Scanning tunnelling microscopy of tobacco mosaic virus on evaporated and sputter-coated palladium/gold substrates

We present scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) images of untreated tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) deposited on thermally evaporated and on sputter-coated palladium/gold 40:60 (Pd/Au) substrates, and imaged under ordinary atmospheric conditions. The TMV imaged on both evaporated and sputter-coated substrates was consistently several times wider than the known diameter of the virus. TMV on evaporated Pd/Au became overcoated with Pd/Au material during sample preparation and appeared elevated in STM images, whereas TMV on sputter-coated Pd/Au appeared as depressions. When naked TMV were intentionally overcoated with Pd/Au, the STM images were found to be similar to those for TMV on evaporated Pd/Au.     

The integration of a satellite spectral analysis into a heather moorland management model (HMMM): The case of Moidach More,northeast Scotland,U.K.

In this paper, high resolution, remotely-sensed data are investigated as a source of management information for moorland vegetation communities on a hypothetical farm in a marginal farming area of Scotland. A hybrid technique for vegetation mapping is adopted. This involves unsupervised machine classification of spectral variation in digitally enhanced air photographs and satellite imagery, together with visual interpretation of the imagery in both the laboratory and the field. This technique enables relative estimates of annual gross biomass production, for a range of vegetation types, to be obtained. The data are integrated into a simple heather moorland management model (HMMM), to produce potential sheep-stocking capacities under a range of management scenarios, the possible financial implications of these scenarios are also assessed.     

Current status and future trends for disposable technology in the biopharmaceutical industry

Single use technology (SUT) is in widespread use throughout the biopharmaceutical industry where it is replacing traditional stainless steel plant particularly for the manufacture of small volume, high value products. The key drivers for SUT uptake include reduction of regulatory risk, lower capital and energy costs and increased facility flexibility. Disposable technology is now well established for cell culture, liquid handling and storage but its application to some downstream operations is proving more intractable. Single‐use chromatography resins are generally uneconomic at process scale and there are limitations on large‐scale tangential flow filtration capacities. The development of disposable sensor technology is lagging behind that of bioreactors and capacities for microbial culture are presently limited to 2000 litres. Concerns regarding compatibility of equipment from different suppliers and extractable and leachable testing are being addressed but continue to influence uptake of SUT by traditional manufacturers. Complete ‘plug and play’ disposable process trains, however, are becoming increasingly available and are being embraced by Contract Manufacturing Organisations (CMOs) with multiproduct facilities. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Hydrothermal catalytic production of fuels and chemicals from aquatic biomass

One of the promising avenues for biomass processing is the use of water as a reaction medium for wet or aquatic biomass. This review focuses on the hydrothermal catalytic production of fuels and chemicals from aquatic biomass. Two different regimes for conversion of aquatic biomass in hydrothermal conditions are discussed in detail. The first is hydrothermal liquefaction, and the second is hydrothermal gasification. The goals of these processes are to produce liquid‐fuel‐range hydrocarbons and methane or hydrogen, respectively. The catalytic upgrading of biocrude resulting from noncatalytic liquefaction and the stability and degradation of catalysts in high temperature water are also discussed. The review concludes with a brief discussion of the outlook for and opportunities within the field of hydrothermal catalytic valorization of biomass. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

A stress-coping profile of opioid dependent individuals entering naltrexone treatment: A comparison with healthy controls.

Background: Stress is known to increase addiction vulnerability and risk of relapse to substance use. Purpose & Method: We compared opioid dependent individuals entering naltrexone treatment (n = 57) with healthy controls (n = 75) on measures of stress, coping, and social support and examined the relative contribution of group membership, coping, and social support to stress within the sample. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA), and stepwise multiple regression were conducted. Results: Compared with controls, opioid dependent subjects reported greater stress, less use of adaptive coping, but comparable use of maladaptive/avoidant coping. No group differences were found with respect to social support. Perceived stress was predicted by group membership, low social support, and greater use of maladaptive/avoidant coping, and the prediction by social support and maladaptive/avoidant coping did not differ by group. Conclusion: Opioid dependent individuals entering naltrexone treatment experience higher levels of stress and report less use of adaptive coping strategies when compared with controls. Group membership, maladaptive/avoidant coping, and social support independently contribute to perceived stress. Findings suggest that novel treatment approaches that decrease maladaptive/avoidant coping and improve social support are important aspects of decreasing stress during early recovery from opioid addiction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Passive acoustic emissions from particulates in a V-blender

Context: Regulatory agencies are recommending the development of process analytical technologies (PAT) to improve the efficiency and product quality during pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Objective: The objective of the research was to investigate the potential application of passive acoustic emission monitoring of a V-blender.

Materials and methods: Trials were conducted with sugar spheres, lactose or MCC in a V-blender. Vibrations from acoustic emissions were measured using PCB Piezotronics accelerometers with ICP signal conditioners.

Results and discussion: A wavelet filter was applied to the measured acoustic emissions to remove vibrations from the tumbling motion of the V-shell, allowing a focus on information about particle motion and interactions within the V-shell. The ideal sensor location was determined to be the lid of one of the V-shell arms due to the impact of the tumbling particles on the lid and transmission of the vibrations from other particle motion within the V-shell. The amplitude of vibrations increased with particle size due to larger particle momentum before a collision. The fill level and the V-shell scale also influenced the measured vibrations as particle motion was affected which in turn affected momentum. Changes in particle flowability could be detected through variations in the measured acoustic emissions.

Conclusion: The measured vibrations from passive acoustic emissions reflected particle motion and interactions within a V-blender demonstrating potential as a monitoring method.