Comparison of the Compaction Characterisitics of Selected Food Powders by Vibration, Tapping and Mechanical Compression

The compaction characteristics of selected powders in tapping could be described by either Sone's model or by a single term exponential equation. The Hausner ratio, i.e., the ratio between tapped and loose density, calculated by using these models was found to be a sensitive and useful indictor of the compaction mechanism in different types of tapping tests. The latter, especially where particle attrition was evident, could produce distinctly different compaction patterns. No correlation was found between these powders, Hausner's ratio, and their compressibility in mechanical compaction.     

N-Acetyl-B-D-glucosaminidase in milk and blood plasma during dry and early postpartum periods

Milk and plasma N-acetyl-B-D-glucosaminidase activity was determined for cows during the dry and early postpartum periods. Milk samples were taken from individual quarters of 12 cows from 7 d preceding dry off until calving. Weigh jar milk samples were taken daily for 28 d postpartum from 9 of the 12 cows. Somatic cell concentration was also measured in the postpartum samples. N-Acetyl-B-D-glucosaminidase activity of mammary secretions was significantly elevated in the dry period. Activity in mammary secretions was significantly higher than blood plasma concentrations during the dry period, which suggests that the enzyme present in mammary secretions comes mainly from within the gland. Milk enzyme concentrations declined sharply by 4 d postpartum and gradually declined through 28 d postpartum. Activity was still slightly elevated at 28 d postpartum as compared with normal lactation. Greater daily variability was seen with somatic cells than with N-acetyl-B-D-glucosaminidase. However, somatic cells were more responsive to clinical infections postpartum, showing significant elevations in both clinical episodes. The enzyme was elevated in one clinical case, but relatively unchanged in the other. Plasma levels were constant throughout both trials.     

An experimental superconducting magnetic system with an adjustable winding inductance and a 5 MJ energy capacity

An experimental superconducting magnetic system (MS) with an energy capacity of 5 MJ and an output power of no less than 130 MW is described. The MS winding is sectioned in the axial and radial directions. Owing to sectioning in radial direction, the MS may be used as an adjustable inductance enabling the stabilization of the amperage. The adjustable inductance may also be used as an efficient instrument for leveling the ratio of the active and reactive power in electric mains intended for different purposes (transport, energy industry, and emergency systems).     

Ultrastructure of a bio-electrolytic methanogenic/methanotrophic granular biofilm for the complete degradation of tetrachloroethylene in contaminated groundwater.

The electrolytical methanogenic/methanotrophic coupling (eMaMoC) process was tested in a laboratory-scale single-stage reactor for the treatment of tetrachloroethene (PCE)-contaminated waters. A water electrolysis cell was placed directly in the effluent recirculation loop for the supply of both O2 and H2 to the system: H2 serving as the electron donor for both carbonate reduction into CH4 and reductive dechlorination. The concurrent presence of O2 and CH4 could be used by the methanotrophs for co-metabolically oxidising the chlorinated intermediates left over by the anaerobic transformation of PCE. At a PCE inlet of 33-52 microM and a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 5.6 days, PCE reductive dechlorination to dichloroethene (DCE) was over 95% with a maximum DCE mineralisation of 83%. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation with 16S rRNA probes related to type I and type II methanotrophic bacteria were utilised to localise the methanotrophic communities in the anaerobic/aerobic granules. It evidenced that with operational time, along with increasing oxygenation rate, methanotrophic communities were specifically colonising onto the outermost layer of the anaerobic/aerobic granule.     

Contingent suppression of tolerance to the "anorexigenic" effect of haloperidol.

Whether tolerance develops to the "anorexia" induced by haloperidol (HAL) was determined. Rats were given HAL (2.5 or 5 mg/kg) either before or after access to milk for 53 days. Controls were given injections of saline. On Day 54, when all groups received pretest injections of the drug, only rats previously given posttest injections of HAL were tolerant. The absence of tolerance in rats previously given pretest injections suggests that tolerance is suppressed when rats are given access to food in the drugged state. It is concluded that tolerance develops to HAL as a result of pharmacological exposure but is suppressed by the "anhedonic" effect of the drug. The relevance of these findings to the role of reinforcement in behavioral tolerance is briefly discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An improved channel coding algorithm for low-frequency spectralsuppression

An improved low-frequency spectral suppression (LOFS) code is introduced and analyzed as a method to suppress low-frequency energy in a digital baseband signal with significantly lower redundancy than required methods. Alternatively, the LOFS code will suppress more energy near DC with a given redundancy when compared to current coding methods, allowing insertion of a pilot tone which leads to a simple unambiguous carrier recovery subsystem that can track system-induced noise. The LOFS code reduces redundancy by adding control bits in word format for multilevel signals, that is, control bits for multiple frames are inserted in one symbol duration. Use of this LOFS code could reduce the redundancy of currently used digital transmission systems from 4% to 1%. Analysis of computer simulations shows that a premodulation high-pass filter, while significantly degrading the uncoded PAM signal, causes little degradation of the coded data and keeps data to pilot interference to a minimum. Experimental hardware results are included to verify simulation results