Fire-resistance and Sound-transmission-class Ratings for Wood-frame Walls

A collaborative industry-government research program was carried out at the National Research Council Canada (NRC) to develop new sound-transmission-class and fire-resistance ratings for gypsum-board protected walls. Forintek Canada Corp. and the Canadian Wood Council participated in the program on behalf of Canada's wood industry. As a result of that NRC research program, sound-transmission-class (STC) and fire-resistance (FR) ratings were formulated for approximately 140 gypsum-protected wood-frame walls. Fire-resistance ratings for the walls range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Sound-transmission-class ratings range from 30 to 65. Sound-transmission-class and fire-resistance ratings for approximately 90 of the wall designs appear in the 1995 edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC). This paper highlights some of those STC and FR ratings and describes how they were derived from the data obtained through the research program.     

Metabolic responses of lactating dairy cows to 14-day intravenous infusions of glucagon.

Twenty cows were assigned at parturition to two groups to study metabolic effects of continuous intravenous infusions of glucagon. Groups were control cows and cows treated with glucagon at 10 mg/d for 14 d starting at d 21 postpartum. Daily blood samples and nine liver biopsies were taken from d 7 to 49 postpartum. Plasma glucagon increased six- to seven-fold during infusions of treated cows. Plasma insulin was increased heterogeneously by glucagon infusions. Plasma glucose increased 11.5 and 9.0 mg/dl during wk 1 and 2 of glucagon infusions. No other plasma metabolites tested (nonesterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and urea N) were affected by glucagon infusions. Liver glycogen decreased by d 2 of glucagon infusion but was repleted to preinfusion values by d 7 and increased to 169% of the preinfusion baseline values at 3 d after cessation of glucagon. Milk production decreased transiently during glucagon infusions. Both milk production and milk protein percentage decreased during glucagon infusion, which could imply a decreased availability of amino acids for milk protein synthesis. Feed intakes did not increase during glucagon infusions, which was in contrast to the control group. Results indicated that glucagon infusions caused liver glycogenolysis initially and probably enhanced gluconeogenesis but glucagon did not appear to increase lipolysis from adipose tissue in these early lactating dairy cows.     

Occurrence, synthesis, and mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of haloacetamides: an emerging class of nitrogenous drinking water disinfection byproducts

The haloacetamides, a class of emerging nitrogenous drinking water disinfection byproduct (DBPs), were analyzed for their chronic cytotoxicity and for the induction of genomic DNA damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The rank order for cytotoxicity of 13 haloacetamides was DIAcAm > IAcAm > BAcAm > TBAcAm > BIAcAm > DBCAcAm > CIAcAm > BDCAcAm > DBAcAm > BCAcAm > CAcAm > DCAcAm > TCAcAm. The rank order of their genotoxicity was TBAcAm > DIAcAm approximately equal to IAcAm > BAcAm > DBCAcAm > BIAcAm > BDCAcAm > CIAcAm > BCAcAm > DBAcAm > CAcAm > TCAcAm. DCAcAm was not genotoxic. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were primarily determined by the leaving tendency of the halogens and followed the order I > Br > > Cl. With the exception of brominated trihaloacetamides, most of the toxicity rank order was consistent with structure-activity relationship expectations. For di- and trihaloacetamides, the presence of at least one good leaving halogen group (I or Br but not Cl) appears to be critical for significant toxic activity. Log P was not a factor for monohaloacetamides but may play a role in the genotoxicity of trihaloacetamides and possible activation of dihaloacetamides by intracellular GSH and -SH compounds.     

Casein Composition of Cow's Milk of Different Chymosin Coagulation Properties

Five good and four poor chymosincoagulating individual cow milk samples were analyzed for casein composition using hydroxyapatite chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to establish possible relationships between casein fractions and differences in coagulation properties.Samples exhibited wide variation in casein composition. Poor chymosincoagulating milk had higher content of γ- and degraded caseins and lower κ- and β-caseins than the good-coagulating milk. One milk sample that did not coagulate 30 min after chymosin addition had low α_S-casein concentration and an additional major casein fragment (not identified). A substantial peak representing unidentified minor caseins was apparent in a poorcoagulating milk sample, which coagulated early but whose coagulum did not become firm in 30 min. Excluding the nonclotting sample, less variability was observed in α_S-casein concentrations than in the other casein components.     

Photoreduction of Shewanella oneidensis Extracellular Cytochromes by Organic Chromophores and Dye‐Sensitized TiO2

The transfer of photoenergized electrons from extracellular photosensitizers across a bacterial cell envelope to drive intracellular chemical transformations represents an attractive way to harness nature's catalytic machinery for solar‐assisted chemical synthesis. In Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 (MR‐1), trans‐outer‐membrane electron transfer is performed by the extracellular cytochromes MtrC and OmcA acting together with the outer‐membrane‐spanning porin ? cytochrome complex (MtrAB). Here we demonstrate photoreduction of solutions of MtrC, OmcA, and the MtrCAB complex by soluble photosensitizers: namely, eosin Y, fluorescein, proflavine, flavin, and adenine dinucleotide, as well as by riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide, two compounds secreted by MR‐1. We show photoreduction of MtrC and OmcA adsorbed on Ru^II‐dye‐sensitized TiO₂ nanoparticles and that these protein‐coated particles perform photocatalytic reduction of solutions of MtrC, OmcA, and MtrCAB. These findings provide a framework for informed development of strategies for using the outer‐membrane‐associated cytochromes of MR‐1 for solar‐driven microbial synthesis in natural and engineered bacteria.     

Inhibition of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Signaling Mitigates Microvascular Loss but Not Fibrosis in a Model of Ischemic Acute Kidney Injury

The development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) following an episode of acute kidney injury (AKI) is an increasingly recognized clinical problem. Inhibition of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) protects renal function in animal models of AKI and has become a viable therapeutic strategy in AKI. However, the impact of TLR4 inhibition on the chronic sequelae of AKI is unknown. Consequently, we examined the chronic effects of TLR4 inhibition in a model of ischemic AKI. Mice with a TLR4-deletion on a C57BL/6 background and wild-type (WT) background control mice (C57BL/6) were subjected to bilateral renal artery clamping for 19 min and reperfusion for up to 6 weeks. Despite the acute protective effect of TLR4 inhibition on renal function (serum creatinine 1.6 ± 0.4 mg/dL TLR4-deletion vs. 2.8 ± 0.3 mg/dL·WT) and rates of tubular apoptosis following ischemic AKI, we found no difference in neutrophil or macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, we observed significant protection from microvascular rarefaction at six weeks following injury with TLR4-deletion, but this did not alter development of fibrosis. In conclusion, we validate the acute protective effect of TLR4 signal inhibition in AKI but demonstrate that this protective effect does not mitigate the sequential fibrogenic response in this model of ischemic AKI.     

Microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition of nano-structured Sn/C composite thin-film anodes for Li-ion batteries

A novel synthesis method of thin-film composite Sn/C anodes for lithium batteries is reported. Thin layers of graphitic carbon decorated with uniformly distributed Sn nanoparticles were synthesized from a solid organic precursor Sn(IV) tert-butoxide by a one-step microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD). The thin-film Sn/C electrodes were electrochemically tested in lithium half cells and produced a reversible capacity of 423 and 297 mAh g⁻¹ at C/25 and 5C discharge rates, respectively. A long-term cycling of the Sn/C nanocomposite anodes showed 40% capacity loss after 500 cycles at 1C rate.     

Ferritinophagy and α-Synuclein: Pharmacological Targeting of Autophagy to Restore Iron Regulation in Parkinson’s Disease

A major hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the fatal destruction of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra pars compacta. This event is preceded by the formation of Lewy bodies, which are cytoplasmic inclusions composed of α-synuclein protein aggregates. A triad contribution of α-synuclein aggregation, iron accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction plague nigral neurons, yet the events underlying iron accumulation are poorly understood. Elevated intracellular iron concentrations up-regulate ferritin expression, an iron storage protein that provides cytoprotection against redox stress. The lysosomal degradation pathway, autophagy, can release iron from ferritin stores to facilitate its trafficking in a process termed ferritinophagy. Aggregated α-synuclein inhibits SNARE protein complexes and destabilizes microtubules to halt vesicular trafficking systems, including that of autophagy effectively. The scope of this review is to describe the physiological and pathological relationship between iron regulation and α-synuclein, providing a detailed understanding of iron metabolism within nigral neurons. The underlying mechanisms of autophagy and ferritinophagy are explored in the context of PD, identifying potential therapeutic targets for future investigation.     

Base cations and micronutrients in forest soils along three clear-cut chronosequences in the northeastern United States

Determining effects of clear-cutting on base cations and micronutrients is essential for ensuring the sustainability of forestry for biofuels and wood products. The objective of this study was to quantify long-term changes in forest floor and mineral soil base cations (Ca, Mg, and K) and micronutrient (Mn, Zn, and Cu) concentrations and pools following clear-cutting in forests aged 1–120 years. We studied forest soils along three clear-cut chronosequences located in the Adirondack Ecological Center in Newcomb, NY, Bartlett Experimental Forest in Bartlett, NH, and Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA. We utilized a strong-acid extraction to quantify base cations and micronutrient concentrations and pools, which may better assess nutrients over the chronosequences than the conventional exchangeable extraction. Generalized linear mixed-effect models (GLMMs) show forest floor and mineral soil Ca, Mg, Mn, and Cu concentrations and pools decreased with increasing forest age across the three study areas. Potassium and Zn concentrations and pools were not significantly different with stand age and neither did soil C and N pools and pH using GLMMs. We calculated that 32–67% of the Ca pool decrease can be attributed to uptake by regenerating vegetation but only 0.02–9% of Mg, Mn, and Cu after harvest. Thus, leaching was likely to the dominant loss process for Mg, Mn, and Cu following clear-cutting. Our results suggest nutrient pools decreased for over a century following clear-cutting, but it is unclear if this will impact plant growth.