Comparison of Different Oxidation Methods for Recalcitrance Removal of Landfill Leachate

In this work several oxidation methods, such as conventional ozonation, O₃/UV, O₃/UV/ferrous iron and Fenton oxidation, for the removal of recalcitrant organic matter present in landfill leachates are evaluated. The samples of the leachate are taken after a biological treatment and membrane ultra-filtration (UF). The contribution of the UV radiation and the effect of ferrous iron ions on the ozone process efficiency is discussed. At lower ozone dosages, the partial oxidation efficiency is reduced as compared to conventional ozonation and therefore, a higher degree of mineralization of the organic matter is achieved. Finally, the best results are obtained by the Fenton oxidation, however, based on economic considerations this method is not recommended.     

On the application of magnetomechanical models to explain damping in an antiferromagnetic copper-manganese alloy

The Smith-Birchak model for magnetoelastic damping was successfully applied to model the damping observed in an antiferromagnetic Cu-48Mn-1.5Al (wt pct) alloy. Antiferromagnetic domains were developed by solution treatment at 820 ‡C and subsequent aging at 400 ‡C for 4, 10, and 16 hours. Damping capacity and dynamic elastic modulus were measured as a function of strain amplitude and temperature. A maximum in the strain-amplitude-dependent damping was obtained for the 4-hour-aged sample for which a magnetostriction constant, λ, equal to 4.65 × 10^-4, was derived. An exact fit for the Smith-Birchak model was obtained at low strains, whereas the model predicted lower damping than was observed for strains greater than 1.1 × 10^-3. This discrepancy was attributed to an additional damping mechanism at high strain amplitudes,i.e., dislocation damping. A magnetostriction constant equal to 3.23 × 10^-4 was also calculated based upon the Néel temperature and the observed microstructure.     

A Potential Role for Fructosamine-3-Kinase in Cataract Treatment

Cataracts are the major cause of blindness worldwide, largely resulting from aging and diabetes mellitus. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been identified as major contributors in cataract formation because they alter lens protein structure and stability and induce covalent cross-linking, aggregation, and insolubilization of lens crystallins. We investigated the potential of the deglycating enzyme fructosamine-3-kinase (FN3K) in the disruption of AGEs in cataractous lenses. Macroscopic changes of equine lenses were evaluated after ex vivo intravitreal FN3K injection. The mechanical properties of an equine lens pair were evaluated after treatment with saline and FN3K. AGE-type autofluorescence (AF) was measured to assess the time-dependent effects of FN3K on glycolaldehyde-induced AGE-modified porcine lens fragments and to evaluate its actions on intact lenses after in vivo intravitreal FN3K injection of murine eyes. A potential immune response after injection was evaluated by analysis of IL-2, TNFα, and IFNγ using an ELISA kit. Dose- and time-dependent AF kinetics were analyzed on pooled human lens fragments. Furthermore, AF measurements and a time-lapse of macroscopic changes were performed on intact cataractous human eye lenses after incubation with an FN3K solution. At last, AF measurements were performed on cataractous human eyes after crossover topical treatment with either saline- or FN3K-containing drops. While the lenses of the equine FN3K-treated eyes appeared to be clear, the saline-treated lenses had a yellowish-brown color. Following FN3K treatment, color restoration could be observed within 30 min. The extension rate of the equine FN3K-treated lens was more than twice the extension rate of the saline-treated lens. FN3K treatment induced significant time-dependent decreases in AGE-related AF values in the AGE-modified porcine lens fragments. Furthermore, in vivo intravitreal FN3K injection of murine eyes significantly reduced AF values of the lenses. Treatment did not provoke a systemic immune response in mice. AF kinetics of FN3K-treated cataractous human lens suspensions revealed dose- and time-dependent decreases. Incubation of cataractous human eye lenses with FN3K resulted in a macroscopic lighter color of the cortex and a decrease in AF values. At last, crossover topical treatment of intact human eyes revealed a decrease in AF values during FN3K treatment, while showing no notable changes with saline. Our study suggests, for the first time, a potential additional role of FN3K as an alternative treatment for AGE-related cataracts.     

Role of nitric oxide in sepsis-associated pulmonary edema

Transient pulmonary hypertension after inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) does not alter pulmonary reflection coefficients or lymph flows in endotoxemic sheep. To test the effects of persistent pulmonary hypertension induced by N omega-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME) and of inhaled NO on pulmonary edema, 18 sheep (three groups) were chronically instrumented with pulmonary artery catheters, femoral arterial fiberoptic thermistor catheters, and tracheostomy. The awake, spontaneously breathing animals received Salmonella typhi endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide; LPS) (10 ng/kg/ min) for 28 h. After 24 h, an airflow of 6 L/min was delivered through the tracheostomy. One group of animals (L-NAME/air) received L-NAME intravenously (25 mg/kg + 5 mg/kg/h) and breathed air. The second group (L-NAME/NO) was given L-NAME and NO (40 ppm) was added to the airflow. The third group was given NaCl 0.9% and breathed air (NaCl/air). Extravascular lung water was measured through the double-indicator dilution technique. Endotoxemia caused pulmonary edema, which was aggravated by L-NAME. Breathing of NO normalized pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) and ameliorated pulmonary edema. Inhalation of NO may therefore be a therapeutic option for pulmonary edema associated with pulmonary hypertension.     

Recrystallization and grain growth phenomena in a particle-reinforced aluminum composite

Recrystallization and grain growth in a 2219/TiC/15p composite were investigated as functions of the amount of deformation and deformation temperature. Both cold and hot deformed samples were annealed at the normal solution treatment temperature of 535 °C. It was shown that large recrystallized grain diameters, relative to the interparticle spacing, could be produced in a narrow range of deformation for samples cold-worked and those hot-worked below 450 °C. For cold-worked samples, between 4 to 6 pct deformation, the recrystallized grain diameters varied from 530 to 66 μm as the amount of deformation increased. Subsequent grain growth was not observed in these recrystallized materials and noncompact grain shapes were observed. For deformations greater than 15 pct, recrystallized grain diameters less than the interparticle spacing were observed and subsequent grain growth produced a pinned grain diameter of 27 μm. The pinned grain diameter agreed well with an empirical model based on three dimensional (3-D) Monte Carlo simulations of grain growth and particle pinning in a two-phase material. Tensile properties were determined as a function of grain size, and it was shown that grain size had a weak influence on yield strength. A maximum in the yield strength was observed at a grain size larger than the normal grain growth and particle-pinned diameter.     

Low-energy foil aberration corrector

A spherical and chromatic aberration corrector for electron microscopes is proposed, consisting of a thin foil sandwiched between two apertures. The electrons are retarded at the foil to almost zero energy, so that they can travel ballistically through the foil. It is shown that such a low-voltage corrector has a negative spherical aberration for not too large distances between aperture and foil, as well as a negative chromatic aberration. For various distances the third- and fifth-order spherical aberration coefficients and the first- and second-order chromatic aberration coefficients are calculated using ray tracing. Provided that the foils have sufficient electron transmission the corrector is able to correct the third-order spherical aberration and the first-order chromatic aberration of a typical low-voltage scanning electron microscope. Preliminary results show that the fifth-order spherical aberration and the second-order chromatic aberration can be kept sufficiently low.     

Practical Application of Dilution Analysis for Estimating Groundwater Quality Effects Due to Coal Slurry Injection into Underground Mine Voids

Wet coal cleaning produces fine coal slurry, which is commonly disposed of in surface impoundments. Following impoundment failures in the early 1970s, regulatory agencies encouraged placement of coal slurry in underground mine voids. That option was not without environmental risk, since it placed slurry in direct contact with mine water, a major component of local groundwater systems. We studied analytical data from coal slurry injection into two Central Appalachian underground coal mines with regards to potential water quality impacts on surface and groundwater. A dilution analysis model was used to predicted exceedances of surface and groundwater standards. The model proved useful for discriminating the effects of slurry injection and background pollutants, such as those generated in mines independent of slurry injection. The data did not identify a link between slurry injection in either of the two studied mines and exceedances of primary drinking water standards for arsenic, lead, or selenium in the mine pool water down-gradient of slurry injection. Contaminants associated with alkaline mine drainage (aluminum, iron, manganese, sulfate, and total dissolved solids) often exceeded secondary drinking water standards up-gradient in the slurry liquids and down-gradient of slurry injection. The results indicate that the liquid fraction, more than the solid fraction, of contaminants determines the effect of coal slurry injection on water quality. The study concluded that no public health problem attributable only to the coal slurry could be documented from the available data.