Transport and retention of a bacteriophage and microspheres in saturated, angular porous media: effects of ionic strength and grain size

Eight saturated column experiments were conducted to examine the effects of solution chemistry and grain size on the transport of colloids through crushed silica sand. Two sizes of colloids, 0.025-μm bacteriophage (MS-2) and 1.5-μm carboxylated microspheres, were used as surrogates for the transport of pathogenic viruses and bacteria, respectively. Increasing the Ca²⁺ concentration from 1 to 4.8 mM (along with background monovalent ions) resulted in complete attenuation (>6-log decrease in C/C₀) of MS-2, but caused only a 1-log reduction (C/C₀ = 0.1) in the concentration of the microspheres. Decreasing grain size from medium sand (d₅₀ = 0.70 mm) to fine sand (d₅₀ = 0.34 mm) resulted in substantial decreases in effluent concentrations of both the MS-2 (5-log decrease) and microspheres (>2.5-log decrease). Comparison of observed colloid retention to that predicted by a recently published correlation equation for colloid filtration revealed that the model can considerably underpredict (by 4 orders of magnitude or more) colloid retention by angular sand over distances as short as 20 cm. This indicates that state-of-the-art colloid filtration models are still limited in applicability to natural systems.     

间歇曝气脱氮系统的影响因素研究

通过观察间歇曝气生物脱氮系统在不同水温、C/N值下的脱氮效率以及好氧/缺氧一周期内的硝化和反硝化过程,分析了温度和缺氧期C/N值对硝化和反硝化速度的影响,探讨了冬季所需外加碳源量。试验结果表明,秋、冬季提高缺氧期C/N值是保障间歇曝气脱氮系统运行效率的有效措施;在TN负荷为0.034kg/(kgMLVSS·d),水温为15℃时最适C/N值为7,10℃时最适C/N值为9。为了降低冬季运行费用,有必要寻找廉价的外碳源。     

Characterization of a potent and specific class of antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of human protein kinase C-alpha expression

The use of antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit the expression of targeted mRNA sequences is becoming increasingly commonplace. Although effective, the most widely used oligonucleotide modification (phosphorothioate) has some limitations. In previous studies we have described a 20-mer phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide inhibitor of human protein kinase C-alpha expression. In an effort to identify improved antisense inhibitors of protein kinase C expression, a series of 2' modifications have been incorporated into the protein kinase C-alpha targeting oligonucleotide, and the effects on oligonucleotide biophysical characteristics and pharmacology evaluated. The incorporation of 2'-O-(2-methoxy)ethyl chemistry resulted in a number of significant improvements in oligonucleotide characteristics. These include an increase in hybridization affinity toward a complementary RNA (1.5 degrees C per modification) and an increase in resistance toward both 3'-exonuclease and intracellular nucleases. These improvements result in a substantial increase in oligonucleotide potency (>20-fold after 72 h). The most active compound identified was used to examine the role played by protein kinase C-alpha in mediating the phorbol ester-induced changes in c-fos, c-jun, and junB expression in A549 lung epithelial cells. Depletion of protein kinase C-alpha protein expression by this oligonucleotide lead to a reduction in c-jun expression but not c-fos or junB. These results demonstrate that 2'-O-(2-methoxy)ethyl-modified antisense oligonucleotides are 1) effective inhibitors of protein kinase C-alpha expression, and 2) represent a class of antisense oligonucleotide which are much more effective inhibitors of gene expression than the widely used phosphorothioate antisense oligodeoxynucleotides.     

Irreversible conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase into xanthine oxidase by a mitochondrial protease

Irreversible conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) to its oxygen free radical producing oxidase (XO) form occurs through an uncharacterized proteolytic process, which was studied in human liver. Upon incubation of fresh unfrozen liver cytosol, XDH remained intact. When recombinant human XDH was coincubated with subcellular fractions of human liver, the mitochondrial intermembrane space was shown to contain a heat-labile activity that converted XDH irreversibly to XO. This activity is resistant to inhibitors of all major groups of proteases. We postulate that this novel type of proteolytic enzyme is released into the cytosol upon mitochondrial damage.     

Equilibrium Parameters for the Sorption of Copper,Cadmium and Zinc Ions onto Peat

This paper details a study into the sorption of three divalent metal ions—namely cadmium, copper and zinc—onto peat, in single component, binary and ternary systems. The Langmuir Freundlich and Redlich–Peterson equilibrium isotherms for each metal ion in each system have been determined and correlated. The Langmuir isotherms have been found to have the highest regression correlation coefficients. © 1997 SCI.     

Influence of calcium and phosphorus, lactose, and salt-to-moisture ratio on Cheddar cheese quality: changes in residual sugars and water-soluble organic acids during ripening

Cheddar cheese ripening involves the conversion of lactose to glucose and galactose or galactose-6-phosphate by starter and nonstarter lactic acid bacteria. Under ideal conditions (i.e., where bacteria grow under no stress of pH, water activity, and salt), these sugars are mainly converted to lactic acid. However, during ripening of cheese, survival and growth of bacteria occurs under the stressed condition of low pH, low water activity, and high salt content. This forces bacteria to use alternate biochemical pathways resulting in production of other organic acids. The objective of this study was to determine if the level and type of organic acids produced during ripening was influenced by calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), residual lactose, and salt-to-moisture ratio (S/M) of cheese. Eight cheeses with 2 levels of Ca and P (0.67 and 0.47% vs. 0.53 and 0.39%, respectively), lactose at pressing (2.4 vs. 0.78%), and S/M (6.4 vs. 4.8%) were manufactured. The cheeses were analyzed for organic acids (citric, orotic, pyruvic, lactic, formic, uric, acetic, propanoic, and butyric acids) and residual sugars (lactose, galactose) during 48 wk of ripening using an HPLC-based method. Different factors influenced changes in concentration of residual sugars and organic acids during ripening and are discussed in detail. Our results indicated that the largest decrease in lactose and the largest increase in lactic acid occurred between salting and d 1 of ripening. It was interesting to observe that although the lactose content in cheese was influenced by several factors (Ca and P, residual lactose, and S/M), the concentration of lactic acid was influenced only by S/M. More lactic acid was produced in low S/M treatments compared with high S/M treatments. Although surprising for Cheddar cheese, a substantial amount (0.2 to 0.4%) of galactose was observed throughout ripening in all treatments. Minor changes in the levels of citric, uric, butyric, and propanoic acids were observed during early ripening, whereas during later ripening, a substantial increase was observed. A gradual decrease in orotic acid and a gradual increase in pyruvic acid content of the cheeses were observed during 12 mo of ripening. In contrast, acetic acid did not show a particular trend, indicating its role as an intermediate in a biochemical pathway, rather than a final product.     

Near-infrared (NIR) Raman spectroscopy of Precambrian carbonate stromatolites with post-depositional organic inclusions

Raman spectroscopy has promising potential for future Mars missions as a non-contact detection technique for characterizing organic material and mineralogy. Such a capability will be useful for selecting samples for detailed analysis on a rover and for selecting samples for return to Earth. Stromatolites are important evidence for the earliest life on Earth and are promising targets for Mars investigations. Although constructed by microorganisms, stromatolites are organo-sedimentary structures that can be large enough to be discovered and investigated by a Mars rover. In this paper, we report the Raman spectroscopic investigations of the carbonate mineralogy and organic layering in a Precambrian (~1.5 Gyr old) stromatolite from the Crystal Spring Formation of Southern California. Ultraviolet (UV: 266 nm), visible (514 nm, 633 nm), and near-infrared (NIR: 785 nm, 1064 nm) Raman spectra are presented. We conclude that 1064 nm excitation is the optimal excitation wavelength for avoiding intrinsic fluorescence and detecting organic carbon within the carbonate matrix. Our results confirm that NIR Raman spectroscopy has important applications for future Mars missions.     

Remote Raman spectroscopy for planetary exploration: a review

In this review, we discuss the current state of standoff Raman spectroscopy as it applies to remote planetary applications, including standoff instrumentation, the technique's ability to identify biologically and geologically important analytes, and the feasibility to make standoff Raman measurements under various planetary conditions. This is not intended to be an exhaustive review of standoff Raman and many excellent papers are not mentioned. Rather it is intended to give the reader a quick review of the types of standoff Raman systems that are being developed and that might be suitable for astrospectroscopy, a look at specific analytes that are of interest for planetary applications, planetary measurement opportunities and challenges that need to be solved, and a brief discussion of the feasibility of making surface and plume planetary Raman measurements from an orbiting spacecraft.     

Exhaust Cleaning with Dielectric Barrier Discharge

To clean the exhaust emissions as one of the most important tasks in pollution control, a study on the treatment of engine emissions with discharge assistance was reported. A DBD plasma source shaped in grid and cylinder was examined in different engine operational modes to reduce the NOX content of diesel engine exhaust. The composition of the exhaust gases and chemical reactions initiated by the discharge were analyzed. The discharge frequency had a crucial impact on the device’s performance and gas treatment. The voltages applied to the discharge gap could alter the chemical reactions occurring in the treated gases, which were indicated by the NO to NO2 ratio. The operation of the system was studied at frequencies ranging from 400 Hz to 16 kHz.     

Study of the Effect of Strontium (Sr) on the Nucleation of Eutectic Silicon (Si) in High Purity Hypoeutectic Al-5Si Alloys

High purity Al-5Si (wt. %) master alloys containing different levels of Sr additions were manufactured in an arc melter under high vacuum. The alloys were melt-spun which resulted in the production of thin ribbons. The microstructure of the ribbons consisted of Al matrix and entrained eutectic droplets. The ribbons were subsequently investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and conventional transmission electron microscopy (CTEM) to examine the effect of Sr on the droplet undercooling and nucleation of eutectic silicon. The results indicate that the addition of Sr increases the eutectic droplet nucleation undercooling (ΔT). This may be due to Sr poisoning of the AlP phase.