Laboratory study of air-water-coal combustion product (fly ash and FGD solid) mercury exchange

Recent laboratory research has indicated that coal fly ash derived from subbituminous and bituminous type coals is a sink for atmospheric mercury (Hg), however lignite-based ash was found to emit Hg to the air. Solids collected from systems with components that enhance Hg removal (i.e. activated carbon injection (ACI), flue gas desulfurization (FGD), and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) or selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR)) may have higher Hg concentrations and therefore a higher potential for Hg release. For this study we investigated the potential for Hg release to the air and water from coal combustion products (CCPs) collected from coal-fired units with FGD equipment, SCR and SNCR equipment, and sorbent injection for Hg removal. In the laboratory study, most dry samples acted as sinks for atmospheric Hg in the dark at 25 °C. When exposed to light or increased temperature (45 °C), deposition of Hg to the fly ash substrates in most cases continued but decreased. Wet FGD samples emitted Hg. However, they became a sink for atmospheric Hg or exhibited low Hg emission rates when dried. Mercury flux in the dark at 25 °C was correlated with fly ash carbon content (LOI). Most liquid extracts derived using the synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP EPA method 1312) had very low Hg concentrations (<13 ng/l).     

Face relighting using discriminative 2D spherical spaces for face recognition

As part of the face recognition task in a robust security system, we propose a novel approach for the illumination recovery of faces with cast shadows and specularities. Given a single 2D face image, we relight the face object by extracting the nine spherical harmonic bases and the face spherical illumination coefficients by using the face spherical spaces properties. First, an illumination training database is generated by computing the properties of the spherical spaces out of face albedo and normal values estimated from 2D training images. The training database is then discriminately divided into two directions in terms of the illumination quality and light direction of each image. Based on the generated multi-level illumination discriminative training space, we analyze the target face pixels and compare them with the appropriate training subspace using pre-generated tiles. When designing the framework, practical real-time processing speed and small image size were considered. In contrast to other approaches, our technique requires neither 3D face models nor restricted illumination conditions for the training process. Furthermore, the proposed approach uses one single face image to estimate the face albedo and face spherical spaces. In this work, we also provide the results of a series of experiments performed on publicly available databases to show the significant improvements in the face recognition rates.     

柿叶多酚的提取及体外生物活性的研究

利用水以及不同体积百分比(20%、40%、60%、80%和100%)的甲醇、乙醇、丙酮时柿(Diospyros kaki cv.Mopan)叶中的多酚物质进行提取,提取率最高的不同溶剂提取物采用HP-20大孔树脂进行纯化,分别得到了水提取物(WE)、甲醇提取物(ME)、乙醇提取物(EE)和丙酮提取物(AE),并时不同提取物的体外抗氧化活性、胶原酶和酪氨酸酶抑制活性进行了分析和比较.结果表明.柿叶中的多酚含量相于27.4±0.21mg GA/g(干重).采用体积分数为60%的丙酮溶液提取柿叶多酚时.柿叶多酚的提取率最高,为74.3%±2.3%.60%丙酮提取物对1,1-二苯基-2-苦基苯肼(DPPH)自由基的清除能力最高,达O.27±0.02μmol Trolox/mg,对胶原酶和酪氨酸酶也具有较高的抑制活性,IC50值分别为92.8 4-2.9μg/mL和185.4±5.3μg/mL.     

Introduction of sulfhydryl groups and disulfide linkage to mungbean 8Sα globulin and effects on physicochemical and functional properties

Sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bond were introduced in mungbean's major storage protein, 8Sα globulin, by protein engineering to improve structural stability and functional properties. Five modified proteins or mutants (F59C, I99C, A213C, one free sulfhydryl group; I99C/A213, one disulfide bridge; F59C/I99C/A213C, one free sulfhydryl group and one disulfide linkage) were expressed in Escherichia coli at a yield similar to that of the unmodified protein or wild type (WT) in soluble form (38%). The number of introduced groups in the mutants was confirmed by Ellman analysis. Mutant and WT proteins exhibited similar elution patterns on gel filtration indicating their trimeric native conformation. Mutants had 2 to 3.8 °C higher T_m values than WT and were digested by chymotrypsin at 52–58% in 60 min but exhibited different digestion patterns. All mutants showed greater hardness of heat-induced gels than WT, especially I99C/A213C and F59C/I99C/A213C. Results indicate the improved structural stability of the modified 8Sα globulin.     

Wind Force Coefficients for Designing Porous Canopy Roofs

Wind force coefficients for designing porous canopy roofs have been investigated based on a series of wind tunnel experiments. Gable, troughed and mono-sloped roofs were tested. The roof models were made of 0.5 mm thick perforated duralumin plates, the porosity of which was changed from 0 to about 0.4. Overall aerodynamic forces and moments acting on the roof model were measured in a turbulent boundary layer with a six-component force balance for various wind directions. The results indicate that the wind loads on canopy roofs generally decrease with an increase in porosity of the roof. Assuming that the roof is rigid and supported by the four corner columns with no walls, the axial forces induced in the columns are regarded as the most important load effect for discussing the design wind loads. Two loading patterns causing the maximum tension and compression in the columns are considered. Based on a combination of the lift and moment coefficients, the design wind force coefficients on the windward and leeward halves of the roof are presented for the two loading patterns as a function of the roof pitch and porosity. The effect of porosity is taken into account as a reduction factor of the wind loads.     

Discovery of a Novel Scaffold as an Indoleamine 2,3‐Dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) Inhibitor Based on the Pyrrolopiperazinone Alkaloid,Longamide B

Indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) has emerged as a key target for cancer therapy, as IDO1 plays a critical role in the capacity of tumor cells to evade the immune system. The pyrrolopiperazinone alkaloid longamide B and its derivatives were identified as novel IDO1 inhibitors based on docking studies and small library synthesis. The thioamide derivative showed higher IDO1 inhibitory activity than longamide B, and displayed an activity similar to that of a representative IDO1 inhibitor, 1‐methyl‐tryptophan. These results suggest that the pyrrolopiperazinone scaffold of longamide B could be used in the development of IDO1 inhibitors.     

Are mercury emissions from geologic sources significant? A status report

Geologic sources of atmospheric mercury include areas of fossil and current geothermal activity, recent volcanic activity, precious and base metal deposits, and organic rich sedimentary rocks. Early estimates of emissions from these sources were not based on measurements of mercury fluxes but implied based on the difference between emissions from anthropogenic point sources and wet/dry deposition estimates. In the past approximately 7 years significant progress has been made in development of methods for the measurement of mercury emissions, definition of those parameters most important in controlling emissions and scaling up emissions from natural source areas. This paper summarizes the work done on scaling of emissions from discrete areas of natural enrichment and from the State of Nevada, which is situated within a global belt of mercury enrichment. Preliminary data indicate that elemental mercury is the predominant (>95%) form of mercury being emitted from these sources. Scaling results suggest that the value used in early models to represent emissions from global mercuriferous belts is too low by at least three times.     

Component-based robot system design for grasping tasks

The paper presents a robot system design with highly reusable components for a component-based robot system for manipulation tasks. The robot system is designed based on the analysis of manipulation tasks using a unified modeling language use case diagram. For a service robot with locomotion and manipulation mechanisms, reusability of robot system components is improved by adopting the proposed design. Our structure consists of scenario, task, robot information management server, data analyzer, sensor hardware controller, skill, and motion hardware controller on a component-based robot system. Based on the proposed robot system, we implemented a component-based robot system and subsequently realized a grasping motion by a service robot.