Sex pheromone communication in the nematode,Rhabditis pellio

Both males and females ofRhabditis pellio release pheromones that attract the opposite sex prior to copulation. A quantitative bioassay for the female-produced pheromone was designed, based on male movement toward a pheromone source placed at one end of a 10-mm strip of bacterial material maintained on nutrient agar in a petri plate. Females produced pheromone from the age at which they attained the adult stage (3 days following hatching from the egg) and maintained a relatively constant production level until at least the ninth day of life. Similarly, males became responsive to the female pheromone by the third day and remained responsive through the ninth day, although the time required for the males to migrate toward a female pheromone source increased with increasing age. No daily rhythm of pheromone responsiveness by males or pheromone production by females was observed when the nematodes were conditioned to a 1212 h light-dark cycle.     

High ionic conduction in tetragonal solid solution of the system La2O3-MgF2

LaOF-type tetragonal solid solution was found in the system La₂O₃–MgF₂. This phase showed higher anionic conduction than the previously reported cubic solid solution in the system La₂O₃–CaF₂. Electrolysis by Tubandt's method showed that fluoride ion conduction was dominant in this solid solution. The fluoride ions were considered to be easily substituted by oxide ions through cathode reaction in the oxygen atmosphere.     

OXYGEN TRANSFER IN HORIZONTAL PIPELINE AERATORS WITH NOZZLES

Horizontal pipeline and tubular loop aerators are of interest for fermentation and waste water treatment and are ideally suited for continuous processing. A major drawback is that these pipeline contactors invariably operate in the “elongated bubble and plug” regime in which the mass transfer rate is low. This article evaluates the performance of a horizontal pipeline aerator fitted with nozzles equispaced along its length to enhance mass transfer rates by promoting turbulence and augmenting effective interfacial area. Such devices can also be advantageously used in long pipe lines as in the case of treating waste while it is being transported. Pressure drop and overall liquid-side mass transfer coefficient data are reported as functions of liquid (water) and gas flow rates and nozzle size and spacing. It is shown that for all the conditions studied, k_La = 0.026(ΔP/L)^1.036 and that the pressure gradient is given by a simple correlation, provided an empirical parameter which characterises a nozzle is known. Preliminary investigations on the effect of surfactant ad the presence of suspended solids (size 75 μm) on mass transfer coefficient are also reported. Very high values of power dissipation can be achieved in such aerators without mechanically moving parts and high values of mass transfer coefficient can be realized.     

Correlation of the reactivity,the active surface area and the total surface area of thin films of pyrolytic carbon

Using thin films of pyrolytic carbon the rate of the reaction with oxygen has been measured over the temperature range 625–740°C and at pressures of oxygen from 6–100 torr. The active surface area (ASA) of the films was measured from the total concentration of strongly-bound complexes with oxygen on the surface and the relative total surface area (TSA) was measured by low-temperature adsorption of nitrogen. A maximum in reactivity and in ASA was observed for films of average thickness of about 20 nm with a TSA of about 30 m² g^?1. At the maximum the ASA and TSA were essentially equal. The results are interpreted in terms of the mechanism of formation of pyrolytic carbon in the initial stages.     

Stochastic modeling of segregation in a motionless mixer

The mixing of particles with different characteristics is generally accompanied by segregation which prevents the particles from attaining the randomly mixed state. A discrete steady-state Markov chain model was employed to model the axial segregation of solid particles in a motionless mixer. Three systems containing particles of different sizes and/or densities were studied. One step transition probabilities of the model were experimentally determined. The model can predict the concentration profiles, the degrees of mixedness, and the equilibrium states of these particle systems blended by passing the particles through a motionless mixer. Experimental results are in good agreement with those predicted from the model.     

Zeolites as catalysts in organic reactions. Claisen-Schmidt condensation of acetophenone with benzaldehyde

HY zeolites catalyze the crossed aldol condensation of acetophenone with benzaldehyde, in benzene at 80 °C, to give trans- and cis-chalcones. Together with these expected products, 3,3-diphenylpropiophenone is also produced. In the analogous basic condensation, using phase transfer catalysis, the Michael adduct was not detected, and besides chalcone a small percentage of the Cannizzaro reaction product was observed.     

Multivariate statistical analysis of solids mixing

The applicability of multivariate statistics to the analysis of mixing processes and mixtures of multicomponent solid particles in a drum mixer has been successfully demonstrated. The applications include (1) test of sampling techniques, (2) test of the completely random state, (3) test of the completely segregated state, and (4) definition of a mixing index for a multicomponent mixture.     

Graft copolymerization of vinyl monomers onto modified cotton. IX. Hydrogen peroxide–thiourea dioxide redox system induced grafting of 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine onto oxidized celluloses

Cotton cellulose was independently oxidized with potassium periodate, potassium dichromate-sulfuric acid, and potassium dichromate–oxalic acid, and the resulting oxidized celluloses were further modified by treatment with chlorous acid or sodium borohydride. The various modified celluloses so obtained were grafted with 2-methyl-5-vinylpyridine using a thiourea–dioxide–H₂O₂ redox system. It was found that the initiation characteristics of the cellulose samples vary widely with the oxidizing agent used. Further modification of the oxidized celluloses by treating them with chlorous acid enhances considerably their susceptibility toward grafting. The opposite holds true when these oxidized celluloses were modified by sodium borohydride treatment. Excluding thiourea dioxide from the polymerization system offsets grafting onto cotton cellulose while considerable grafting takes place on the various oxidized celluloses and their further modified samples. The work was also extended to study the factors which affect the graft uptake, homopolymer formation, and total conversion. In addition, the reactions involved in initiation of grafting were elucidated.