Hindered and compression settling: parameter measurement and modelling.

The Vesilind settling velocity function forms the basis of flux theory used both in state point analysis (for design and capacity rating) and one-dimensional dynamic models (for dynamic process modelling). This paper proposes new methods to address known shortcomings of these methods, based on an extensive set of batch settling tests conducted at different scales. The experimental method to determine the Vesilind parameters from a series of bench scale settling tests is reviewed. It is confirmed that settling cylinders must be slowly stirred in order to represent settling performance of full scale plants for the whole range of solids concentrations. Two new methods to extract the Vesilind parameters from settling test series are proposed and tested against the traditional manual method. Finally, the same data set is used to propose an extension to one-dimensional (1-D) dynamic settler models to account for compression settling. Using the modified empirical function, the model is able to describe the batch settling interface independently of the number of layers.     

Stoichiometric dye-binding procedure for the determination of the reactive lysine content of soya bean protein

A new analytical method has been developed for the determination of the reactive lysine content of soya bean protein. The method is based on the reaction of the free basic groups of the protein with 1-phenylazo-2 naphthol-6,8 disulphonic acid. With regard to the stoichiometry of the procedure, it has been proved, contrary to earlier reports, that the basic amino acids, histidine, arginine and lysine, each combine with one mole of the dye. After acylation with propionic anhydride lysine alone loses its dye reactivity. The usefulness of the proposed method has been demonstrated by the determination of the reactive lysine content of several untreated, heat-treated and acid-treated soya bean samples. The results show that heat damage of about 5% in reactive lysine content can be measured in 1·5 h with good reproducibility.     

The multicultural perspective in therapy: A social constructionist approach.

Discusses the theoretical and clinical applications of the postmodern paradigm of social constructionism as a basis for counseling culturally different clients. Such applications avoid the trap of perpetuating the status-quo when working with minority and marginalized clientele. The main points of multiculturalism and social constructionism are summarized, and issues of mutual concern to both perspectives are examined. Applications to psychotherapy are explored, and the challenges of applying the social constructionist approach to culturally competent counseling are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Isolation and characterization of three Dictyostelium myosin-I isozymes

Using ion exchange chromatography and an ATP-dependent actin precipitation step, we have isolated three myosin-I isozymes that, together, account for most of the K+EDTA-ATPase activity recovered from extracts of Dictyostelium. The two major myosin-I isozymes, present in approximately equal amounts, had apparent molecular masses of 125 kDa on SDS gels and have been identified by amino acid sequence analysis as the products of the Dictyostelium myosin-IB (DMIB) and myosin-ID (DMID) genes. DMIB, with a specific K+EDTA-ATPase activity 10-fold higher than DMID, was responsible for most of the activity in cell extracts. The third isozyme, present in low amounts, had an apparent molecular mass of 137 kDa on SDS gels and is too large to be the product of any of the known myosin-I genes. DMIB eluted from DE53 cellulose columns as two distinct peaks (II and III). Addition of the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid to the extraction buffer increased the fraction of DMIB recovered from growth phase cells in peak III from 35 to 70%. DMIB isolated from peak III, but not from peak II, displayed a significant level of actin-activated MgATPase activity. These results indicate that peak III represents a phosphorylated, actin-activatable form of DMIB.     

Application of Romero García method to the degradation process of DGEBA/ETDA filled with ultra fine metallic copper

Summary The thermal properties of an epoxy resin (diglycidyl ether Bisphenol A, DGEBA) cured with a primary amine (ethylenediamine, ETDA) and filled with 10, 20 and 30 wt. % of ultra fine copper particles were analyzed. The thermal results were evaluated by means of the Romero-Garcia method, which allowed to obtain the resin degradation kinetic parameters, as well as the possible decomposition mechanism. From the obtained results is possible to infer that higger copper content strongly affects the degradation process of the epoxy resin, which causes a drop off on the composites thermal stability. This behavior could be attributed to water presence, being this effect less pronounced for the resin with 10 wt. % copper and unfilled resin. Regarding to decomposition mechanism, three way transport showed the best correlation for all samples.