Cholesterol transport and uptake in miniature swine fed vegetable and animal fats and proteis. 1. Plasma lipoproteins and LDL clearance

In a 2×2 factorial arrangement, miniature pigs were fed four diets containing vegetable protein/fat (soybean) and animal protein (egg white)/fat (beef tallow) to demonstrate the effects of protein and fat source on total plasma cholesterol, lipoprotein distribution, low density lipoprotein (LDL) composition, and plasma clearance of LDL-cholesterol and protein. Beef tallow consumption resulted in greater plasma cholesterol concentration, decreased LDL-cholesterol concentration, and a lower LDL-cholesterol to LDL-protein ratio than did consumption of soybean oil. High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration was increased by beef tallow consumption. Cholesterol percentage by weight in LDL was significantly greater in pigs consuming soybean oil than those consuming beef tallow. Percentages by weight of protein, triglyceride and phospholipid in LDL were not significantly different in any group. Dietary protein source had no significant effect on total plasma cholesterol concentration, lipoprotein concentration or LDL composition. Egg white consumption decreased fractional catabolic rate and irreversible loss of LDL-cholesterol and LDL-protein when compared with consumption of soy protein. Dietary fat source had no consistent effect on LDL clearance from plasma. Dietary fat and protein seemed to influence lipoprotein metabolism by different mechanisms. Fat source altered lipoprotein concentration and LDL composition, whereas protein source affected the removal rate of LDL from plasma. Data taken from a dissertation submitted to Iowa State University by L. S. Walsh Hentges as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. A preliminary paper, was presented at the meeting of the American Oil Chemists' Society in Dallas, Texas, May, 1984.     

Direct partial oxidation of methane over ZSM-5 catalyst: effects of additives

Previously, it was reported that the direct partial oxidation (DPO) of CH₄ with O₂ over HZSM-5 catalysts produces C₅₊ hydrocarbon liquids when the feed contains a propane or propene additive. This work studies additive effects on C₅₊ production in this system by processing a CH₄/C₃H₈ feed with subsequent removal of the C₃ additive and by processing natural gas feed. Results show C₅₊ production is maintained at constant yields for HZSM-5 catalysts having different zeolitic Al contents after removal of the C₃ additive. Mechanistic implications are discussed. Natural gas DPO consistently produced C₅₊ liquids due to the presence of C₂₊ components in the feed. While C₅₊ yields from natural gas DPO are higher than those observed for CH₄/C₃ feeds, increasing feed O₂ concentration, and thus conversion, deleteriously affected C₅₊ selectivity.     

Small-angle scattering studies of PVC and PVC blends

Small-angle X-ray and small-angle neutron scattering studies have been carried out on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), and blends of PVC with solution-chlorinated polyethylene (SCPE) and poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA). The PVC used was commercial (suspension-polymerized) or bulk-polymerized. The blends of PVC with PBA were prepared by solvent-casting and those with SCPE by in situ polymerization. PVC samples show shoulders in the scattering spectra, presumably due to crystallites, which persist even in samples which have been solvent cast. Blends of PVC with PBA also show a peak but at a higher ‘d’ spacing. The blends with SCPE which were prepared by in situ polymerization show no such peak. This suggests that the method of preparation prevents the formation of crystallites. An increase in scattering of the PBA blends was observed when the samples were heated to the temperature of phase separation. Neutron scattering studies were also carried out using 2% deuterium labelled PVC in PVC and in the blends. In the PVC this showed chain dimensions in good agreement with predicted values. In the blends, dimensions of the same order were obtained, confirming a molecular dispersion of chains in the single phase, but there was an apparent reduction in the chain dimensions. This could be explained by a true reduction in dimensions or a non-zero A₂ value in the blends.     

Alternative tribological coatings to electrodeposited hard chromium: a critical review

ABSTRACT

The traditional importance of hard chromium electroplating in surface engineering is recognised and the key features of this well-established technology are summarised. Despite the high hardness, corrosion protection and wear resistance of chromium electrodeposits, a number of alternative coating compositions and application techniques have been developed for specific applications in tribology. Environmental challenges associated with hard chromium electroplating are highlighted and the need to develop and evaluate alternative coatings is stressed. Key examples of the alternative coatings are described, including their method of application, microstructure and tribological performance in controlled service environments. Research needs requiring rapid development are highlighted. A summary is given of the most competitive coatings and those having the potential to match the performance of hard chromium in selected applications are identified.     

Restoration of stormwater retention capacity at the allotment-scale through a novel economic instrument

Urbanisation results in changes to runoff behaviour which, if not addressed, inevitably degrade receiving waters. To date, most stormwater management has focussed on the streetscape and public open space. Given that much of the catchment imperviousness is located on private land, we developed and tested a novel economic instrument (a uniform price auction) for encouraging allotment-scale stormwater retention. We evaluated bids using an integrated environmental benefit index (EBI), based on the ability of the proposed works to reduce runoff frequency, pollutant loads and to reduce potable water demand. The uniform price auction resulted in 1.4 ha of impervious areas being effectively 'disconnected' from the stormwater system. The EBI provided an objective and transparent method of comparing bids, which varied in the type of works proposed (e.g. rainwater tank, rain-garden), the cost and the resulting environmental benefit. Whilst the pilot auction was a success, the public subsidy of works undertaken was around 85%, meaning that property owners a relatively small private benefit in the works. Future auction rounds will be revised to (i) test an EBI which is more focussed on the protection of streams (assessing changes to runoff frequency, baseflow volumes and water quality) and (ii) provide an auction process which is simpler to understand, and provides greater practical support for landholders who wish to undertake works.     

QuickBird and Hyperion data analysis of an invasive plant species in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador: Implications for control and land use management

In the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador, one of the greatest threats to the terrestrial ecosystem is the increasing number and areal extent of invasive species. Increased human presence on the islands has hastened the introduction of plant and animal species that threaten the native and endemic flora and fauna. Considerable research on invasive species in the Galapagos Islands has been conducted by the Charles Darwin Foundation. We complement that work through a spatially- and spectrally-explicit satellite assessment of an important invasive plant species (Psidium guajava — guava) on Isabela Island that integrates diverse remote sensing systems, data types, spatial and spectral resolutions, and analytical and image processing approaches. QuickBird and Hyperion satellite data are processed to characterize the areal extent and spatial structure of guava through the following approaches: (1) QuickBird data are classified through a traditional pixel-based approach (i.e., an unsupervised classification approach using the ISODATA algorithm), as well as an Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) approach; (2) multiple approaches for spectral “unmixing” of the Hyperion hyper-spectral data are assessed to construct spectral end-members from QuickBird data using linear and non-linear mixture modeling approaches; and (3) landscape pattern metrics are calculated and compared for the pixel-based, object-based, and spectral unmixing approaches. The spectral–spatial characteristics of guava are interpreted relative to management strategies for the control of guava and the restoration of natural ecosystems in the Galapagos National Park.     

Optical systems design for a stratospheric lidar system

The optical systems for the transmitter and receiver of a high-power lidar for stratospheric measurements have been designed and analyzed. The system requirements and design results are presented and explained. An important and driving factor of this design was the requirement for a small image diameter in the plane of an optical chopper to allow the high-intensity lidar returns from the lower atmosphere to be shielded from the detection system. Some results relevant to the optical performance of the system are presented. The resulting system has been constructed and is now in operation at the Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii, and is making regular measurements of stratospheric ozone, temperature, and aerosol profiles.     

'98 Escherichia coli SWISS-2DPAGE database update

The combination of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE), computer image analysis and several protein identification techniques allowed the Escherichia coli SWISS-2DPAGE database to be established. This is part of the ExPASy molecular biology server accessible through the WWW at the URL address http://www.expasy.ch/ch2d/ch2d-top.html . Here we report recent progress in the development of the E. coli SWISS-2DPAGE database. Proteins were separated with immobilized pH gradients in the first dimension and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the second dimension. To increase the resolution of the separation and thus the number of identified proteins, a variety of wide and narrow range immobilized pH gradients were used in the first dimension. Micropreparative gels were electroblotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membranes and spots were visualized by amido black staining. Protein identification techniques such as amino acid composition analysis, gel comparison and microsequencing were used, as well as a recently described Edman "sequence tag" approach. Some of the above identification techniques were coupled with database searching tools. Currently 231 polypeptides are identified on the E. coli SWISS-2DPAGE map: 64 have been identified by N-terminal microsequencing, 39 by amino acid composition, and 82 by sequence tag. Of 153 proteins putatively identified by gel comparison, 65 have been confirmed. Many proteins have been identified using more than one technique. Faster progress in the E. coli proteome project will now be possible with advances in biochemical methodology and with the completion of the entire E. coli genome.     

Perceptual learning in visual search: some evidence of specificities

To test a recent suggestion that perceptual learning in visual search is non-specific, two groups of subjects were trained on visual search tasks and tested for transfer of learning to new tasks. One group was trained on parallel ("pop-out") tasks and transferred to serial, conjunction tasks and the other group trained on conjunction and transferred to pop-out. Some (not all) tasks which are initially serial, rapidly became parallel. Some transfer occurred between the different types of tasks. Under some conditions transfer was either absent or even negative. The specificities observed may reflect the roles of the brain regions involved in learning.