In vitro studies of human alcohol dehydrogenase inhibition in the process of methanol and ethylene glycol oxidation

A localised subcutaneous swelling developed on the nasal bridge of a cat receiving chemotherapy for alimentary tract lymphosarcoma. Cytological and histological examination of representative samples of the lesion demonstrated pyogranulomatous inflammation and abundant acid-fast bacilli. A Mycobacterium sp was cultured from tissue excised from the lesion. Extensive testing at three reference laboratories indicated the strain was a member of the Mycobacterium avium complex. The infection was treated successfully by cytoreductive surgery and a 6 weeks course of orally administered clofazimine.     

Analysis of Circular Cavity With Cylindrical Objects

This paper presents the analysis of electromagnetic wave scattering by cylindrical objects located arbitrarily in a circular cavity. The exact full-wave theory based on the mode-matching method is applied to analyze the structures. The resonance frequencies of the investigated resonators are accurately determined. The validity and accuracy of the approach are verified by comparing the results with those obtained from alternative numerical methods and the authors' experiment.     

Rating defence major project success: The role of personal attributes and stakeholder relationships

In this paper we develop and test a model of the associations between major project managers' personal attributes and project success in the context of the Australian Defence industry. In our model, emotional intelligence, cognitive flexibility and systemic thinking were hypothesised to relate to project success, mediated by internal and external stakeholder relationships. The model was tested in an online survey with 373 major project managers. Emotional intelligence and cognitive flexibility were found to be related to the development, quality and effectiveness of major project managers' relationships with both internal and external stakeholders; and these in turn were associated with their ratings of project success. Systemic thinking, however, had no relationship with either stakeholder relationships or project success. Additional research is needed to examine the contribution of a wider range of personal attributes to stakeholder relationships and project success, and to assess whether this model is applicable in other industries and types of projects.     

Pd/GaN(0001) interface properties

This report concerns the properties of an interface formed between Pd films deposited onto the surface of (0001)-oriented n-type GaN at room temperature (RT) under ultrahigh vacuum. The surface of clean substrate and the stages of Pd-film growth were characterized in situ by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). As-deposited Pd films are grainy, cover the substrate surface uniformly and reproduce its topography. Electron affinity of the clean n-GaN surface amounts to 3.1 eV. The work function of the Pd-film is equal to 5.3 eV. No chemical interaction has been found at the Pd/GaN interface formed at RT. The Schottky barrier height of the Pd/GaN contact is equal to 1.60 eV.     

A gas-analyzing acousto-optical spectrometer

The results of developing a gas-analyzing acousto-optical system intended for measuring the content of polluting substances in the atmosphere and based on the use of tunable acousto-optical filters are presented. The instrument allows simultaneous detection of up to ten substances.     

Numerical modeling of gland seal erosion in a geothermal turbine

Excessive erosion of the low-pressure rotor end gland seal of a 25 MWe geothermal turbine produced a partial loss of turbine vacuum that degraded cycle efficiency. This study used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to identify the causes of erosion and the optimal steam seal system flow conditions for reducing the erosion problem. The predictions were based upon a numerical calculation using a commercial CFD code (Adapco Star-CD) to model the rotor end gland seal with a steam flow containing hard solid particles. The results confirmed that flow conditions play a major role in rotor gland seal erosion. By changing steam seal flow pressures to vary flow, it was confirmed that there is a threshold seal flow condition below which erosion does not occur, or is minimized. Optimizing the rotor end gland seal supply pressure and intercondenser pressure reduced the turbulent flow kinetic energy by 49%, with a corresponding decrease in the erosion rate of the rotor gland seal surface. The erosion rate is related directly to the particle velocity and turbulent flow kinetic energy. Recommendations are provided for adjusting the rotor end gland seal system to avoid erosion.     

Support for argument structures review and assessment

Argument structures are commonly used to develop and present cases for safety, security and for other properties of systems. Such structures tend to grow excessively, which causes problems with their review and assessment. Two issues are of particular interest: (1) systematic and explicit assessment of the compelling power of an argument, and (2) communication of the result of such an assessment to relevant recipients. The paper presents a solution to these problems. The method of Visual Assessment of Arguments (VAA), being this solution, is based on the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence applied to the assessment of the strength of arguments, and a visual mechanism of issuing and presenting assessments, supported by the so-called opinion triangle. In the paper we explain theoretical grounding for the method and provide guidance on its application. The results of some validation experiments are also presented.     

Numerical analysis of erosion of the rotor labyrinth seal in a geothermal turbine

Excessive erosion of the labyrinth seal of a 110 MW geothermal turbine has been investigated. This study used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and aims to identify one cause of erosion and a possible solution for substantially reducing it. The predictions were based upon a numerical calculation using a CFD model of the labyrinth seal with a water/steam flow containing hard solid particles and solved with a commercial CFD code: Fluent V5.0. The results confirmed the existence of flow conditions that play a major role in the rotor labyrinth seal erosion. Afterwards, the flow path was simulated with changes of rotor labyrinth seal geometry, which are indeed feasible of being implemented. The results confirmed that it is possible to reduce the erosion process by approximately 80% by incorporating a steam flow deflector in the fourth stage diaphragm, which changes the steam flow direction in the inlet zone to the rotor labyrinth seal channel, resulting in a reduction in steam volumetric mass flow and hard particle velocity by about 44%.     

3,4-Dehydro-L-proline Induces Programmed Cell Death in the Roots of Brachypodium distachyon

As cell wall proteins, the hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) take part in plant growth and various developmental processes. To fulfil their functions, HRGPs, extensins (EXTs) in particular, undergo the hydroxylation of proline by the prolyl-4-hydroxylases. The activity of these enzymes can be inhibited with 3,4-dehydro-L-proline (3,4-DHP), which enables its application to reveal the functions of the HRGPs. Thus, to study the involvement of HRGPs in the development of root hairs and roots, we treated seedlings of Brachypodium distachyon with 250 µM, 500 µM, and 750 µM of 3,4-DHP. The histological observations showed that the root epidermis cells and the cortex cells beneath them ruptured. The immunostaining experiments using the JIM20 antibody, which recognizes the EXT epitopes, demonstrated the higher abundance of this epitope in the control compared to the treated samples. The transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed morphological and ultrastructural features that are typical for the vacuolar-type of cell death. Using the TUNEL test (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling), we showed an increase in the number of nuclei with damaged DNA in the roots that had been treated with 3,4-DHP compared to the control. Finally, an analysis of two metacaspases’ gene activity revealed an increase in their expression in the treated roots. Altogether, our results show that inhibiting the prolyl-4-hydroxylases with 3,4-DHP results in a vacuolar-type of cell death in roots, thereby highlighting the important role of HRGPs in root hair development and root growth.