SED88: a Pascal program for the analysis of sedimentation equilibrium data

Analytical ultracentrifugation is commonly used for the determination of molecular weights (sedimentation equilibrium) and sedimentation coefficients (sedimentation rate) of biological macromolecules in solution. A Turbo Pascal program for the analysis of sedimentation equilibrium centrifugation data produced by absorbance optical systems is described. The user may enter data from a scan of absorbance versus distance from the centre of rotation, via a graphics tablet (or ASCII file). This is subsequently manipulated to yield an apparent weight average molecular weight for the given sample. Plots of ln (absorbance) versus (radius2) may also be produced. The method described uses readily available computational equipment requiring only a graphics tablet in addition to an IBM PC compatible computer. This technique and the software developed have been used to investigate the molecular weight range of two International Humic Substances Society (IHSS) reference samples from the Suwannee River.     

Lipoamide dehydrogenase, citrate synthase and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase of skeletal muscle. 9. Influence of frozen storage of musculature of sheep, game and poultry on activity and subcellular distribution

Frozen storage at -20 degrees C for three months and thawing of muscles from sheep, hare and deer, and of the breast and leg muscles from chicken and duck did not result in significant changes in the extractable total activities of the mitochondrial enzymes citrate synthase and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase; however there was a decrease in the total activity of lipoamide dehydrogenase except in the chicken leg muscle, where such a decrease did not occur. From the increase in the activities of the three enzymes in the muscle press juice it was concluded that - additionally to the effect of freezing and thawing itself - frozen storage results in further damage to the inner membrane of muscle mitochondria which is signalled by the release of membrane-bound enzymes. Chicken muscle mitochondria seem to be more stable against frozen storage of the tissue than the mitochondria in the muscles of the other species studied (including bovine and porcine muscle).     

Survival of rotavirus SA-11 on vegetables

Survival of rotavirus on lettuce, radishes, and carrots was studied to evaluate the potential of rotavirus transmission by vegetables irrigated with wastewater. The vegetables were contaminated with rotavirus SA-11 and stored at 4°C and room temperature in covered and uncovered containers to simulate post harvest conditions. Virus decay rates were greater on radishes and carrots than lettuce. Decay rates of rotavirus on lettuce, radish, and carrot ranged from ?0·057 to ?0·479 (log₁₀ pfu/day). Rotavirus SA-11 survived on lettuce, radish, and carrot for 25 to 30 days at 4°C but at room temperature survival was very different for the various vegetables varying from 5 to 25 days. Greatest survival was always observed on the lettuce. These data suggest that rotaviruses can survive long enough on contaminated vegetables as to be transmitted by this vehicle.     

Determination of the thermophysical properties of translucent materials

A method is proposed for determining the thermophysical properties of translucent scattering materials in the nonsteady heating regime.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 49, No. 6, pp. 977–982, December, 1985.     

On the social acceptability of inherently safe technologies

Some techniques have encountered public opposition which has delayed their implementation or even blocked it completely. Inherently safer technologies are a good idea and can certainly improve safety, but research on public perceptions of hazardous technologies suggest that safety is only loosely coupled to social acceptability. It is concluded that the notion of inherent safety does not necessarily make technologies more acceptable. It is proposed that the inherent safety concept should be extended to embrace procedural and institutional innovations that involve lay and expert groups in decision-making and improved communications between technical experts and lay people     

Thyroxine,Triiodothyronine, Reverse-Triiodothyronine,and Other Physiological Characteristics of Periparturient Cows Fed Restricted Energy

Eighty-six cows were assigned to two equal groups with group A fed according to National Research Council recommendations for total digestible nutrients for the 8 wk before parturition and group B was fed 21% higher energy in the first 6 wk and 15% higher in the last 2 preparturient wk. Thyroxine in blood serum decreased in both groups 14 days before and on the day of delivery. It was significantly lower in group A. Findings were similar with triiodothyronine. Blood serum concentrations of reverse-triiodothyronine of group A was significantly higher in group A on day 28 and 14 than group B before delivery. Energy intake had little influence on the serum concentrations of other constituents (albumin, total protein, immunoglobulin G, total and free cholesterol, nonesterified fatty acids). Restricted energy intake that does not alter thyrotropin-thyrotropin-releasing hormone secretion results in higher rate of production of reverse-triiodothyronine and in decreased serum concentration of triiodothyronine. Slight changes of energy balance might be indicated readily by reverse-triiodothyronine concentration in blood serum.     

A new design of flocculation tank: the Turbomix applied to weighted flocculation.

As far as flocculation is concerned, the agglomeration of suspended particles into flocs is highly linked to the hydraulic behaviour of the agitation. The Turbomix is a special design of mixing tank; its design was developed to better control the flow during the flocculation stage. It enables a significant decrease in footprint of the process. The combination of the Turbomix and ballasted flocculation has been studied during pilot trials in terms of treatment efficiency. Its controlled hydraulic behaviour explains the efficiency of the process as proved by CFD investigation.     

The use of acoustic emission methods as aids to the structural integrity assessment of nuclear power plants

Since it is an integral method permitting continuous monitoring and remote defect location, acoustic emission offers promising benefits for the nuclear industry. Particular potential applications relating to the integrity of the primary pressure boundary of nuclear reactors that are considered in this report are the detection of flaws during pre-service and requalification hydrotests, and continuous monitoring for crack growth and leakage.The correlations between fracture mechanics and acoustic emission are discussed on the basis of certain fundamentals of material emission behaviour. The influence of instrumentation and of aspects related to wave propagation on the detectability and evaluation of acoustic emission signals is considered.The conclusion reached is that at the present time acoustic emission can be used predominantly during hydrotests as a search method for cracks. Although some degree of characterization and sizing of defects may be obtained on the basis of empirical data, a quantitative evaluation of defect severity based on fracture mechanics cannot yet be made satisfactorily. It is expected that a considerable improvement in this respect may be achieved by applying a transfer correction that takes into account the depth position and directivity pattern of the source.The technique of leak detection by acoustic emission shows promising results permitting the location and quantification of leaks. Practical experience and future research work are expected to enhance the accuracy and detection sensitivity.