Laboratory simulated slipstream testing of novel sulfur removal processes for gasification application

The Wabash River Integrated Methanol and Power Production from Clean Coal Technologies (IMPPCCT) project is investigating an Early Entrance Coproduction Plant (EECP) concept to evaluate integrated electrical power generation and methanol production from coal and other carbonaceous feedstocks. Research, development and testing (RD&T) that is currently being conducted under the project is evaluating cost effective process systems for removing contaminants, particularly sulfur species, from the generated gas which contains mainly synthesis gas (syngas), CO₂ and steam at concentrations acceptable for the methanol synthesis catalyst. The RD&T includes laboratory testing followed by bench-scale and field testing at the SG Solutions Gasification Plant located in West Terre Haute, Indiana. Actual synthesis gas produced by the plant was utilized at system pressure and temperature for bench-scale field testing.     

How would an EU-membership of the Visegrád- countries affect Europe‘s economic geography?EU-membership of the Visegrád-countries

The question posed in the title of the paper is answered by simulating EU-integration of the Visegrád-countries by a spatial computable general equilibrium (SCGE) model. A two-sector model is calibrated for a system of almost 100 regions covering the whole area of Europe and a rest of world region. The sectors are a local sector, producing non-tradables under perfect competition, and a tradables sector, producing a large number of tradable varieties under monopolistic competition. Trade between regions is costly, with costs depending on geographic distance and national impediments to trade. The model is calibrated such that the equilibrium solution reproduces benchmark data about international trade and regional incomes. Economic integration is simulated by reducing impediments to trade between integrating countries and calculating a new counterfactual equilibrium.     

Effects of combined nimodipine and metrifonate on rat cognition and cortical EEG

The present study investigated if short-term treatment with an L-type Ca2+-channel inhibitor, nimodipine, can stimulate cognitive functioning and cortical electroencephalograph (EEG) arousal, and potentiate the effect of a cholinesterase inhibitor, metrifonate. Pretraining administration of nimodipine (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) had no effect on water maze and passive avoidance behavior of young neurologically intact controls, or water maze and passive avoidance performance failure induced by scopolamine pretreatment (i.p.; 0.4 mg/kg during the water maze and 2.0 mg/kg during the passive avoidance study), medial septal lesioning, or aging. Furthermore, nimodipine (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) had no effect on the improvement by metrifonate (10 mg/kg, p.o.) of the water maze and passive avoidance failure induced by scopolamine pretreatment or medial septal lesioning, nor did it affect the potential of metrifonate (30 mg/kg. p.o.) to improve the water maze or passive avoidance behavior of aged rats. Finally, nimodipine (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) had no effect on spontaneously occurring thalamically generated neocortical high-voltage spindles or spectral EEG activity of young controls, nor did it alleviate the spectral EEG abnormality induced by scopolamine (0.2 mg/kg, i.p.) administration. Also, the combination of nimodipine 3 or 10 mg/kg and a subthreshold dose of metrifonate 10 mg/kg could not suppress high-voltage spindles or scopolamine treatment-induced spectral EEG activity abnormalities. According to the present results, short-term treatment with nimodipine does not stimulate cognitive functions or increase cortical EEG arousal, and does not block or potentiate the propensity of metrifonate to improve cognitive performance of rats.     

Comprehensive meta-analysis of integrity test validities: Findings and implications for personnel selection and theories of job performance.

Conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis based on 665 validity coefficients across 576,460 data points to investigate whether integrity test validities are generalizable and to estimate differences in validity due to potential moderating influences. Results indicate that integrity test validities are substantial for predicting job performance and counterproductive behaviors on the job, such as theft, disciplinary problems, and absenteeism. The estimated mean operational predictive validity of integrity test for predicting supervisory ratings of job performance is .41. Results from predictive validity studies conducted on applicants and using external criterion measures (i.e., excluding self-reports) indicate that integrity tests predict the broad criterion of organizationally disruptive behaviors better than they predict employee theft alone. Despite the influence of moderators, integrity test validities are positive across situations and settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fugitive Diffusion Barrier for Integration of Sol-Gel-Derived Lead Titanate with Oxidized Silicon Substrates

The crystalline phase development and microstructural changes with heating of sol-gel-derived lead titanate (PT) particles and films on silica with and without a fugitive (or removable) diffusion barrier layer were investigated. Amorphous gel-derived PT particles were deposited on SiO₂-coated TEM grids with and without polyimide (PI) or carbon barrier layers between SiO₂ and PT. TEM analysis showed that PI or carbon barriers prevented reaction between the gel-derived PT particles and SiO₂. PT particles crystallize and then the PI or carbon film decomposes. Sol-gel-derived PT films were deposited on oxidized Si substrates (Si/SiO₂) with and without a PI barrier layer. Perovskite PT films were prepared on Si/SiO₂ substrates with a PI barrier; however, some porosity remained in the films. Identically prepared films without the PI barrier formed a mixture of pyrochlore and perovskite. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicate that the PI film pre- vents the diffusion of Si into the PT film.     

The flavor of fieldwork in "The Big Apple"

Toothbrush contamination during the procedure of brushing was assessed at different time intervals of usage. A peak value of 100% contamination was found at 1 month interval. Hence, a method suggesting disinfection of the toothbrush was employed by comparing the effectiveness of various disinfecting solutions available in the market so that, the brush does not become a source of potential pathogens.     

Critical enhancement of the in-medium nucleon-nucleon cross section at low temperatures

As part of an 18-month carcinogenicity study, 680 Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) received daily gavage doses of fenazaquin, an experimental miticide. Mortality associated with severe enteritis was noticed beginning when the hamsters were 4 months old and ranged from one to five deaths per month until the hamsters were about 10 months old, when 41 deaths occurred in a 1-month period. Ante- and postmortem findings were consistent with those reported for antibiotic-induced enteritis in hamsters. Clostridium difficile was isolated from 12 of the 13 samples of cecal contents analyzed. Toxin assays of C. difficile isolates collected from 11 affected animals were positive for both cyto- and enterotoxins. Daily oral administration of vancomycin hydrochloride at a dose of 20 mg/kg was initiated when the hamsters were about 10 months old. Deaths due to C. difficile enteritis were significantly decreased within 2 weeks, and treatment was continued for 3 months. A trial withdrawal period for a subset of 64 hamsters (approximately 16% of the total population) was initiated to evaluate survival after discontinuation of the antibiotic treatment. Clostridium difficile enteritis recurred within 2 weeks and caused 19 deaths during the next month; therefore, these hamsters were returned to daily vancomycin treatment for the remainder of the study. With the exception of severe gaseous distention of the ceca, which caused death in 17 (< 4% of the total population) of the affected hamsters, vancomycin treatment did not cause any major adverse effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)