A VERSATILE CORRELATION OF LIQUID HOLD-UP IN TWO-PHASE COUNTER-CURRENT TRICKLE BED COLUMN

A new definition of the flooding point in a two-phase counter-current trickle bed column has been proposed. Based on this point a versatile correlation of liquid hold-up has been formulated. The coefficients of this correlation are invariant to the change of physical properties of liquid, type and size of the packing forming the bed and gas velocity. This conclusion has been reached from the analysis of experiments with four different liquids irrigating the bed and three types of packing of various size. The versatile correlation can be used also re-currently to calculate flooding hold-up and flooding liquid rate from two known values of liquid hold-up for a given gas rate.     

Ensuring primary realization of pressure unit in the vacuum range without typically utilized static expansion system

After the break-up of Czechoslovakia in 1993 the primary metrological standards authority almost fully remained in Slovakia. So we had to build our primary vacuum metrology anew. But we could do it using uptodate techniques that are more effective and they enable us to fulfil our task more effectively and in a shorter time.The steady demand to widen the lower pressure range and a steady demand for maximal accuracy collide with the financial possibilities open to a small country. So it is impossible to follow the classical pattern for the vacuum standards: liquid columns, static expansion system and dynamic expansion system. But it is possible to utilize contemporary progress in construction of piston manometers. This enables us to discard liquid column and static expansion techniques in favour of piston technique [Tesar J, Prazak D. Vacuum 2002; 67: 311, Tesar J, Prazak D, Krajicek Z. In:Proceedings of international symposium on Pressure and Vacuum, 2003. p. 169, Tesar J, Repa P, Prazak D, Krajicek Z, Peksa L. Vacuum 2004; 76: 491.]. Such system fulfils all the needs of a little industrial country and is economically acceptable.     

Two Isomers of C60F48: Computed Inter-isomeric Equilibrium

C₆₀F₄₈ has been known to exist in two isomeric forms of D₃ and S₆ symmetries. However, the quantum-chemical calculations have not agreed on their stability order though a near-isoenergetic picture is otherwise always encountered. In order to clarify the situation, the entropy effects are evaluated for synthetic temperatures of about 500K. The entropy evaluations suggest that the D₃ isomer should be more stable in the potential energy by 2.05-2.55 kcal/mol (to which term the ab initio data are closer than the semiempirical ones).     

Low temperature and strain rate dependence of fracture stress and fracture toughness on thin Fe40Ni40B20 amorphous ribbon

The fracture stress and the critical stress intensity factor of the Fe₄₀Ni₄₀B₂₀ amorphous metallic ribbons 20 μm thick were measured in the temperature range 4.2–300 K and at deformation rates from 3.3×10⁻⁶ to 1.25×10⁻³ m⁻¹ with the aim to obtain more information on the condition for the onset and development of the inhomogeneous plastic deformation and fracture.     

Co-localization of serotonin and FMRFamide-like immunoreactivities in the central nervous system of the earthworm, Eisenia fetida

In addition to receptor-type pinealocytes, the mammalian pineal organ contains small and large neurons and ependymal/glial cells as well. Axons of pinealocytes form synaptic ribbon-containing axo-dendritic synapses on large secondary pineal neurons and/or terminate as neurohormonal endings on the basal lamina of the vascular surface of the organ. The small pineal neurons were found to be gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-immunoreactive, while large secondary neurons and pinealocytes contained immunoreactive amino acids (glutamate and aspartate). Glutamate accumulated presynaptically in pinealocytic axon terminals on large secondary neurons and in the axons of these neurons. Glutamate immunoreactive axons of pineal neurons were traced via the pineal tract to the habenular nucleus. Axons containing granular vesicles and coming from extrapineal perikarya are glutamate immunoreactive as well. Aspartate and GABA are also present in some of the myelinated axons, supposedly pinealopetal in the pineal tract.     

Minimal inhibition concentrations of selected antibiotics for strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Minimal inhibition concentrations (MIC) of gentamycin (Ge), neomycin (Neo), rifampicin (Rif), ampicillin (Amp), lincomycin (Lin), erythromycin (Ery), and streptomycin (STM) were determined by the agar dilution technique using 46, 130, 131, 125, 140, 139 and 142 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. The strains, selected from the collection of the authors' laboratory, were isolated from mammary gland secretions of cows affected with clinical or subclinical mastitis. The following ranges of MIC (micrograms/ml) were assessed for the antibiotics under study: Ge 0.125-0.50, Neo 0.06-0.50, Rif 0.0039-0.030, Amp 0.015-1.00, Lin 0.25-1.00, Ery 0.06-0.25, STM 0.50-64.0. Modal MIC (micrograms/ml) were as follows; Ery 0.125 (86%), Lin 0.5 (71.4%), Rif 0.007 (68.7%), Ge 0.25 (56.5%), STM 1.00 (54.2%), Neo 0.25 (53.8%), Amp 0.06 (41.6%). The order of efficiency expressed in MIC 90 (micrograms/ml) was as follows: Rif (0.015), Ery (0.125), Ge (0.25), Neo (0.25), Amp (0.5), STM (4.0).     

Detection and identification of mycobacteria in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues by nested PCR and restriction enzyme analysis

A novel assay based on a nested PCR and restriction enzyme analysis of the PCR products was developed for the rapid detection and identification of Mycobacterium bovis and M. avium-M. intracellulare species in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue (PET) specimens. On the basis of the nucleotide sequence data obtained in the present study, general nested primers were constructed to amplify a 424-bp segment of the gene encoding the 65-kDa surface antigen of mycobacteria. The nested PCR assay proved to be highly sensitive, since as little as 5 to 10 fg of extracted mycobacterial DNA was detected. The safety of the assay as a routine method for the diagnosis of M. bovis and M. avium-M. intracellulare in PET specimens was provided by taking various precautions. In order to prevent false positivity, specific tools and procedures were applied. To detect false-negative results and assess the efficiency of the PCR, an internal standard molecule of amplification was constructed. The digestion of the amplicons with the restriction endonuclease Sau96-I allowed the identification of M. bovis and M. avium-M. intracellulare in a large number of clinical specimens. The present results indicate that PCR combined with an internal control of amplification and restriction enzyme analysis of the amplicons provides a rapid, sensitive, and reliable method for routine diagnostic laboratories to detect and identify M. bovis and M. avium-M. intracellulare in PET specimens.     

Initial results of an in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer program in a private health institution

Between October 1994 and the end of February 1995 115 patients were included in our programme. In these patients we monitored 141 cycles, performed 128 punctures and 100 ET. In 14 instances (9.2%) the cycle was abolished. By puncture of 1468 follicles 1370 oocytes were obtained which corresponded to a recovery rate of 93.3%. On average by aspiration 11.9 oocytes per patient were obtained. From the total number of acquired oocytes 54.6% were fertilized and 43.5% divided. Of 596 embryos 290 were transferred and the remainder was vitrified. A total of 17 clinical pregnancies were achieved, incl. 5 which terminated by abortion, the remainder proceeds. The authors are aware that they present a relatively small group during a short period of time, and thus the first results of the centre cannot be presented as a current standard. Despite this the results permit some optimism for the future and indicate a certain amount of standardization of the authors' clinical and laboratory work.     

KINETICS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE PYROLYSIS OF BLACK LIQUOR

A kinetic study of pyrolysis of dried black liquor was performed using a Netzsch 429 Thermogravimetric Analyzer. It was found that as conversion increases from 10 to 45% the apparent pyrolysis activation energy for black liquor increases from 77.20 to 112.74 KJ/mol. For black liquor the order of reaction was found to be first-order. The reaction rate constant was found to be 2.12×10⁹ min. These results are in agreement with the data reported by other investigators on biomass pyrolysis.     

The influence of preparation conditions on the electrochemical behaviour of CuO in a Li/CuO cell

A dozen CuO samples prepared under various conditions and from different starting materials were evaluated as cathode materials for a primary Li/CuO cell. The “thin electrode” method was used for rapid evaluation of the samples. Both coulombic efficiency and discharge voltage depend considerably on the method of synthesis. No correlation was found between the specific surface area and the resistivity of the samples on the one hand and the cathode performance on the other. Best results were obtained from CuO prepared by the oxidation of Cu₂O under controlled temperature and time of oxidation.