Mapping the structure of the world economy

We have developed a new series of environmentally extended multi-region input-output (MRIO) tables with applications in carbon, water, and ecological footprinting, and Life-Cycle Assessment, as well as trend and key driver analyses. Such applications have recently been at the forefront of global policy debates, such as about assigning responsibility for emissions embodied in internationally traded products. The new time series was constructed using advanced parallelized supercomputing resources, and significantly advances the previous state of art because of four innovations. First, it is available as a continuous 20-year time series of MRIO tables. Second, it distinguishes 187 individual countries comprising more than 15,000 industry sectors, and hence offers unsurpassed detail. Third, it provides information just 1-3 years delayed therefore significantly improving timeliness. Fourth, it presents MRIO elements with accompanying standard deviations in order to allow users to understand the reliability of data. These advances will lead to material improvements in the capability of applications that rely on input-output tables. The timeliness of information means that analyses are more relevant to current policy questions. The continuity of the time series enables the robust identification of key trends and drivers of global environmental change. The high country and sector detail drastically improves the resolution of Life-Cycle Assessments. Finally, the availability of information on uncertainty allows policy-makers to quantitatively judge the level of confidence that can be placed in the results of analyses.     

Small-scale experiments on stabilizing riser slug flow

This paper describes the study and results from a small-scale lab rig, build to test different riser slug control strategies without the huge costs involved in larger scale experiments. Earlier experiments on this small-scale rig have shown that it was possible to stabilize the flow using a PI controller with a pressure measurement located upstream the riser base as measurement (Sivertsen and Skogestad, 2005).     

Genomic cloning and species-specific properties of the recombinant canine beta3-adrenoceptor

A molecular clone encoding a beta3-adrenoceptor was isolated from a canine genomic library. The cloned receptor exhibited a pharmacological profile similar to that of other species: in particular, high efficiency of the two selective beta3-adrenoceptor agonists, CL 316,243 (disodium(R,R)-5[2[[2-(chlorophenyl)-2hydroxyethyl]-amino]propyl]- 1,3-benzodioxole-2,2-dicarboxylate) and ICI 201651 ((R)4-(2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropylaminoethoxy)-N-(2-methoxyethyl)phe noxy acetic acid) and a low affinity for the radioligand (-)-[3-(125)I]-iodocyanopindolol. Interestingly, CGP 12177A ((+/-)-4-(3-t-butylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)benzimidazol-2-one), which is described as a partial agonist for the human receptor, was a full agonist for the canine receptor. After expression and stimulation of the canine beta3-adrenoceptor in stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells there was a very low accumulation of cAMP, suggesting weak coupling to Gs-protein and adenylyl cyclase. However, the response was much better in human embryonal kidney cells transfected with the canine beta3-adrenoceptor gene. The cloning of the canine beta3-adrenoceptor and the insights gained from its pharmacological characterization may allow the development of selective compounds for use in the treatment of obese dogs.     

Decomposition analysis and the mean-rate-of-change index

The mean-rate-of-change index (MRCI) is a recent addition to the suite of decomposition analysis (DA) methods. In addition to the arithmetic mean used by its originators, the MRCI can be formulated incorporating any type of mean. When the logarithmic mean is used, the MRCI is equivalent to the logarithmic mean Divisia index. The MRCI is said to produce plausible decompositions, and to be able to handle negative values. However, regarding the sign and magnitude of decomposition terms, the MRCI is affected by the same distortions and inconsistencies as other DA methods, and generally does not produce more plausible results. Moreover, the MRCI’s ability to handle negative values is not necessarily an advantage in DA studies using input–output data. Finally, the MRCI is not robust.     

Investigations on the fluiddynamic and thermal process control in ladles

Inert gas stirring of the melt in the ladle is a proven engineering process measure in secondary steelmaking. It is employed to ensure the specified homogeneity of the melt in terms of composition and temperature. The achievement of these objectives is essentially contingent on the flow conditions in the melt. The present paper deals with the results of numerical computations of the bubble movement and velocity field generated by such a gas stirring process. The distribution of alloy elements and the temperature field in the melt are computed on the basis of real temperature-dependent fluid properties. The results of the numerical computations are compared with corresponding results of model trials and expressed in a form usable for operating plants. In addition, recommendations are made with regard to the scale-up of model trial results to full-size ladles under actual operating conditions.     

Solubility limitations of residual steryl glucosides,saturated monoglycerides and glycerol in commercial biodiesel fuels as determinants of filter blockages

Newer, improved high pressure common rail diesel engines require increased protection from damaging particles in fuel, resulting in tighter, low-micron filtration requirements. The unobstructed flow of fuel through filters underlies the well-known efficiencies and reduced exhaust emissions of diesel engines, and when flows are hindered, these efficiencies become severely compromised. Biodiesel fuels frequently contain saturated monoglycerides, glycerol (GLY) and/or steryl glucosides, systemic impurities that become problematic when low concentrations exceed ill-defined solubility limits, usually unexpectedly at low temperatures. Here, filters and blended fuels from seven flow obstruction incidents were subjected to detailed compositional analyses. With one exception the fuels contain estimated levels within international specifications, yet exhibit heterophase (HP) formation in the laboratory at 2°C, well above measured cloud points. Feedstock composition, pretreatment and/or purification processes are found to modulate insolubility risks. Interferences in standard gas chromatography methods used without modification can hide or complicate estimates of residual levels of GLY. The data show that classical variables controlling solubility, such as concentrations and temperatures, play important roles in setting the risks associated with in situ formation of HPs from these common impurities. Further, such risks are likely attenuated considerably by reductions in critical impurities beyond currently specified limits.     

NG‐Acylated Aminothiazolylpropylguanidines as Potent and Selective Histamine H2 Receptor Agonists

Bioisosteric replacement of the guanidino group in arpromidine‐like histamine H₂ receptor (H₂R) agonists by an acylguanidine moiety is useful for obtaining potent H₂R agonists with improved oral bioavailability and blood–brain barrier penetration. We show that bioisosteric replacement of the imidazole ring in N^G‐acylated imidazolylpropylguanidines by a 2‐aminothiazol‐5‐yl group resulted in potent H₂R agonists with much greater selectivity for the human H₂R over H₃ and H₄ receptors.

     

Enhanced Densification of PM Steels by Liquid Phase Sintering with Boron-Containing Master Alloy

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Reaching high density in PM steels is important for high-performance applications. In this study, liquid phase sintering of PM steels by adding...     

Kinetic analysis by fluorescence of the interaction between Ras and the catalytic domain of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Cdc25Mm

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) activate Ras proteins by stimulating the exchange of GTP for GDP in a multistep mechanism which involves binary and ternary complexes between Ras, guanine nucleotide, and GEF. We present fluorescence measurements to define the kinetic constants that characterize the interactions between Ras, GEF, and nucleotides, similar to the characterization of the action of RCC1 on Ran [Klebe et al. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 12543-12552]. The dissociation constant for the binary complex between nucleotide-free Ras and the catalytic domain of mouse Cdc25, Cdc25(Mm285), was 4.6 nM, i.e., a 500-fold lower affinity than the Ras.GDP interaction. The affinities defining the ternary complex Ras. nucleotide.Cdc25(Mm285) are several orders of magnitude lower. The maximum acceleration by Cdc25(Mm285) of the GDP dissociation from Ras was more than 10(5)-fold. Kinetic measurements of the association of nucleotide to nucleotide-free Ras and to the binary complex Ras. Cdc25(Mm285) show that these reactions are practically identical: a fast binding step is followed by a reaction of the first order which becomes rate limiting at high nucleotide concentrations. The second reaction is thought to be a conformational change from a low- to a high-affinity nucleotide binding conformation in Ras. Taking into consideration all experimental data, the reverse isomerization reaction from a high- to a low-affinity binding conformation in the ternary complex Ras. GDP.Cdc25(Mm285) is postulated to be the rate-limiting step of the GEF-catalyzed exchange. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the disruption of the Mg2+-binding site is not the only factor in the mechanism of GEF-catalyzed nucleotide exchange on Ras.