the surface. When the scratching distance was small, the interaction of the cracks caused large slice of material to fall off. With the increase in scratching distance, the area between the two scratches was not easy to occur the overlapping of the lateral cracks. In addition, with the increase of the scratching depth, the scratching force showed a gradual increase trend, and the scratching force of the second scratch would increase with the scratching distance.

Strongly self-interacting vector dark matter via freeze-in

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duch, Mateusz; Grzadkowski, Bohdan; Huang, Da

2018-01-01

We study a vector dark matter (VDM) model in which the dark sector couples to the Standard Model sector via a Higgs portal. If the portal coupling is small enough the VDM can be produced via the freeze-in mechanism. It turns out that the electroweak phase transition have a substantial impact on the prediction of the VDM relic density. We further assume that the dark Higgs boson which gives the VDM mass is so light that it can induce strong VDM self-interactions and solve the small-scale structure problems of the Universe. As illustrated by the latest LUX data, the extreme smallness of the Higgs portal coupling required by the freeze-in mechanism implies that the dark matter direct detection bounds are easily satisfied. However, the model is well constrained by the indirect detections of VDM from BBN, CMB, AMS-02, and diffuse γ/X-rays. Consequently, only when the dark Higgs boson mass is at most of O (keV) does there exist a parameter region which leads to a right amount of VDM relic abundance and an appropriate VDM self-scattering while satisfying all other constraints simultaneously.

The formation of Uranus and Neptune in the Jupiter-Saturn region of the Solar System.

PubMed

Thommes, E W; Duncan, M J; Levison, H F

1999-12-09

Planets are believed to have formed through the accumulation of a large number of small bodies. In the case of the gas-giant planets Jupiter and Saturn, they accreted a significant amount of gas directly from the protosolar nebula after accumulating solid cores of about 5-15 Earth masses. Such models, however, have been unable to produce the smaller ice giants Uranus and Neptune at their present locations, because in that region of the Solar System the small planetary bodies will have been more widely spaced, and less tightly bound gravitationally to the Sun. When applied to the current Jupiter-Saturn zone, a recent theory predicts that, in addition to the solid cores of Jupiter and Saturn, two or three other solid bodies of comparable mass are likely to have formed. Here we report the results of model calculations that demonstrate that such cores will have been gravitationally scattered outwards as Jupiter, and perhaps Saturn, accreted nebular gas. The orbits of these cores then evolve into orbits that resemble those of Uranus and Neptune, as a result of gravitational interactions with the small bodies in the outer disk of the protosolar nebula.

Multi-interferogram method for measuring interseismic deformation: Denali Fault, Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Biggs, Juliet; Wright, Tim; Lu, Zhong; Parsons, Barry

2007-01-01

Studies of interseismic strain accumulation are crucial to our understanding of continental deformation, the earthquake cycle and seismic hazard. By mapping small amounts of ground deformation over large spatial areas, InSAR has the potential to produce continental-scale maps of strain accumulation on active faults. However, most InSAR studies to date have focused on areas where the coherence is relatively good (e.g. California, Tibet and Turkey) and most analysis techniques (stacking, small baseline subset algorithm, permanent scatterers, etc.) only include information from pixels which are coherent throughout the time-span of the study. In some areas, such as Alaska, where the deformation rate is small and coherence very variable, it is necessary to include information from pixels which are coherent in some but not all interferograms. We use a three-stage iterative algorithm based on distributed scatterer interferometry. We validate our method using synthetic data created using realistic parameters from a test site on the Denali Fault, Alaska, and present a preliminary result of 10.5 ?? 5.0 mm yr-1 for the slip rate on the Denali Fault based on a single track of radar data from ERS1/2. ?? 2007 The Authors Journal compilation ?? 2007 RAS.

Average properties of bidisperse bubbly flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serrano-García, J. C.; Mendez-Díaz, S.; Zenit, R.

2018-03-01

Experiments were performed in a vertical channel to study the properties of a bubbly flow composed of two distinct bubble size species. Bubbles were produced using a capillary bank with tubes with two distinct inner diameters; the flow through each capillary size was controlled such that the amount of large or small bubbles could be controlled. Using water and water-glycerin mixtures, a wide range of Reynolds and Weber number ranges were investigated. The gas volume fraction ranged between 0.5% and 6%. The measurements of the mean bubble velocity of each species and the liquid velocity variance were obtained and contrasted with the monodisperse flows with equivalent gas volume fractions. We found that the bidispersity can induce a reduction of the mean bubble velocity of the large species; for the small size species, the bubble velocity can be increased, decreased, or remain unaffected depending of the flow conditions. The liquid velocity variance of the bidisperse flows is, in general, bound by the values of the small and large monodisperse values; interestingly, in some cases, the liquid velocity fluctuations can be larger than either monodisperse case. A simple model for the liquid agitation for bidisperse flows is proposed, with good agreement with the experimental measurements.

Quantitative characterization of 3-dimensional melt distribution in partially molten olivine-basalt aggregates using X-ray synchrotron microtomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, W.; Gaetani, G. A.; Fusseis, F.

2009-12-01

Quantitative knowledge of the distribution of small amounts of silicate melt in peridotite and of its influence on permeability are critical to our understanding of melt migration and segregation processes in the upper mantle. Estimates for the permeability of partially molten rock require 3D melt distribution at the grain-scale. Existing studies of melt distribution, carried out on 2D slices through experimental charges, have produced divergent models for melt distribution at small melt fractions. While some studies conclude that small amounts of melt are distributed primarily along triple junctions [e.g., Wark et al., 2003], others predict an important role for melt distribution along grain boundaries at low melt fractions [e.g., Faul 1997]. Using X-ray synchrotron microtomography, we have obtained the first high quality non-destructive imaging of 3D melt distribution in olivine-basalt aggregates. Textually equilibrated partially molten samples consisting of magnesian olivine plus 2, 5, 10, or 20% primitive basalt were synthesized at 1.5 GPa and 1350°C in experiments lasting 264-336 hours. Microtomographic images of melt distribution were obtained on cylindrical cores, 1 mm in diameter, at a spatial resolution of 1 micron. Textual information such as melt channel size, dihedral angle and channel connectivity was then quantified using AVIZO and MATLAB. Our results indicate that as melt fraction decreases, melt becomes increasingly distributed along 3 grain junctions, in agreement with theoretical predictions. We do not find significant amounts of melt along grain boundaries at low melt fractions. We found that the true dihedral angle ranges from 50 to 70°, in agreements with results using 2D microcopy. Comparison between the samples provides a quantitative characterization of how melt fraction affects melt distribution including connectivity. The geometrical data have been incorporated into our network model to obtain macroscale transport properties for partially molten dunite. Results from this tomographic study thus provide constraints on rates of melt migration and melt extraction within the partially molten regions beneath ocean ridges. Fig 1. Melt channels in an olivine-basalt sample with 10 vol% melt.

The Unknown Oldowan: ~1.7-Million-Year-Old Standardized Obsidian Small Tools from Garba IV, Melka Kunture, Ethiopia

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

The Oldowan Industrial Complex has long been thought to have been static, with limited internal variability, embracing techno-complexes essentially focused on small-to-medium flake production. The flakes were rarely modified by retouch to produce small tools, which do not show any standardized pattern. Usually, the manufacture of small standardized tools has been interpreted as a more complex behavior emerging with the Acheulean technology. Here we report on the ~1.7 Ma Oldowan assemblages from Garba IVE-F at Melka Kunture in the Ethiopian highland. This industry is structured by technical criteria shared by the other East African Oldowan assemblages. However, there is also evidence of a specific technical process never recorded before, i.e. the systematic production of standardized small pointed tools strictly linked to the obsidian exploitation. Standardization and raw material selection in the manufacture of small tools disappear at Melka Kunture during the Lower Pleistocene Acheulean. This proves that 1) the emergence of a certain degree of standardization in tool-kits does not reflect in itself a major step in cultural evolution; and that 2) the Oldowan knappers, when driven by functional needs and supported by a highly suitable raw material, were occasionally able to develop specific technical solutions. The small tool production at ~1.7 Ma, at a time when the Acheulean was already emerging elsewhere in East Africa, adds to the growing amount of evidence of Oldowan techno-economic variability and flexibility, further challenging the view that early stone knapping was static over hundreds of thousands of years. PMID:26690569

The Unknown Oldowan: ~1.7-Million-Year-Old Standardized Obsidian Small Tools from Garba IV, Melka Kunture, Ethiopia.

PubMed

Gallotti, Rosalia; Mussi, Margherita

2015-01-01

The Oldowan Industrial Complex has long been thought to have been static, with limited internal variability, embracing techno-complexes essentially focused on small-to-medium flake production. The flakes were rarely modified by retouch to produce small tools, which do not show any standardized pattern. Usually, the manufacture of small standardized tools has been interpreted as a more complex behavior emerging with the Acheulean technology. Here we report on the ~1.7 Ma Oldowan assemblages from Garba IVE-F at Melka Kunture in the Ethiopian highland. This industry is structured by technical criteria shared by the other East African Oldowan assemblages. However, there is also evidence of a specific technical process never recorded before, i.e. the systematic production of standardized small pointed tools strictly linked to the obsidian exploitation. Standardization and raw material selection in the manufacture of small tools disappear at Melka Kunture during the Lower Pleistocene Acheulean. This proves that 1) the emergence of a certain degree of standardization in tool-kits does not reflect in itself a major step in cultural evolution; and that 2) the Oldowan knappers, when driven by functional needs and supported by a highly suitable raw material, were occasionally able to develop specific technical solutions. The small tool production at ~1.7 Ma, at a time when the Acheulean was already emerging elsewhere in East Africa, adds to the growing amount of evidence of Oldowan techno-economic variability and flexibility, further challenging the view that early stone knapping was static over hundreds of thousands of years.

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus: detection of biofilm genes and biofilm formation in blood culture isolates from patients in a Brazilian teaching hospital.

PubMed

Pinheiro, Luiza; Brito, Carla Ivo; Oliveira, Adilson de; Pereira, Valéria Cataneli; Cunha, Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro de Souza da

2016-09-01

Infections with coagulase-negative staphylococci are often related to biofilm formation. This study aimed to detect biofilm formation and biofilm-associated genes in blood culture isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. haemolyticus. Half (50.6%) of the 85 S. epidermidis isolates carried the icaAD genes and 15.3% the bhp gene, while these numbers were 42.9% and 0 for S. haemolyticus, respectively. According to the plate test, 30 S. epidermidis isolates were biofilm producers and 40% of them were strongly adherent, while only one (6%) of the 17 S. haemolyticus biofilm-producing isolates exhibited a strongly adherent biofilm. The concomitant presence of icaA and icaD was significantly associated with the plate and tube test results (P ≤ 0.0004). The higher frequency of icaA in S. epidermidis and of icaD in S. haemolyticus is correlated with the higher biofilm-producing capacity of the former since, in contrast to IcaD, IcaA activity is sufficient to produce small amounts of polysaccharide. Although this study emphasizes the importance of icaAD and bhp for biofilm formation in S. epidermidis, other mechanisms seem to be involved in S. haemolyticus. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Imaging study of using radiopharmaceuticals labeled with cyclotron-produced 99mTc.

PubMed

Hou, X; Tanguay, J; Vuckovic, M; Buckley, K; Schaffer, P; Bénard, F; Ruth, T J; Celler, A

2016-12-07

Cyclotron-produced 99m Tc (CPTc) has been recognized as an attractive and practical substitution of reactor/generator based 99m Tc. However, the small amount of 92-98 Mo in the irradiation of enriched 100 Mo could lead to the production of other radioactive technetium isotopes (Tc-impurities) which cannot be chemically separated. Thus, these impurities could contribute to patient dose and affect image quality. The potential radiation dose caused by these Tc-impurities produced using different targets, irradiation conditions, and corresponding to different injection times have been investigated, leading us to create dose-based limits of these parameters for producing clinically acceptable CPTc. However, image quality has been not considered. The aim of the present work is to provide a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of image quality for CPTc. The impact of Tc-impurities in CPTc on image resolution, background noise, and contrast is investigated by performing both Monte-Carlo simulations and phantom experiments. Various targets, irradiation, and acquisition conditions are employed for investigating the image-based limits of CPTc production parameters. Additionally, the relationship between patient dose and image quality of CPTc samples is studied. Only those samples which meet both dose- and image-based limits should be accepted in future clinical studies.

Cloning and characterization of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase from the highly branched isoprenoid producing diatom Rhizosolenia setigera.

PubMed

Ferriols, Victor Marco Emmanuel N; Yaginuma, Ryoko; Adachi, Masao; Takada, Kentaro; Matsunaga, Shigeki; Okada, Shigeru

2015-05-21

The diatom Rhizosolenia setigera Brightwell produces highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) hydrocarbons that are ubiquitously present in marine environments. The hydrocarbon composition of R. setigera varies between C25 and C30 HBIs depending on the life cycle stage with regard to auxosporulation. To better understand how these hydrocarbons are biosynthesized, we characterized the farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) synthase (FPPS) enzyme of R. setigera. An isolated 1465-bp cDNA clone contained an open reading frame spanning 1299-bp encoding a protein with 432 amino acid residues. Expression of the RsFPPS cDNA coding region in Escherichia coli produced a protein that exhibited FPPS activity in vitro. A reduction in HBI content from diatoms treated with an FPPS inhibitor, risedronate, suggested that RsFPPS supplies precursors for HBI biosynthesis. Product analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry also revealed that RsFPPS produced small amounts of the cis-isomers of geranyl pyrophosphate and FPP, candidate precursors for the cis-isomers of HBIs previously characterized. Furthermore, RsFPPS gene expression at various life stages of R. setigera in relation to auxosporulation were also analyzed. Herein, we present data on the possible role of RsFPPS in HBI biosynthesis, and it is to our knowledge the first instance that an FPPS was cloned and characterized from a diatom.

Imaging study of using radiopharmaceuticals labeled with cyclotron-produced 99mTc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, X.; Tanguay, J.; Vuckovic, M.; Buckley, K.; Schaffer, P.; Bénard, F.; Ruth, T. J.; Celler, A.

2016-12-01

Cyclotron-produced 99mTc (CPTc) has been recognized as an attractive and practical substitution of reactor/generator based 99mTc. However, the small amount of 92-98Mo in the irradiation of enriched 100Mo could lead to the production of other radioactive technetium isotopes (Tc-impurities) which cannot be chemically separated. Thus, these impurities could contribute to patient dose and affect image quality. The potential radiation dose caused by these Tc-impurities produced using different targets, irradiation conditions, and corresponding to different injection times have been investigated, leading us to create dose-based limits of these parameters for producing clinically acceptable CPTc. However, image quality has been not considered. The aim of the present work is to provide a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of image quality for CPTc. The impact of Tc-impurities in CPTc on image resolution, background noise, and contrast is investigated by performing both Monte-Carlo simulations and phantom experiments. Various targets, irradiation, and acquisition conditions are employed for investigating the image-based limits of CPTc production parameters. Additionally, the relationship between patient dose and image quality of CPTc samples is studied. Only those samples which meet both dose- and image-based limits should be accepted in future clinical studies.

Metabolites of Trichoderma species isolated from damp building materials.

PubMed

McMullin, David R; Renaud, Justin B; Barasubiye, Tharcisse; Sumarah, Mark W; Miller, J David

2017-07-01

Buildings that have been flooded often have high concentrations of Trichoderma spores in the air while drying. Inhaled spores and spore and mycelial fragments contain large amounts of fungal glucan and natural products that contribute to the symptoms associated with indoor mould exposures. In this study, we considered both small molecules and peptaibol profiles of T. atroviride, T. koningiopsis, T. citrinoviride, and T. harzianum strains obtained from damp buildings in eastern Canada. Twenty-residue peptaibols and sorbicillin-derived metabolites (1-6) including a new structure, (R)-vertinolide (1), were characterized from T. citrinoviride. Trichoderma koningiopsis produced several koninginins (7-10), trikoningin KA V, and the 11-residue lipopeptaibols trikoningin KB I and trikoningin KB II. Trichoderma atroviride biosynthesized a mixture of 19-residue trichorzianine-like peptaibols, whereas T. harzianum produced 18-residue trichokindin-like peptaibols and the 11-residue harzianin HB I that was subsequently identified from the studied T. citrinoviride strain. Two α-pyrones, 6-pentyl-pyran-2-one (11) and an oxidized analog (12), were produced by both T. atroviride and T. harzianum. Aside from exposure to low molecular weight natural products, inhalation of Trichoderma spores and mycelial fragments may result in exposure to membrane-disrupting peptaibols. This investigation contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the biologically active natural products produced by fungi commonly found in damp buildings.

Challenges in Modelling and Control of Offshore De-oiling Hydrocyclone Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durdevic, Petar; Pedersen, Simon; Yang, Zhenyu

2017-01-01

Offshore de-oiling installations are facing an increasing challenge with regards to removing oil residuals from produced water prior to discharge into the ocean. The de-oiling of produced water is initially achieved in the primary separation processes using gravity-based multi-phase separators, which can effectively handle large amounts of oil-well fluids but may struggle with the efficient separation of small dispersed oil particles. Thereby hydrocyclone systems are commonly employed in the downstream Produced Water Treatment (PWT) process for further reducing the oil concentration in the produced water before it can be discharged into the ocean. The popularity of hydrocyclone technology in the offshore oil and gas industry is mainly due to its rugged design and low maintenance requirements. However, to operate and control this type of system in an efficient way is far less simple, and alternatively this task imposes a number of key control challenges. Specifically, there is much research to be performed in the direction of dynamic modelling and control of de-oiling hydrocyclone systems. The current solutions rely heavily on empirical trial-and-error approaches. This paper gives a brief review of current hydrocyclone control solutions and the remaining challenges and includes some of our recent work in this topic and ends with a motivation for future work.

Tests of Rock Cores Scott Study Area, Missouri

DTIC Science & Technology

1970-05-01

porphyry with some granodiorite and small amounts of dolomite, acid metavolcanics, and dark gray volcanic breccia. Specific gravity, * Schmidt...petrographically identified as predominantly rhyolite and dacite porphyry with some granodiorite and small amounts of dolomite, acid metavolcanics, and dark...exhibit- ing little, if any, hysteresis. 9. Direct and indirect tensile strengths exhibited by tne rhyro- lite and dacite porphyry and granite are very high

Minimally invasive unicompartmental knee replacement: retrospective clinical and radiographic evaluation of 83 patients.

PubMed

Bruni, Danilo; Iacono, Francesco; Russo, Alessandro; Zaffagnini, Stefano; Marcheggiani Muccioli, Giulio Maria; Bignozzi, Simone; Bragonzoni, Laura; Marcacci, Maurilio

2010-06-01

We performed a retrospective clinical and radiographic evaluation of 83 nonconsecutive patients operated in our institute between February 1996 and March 2003 with a mean follow-up of 60 months to assess the efficiency of unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) performed with a minimally invasive technique. The aim of this study was to correlate the clinical outcome with the pre- and post-operative alignment and with implant positioning on coronal and sagittal plane. Eighty-three nonconsecutive patients (60 males, 23 females) underwent cemented UKR (De Puy Preservation Uni with all-poly tibial component), for both medial OA (80 patients) and AVN of the medial femoral condyle (3 patients). All patients were available at final follow-up evaluation, and they all presented an evident varus alignment at pre-operative clinical and radiographic evaluation. At radiographic measurement, we considered a knee with femoro-tibial angle (FTA) > 175 degrees as varus knee, 170 degrees < FTA < 175 degrees as normal knee and a knee with a FTA < 170 degrees as a valgus knee. Moreover, we considered a tibial plateau angle (TPA) > 90 degrees for valgus knee and a TPA < 90 degrees for varus knee. According to Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scoring system, at a mean follow-up of 60 months, 61 (74%) cases were excellent (100-85 points), 15 (18%) cases were good (84-70 points) and 7 cases (8%) had fair results (<70 points). In our series, patients with an excellent clinical result presented a mean varus deformity of 7.2 degrees (3.6 degrees-10.8 degrees) pre-operatively. According to literature, we demonstrated that a small amount of undercorrection with a small amount of residual varus deformity of 3 degrees-5 degrees is the goal to be reached in order to avoid both rapid degeneration of the nonreplaced compartment and the premature loosening of the replaced compartment. We performed a mean axial correction of 5 degrees (SD 3.9 degrees), leaving a mean axial varus deformity of 2.2 degrees in the excellent group. In our series, the group with excellent results also showed a post-operative PTS of 7 degrees (2.4 degrees-11.6 degrees), while mean pre-operative PTS was 6.5 degrees (2.7 degrees-10.3 degrees). In this study, results have shown that minimally invasive UKR producing a small amount of varus undercorrection in selected patients with medial tibio-femoral osteoarthritis or moderate avascular necrosis of the medial femoral condyle provides excellent clinical and functional results. Overcorrection of varus malalignment with a UKR may produce both rapid degeneration of the lateral tibio-femoral compartment and the early failure of the replaced compartment.

7 CFR 1001.71 - Payments to the producer-settlement fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... to the handler for the month as determined pursuant to § 1001.60. (b) The sum of: (1) An amount... multiplying the total pounds of protein, other solids, and butterfat contained in producer milk by the protein, other solids, and butterfat prices respectively; and (3) An amount obtained by multiplying the pounds of...

7 CFR 1001.71 - Payments to the producer-settlement fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... to the handler for the month as determined pursuant to § 1001.60. (b) The sum of: (1) An amount... multiplying the total pounds of protein, other solids, and butterfat contained in producer milk by the protein, other solids, and butterfat prices respectively; and (3) An amount obtained by multiplying the pounds of...

7 CFR 1001.71 - Payments to the producer-settlement fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... to the handler for the month as determined pursuant to § 1001.60. (b) The sum of: (1) An amount... multiplying the total pounds of protein, other solids, and butterfat contained in producer milk by the protein, other solids, and butterfat prices respectively; and (3) An amount obtained by multiplying the pounds of...

7 CFR 1001.71 - Payments to the producer-settlement fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... to the handler for the month as determined pursuant to § 1001.60. (b) The sum of: (1) An amount... multiplying the total pounds of protein, other solids, and butterfat contained in producer milk by the protein, other solids, and butterfat prices respectively; and (3) An amount obtained by multiplying the pounds of...

7 CFR 1001.71 - Payments to the producer-settlement fund.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... to the handler for the month as determined pursuant to § 1001.60. (b) The sum of: (1) An amount... multiplying the total pounds of protein, other solids, and butterfat contained in producer milk by the protein, other solids, and butterfat prices respectively; and (3) An amount obtained by multiplying the pounds of...