Oxidation Behaviour of NiCrAl and NiCoCrAl Bond Coatings Under Industrial Gas Turbine Conditions

Model bond coatings were deposited with a wide range of compositions and their oxidation behaviour investigated at 900 °C. These Ni–Co–Cr–Al coatings were deposited using magnetron sputtering (a physical vapour deposition technique) onto 10 mm diameter sapphire substrates. A range of compositions was generated by co-sputtering from a combination of two or three sources: Ni–10 wt% Cr, Ni–20Cr, Ni–50Cr, Ni–20Co–40Cr and/or Ni–40Co–20Cr combined with pure Al. The coatings were oxidised at 900 °C and the scales formed characterised. These data have been summarised into oxide predominance diagrams to show the relationships between coating compositions and the formation of protective Cr₂O₃ or Al₂O₃ scales, or the formation of other, less protective oxides (or mixed oxides). Both coating composition and exposure temperature (by comparison with earlier published research) were found to influence the oxide scale growth rate and oxide type, and thus the resulting degree of protection.     

The use of microbiological surveys to evaluate the co-regulation of abattoirs in New South Wales,Australia

In order to develop a microbiological baseline of meat produced for domestic consumption in the state of New South Wales, chilled carcases were sampled from 16 abattoirs. Aerobic Plate Counts (APCs) and Escherichia coli counts were obtained from samples taken by sponging sites specified for each species in the Microbiological Guidelines to the Australian meat standard. On beef carcases the mean log₁₀ APC/cm² was 2.21 and E. coli was detected on 25% of carcases (mean log positives ?0.61/cm²). For sheep carcases corresponding values were 2.4, 53% and log₁₀ -0.06/cm², respectively. For pig carcases values were 2.81, 63% and log₁₀ -0.23/cm², respectively. For skin-off goat carcases values were 1.15, 27% and log₁₀ -0.38/cm², respectively. In the present survey, levels of indicator bacteria on carcases processed via the co-regulatory system operated in Australia were similar to those established in surveys of abattoirs that operate the traditional system overseen by government inspectors.     

Activation of protein kinase C modulates cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion of a human colorectal carcinoma cell line and restores 'normal' epithelial morphology

Abnormal cell adhesion is an important contributing factor in invasion and metastasis. Here, we show that morphologically 'normal' cell-cell and cell-substratum adhesion can be restored to a poorly differentiated carcinoma cell line by activation of protein kinase C (PKC). This cell line, VACO 10MS, grows as multicellular aggregates loosely attached to the substratum. The phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 7.5 nM) induces rapid adhesive changes with 2 components. First, within 15 min of TPA the cells become closely apposed, an event resembling the 'compaction' seen in the mouse early embryo. Next, over 2 hr, the cells spread, forming a monolayer. We show that compaction depends on extracellular calcium, E-cadherin-mediated adhesion and F-actin but not on protein synthesis, microtubules or substratum adhesion. By contrast, cell spreading is independent of cadherin and extracellular Ca2+ but involves the formation of focal contacts containing alpkha(v) integrin. TPA treatment causes rapid translocation of PKC-alpha to the insoluble fraction. During compaction, actin- and PKC-alpha-containing lamellae form over the entire aggregate surface, those adjacent to the substratum appearing to initiate spreading. Compaction does not involve increased phosphorylation of the cadherin/catenin complex. We conclude that activation of PKC-alpha restores 'normal' morphology to these poorly differentiated cells. Our results are of general interest in relation to the regulation of cell adhesion and, through further investigation, may lead to identification of novel targets for therapeutic suppression of invasion and metastasis.     

The use of predictive microbiology by the Australian meat industry

In Australia, the key regulatory body, the Meat Standards Committee (MSC) of the Agricultural and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ) and the Export Meat Industry Advisory Council (EMIAC) have accepted in principle the usefulness of predictive microbiology for science-based regulation. The predictive microbiology approach is being used in a range of areas including hot-boning, distribution of meat, retailing of meat, fermentation, plant breakdowns and extended chilling regimes.     

Exploring the Linkage Between the Characteristics of it Project Leaders and Project Success

This article examines factors affecting the success of IT projects. Data were collected about the leadership capabilities of IT project managers for 57 IT projects using the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). the assessments provided by supervisors, subordinates, and peers (but not the IT project managers themselves) were found to be significant predictors of project success, as measured by actual versus planned project duration times.     

Linking learning goals and educational resources through interactive concept map visualizations

Concept browsing interfaces can help educators and learners to locate and use learning resources that are aligned with recognized learning goals. The Strand Map Service enables users to navigate interactive visualizations of related learning goals and to request digital library resources aligned with learning goals. These interfaces are created using a programmatic Web service interface that dynamically generates interactive visual components. Preliminary findings suggest that these library interfaces appear to help users stay focused on the scientific content of their information discovery task, as opposed to focusing on the mechanics of searching.     

Multimedia displays for conceptual discovery: information seeking with strand maps

This article explores the use of a multimedia search interface for digital libraries based on strand maps developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As semantic-spatial displays, strand maps provide a visual organization of relevant conceptual information that may promote the use of science content during digital library use. A study was conducted to compare users' cognitive processes during information seeking tasks when using a multimedia strand maps interface, versus the textual search interface currently implemented in the Digital Library for Earth System Education. Quantitative and qualitative data from think-aloud protocols revealed that students were more likely to engage with science content (e.g., analyzing the relevance of science concepts with regard to task needs) during search when using the strand maps interface compared to those using textual searching. In contrast, students using a textual search interface engaged more frequently with surface-level information (e.g., the type of a resource regardless of its science content) during search and retrieval. As a multimedia search interface for digital libraries, strand maps appear to be promising tools to promote conceptual discovery and learning through content-based processes that promote learner engagement with relevant science knowledge.     

Fusion-competent vaccines: broad neutralization of primary isolates of HIV

Current recombinant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gp120 protein vaccine candidates are unable to elicit antibodies capable of neutralizing infectivity of primary isolates from patients. Here, "fusion-competent" HIV vaccine immunogens were generated that capture the transient envelope-CD4-coreceptor structures that arise during HIV binding and fusion. In a transgenic mouse immunization model, these formaldehyde-fixed whole-cell vaccines elicited antibodies capable of neutralizing infectivity of 23 of 24 primary HIV isolates from diverse geographic locations and genetic clades A to E. Development of these fusion-dependent immunogens may lead to a broadly effective HIV vaccine.     

How the Wastewater Discharge Fee Might Become a Tool of River-Basin Management

The Federal German Water Law of 1976 postulated for the first time that a licence for the discharge of wastewater into public watercourses might only be granted when the wastewater, prior to discharge, is treated according to laid-down standards. In 1976 it was also decided that for the residual pollution load in sewage-treatment plant effluents a pollution fee has to be paid.
At present three pollution units have to be paid per capita and annually for untreated domestic wastewater. One pollution unit is assessed at 17/annum, but the price will be increased to 30/annum in future.
Since the pollution units encompass COD, nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals, and chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds, the pollution unit is a good tool to compare the effectiveness of treatment. For different drainage systems the residual pollution units (per litre and second) can also be calculated for low-flow conditions.