Selection for different growth parameters in laboratory mice and its correlated effects on body composition and organ weights

Body composition and organ weights were determined in male mice sampled from 4 different lines of a selection experiment: DU-6P (selected for high protein amount), DU-6 (selected for high body weight), DU-6 + LB (selected for an index combining body weight and endurance fitness) and DU-K (unselected control line). Selection was carried out under the conditions of ad libitum feeding and standardization of litter size at birth. In all 3 selection lines a significant direct selection response was shown. While fat in lines DU-6P and DU-6 + LB remained normal, it increased after selection for body weight (DU-6) significantly. Up to generation 13 the average increase of fat was 0.32% per generation. Investigations on 28 to 80 days old mice showed, that males of this line were fatter before, at and after the age of selection (42 days). After 9 generations the body weight of selected mice was significantly increased by 23 to 29%. The absolute organ weights of hearts, livers and kidneys were also significantly higher, while the relative weights of hearts and kidneys decreased. The relative liver weights were in the selected lines higher, but only the difference DU-6 vs. DU-K was significant.     

Calorimetric output power measurements on a CW 20 kW 7.16 GHzmicrowave transmitter

A calorimetric measurement technique developed for NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) transmitters that does not require data on the coolant's thermal parameters is described. Calibration of the measurement system is achieved by measuring the DC input power to the klystron and relating coolant temperature increase to this known power dissipation. Agreement between calorimetric and electrical measurements of total system power was good, the difference being less than 2%. The operation of the system was not greatly affected by the composition of the coolant, which was varied from pure water to 40% ethylene glycol by mass. Good accuracy was also shown at output power levels, which varied over a 3.6:1 range     

Possibility of sewage and combined sewer overflow reuse with biological aerated filters.

The secondary effluent from municipal plants in Korea generally represents higher BOD with lower SS. Therefore, more soluble forms of organics and NH4-N need to be removed to improve its effluent for reuse. In this study reuse possibility of secondary effluent and CSO (combined sewer overflow) using BAF (biological aerated filter) was evaluated. The tertiary application with 1.2 h EBCT, SS, BOD and COD showed stable concentrations less than 1.3, 1.3 and 6.2 mg/L, respectively. Nitrogen could be nitrified even at 7 degrees suggesting BAF can be used for a water reuse method as well as an effective add-on facility in cold regions. However, BAF was not stable with CSO application at increased flow rates suggesting CSO must be equalised prior to application. Disinfection was necessary even during normal weather conditions.     

Assessing the performance of intumescent coatings using bench‐scaled cone calorimeter and finite difference simulations

A method was developed to assess the heat insulation performance of intumescent coatings. The method consists of temperature measurements using the bench‐scaled experimental set‐up of a cone calorimeter and finite difference simulation to calculate the effective thermal conductivity dependent on time/temperature. This simulation procedure was also adapted to the small scale test furnace, in which the standard time–temperature curve is applied to a larger sample and thus which provides results relevant for approval. Investigations on temperature and calculated effective thermal conduction were performed on intumescent coatings in both experimental set‐ups using various coating thicknesses. The results correspond to each other as well as showing the limits of transferability between both fire tests. It is shown that bench‐scaled cone calorimeter tests are a valuable tool for assessing and predicting the performance of intumescent coatings in larger tests relevant for approval. The correlation fails for processes at surface temperatures above 750°C, which are not reached in the cone calorimeter, but are attained in the small scale furnace set‐up. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Relative Protein Efficiency Ratios for Wheat-Based Breakfast Cereals

Male weanling rats were subjected to standard 28-day PER trials following the outline by the AOAC (1984) except that the diets contained 8.5% protein (N × 6.25) as one of six wheat-based breakfast cereals, white flour, whole wheat flour or casein. One of the cereals was an extrusion puffed product, three were flaked and toasted cereals and two were extruded cereals. Of the two extruded cereals, one was lightly toasted and the other was more heavily toasted. Relative PER (R-PER) was lowest for the puffed cereal (- 15.3) and highest for the extruded-lightly toasted cereal (69.9). R-PER for the flaked cereals ranged from 1.7 to 16.3; the other extruded cereal had a R-PER of 2.8 and each of the two flours had a R-PER of 42.9.