Two-dimensional DNAPL migration affected by groundwater flow in unconfined aquifer

The dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) migration process was experimentally investigated in a laboratory-scale tank (150 cm width, 82.5 cm height, and 15 cm depth) to assess a site characterization on DNAPL contamination below a groundwater table. The heterogeneous ground of the tank model consisted of Toyoura sand (hydraulic conductivity, k = 1.5 x 10(-2) cm/s for void ratio, e = 0.62) and silica #7 sand (k = 2.3 x 10(-3) cm/s for e = 0.72). A series of experiments was carried out with or without lateral groundwater flow. Hydrofluoroether was used as a representative DNAPL. The main results obtained in this study are as follows: (1) the DNAPL plume does not invade into the less permeable soil layer with higher displacement pressure head; (2) the DNAPL plume migrates faster with lateral groundwater flow than without it; (3) lateral groundwater flow does not affect lateral DNAPL migration; rather, it promotes downward migration; and (4) pore DNAPL pressure without groundwater flow is higher than that with it. The above experimental results were compared with numerical analysis. The fundamental behaviors of DNAPL source migration observed experimentally are expected to be useful for assessing the characteristics of two-dimensional DNAPL migration in an aquifer.     

Characterization of methylhydroquinone-metabolizing oxygenase genes encoded on plasmid in Burkholderia sp. NF100

Methylhydroquinone is an intermediate in the degradation of fenitrothion by Burkholderia sp. NF100. The catabolic gene (mhq) for methylhydroquinone degradation encoded on the plasmid pNF1 in the strain was cloned and sequenced. The mhq clone contained two ORFs, mhqA and mhqB, of which the deduced amino acid sequence shared significant homology with NAD(P)H-dependent flavoprotein monooxygenases and extradiol dioxygenases, respectively. Parts of the consensus sequences of the monooxygenase gene and dioxygenase gene have been identified in MhqA and MhqB from strain NF100, respectively. MhqA was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and partially purified MhqA catalyzed the NADPH-dependent hydroxylation of methylhydroquinone. MhqB was also overexpressed in E. coli, and the purified enzyme showed an extradiol ring cleavage activity toward 3-methylcatechol but a very low activity was observed toward 4-methylcatechol.     

Acceleration of glycolysis in erythrocytes by the antidiabetic agent M16209

The effects of M16209 (1-(3-bromobenzofuran-2-ylsulfonyl)hydantoin), an antidiabetic agent and aldose reductase inhibitor, on glycolysis were studied in rat and human erythrocytes in vitro. M16209 increased lactate production from glucose when incubated with rat and human erythrocytes, and also increased glucose consumption in rat erythrocytes. The rates of production of lactate in rat erythrocytes treated with M16209 at 10, 25 and 50 microM were 113, 118 and 123%, respectively, of those in vehicle treated cells. Sorbinil (aldose reductase inhibitor), tolbutamide (sulfonylurea), and buformine (biguanide) did not increase lactate production in rat erythrocytes when tested at 50 microM. On the other hand, M16209 did not affect lactate production from D-glyceraldehyde in rat erythrocytes. At 100 microM the agent decreased both glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate in rat erythrocytes, and increased fructose-1,6-bisphosphate; at 10 microM it also increased 6-phosphofructokinase activity in rat hemolysates. These findings suggest that M16209 accelerates glycolysis in erythrocytes via activation of 6-phosphofructokinase.     

Positive-Temperature-Coefficient Effect in Graphite–Cristobalite Composites

An anomalous positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistance was found in a conductor–insulator ceramic composite. The composite materials was composed of randomly dispersed conducting graphite and insulating cristobalite-form SiO₂ particles. The PTC effect occurred at exactly 230°C, that is, at a reversible phase inversion point with a large thermal expansion of cristobalite. The magnitude of the PTC anomaly was high in composites located in the middle of the percolation curve, and loaded with large graphite and fine SiO₂ particles.     

Marginal irregularity of flat elevated type of colorectal tumor as a marker of malignant potential

The open reading frame yjbR which had been sequenced as a part of the Bacillus subtilis genome project encodes a putative 40.9-kDa protein. The yjbR-coding sequence was slightly similar to those of bacterial sarcosine oxidases and possibly compatible with the tertiary structure of the porcine kidney D-amino acid oxidase. The yjbR gene product was overproduced in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity from the recombinant strain, and characterized. This protein effectively catalyzed the oxidation of sarcosine (N-methylglycine), N-ethylglycine and glycine. Lower activities on D-alanine, D-valine, and D-proline were detected although no activities were shown on L-amino acids and other D-amino acids. Since glycine is a product and not a substrate for sarcosine oxidase, this protein is not a type of demethylating enzymes but a novel deaminating oxidase, named glycine oxidase as a common name. Several enzymatic properties of the B. subtilis glycine oxidase were also investigated.     

An adaptive,error-free computation based on the 4×4 determinant method

The 4×4 determinant method makes it possible to unify geometric processing by the computations of 4×4 determinants composed of homogeneous coordinants vectors of four points or coefficient vectors of four plane equations. Because the method needs not require a division operation, error-free geometric computation is not difficult to realize by means of integer arithemtic of appropriate data length. The present paper proposes an error-free, efficient computing method, which computes the 4×4 determinants by adaptively selecting integer arithmetic of variable data length. This technique is discussed theoretically and experimentally.     

Effect of nitroprusside on gap junctions of single tracheal smooth muscle cells excised from rats

To investigate the effect of nitroprusside on gap junctions of tracheal smooth muscle cells, we ionophoretically injected sodium nitroprusside into single tracheal smooth muscle cells excised from rats. The input resistance of the tracheal smooth muscle cells increased after the injection of nitroprusside. This results suggests that nitroprusside blocks gap junctions of tracheal smooth muscle cells.     

Effect ofin Situ cooling on superconductivity of artificially layered BSCCO films with 2223 structure

Thin BSCCO films with the 2223 structure were deposited onto MgO substrate kept at 665°C by applying a sequential sputtering method using metallic Bi and Sr-Ca-Cu-O targets. The resultant films were then cooled under various oxygen partial pressures and cooling rates. It was found that the oxygen partial pressure and substrate temperature during cooling affect significantly the development of superconductivity of the as-deposited films. When the films were cooled stepwise under a critical oxygen partial pressure around 0.3 torr, the as-deposited films showed either superconductivity or nonsuperconductivity behavior. HRTEM images of the films showed no essential difference in the modulated structure, suggesting that the excess oxygen in the Bi-O double layers is the same and not the cause of the different superconducting behavior in the as-deposited films.     

Search for new industrial oils. V. Oils of cruciferae

Seeds from 37 species of plants in the family Cruciferae were analyzed for oil and protein, and the fatty acid composition of the oils was determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Erucic acid, generally considered characteristic of crucifer oils, occurs in about three-fourths of these species in amounts ranging from 3 to 59%. Some oils free of erucic acid contain up to 63% linolenic acid or up to 58% eicosenoic. Presented at the spring meeting of the American Oil Chemists' Society, St. Louis, Missouri, May 1–3, 1961. A laboratory of the Northern Utilization Research and Development Division. Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.