Timing of ICSI with Respect to Meiotic Spindle Status

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of using meiotic spindle (MS) visibility and relative position to the polar body (PB) as indicators of oocyte maturation in order to optimize intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) timing. This was a cohort study of patients younger than 40 years with planned ICSI, the timing of which was determined by MS status, compared with those without MS evaluation. The angle between PB and MS and MS visibility were evaluated by optical microscope with polarizing filter. Oocytes with MS evaluation were fertilized according to MS status either 5–6 h after ovum pick-up (OPU) or 7–8 h after OPU. Oocytes without MS evaluation were all fertilized 5–6 h after OPU. For patients over 35 years visualization of MS influenced pregnancy rate (PR): 182 patients with MS visualization had 32% PR (58/182); while 195 patients without MS visualization had 24% PR (47/195). For patients under 35 years, visualization of MS did not influence PR: 140 patients with MS visualization had 41% PR (58/140), while 162 patients without MS visualization had 41% PR (66/162). Visualization of MS therefore appears to be a useful parameter for assessment of oocyte maturity and ICSI timing for patients older than 35.     

Analysis of bell materials： Tin bronzes

The present study was set up to examine the effect of alloying elements （including harmful elements） on metallurgical features （material properties and qualitative parameters） of tin bronzes, with particular reference to church bells from Middle Ages to Current times. A driving force of this study was to identify and demonstrate features related to the quality of church bells made in different centuries. The findings have been derived via metallographic and chemical analysis of specimens of bells from various parts of Australasia and Europe. The bell materials consisted of a mixture of the a phase and the （α＋β） eutectoid essentially, in proportions determined by tin content and mould materials during casting. The samples from the 15th century to the one from the 20th century showed a progressive increase in hardness, ranging from the minimum of -280 VHM20g to a maximum of -470 VHM20g for the （α＋β） eutectoid, and -160 VHM20g to -230 VHM20g for the a phase. The investigation also shows that the sound decay of the bell decreased with lowering the wt.% of tin and increasing the wt.% of lead and silver. This information is expected to provide an additional interesting knowledge into manufacturing practices and their significance in the quality of church bells over past centuries.     

Approximate solution to the natural convection heat transfer from a vertical plate

A new model for laminar natural convection heat transfer between an isothermal vertical plate to a power-law fluid is proposed. The difficulty caused by the fact that the momentum and energy equations are coupled is avoided by introducing an approximation based on the partial similarity between the velocity fields for forced and natural convections. The model proposed in this work agrees well with the available experimental data and correlations. Further, we have extended the analysis to turbulent natural convection heat transfer. The predicted turbulent heat transfer rates are in satisfactory agreement with the data and the correlations published in the literature.     

Carbon composite micro- and nano-tubes-based electrodes for detection of nucleic acids

The first aim of this study was to fabricate vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). MWCNTs were successfully prepared by using plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition. Further, three carbon composite electrodes with different content of carbon particles with various shapes and sizes were prepared and tested on measuring of nucleic acids. The dependences of adenine peak height on the concentration of nucleic acid sample were measured. Carbon composite electrode prepared from a mixture of glassy and spherical carbon powder and MWCNTs had the highest sensitivity to nucleic acids. Other interesting result is the fact that we were able to distinguish signals for all bases using this electrode.     

A Novel Method for Estimating Solid Fraction of Roller-Compacted Ribbons

A simple method has been developed to estimate solid fraction or relative density of compacts using the weight of ribbons produced during roller compaction. The method provides an alternative to the commonly used dimensional measurement, especially for formulations not amenable to forming quality ribbons. Surface texture of the compaction rolls has been taken into consideration in our mathematical treatment along with correction for ribbon relaxation. Ribbon relaxation occurring upon ribbon exiting the compaction zone is estimated using roll geometry, roll gap, and ribbon thickness. Detailed experimental runs have been carried out to confirm the validity of the proposed theory. The predicted solid fraction was found comparable to that from actual dimensional measurement by caliper. In the case of the microcrystalline cellulose/dicalcium phosphate one:one formulation, the predicted solid fraction had an error sum of squares (SSE) of 2.64E-03 when compared to the dimensional method. When relaxation was included, the SSE decreased by four folds. Similarly, for the microcrystalline cellulose/lactose monohydrate 2:1 formulation, the SSE decreased twelfth folds when relaxation was taken into consideration. These results further confirm the utility of the proposed throughput method for estimating the solid fraction of ribbons.     

Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Biomass/Oil Mixture

Investigation was focussed to application of waste POX （partial oxidation）, e.g., meal rape in form of suspension in high boiling hydrocarbons from crude oil distillation. There is an opportunity for utilization of biomass waste resulted from fuels bio-components production. A decrease of oxygen and water steam demand in feed for POX process was observed in this variant. Catalytic effect of iron nanoparticles or nickel nitrate as catalysts in improvement of the pilot plant biomass/oil partial oxidation was investigated as well. Presence of catalyst in the feed supports formation of carbon monoxide and suppression content of methane in the gas product. Experimental data were well compared with process simulation based on eauilibrium reactor model.     

Removal of methylene blue from aqueous media using activated carbon web

Activated carbon web is prepared by controlled pyrolysis of acrylic fibrous waste under the layer of charcoal using physical activation in high-temperature furnace. The carbonization was carried out at 1200 °C under different heating rate (i.e. 150 to 450 °C h^?1) with different holding time (i.e. 0 to 60 min) to decide optimum pyrolysis parameters. The heating rate of 300 °C h^?1 with no holding time revealed higher specific surface area of 280 m² g^?1. The prepared activated carbon web was later employed as adsorbent for removal of methylene blue from aqueous media. The effect of initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, stirring speed, and pH of solution was studied. The obtained results were later compared with adsorption isotherms (i.e. Langmuir and Freundlich). The Freundlich model was found to fit closely with results due to heterogeneous adsorption of dye molecules. Finally, virgin activated carbon and dye adsorbed activated carbon were tested for desorption behavior using differential scanning calorimetry and thermo gravimetric analysis. The significant reduction in desorption enthalpy from 172.46 to 52.43 J g^?1 is attributed to less adsorption energies of dye molecules on the surface of activated carbon due to nonhomogeneous distribution of active sites.     

A Comparison of Metabolic Rates in Off‐Channel Habitats of the Middle Mississippi River

Autochthonous material has been found to be an important base in large river food webs. However, a spatial understanding of primary production in large rivers is lacking. We modeled primary productivity and community respiration (CR) during a low water period in two types of off‐channel habitat present in the Middle Mississippi River, side channels and wing dike fields. Wing dike fields are constantly connected to the main channel and are well mixed along most of their length, while side channels are typically connected only at the top and mouth. Gross primary production (GPP) in wing dike fields ranged from 0.0 to 8.9 g O₂ m^?2 D^?1 and in side channels GPP ranged from 0.4 to 33.5 g O₂ m^?2 D^?1. Both habitat types experienced periods of positive net ecosystem production (NEP) especially in the late summer and early fall. Correlations between metabolic rates and ecosystem characteristics differed between habitat types. Discharge was negatively correlated to NEP in wing dike fields but was not associated with metabolic rates in side channels. Light was positively correlated with GPP and CR at both site types and with NEP in side channels. These areas are protected from high velocity and likely experience greater light penetration, allowing more photosynthesis to take place especially during low water periods. This study demonstrates the potential for high productivity in off‐channel habitats that are permanently connected to the main channel. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.