Efficient production of hydrogen from wastewater sludge

Efficient production of hydrogen, approximately ten times greater than reported in the literature, could be achieved using Clostridium bifermentans isolated from waste water sludge as inoculum. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

UV固化的奥秘,揭开UV的神话

网版印刷领域的UV固化技术和使用在20世纪60年代萌芽,20世纪90年代发展成熟。原材料的进步以及人们对UV固化工艺更全面的理解影响着油墨的性能,并且促使印刷业进一步接受该技术。本文探究了UV油墨与其他油墨的区别,以及如何成功地印刷,固化UV油墨。     

Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization in isolated arteries taken from animals treated with NO-synthase inhibitors

To study the effects of chronic in vivo inhibition of NO synthase on endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization, cell-membrane potential (in individual vascular smooth-muscle cells) and changes in tension (in isolated rings) were recorded from isolated canine coronary arteries and guinea-pig carotid arteries and aortas. In coronary arteries taken from control dogs and contracted with U46619, acetylcholine- and bradykinin-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations, which were unaffected by short-term in vitro exposure to indomethacin but were inhibited partially by L-nitro-arginine (LNA). In coronary arteries taken from dogs treated over the long term in vivo with LNA (30 mg/kg on the first day and 20 mg/kg the 7 following days, i.v.), the response to acetylcholine and bradykinin was inhibited when compared with arteries from control dogs. Short-term in vitro exposure to LNA or indomethacin or both did not influence the effects of either agonist. In these arteries, the hyperpolarizing response to acetylcholine, observed in the presence of LNA and indomethacin, was enhanced, whereas that to bradykinin was partially inhibited. In the guinea pig isolated aorta, the relaxation to bradykinin was abolished by long-term in vivo treatment with L-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME; 1.5 mg/ml, in the drinking water for > or =4 days). In the isolated guinea pig carotid artery studied in the presence of LNA and indomethacin, acetylcholine induced a hyperpolarization that was not significantly affected by long-term in vivo treatment with L-NAME. These findings indicate that endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizations are maintained during long-term inhibition of NO synthase and probably act as a back-up mechanism to elicit endothelium-dependent relaxations.     

Determinants of patients' choice of therapist.

Examined the impact of choice of psychotherapist (PT) on outcome in a longitudinal study. 97 patients (aged 17–50 yrs) chose a PT after interviewing 3. Ss were compared with control patients who were assigned to PTs. Interpersonal attraction, perception attribution, demographic variables, and similarity between PT and patient were explored. Ss made differential judgments about PTs early in the therapeutic encounter and stated clear rationales for their choices. PTs tended to express a stronger desire to work with Ss who chose them. Further, there seemed to be similarites in PTs' and Ss' perceptions, suggesting reciprocity in the therapeutic relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of Reliability of Platform Pile Foundations

A primary consideration and concern in development and implementation of risk assessment and management based hurricane and earthquake criteria for design and requalification of platforms in the Bay of Campeche criteria is the reliability characteristics of the pile foundations that support the platforms. Analyses of the ultimate limit state (ULS) performance characteristics of the platform pile foundations are summarized. These analyses indicated that in many cases when the capacities of the piles were based on American Petroleum Institute “static” pile capacity analysis methods, the piles were the most likely to fail elements in the platforms. Results from these analyses were in dramatic contrast with the performance of pile foundations supporting more than 250 platforms during the 100-year hurricane Roxanne (1995). Detailed analytical and field studies were performed to determine the ULS performance characteristics of pile foundations subjected to hurricane induced lateral and axial loadings. This study addressed all of the phases in the life cycle of the piles. The results of this work indicate that, in general, there can be large biases in the predicted capacities of piles that support the platforms.     

APOE Genotypes Modulate Inflammation Independently of Their Effect on Lipid Metabolism

The association between APOE genotypes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is partially mediated by LDL-cholesterol concentration but persists after adjusting for lipid levels and other cardiovascular risk factors. Data from the Aragon Workers Health Study (AWHS) (n = 4159) and the Lipid Unit at the Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet (HUMS) (n = 3705) were used to investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and APOE genotype. Lipoprotein particle and GlycA concentrations were analyzed in a subsample from AWHS. APOE genotyping was carried out by the Sanger method in both cohorts. APOE4 carriers had significantly lower levels of CRP than APOE3 carriers. Furthermore, APOE4 carriers had cholesterol-enriched LDL particles compared to APOE2 carriers. APOE4 carriers also had higher concentrations of small, medium, and large LDL particles. CRP levels were not associated with lipoprotein particle number, size, or composition. GlycA levels were not associated with APOE genotypes. However, GlycA levels were significantly associated with the size and the amount of cholesterol contained in HDL, VLDL, and LDL particles. APOE genotype influences CRP concentration regardless of lipid profile. APOE2 carriers showed the highest CRP levels, followed by APOE3 and APOE4. A more atherogenic lipid profile, but not inflammatory markers could partly explain the higher CVD risk observed in APOE4 carriers.