Impact of Reaction Conditions on MnO2 Genesis during Permanganate Oxidation

To enhance the understanding of the behavior and effects of the precipitation of MnO2 particles in the subsurface generated during in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) using permanganate, laboratory batch experiments were completed to examine the influence that varied reaction matrix conditions have on the generation and properties of manganese oxides. The conditions examined include organic material type and concentration, permanganate concentration, pH, and the presence of calcium (as a representative divalent cation) in solution. Experimental studies included: (1) spectrophotometric examination of permanganate depletion and manganese oxides generation over time during reactions with trichloroethene; (2) scanning electron microscopy analyses of manganese particle morphology; (3) particle size distribution (filtration) characterization studies; and (4) optical particle sizing and numeration studies. Bench-scale, batch experiments were conducted to focus on fundamental chemical properties affecting particle development under varied potential environmental conditions. The amount of manganese oxides particles that develop, grow, and potentially settle as a result of permanganate ISCO of organic contaminants is a function of the particle size and concentration, the time allowed for particle development, and the impact of matrix conditions on the ability of particles to agglomerate.     

Bronchodilator response to salbutamol after spontaneous recovery from nonspecific bronchial provocation tests in asthma

Assessment of airway responsiveness by bronchoprovocation and bronchodilatation tests is important in the diagnostic work-up protocol of bronchial asthma and it would be convenient to undertake both tests on the same occasion. However, it is not known whether this can be done accurately. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of a prior bronchial provocation test on the bronchodilator response to salbutamol after spontaneous recovery of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in a group of asthmatic subjects. On two separate occasions at the same time of day, concentration-response studies with inhaled histamine or methacholine, or a sham challenge with normal saline were carried out in a blinded, randomized manner. Changes in airway calibre were followed as FEV1 and agonist responsiveness expressed as the provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20). After either spontaneous recovery or a fixed-duration wait of 45 min (when appropriate), the subjects received 2x100 microg of salbutamol from a metered dose inhaler with a spacer. The bronchodilator response to salbutamol was expressed as a percentage of initial FEV1 (deltaFEV1% init). Bronchial challenge with both agonists failed to alter significantly the airway response to salbutamol, with the deltaFEV1% init mean value (range) being 16.9% (9.0-31.9) and 17.5% (11.6-31.2) on the sham and histamine/methacholine challenge day respectively. It was shown that the degree of bronchodilatation achieved after salbutamol 200 microg is not affected by prior bronchoprovocation testing when enough time is allowed for the airways to recover spontaneously to baseline forced expiratory volume in one second. Thus evaluation of airway responsiveness by both bronchial provocation tests and bronchodilator testing can be assessed reliably within a few hours in asthmatic patients.     

Dynamic behavior of magnetic head sliders and carbon wear in a rampload process

 The rampload process of the magnetic head-disk interface was investigated by using a laser Doppler vibrometer, a high-speed video camera, and an optical surface analyzer. The velocity signal was processed to yield a radial position versus time, from which the instant of the load-tab/ramp engagement was determined. The video images indicated that a relatively high unloading velocity could lead to a late head-disk separation, even near the disk outer edge. This trend was confirmed by numerical simulation, which predicts that the unloading distance increases with the lateral unloading velocity. The simulation also indicates strong dependency of the unloading time on the suspension stiffness. To stress the carbon overcoat of the disk, a synchronized rampload test was developed by loading the slider at the same angular location, resulting in a well-defined wear pattern on the disk surface. Received: 20 June 2002 / Accepted: 12 September 2002     

Sputum eosinophilia is more closely associated with airway responsiveness to bradykinin than methacholine in asthma

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the change in the plasma concentration of asymmetric dimethylarginine, an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, in early-, mid-, and late-gestation normotensive pregnancies and in gestational age-matched preeclamptic pregnancies and compared the observed changes with changes in blood pressure. STUDY DESIGN: Blood pressure and peripheral plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations were measured in 20 nonpregnant and 145 pregnant women (33 first-trimester, 50 second-trimester, and 44 third-trimester normotensive pregnancies and 18 third-trimester pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia). In 23 normotensive pregnancies serial plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations were measured. Statistical analysis was by analysis of variance and linear regression. RESULTS: The blood pressures recorded throughout normal pregnancy were significantly lower than in nonpregnant subjects (p < 0.0001). The mean systolic, diastolic, and average blood pressures were significantly higher in the second-trimester groups than in the first-trimester groups, whereas in the third trimester average and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher than in the second trimester. The mean (+/-SD) systolic and diastolic blood pressures in third-trimester preeclamptic patients was 157.7 +/- 11.2 and 110.9 +/- 8.5 mm Hg. The mean plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration in nonpregnant women was 0.82 +/- 0.31 micromol/L (significantly higher than in normotensive pregnancy, p < 0.0001). The plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration was also significantly higher in second-trimester than in first-trimester normotensive groups (respectively, 0.52 +/- 0.20 micromol/L and 0.40 +/- 0.15 micromol/L, p = 0.001) and was higher in third-trimester normotensive pregnancy 0.56 +/- 0.23 micromol/L than it was in the second trimester. The asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration in third-trimester preeclamptic patients was 1.17 +/- 0.42 micromol/L (p < 0.0001 vs normotensive third-trimester subjects). CONCLUSIONS: It is well recognized that blood pressure falls in early normal pregnancy and rises again toward term. These studies show that the early fall in blood pressure is accompanied by a significant fall in the plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine concentration. Later in pregnancy circulating concentrations increase and, when pregnancy is complicated by preeclampsia, concentrations are higher than in the nonpregnant state. Our data support a role for both asymmetric dimethylarginine and nitric oxide in the changes in blood pressure seen in both normal and preeclamptic pregnancy.     

Gravitational eccentric correction optics (GECO): an optical-gravitational device to compensate for flexures in astronomical spectrographs

Mechanical flexure is a source of major failures in astronomical spectrographs, for which the reimaging of a focal-plane pinhole has to be maintained in position within a fraction of a CCD pixel that has dimensions of the order of 15 microm. The d.o.lo.res. (an acronym for device optimized for low resolution) spectrograph for the Italian national telescope, Galileo, showed displacements of the image of the pinhole more than 10 times greater than expected. The mechanical failure was overcome by the insertion of a passive optical wedge that can add an out-of-phase circle to the flexure ellipse. The results encourage the use of the gravitational eccentric correction optics (GECO) optical-gravitational device in all astronomical observations made with the d.o.lo.res. spectrograph.     

Experimental design of diffusion and desorption of contaminant in heterogeneous media

Storage of contaminants in low permeability media (LPM) presents a great challenge for prediction of remediation effectiveness and efficiency. The reason lies in the contaminants' complex behaviors within heterogeneous media. Both interparticle and intraparticle diffusion contribute to the difficulty of precise site assessment. Sorption of contaminants--especially within LPM--may sequester the contaminants from active treatment, while desorption over a long period of time leads to contaminant release from storage and consequent re-contamination. Research has been conducted toward better understanding of contaminant diffusion and sorption/desorption processes to better predict contaminant response to site treatment. However, most of the research has been carried out within homogeneous media, while real scenarios in environmental problems feature media whose permeability and other characteristics vary significantly over the treatment volume. Further, few efforts have combined the interparticle/intraparticle diffusion and sorption/desorption processes together. This research aims at a feasible experimental design of diffusion and desorption of contaminant in heterogeneous media to address the gaps in previous research. A 2-D experimental system was designed to evaluate interparticle/intraparticle diffusion processes of trichloroethylene (TCE) in heterogeneous media. The 2-D system was modified to include organic matter in media for simulation of sorption/desorption processes. Results of the research will improve the understanding of how these different transport processes act together within heterogeneous media. Results will also allow for the evaluation of the impact of contaminant mass transport from within low permeability media at a potential treatment site and can support the development of mathematical tools/models combining interparticle/intraparticle and sorption/desorption processes. Such a model will promote more accurate site assessment and provide more confidence in the choice of an effective, economically optimized remediation strategy.     

Association of cadmium with MnO2 particles generated during permanganate oxidation

Particle filtration and cadmium sorption studies were performed at selected time points during reaction of potassium permanganate with trichloroethylene under varied reaction matrix conditions. The purpose of the studies was to determine the potential impact of manganese oxides particle generation, a by-product of the permanganate reaction, on subsurface metal mobility, with cadmium serving as a representative metal of interest in the environment. Results of the studies indicate that the association of cadmium with the manganese oxides is a function of (1) particle concentration, (2) pH, (3) the presence of calcium in the reaction matrix, and (4) the rate of particle generation and agglomeration. Based on these findings, it is important to give careful consideration to subsurface conditions that can potentially impact the mobility of metals present naturally or as co-contaminants. If subsurface conditions are not appropriately characterized and planned for, deleterious effects could result, including long-term release of metals initially sorbed onto generated particles. Alternatively, the generated manganese oxides may serve as a long-term means of immobilizing metals within the subsurface.     

In vitro induction of primary, antigen-specific CTL from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with synthetic peptides

A protocol for in vitro induction of primary, antigen-specific CTL from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was developed. Antigen presenting cells (APCs) consisted of Staphylococcus aureus Cowan-I (SAC-I) activated PBMCs treated with a citrate-phosphate buffer at pH 3 to release endogenous peptides bound to surface MHC. This treatment resulted in transient expression of empty class I molecules which could be subsequently stabilized with peptide and beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2m). SAC-I activated PBMCs from HLA-A2.1 normal donors loaded with HBV core 18-27 peptide following acid treatment were used to stimulate PBMCs depleted of CD4+ T cells, in the presence of recombinant interleukin-7 (rIL-7). After 12 days, cells were restimulated with autologous, peptide-pulsed, adherent cells and tested for CTL activity 7 days later. In 23 independent experiments from 13 different HLA-A2.1 donors, this protocol resulted in induction of primary CTL more than 90% of the time. As indicated by both the frequency and magnitude of the response against peptide-sensitized target cells, SAC-I activated PBMCs treated with acid were the most efficient stimulator APC. Thirteen per cent of the cultures generated were capable of lysing target cells transfected with the HBV core antigen and, in general, these CTL cultures exhibited high avidity for the HBV core peptide. This protocol is generally applicable to different antigens and class I alleles, and thus, may be utilized to screen large numbers of peptides to identify human CTL epitopes.