The determination of polymer additive effects in a spherilene process HDPE matrix upon water carry-over in water quenched,cast film extrusion

A test method useful in determining the effects of polymer additives upon water carry-over (WCO) in water quenched, cast film extrusion is presented. Data from this test is obtained on film specimens based in a Spherilene process HDPE resin individually doped with 250 and 500 ppm of six various primary and secondary antioxidants and acid scavengers. Water contact angles and film surface tension data is also presented. The WCO test is reproducible and data may be applied to commercial production. Different additives that carry out the same function in the polymer may have greatly varying WCO properties; these differences are not detected by equilibrium goniometry.     

Activating and inactivating mutations in LH receptors

In rats, galanin modulates luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons provide a possible source of this galanin. To understand galanin's physiological role in GnRH neurons, we used double-label in situ hybridization and computerized image analysis to examine the regulation of galanin message in GnRH neurons. We found that galanin gene expression in GnRH neurons is regulated by sex steroids, induced coincident with the LH surge, and persists well after the completion of the LH surge, and that the induction of galanin message in GnRH neurons coincident with the LH surge is sexually differentiated neonatally. We postulate that the rise in galanin gene expression in GnRH neurons at the time of the LH surge serves to replenish galanin released with GnRH that is needed for the production of the LH surge, or that galanin is involved in physiological events that occur subsequent to the LH surge.     

High-pressure fluidized bed coating utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide

Various particles with sizes between 100 and 200 μm were encapsulated with waxes commonly used in technical coating applications. For this, a homogeneous mixture of molten paraffin and supercritical carbon dioxide was prepared in an autoclave and injected into the high-pressure fluidized bed through a nozzle from the bottom. Due to the different conditions in the mixing autoclave and the fluidized bed, the paraffin precipitated in the vicinity of the nozzle and adhered to the solid particles. A complete, thin, uniform, and solvent-free coating was produced. The use of two paraffins with different alkane compositions resulted in dissimilar spreads on glass beads due to their different glass transition temperatures. A smaller pressure drop across the nozzle led to more uniform and even coatings. Glass beads, ceramic spheres, potassium chloride, and lactose showed similar coating results, whereas different morphologies were observed with a plastic material, characterized by a rougher surface and a lower surface energy. The high quality of the coating was confirmed by standard dissolution tests with coated potassium chloride crystals and lactose agglomerates.     

Design and implementation of the Node Identity Internetworking Architecture

The Internet Protocol (IP) has been proven very flexible, being able to accommodate all kinds of link technologies and supporting a broad range of applications. The basic principles of the original Internet architecture include end-to-end addressing, global routeability and a single namespace of IP addresses that unintentionally serves both as locators and host identifiers. The commercial success and widespread use of the Internet have lead to new requirements, which include Internetworking over business boundaries, mobility and multi-homing in an untrusted environment. Our approach to satisfy these new requirements is to introduce a new Internetworking layer, the node identity layer. Such a layer runs on top of the different versions of IP, but could also run directly on top of other kinds of network technologies, such as MPLS and 2G/3G PDP contexts. This approach enables connectivity across different communication technologies, supports mobility, multi-homing, and security from ground up. This paper describes the Node Identity Architecture in detail and discusses the experiences from implementing and running a prototype.     

2D/3D image registration on the GPU

We present a method that performs a rigid 2D/3D image registration efficiently on the Graphical Processing Unit (GPU). As one main contribution of this paper, we propose an efficient method for generating realistic DRRs that are visually similar to x-ray images. Therefore, we model some of the electronic post-processes of current x-ray C-arm-systems. As another main contribution, the GPU is used to compute eight intensity-based similarity measures between the DRR and the x-ray image in parallel. A combination of these eight similarity measures is used as a new similarity measure for the optimization. We evaluated the performance and the precision of our 2D/3D image registration algorithm using two phantom models. Compared to a CPU + GPU algorithm, which calculates the similarity measures on the CPU, our GPU algorithm is between three and six times faster. In contrast to single similarity measures, our new similarity measure achieved precise and robust registration results for both phantom models.     

Nomemclature of the proteins of cow's milk: fourth revision.

This report reviews the nomenclature of the milk proteins of cow's milk in light of more recent advances in our knowledge. With the establishment of the primary structures of a number of these proteins, we now have a definite identification of alphas1-, kappa-, beta-, and the gamma-caseins as well as beta-lactoglobulin and alpha-lactalbumin. On the basis of new information on their primary structures and relationship to beta-casein polymorphs, changes in nomenclature have been recommended for proteins of the gamma-casein fraction. Although the primary structure serves as the unambiguous definition of proteins for which it is known, a more practical identification is necessary. We recommend that their behavior in gel electrophoresis under suitable conditions be employed for this purpose for all of the "major" milk proteins of raw skim milk except the immunoglobulins where, because of their heterogeneity and molecular genetics, physical parameters are less useful and their identification must be based upon antigenic determinants and their homology with their human counterparts. More work is needed and, with the accumulation of more information, additional changes in nomenclature can be expected for such proteins as the minor components of alphas- and kappa-caseins, alpha-lactalbumin, and the proteose-peptone fraction as well as further confirmation of the presence of immunoglobulins IgE and additional IgG subclasses. Additional components and genetic variants also can be expected.     

Toxicological characterization of particulate emissions from straw,Miscanthus, and poplar pellet combustion in residential boilers

Wood pellets have been used in domestic heating appliances for three decades. However, because the share of renewable energy for heating will likely rise over the next several years, alternative biomass fuels, such as short-rotation coppice or energy crops, will be utilized. We tested particulate emissions from the combustion of standard softwood pellets and three alternative pellets (poplar, Miscanthus sp., and wheat straw) for their ability to induce inflammatory, cytotoxic, and genotoxic responses in a mouse macrophage cell line. Our results showed clear differences in the chemical composition of the emissions, which was reflected in the toxicological effects. Standard softwood and straw pellet combustion resulted in the lowest PM₁ mass emissions. Miscanthus sp. and poplar combustion emissions were approximately three times higher. Emissions from the herbaceous biomass pellets contained higher amounts of chloride and organic carbon than the emissions from standard softwood pellet combustion. Additionally, the emissions of the poplar pellet combustion contained the highest concentration of metals. The emissions from the biomass alternatives caused significantly higher genotoxicity than the emissions from the standard softwood pellets. Moreover, straw pellet emissions caused higher inflammation than the other samples. Regarding cytotoxicity, the differences between the samples were smaller. Relative toxicity was generally highest for the poplar and Miscanthus sp. samples, as their emission factors were much higher. Thus, in addition to possible technical problems, alternative pellet materials may cause higher emissions and toxicity. The long-term use of alternative fuels in residential-scale appliances will require technological developments in both burners and filtration.

Copyright © 2016 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Surface thermocouples for measurement of pulsed heat flux in the divertor of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak

A novel set of thermocouple sensors has been developed to measure heat fluxes arriving at divertor surfaces in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, a magnetic confinement fusion experiment. These sensors operate in direct contact with the divertor plasma, which deposits heat fluxes in excess of ~10 MW/m(2) over an ~1 s pulse. Thermoelectric EMF signals are produced across a non-standard bimetallic junction: a 50 μm thick 74% tungsten-26% rhenium ribbon embedded in a 6.35 mm diameter molybdenum cylinder. The unique coaxial geometry of the sensor combined with its single-point electrical ground contact minimizes interference from the plasma/magnetic environment. Incident heat fluxes are inferred from surface temperature evolution via a 1D thermal heat transport model. For an incident heat flux of 10 MW/m(2), surface temperatures rise ~1000 °C/s, corresponding to a heat flux flowing along the local magnetic field of ~200 MW/m(2). Separate calorimeter sensors are used to independently confirm the derived heat fluxes by comparing total energies deposited during a plasma pulse. Langmuir probes in close proximity to the surface thermocouples are used to test plasma-sheath heat transmission theory and to identify potential sources of discrepancies among physical models.