Interaction between the DRD4 VNTR polymorphism and proximal and distal environments in alcohol dependence during emerging and young adulthood.

The manifestation of alcohol dependence at different developmental stages may be associated with different genetic and environmental factors. Taking a developmental approach, we characterized interaction between the dopamine receptor 4 variable number tandem repeat (DRD4 VNTR) polymorphism and developmentally specific environmental factors (childhood adversity, college/Greek organization involvement, and delayed adult role transition) on alcohol dependence during emerging and young adulthood. Prospective data were obtained from a cohort of 234 White individuals (56% women, 44% men) who were followed up at ages 18 through 34. A longitudinal hierarchical factor model was estimated to model a traitlike persistent alcohol dependence factor throughout emerging and young adulthood and 2 residual statelike alcohol dependence factors limited to emerging adulthood and young adulthood, respectively. We accounted for those alcohol dependence factors by modeling 3 two-way interaction effects between the DRD4 VNTR polymorphism and the 3 developmentally specific environment factors. Carriers of the DRD4 long allele showed greater susceptibility to environmental effects; they showed more persistent symptoms of alcohol dependence as childhood adversity increased and more alcohol dependence symptoms limited to emerging adulthood as college/Greek organization involvement increased. Alcohol dependence among noncarriers of the long allele, however, did not differ as a function of those environments. Although replication is necessary, these findings highlight the importance of repeated phenotypic assessments across development and modeling both distal and proximal environments and their interaction with genetic susceptibility at specific developmental stages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dynamic process modelling of iron ore sintering

A mathematical model was developed for the iron ore sintering process considering all the major thermochemical phenomena in the system, assuming both the static and moving bed configurations. The model predicted a large number of parameters pertinent to the sintering process including the temperatures of the gas and solid, concentration of various species, amount of solid melted etc. The results were tested against the data existing in literature, and a limited number of pot tests conducted in a pilot plant. Despite high complexity of the problem, the agreement between the experimental and simulated data was reasonably good.     

Solvent extraction of uranium from acidic sulfate media by Alamine® 336: computer simulation and optimization of the flow‐sheets

BACKGROUND: A series of nine conventional and non‐conventional flow‐sheets have been considered for the recovery of uranium from acidic sulfate solution by liquid–liquid extraction with 0.146 mol L^?1 Alamine^® 336 in kerosene modified with 5% w/w 1‐tridecanol and stripping with a 199 g L^?1 Na₂CO₃ solution. The reference flow‐sheet was a classical counter‐current configuration with four mixers–settlers in the extraction stage and three mixers–settlers in the stripping stage. The others flow‐sheets possessing a total of eight mixers–settlers are unusual combined solvent extraction flow‐sheets with one or two independent extraction stripping loops and with one or two feed inlets. RESULTS: The configuration of the flow‐sheets strongly influences the extraction performance of the process depending on the working conditions (feed, stripping and solvent flow rates). The presence of two independent extraction–stripping loops may allow the delay of the saturation phenomenon encountered in the conventional flow‐sheet and thus, to operate at higher feed flow rates without loss of performance, as far as the residual fraction in the raffinate and the concentration factor in the stripping solution are concerned. Furthermore, the presence of a modification in the non‐conventional flow‐sheets with two independent extraction–stripping loops and two feed inlets leads to interesting configurations for uranium recovery from less concentrated solutions, such as heap leach solutions. CONCLUSION: The use of non‐conventional flow‐sheets is interesting as it allows the process of uranium (VI) recovery by liquid–liquid extraction to be improved. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Studies on electrodeposition and corrosion behaviour of a Ni–W–Co amorphous alloy

A ternary alloy Ni–W–Co was electrodeposited and operational parameters in relation to its corrosion resistance and deposition efficiency were optimized. A 2² full factorial design was successfully employed for experimental design analysis of the results. By means of response surface analysis, the statistical model identified the following operating conditions for obtaining corrosion resistant alloy: 60 mA/cm² current density, 70 °C temperature, 20 rpm cathode rotation and 8.0 pH. The alloy was deposited at 36% current efficiency, with an average composition of 70% Ni, 8% Co, 22% W and traces of boron and with E _corr −0.508 V and R _p 4.56 × 10⁴ Ohm. The deposit obtained under these conditions had an amorphous character and showed good adherence, high corrosion resistance and presence of nodules on its surface. Electrochemical corrosion tests verified that the Ni–W–Co alloy had better corrosion resistance than similarly electrodeposited Co–W amorphous alloy.     

Regulatory mechanism for biomass renewable energy in Brazil,a case study of the Brazilian Babassu oil extraction industry

Brazil has launched the PROINFA program, a regulatory mechanism to incentivize renewable electricity generation. In the light of this new framework, the best economical option for cogeneration was analyzed using one of the biomass resources available in Brazil-Babassu. Thus not only the possible power production but also the potential of such a regulatory tool to enhance the electricity production based on this biomass source, was analyzed. The power production was based on a steam power cycle cogeneration technology within the Babassu palm oil extraction industry in Brazil (Orbignya ssp. (Palmae)). Was used as base for this study: the energetic matrix for the oil extraction plants (for the two main profiles: oil extraction and refining only, and greater vertical integration with the production of other associated products obtained from the Babassu palm oil), utilization of an extraction–condensation turbine, and steam production operating at three levels of temperature and pressure (2.06 MPa/350 °C, 4.56 MPa/420 °C and 6.2 MPa/450 °C). To analyze the economic performance, the framework drawn up by the PROINFA was taken. From the analysis, the best economical/technical option for the design of the cogeneration system was found to be in industrial units with extraction and treatment of crude Babassu oil—steam generation at 4.56 MPa and 420 °C and, for units with a more vertically integrated production scheme—steam generated at 6.2 MPa and 450 °C. As a result, it became clear that the given framework may help the development of new renewable energy sources, but it does not give the necessary threshold to start new projects, neither does it incentive the maximization of the power production for this specific biomass resource.     

Simulation of vertical merged MOS elements with optical power supply

Functional optoelectronic vertical merged MOS (OVMMOS) elements with optical power supply increasing the packaging density for advanced high-speed low-voltage low-power deep-submicron ULSI are considered. Two types of new OVVMOS logical elements are proposed, analyzed and simulated. The simple reduced but adequate numerical electrical-optical model for the OVMMOS is formulated. Low-voltage low-power OVMMOS with combined channels for electrons and holes to increase integration level are simulated using two-dimensional (2D)-numerical device simulators. The problems of low light power operations and optimizations of OVMMOS elements are investigated using 2D simulators.     

Comparison of calibration curve fitting methods in the determination of H2S mass fractions in natural gas by GC-SCD

This paper discusses metrologically the best practice regarding the calibration curves applied to H₂S mass fractions determination in natural gas by gas chromatography with sulfur chemiluminescence detection (GC-SCD). Three calibration curves were constructed by performing GC-SCD analysis of different H₂S gas standard concentrations (from 3 mg kg^?1 up to 500 mg kg^?1). These experimental curves are better fitted by an unweighted quadratic calibration curve considering ANOVA approach compared to ASTM D5504-12. Despite this, the obtained results show that these two different calibration curve approaches (ASTM and ANOVA) lead to comparable results. Hence, there are no significant statistical differences between these two approaches based on the hypothesis test applied. However, the quadratic calibration curve presents measurement uncertainties of H₂S mass fractions much lower than the ASTM approach.     

Long-Term Spinal Ventral Root Reimplantation,but not Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cell Treatment,Positively Influences Ultrastructural Synapse Recovery and Motor Axonal Regrowth

We recently proposed a new surgical approach to treat ventral root avulsion, resulting in motoneuron protection. The present work combined such a surgical approach with bone marrow mononuclear cells (MC) therapy. Therefore, MC were added to the site of reimplantation. Female Lewis rats (seven weeks old) were subjected to unilateral ventral root avulsion (VRA) at L4, L5 and L6 levels and divided into the following groups (n = 5 for each group): Avulsion, sealant reimplanted roots and sealant reimplanted roots plus MC. After four weeks and 12 weeks post-surgery, the lumbar intumescences were processed by transmission electron microscopy, to analyze synaptic inputs to the repaired α motoneurons. Also, the ipsi and contralateral sciatic nerves were processed for axon counting and morphometry. The ultrastructural results indicated a significant preservation of inhibitory pre-synaptic boutons in the groups repaired with sealant alone and associated with MC therapy. Moreover, the average number of axons was higher in treated groups when compared to avulsion only. Complementary to the fiber counting, the morphometric analysis of axonal diameter and “g” ratio demonstrated that root reimplantation improved the motor component recovery. In conclusion, the data herein demonstrate that root reimplantation at the lesion site may be considered a therapeutic approach, following proximal lesions in the interface of central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS), and that MC therapy does not further improve the regenerative recovery, up to 12 weeks post lesion.