Flash pyrolysis of Australian coals: Effects of pre-oxidation and of oxygen in the inlet gases on formation of agglomerated material

Addition of oxygen to nitrogen in the inlet gas during flash pyrolysis at 600 °C reduced the amount of char agglomerate formed from a relatively strongly caking Liddell seam coal and a weakly caking Millmerran seam coal. The reduction of agglomeration was significant over the entire ranges of variables used, viz, oxygen concentrations in the inlet gas of 2.62–10.5% (v/v) and oxygen to coal ratios of 0.02–0.12 (wt/wt). Pre-oxidation at 400 °C with solids residence times below 2 s, inlet concentrations of oxygen up to 10.5% and oxygen to coal ratios up to 0.10 (wt/wt) also effectively reduced agglomeration of Liddell coal. In terms of minimizing the oxygen requirement to obtain essentially nonagglomerating solids, the preferred method was found to be pre-oxidation followed by oxidative pyrolysis. The reduction of agglomeration by oxygen appears to be due to a combination of the extent of coal oxidation and the extents of polymerization and chemical condensation of the coal structure.     

Effect of recombinant cytokines on leucocytes and physiological changes in bovine mammary glands during early involution

We examined the effects of administering recombinant bovine cytokines to non-lactating dairy cows and measured mammary gland leucocytes and the involution process. After the final milking, groups of cows were given an intramammary infusion of cytokine in two quarters. These cytokines were recombinant bovine interleukin-2 (rbolL-2) (2 x 10(5) units, n = 6), recombinant bovine granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rboGM-CSF) (500 microg, n = 4) and recombinant bovine interleukin-1beta (rbolL-1beta) (10 microg, n = 10). Each animal also received an infusion of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in the other two quarters as controls. The rbolL-2 and rboGM-CSF were produced in a yeast expression system, while rbolL-1beta was produced in Escherichia coli. Leucocyte numbers, bactericidal activity of leucocytes, and concentrations of citrate and lactoferrin in quarter secretion samples were monitored after infusion of cytokine or PBS. Infusion of rbolL-2 had minimal effect on leucocyte numbers and concentrations of citrate and lactoferrin. Both rboGM-CSF and rbolL-1beta induced a rapid increase in the number of neutrophils and macrophages compared with control PBS quarters. Concentrations of lactoferrin in secretions were increased by rboGM-CSF and rbolL-1beta compared with control PBS quarters. In addition, infusion of glands with rbolL-1beta lowered the citrate:lactoferrin molar ratio compared with PBS control quarters. The results indicate that intramammary infusion of either rboGM-CSF or rbolL-1beta at cessation of milking immediately increased the number of phagocytic cells in the gland. These cytokines, in particular rbolL-1beta, also increased the rate of mammary gland involution during the early dry period.     

A histopathologic study of macular cysts and holes

Forty-four eyes from 39 patients with either lamellar macular holes (17 eyes), full-thickness macular holes (18 eyes), and/or macular cysts (9 eyes) were studied histopathologically. Lamellar and full-thickness holes were frequently found in eyes with a history of trauma or ocular surgery. Diabetes mellitus was the most common condition associated with macular cysts. Four lamellar holes and four full-thickness holes occurred in eyes with senile macular degeneration. Six lamellar holes, eight full-thickness holes, and one macular cyst developed on an idiopathic basis. Residual cystoid macular edema was the most prevalent accompanying pathologic feature. Cystoid macular edema was also noted in the opposite eye in seven cases of lamellar and full-thickness holes. A preretinal glial membrane, thought to be a secondary change, was found at or near the edges of the lamellar or full-thickness holes or over the macular cyst in the majority of cases. Wrinkling of the internal limiting membrane (ILM) was present in five cases. Vitreous traction, with or without an operculum, was infrequently associated with these entities.     

Issues of validity and reliability in the use of real–ideal discrepancy scores to measure self-regard.

Investigated the validity and reliability of real–ideal discrepancy scores as measures of self-regard using 1,965 7th, 9th, and 11th graders. Real self-ratings were superior to real–ideal discrepancy ratings in predicting several measures of global self-esteem (e.g., Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory) and in predicting several measures of teachers' evaluations of the self-attitudes of the Ss. Further, similar-sized discrepancies did not translate into similar levels of self-regard at different points on scales of real self-evaluation, and the more dependent the discrepancy score was made on the real self-score relative to the ideal self-score, the more effective a predictor it was of global self-esteem. Finally, the test–retest correlations were low for a real–ideal discrepancy scale. Researchers are cautioned against the use of such measures. (21 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Web and database software for identification of intact proteins using "top down" mass spectrometry

For the identification and characterization of proteins harboring posttranslational modifications (PTMs), a "top down" strategy using mass spectrometry has been forwarded recently but languishes without tailored software widely available. We describe a Web-based software and database suite called ProSight PTM constructed for large-scale proteome projects involving direct fragmentation of intact protein ions. Four main components of ProSight PTM are a database retrieval algorithm (Retriever), MySQL protein databases, a file/data manager, and a project tracker. Retriever performs probability-based identifications from absolute fragment ion masses, automatically compiled sequence tags, or a combination of the two, with graphical rendering and browsing of the results. The database structure allows known and putative protein forms to be searched, with prior or predicted PTM knowledge used during each search. Initial functionality is illustrated with a 36-kDa yeast protein identified from a processed cell extract after automated data acquisition using a quadrupole-FT hybrid mass spectrometer. A +142-Da delta(m) on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was automatically localized between Asp90 and Asp192, consistent with its two cystine residues (149 and 153) alkylated by acrylamide (+71 Da each) during the gel-based sample preparation. ProSight PTM is the first search engine and Web environment for identification of intact proteins (https://prosightptm.scs.uiuc.edu/).     

The oxidation of zinc vapor in CO-CO2-N2 gas mixtures

The kinetics of oxidation of zinc vapor in the Zn-CO-CO₂-N₂ system was investigated for zinc partial pressures of 0.01 to 0.09 atm, carbon monoxide partial pressures up to 0.5 atm, and carbon dioxide partial pressures up to 0.6 atm at 730 °C to 900 °C. The experimental apparatus consisted of a flow reactor and a multitemperature zone furnace. Known gas compositions were generated and the rate of oxidation of zinc vapor was determined from the mass of zinc oxide deposited under controlled conditions. The rate of oxidation of zinc was found to be a function of temperature and of the partial pressures of zinc, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. It was autocatalytic with respect to carbon monoxide and independent of the total mass of zinc oxide deposited. The reactions occurring in parallel for this mechanism are