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Energy Input (energy + input)
Selected AbstractsEnergy input and zooplankton species richnessECOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2007Dag O. Hessen What are the relative contribution of temperature and solar irradiance as types of energy deliveries for species richness at the ecosystem level? In order to reveal this question in lake ecosystems, we assessed zooplankton species richness in 1891 Norwegian lakes covering a wide range in latitude, altitude, and lake area. Geographical variables could largely be replaced by temperature-related variables, e.g. annual monthly maximum temperature or growth season. Multivariate analysis (PCA) revealed that not only maximum monthly temperature, but also energy input in terms of solar radiation were closely associated with species richness. This was confirmed by stepwise, linear regression analysis in which lake area was also found to be significant. We tested the predictive power of the "metabolic scaling laws" for species richness by regressing Ln of species richness over the inverse of the air temperature (in Kelvin), corrected for the activation energy (eV) as predicted by the Boltzmann constant. A significant, negative slope of 0.78 for ln richness over temperature, given as 1/kT, was found, thus slightly higher than the range of slopes predicted from the scaling law (0.60,0.70). Temperature basically constrained the upper bound of species number, but it was only a modest predictor of actual richness. Both PCA-analysis and linear regression models left a large unexplained variance probably due to lake-specific properties such as catchment influence, lake productivity, food-web structure, immigration constraints or more stochastic effects. [source] Elementary processes of soil,water interaction and thresholds in soil surface dynamics: a reviewEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 9 2004Richard S. B. Greene Abstract Elementary processes of soil,water interaction and the thresholds to these processes are important to understand as they control a range of phenomena that occur at the soil surface. In particular processes involved with wetting by rainfall that lead to particle breakdown are critical. This breakdown causes soil detachment and crust formation, which are both key elements in erosion. This paper reviews the range of approaches that have been taken in describing the processes associated with the wetting of a soil surface by rainfall. It assembles the studies that emphasize soil physics, soil chemistry, and erosion mechanics in a framework to enable a balanced consideration of important processes and management strategies to control erosion for a particular situation. In particular it discusses the factors associated with the two basic processes of soil structural breakdown, i.e. slaking and dispersion, and how these processes are critical in particle detachment, transport and surface crust formation. Besides the balance between the exchangeable cation composition and electrolyte concentration (measured as the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and total cation concentration (TCC) respectively) of the soil, the importance of energy input and soil organic matter content in controlling clay dispersion is emphasized. Based on the balance between these factors, the soil can be in one of three different regions, i.e. a dispersed region, a ,occulated region and one where the resilience of the soil is variable. The implications of each of these regions to soil erosion management are brie,y outlined, as are the critical roles that soil cover levels and organic matter have in controlling erosion. Finally, the relationship between various laboratory measures of aggregate stability, and corresponding ,eld erosion characteristics, is discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Wind effects on sediment transport by raindrop-impacted shallow flow: a wind-tunnel studyEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 8 2004G. Erpul Abstract In wind-driven rains, wind velocity and direction are expected to affect not only energy input of rains but also shallow ,ow hydraulics by changing roughness induced by raindrop impacts with an angle on ,ow and the unidirectional splashes in the wind direction. A wind-tunnel study under wind-driven rains was conducted to determine the effects of horizontal wind velocity and direction on sediment transport by the raindrop-impacted shallow ,ow. Windless rains and the rains driven by horizontal wind velocities of 6 m s,1, 10 m s,1, and 14 m s,1 were applied to three agricultural soils packed into a 20 by 55 cm soil pan placed on both windward and leeward slopes of 7 per cent, 15 per cent, and 20 per cent. During each rainfall application, sediment and runoff samples were collected at 5-min intervals at the bottom edge of the soil pan with wide-mouth bottles and were determined gravimetrically. Based on the interrill erosion mechanics, kinetic energy ,ux (Ern) as a rainfall parameter and product of unit discharge and slope in the form of qbSco as a ,ow parameter were used to explain the interactions between impact and ,ow parameters and sediment transport (qs). The differential sediment transport rates occurred depending on the variation in raindrop trajectory and rain intensity with the wind velocity and direction. Flux of rain energy computed by combining the effects of wind on the velocity, frequency, and angle of raindrop impact reasonably explained the characteristics of wind-driven rains and acceptably accounted for the differences in sediment delivery rates to the shallow ,ow transport (R2 , 0·78). Further analysis of the Pearson correlation coef,cients between Ern and qSo and qs also showed that wind velocity and direction signi,cantly affected the hydraulics of the shallow ,ow. Ern had a smaller correlation coef,cient with the qs in windward slopes where not only reverse splashes but also reverse lateral raindrop stress with respect to the shallow ,ow direction occurred. However, Ern was as much effective as qSo in the sediment transport in the leeward slopes where advance splashes and advance lateral raindrop stress on the ,ow occurred. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Estimate of input energy for elasto-plastic SDOF systems during earthquakes based on discrete wavelet coefficientsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 15 2005Jun Iyama Abstract The response of an elasto-plastic single degree of freedom (SDOF) system to ground motion is estimated based on wavelet coefficients calculated by discrete wavelet transform. Wavelet coefficients represent both the time and frequency characteristics of input ground motion, and thus can be considered to be directly related to the dynamic response of a non-linear system. This relationship between the energy input into an elastic SDOF system and wavelet coefficients is derived based on the assumption that wavelets deliver energy to the structure instantaneously and the quantity of energy is constant regardless of yielding. These assumptions are shown to be valid when the natural period of the system is in the predominant period range of the wavelet, the most common scenario for real structures, through dynamic response analysis of a single wavelet. The wavelet-based estimation of elastic and plastic energy transferred by earthquake ground motion is thus shown to be in good agreement with the dynamic response analysis when the natural period is in the predominant range of the input. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Energy input and zooplankton species richnessECOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2007Dag O. Hessen What are the relative contribution of temperature and solar irradiance as types of energy deliveries for species richness at the ecosystem level? In order to reveal this question in lake ecosystems, we assessed zooplankton species richness in 1891 Norwegian lakes covering a wide range in latitude, altitude, and lake area. Geographical variables could largely be replaced by temperature-related variables, e.g. annual monthly maximum temperature or growth season. Multivariate analysis (PCA) revealed that not only maximum monthly temperature, but also energy input in terms of solar radiation were closely associated with species richness. This was confirmed by stepwise, linear regression analysis in which lake area was also found to be significant. We tested the predictive power of the "metabolic scaling laws" for species richness by regressing Ln of species richness over the inverse of the air temperature (in Kelvin), corrected for the activation energy (eV) as predicted by the Boltzmann constant. A significant, negative slope of 0.78 for ln richness over temperature, given as 1/kT, was found, thus slightly higher than the range of slopes predicted from the scaling law (0.60,0.70). Temperature basically constrained the upper bound of species number, but it was only a modest predictor of actual richness. Both PCA-analysis and linear regression models left a large unexplained variance probably due to lake-specific properties such as catchment influence, lake productivity, food-web structure, immigration constraints or more stochastic effects. [source] Ultrasonic treatment of waste activated sludgeENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 2 2006Raf Dewil Abstract Activated sludge processes are key technologies to treat wastewater. These biological processes produce huge amounts of waste activated sludge (WAS), now commonly called biosolids. Mechanical, thermal, and/or chemical WAS conditioning techniques have been proposed to reduce the sludge burden. The ultrasonic treatment of WAS is quite novel. The present paper reports on extensive investigations using an ultrasonic treatment of WAS, to study its potential to meet one or all of four objectives: (1) reduce WAS quantities; (2) achieve a better dewaterability; (3) provoke a release of soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) from the biosolids, preferably transformed into biodegradable organics; and (4) possibly destroy the filamentous microorganisms responsible for sludge bulking. Although meeting these objectives would help to solve the problems cited, the energy consumption could be a considerable drawback: the paper will thus assess whether all or some objectives are met, and at what operational cost. A literature survey defines the occurring phenomena (cavitation) and the important operation parameters [such as frequency, duration, specific energy input (SE)]. The experiments are carried out in a batch reactor of volume up to 2.3 L. The ultrasonic equipment consisted of a generator, a converter, and a sonotrode, supplied by Alpha Ultrasonics under the brand name of Telsonic. Three different kinds of sludge were tested, with different concentrations of dry solids (DS) between approximately 3.5 and 14 g DS/L WAS. Ultrasonic energy was introduced in a continuous manner (against possible pulsed operation). The major operational parameters studied include duration of the ultrasonic treatment and specific energy input. The applied frequency was set at 20 kHz. The release of COD from the WAS phase into the filtrate phase is a function of the specific energy input with yields of nearly 30% achievable at SE values of 30,000 kJ/kg DS. A major fraction of the COD is transformed into biodegradable organics (BOD). The reduction in DS fraction of the sludge is proportional to the COD release rates. Although the DS content is reduced, the dewaterability of the sludge is not improved. This reflects itself in increased filtration times during vacuum filtration and in increased values of the capillary suction time (CST). This more difficult dewaterability is the result of considerably reduced floc sizes, offering an extended surface area: more surface water is bound (CST increases) and the filterability decreases as a result of clogging of the cake. To reach the same dryness as for the untreated cake, the required dosage of polyelectrolyte is nearly doubled when the SE of the ultrasound treatment is increased from 7500 to 20,000 kJ/kg DS. The ultrasonic reduction of filamentous WAS organisms is not conclusive and very little effect is seen at low intensities and short treatment durations. Microscopic analysis of the WAS identified the dominant presence of Actynomyces. The release of soluble COD and BOD certainly merit further research. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2006 [source] Methodology for Thermomechanical Simulation and Validation of Mechanical Weld-Seam Properties,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 3 2010Wolfgans Bleck A simulation and validation of the mechanical properties in submerged-arc-weld seams is presented, which combines numerical simulation of the thermal cycle in the weld using the SimWeld software with an annealing and testing procedure. The weld-seam geometry and thermal profile near the weld seam can be computed based on the simulation of an equivalent heat source describing the energy input and distribution in the weld seam. Defined temperature,time cycles are imposed on tensile specimens allowing for annealing experiments with fast cooling rates. The direct evaluation of welded structures and the simple generation of input data for mechanical simulations in FE software packages are possible. [source] Simulation of Welding and Distortion in Ship Building,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 3 2010Thomas Rieger Simulation tools will continue to gain importance for both scientific investigations and industrial applications. This further applies to welding technology. The present work focuses on the simulation of distortions due to the welding of stiffeners on heavy plates in shipbuilding. An equivalent heat source (EHS) was computed by the software SimWeld to describe the energy input caused by welding. The EHS was combined with an FEM simulation of the global structure in the commercial program SYSWELD. Therefore an interface between the SimWeld platform and SYSWELD was implemented. The simulation results were compared with a welded demonstrator. The predicted displacements correlate closely with the experimental data. Using the combined approach the quality of the prediction was significantly improved against the typical method of heat source parameter identification, which is based on experimental results. The results allow for the optimization of welding sequences and for the minimization of buckling in shipbuilding. [source] Selective Electron Beam Melting of Cellular Titanium: Mechanical PropertiesADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 9 2008P. Heinl Cellular titanium seems to be a promising material for medical implant applications due to an elastic modulus comparable with human bone and an interconnected porosity which facilitates bone ingrowth. This paper reports the mechanical properties of non-stochastic cellular Ti-6Al-4V structures fabricated by Selective Electron Beam Melting depending on different unit cell sizes and varying energy input per unit length of the electron beam. [source] Consumer body composition and community structure in a stream is altered by pHFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2010A. LARRAÑAGA Summary 1.,Low pH inhibits microbial conditioning of leaf-litter, which forms the principal energy input to many headwater streams. This reduces food quality and availability for the shredder assemblage, thereby creating a potential bottleneck in the flux of energy and biomass through acidified food webs. 2.,We explored the consequences of acidity on the well-characterised community of Broadstone Stream in southeast England, by quantifying the physiological condition (protein and lipid content) of three dominant shredder species (Leuctra nigra, L. hippopus and Nemurella pictetii) and relating this to changes in the numerical abundance and biomass of invertebrates across a longitudinal pH gradient (5.3,6.5). 3.,Total taxon richness increased with pH, as did shredder diversity. The acid-tolerant stonefly, L. nigra, exhibited a positive correlation between pH and protein content, but its abundance was suppressed in the less acid reaches. These results suggest that the impacts of environmental stressors might be manifested differently at the population (i.e. numerical and biomass abundance) versus the physiological (i.e. protein content of individuals) levels of organisation. Body composition of L. hippopus and N. pictetii did not exhibit any significant relationship with stream pH in the field. 4.,The survey data were corroborated with a laboratory rearing experiment using N. pictetii, in which survival rate, growth rate, and protein and lipid content of individuals were measured in stream water of differing pH and acid versus circumneutral microbial conditioning regimes. Acid-conditioned leaves were associated with increased mortality and reduced protein content in consumers' tissues, with acid water also having the latter effect. 5.,Our results suggest that biochemical constraints within key taxa might create energy flux bottlenecks in detrital-based food webs, and that this could ultimately determine the productivity of the entire system. Hence assays of the body composition of macroinvertebrates could be an effective new tool that complements population level studies of the impacts of stressors in fresh waters. [source] Hydrogeologic controls on summer stream temperatures in the McKenzie River basin, OregonHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 24 2007Christina Tague Abstract Stream temperature is a complex function of energy inputs including solar radiation and latent and sensible heat transfer. In streams where groundwater inputs are significant, energy input through advection can also be an important control on stream temperature. For an individual stream reach, models of stream temperature can take advantage of direct measurement or estimation of these energy inputs for a given river channel environment. Understanding spatial patterns of stream temperature at a landscape scale requires predicting how this environment varies through space, and under different atmospheric conditions. At the landscape scale, air temperature is often used as a surrogate for the dominant controls on stream temperature. In this study we show that, in regions where groundwater inputs are key controls and the degree of groundwater input varies in space, air temperature alone is unlikely to explain within-landscape stream temperature patterns. We illustrate how a geologic template can offer insight into landscape-scale patterns of stream temperature and its predictability from air temperature relationships. We focus on variation in stream temperature within headwater streams within the McKenzie River basin in western Oregon. In this region, as in other areas of the Pacific Northwest, fish sensitivity to summer stream temperatures continues to be a pressing environmental issue. We show that, within the McKenzie, streams which are sourced from deeper groundwater reservoirs versus shallow subsurface flow systems have distinct summer temperature regimes. Groundwater streams are colder, less variable and less sensitive to air temperature variation. We use these results from the western Oregon Cascade hydroclimatic regime to illustrate a conceptual framework for developing regional-scale indicators of stream temperature variation that considers the underlying geologic controls on spatial variation, and the relative roles played by energy and water inputs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The influence of large-scale atmospheric circulation on the surface energy balance of the King George Island ice capINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Matthias Braun Abstract During the austral summer 1997,1998 three automatic weather stations were operated at different altitudes on the sub-Antarctic ice cap of King George Island (South Shetland Islands). Snowmelt was derived from energy balance computations. Turbulent heat fluxes were calculated from meteorological measurements using the bulk aerodynamic approach, with net radiation being measured directly. Modelled ablation rates were compared with readings at ablation stakes and continuously measured snow height at a reference site. Snow depletion and daily snowmelt cycles could be well reproduced by the model. Generally, radiation balance provided the major energy input for snowmelt at all altitudes, whereas sensible heat flux was a second heat source only in lower elevations. The average latent heat flux was negligible over the entire measuring period. A strong altitudinal gradient of available energy for snowmelt was observed. Sensible heat flux as well as latent heat flux decreased with altitude. The measurements showed a strong dependence of surface energy fluxes and ablation rates on large-scale atmospheric conditions. Synoptic weather situations were analysed based on AVH RR infrared quicklook composite images and surface pressure charts. Maximum melt rates of up to 20 mm per day were recorded during a northwesterly advection event with meridional air mass transport. During this northwesterly advection, the contribution of turbulent heat fluxes to the energy available for snowmelt exceeded that of the radiation balance. For easterly and southerly flows, continentally toned, cold dry air masses dominated surface energy balance terms and did not significantly contribute to ablation. The link between synoptic situations and ablation is especially valuable, as observed climatic changes along the Antarctic Peninsula are attributed to changes in the atmospheric circulation. Therefore, the combination of energy balance calculations and the analysis of synoptic-scale weather patterns could improve the prediction of ablation rates for climate change scenarios. Copyright © 2001 Royal Meteorological Society [source] The membrane emulsification process,a reviewJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2004C Charcosset Abstract Membrane emulsification has received increasing attention over the last 10 years, with potential applications in many fields. In the membrane emulsification process, a liquid phase is pressed through the membrane pores to form droplets at the permeate side of a membrane; the droplets are then carried away by a continuous phase flowing across the membrane surface. Under specific conditions, monodispersed emulsions can be produced using this technique. The purpose of the present paper is to provide a review on the membrane emulsification process including: principles of membrane emulsification, influence of process parameters and industrial applications. Small-scale applications such as drug delivery systems, food emulsions, and the production of monodispersed microspheres are also included. Compared with conventional techniques for emulsification, membrane processes offer advantages such as control of average droplet diameter by average membrane pore size and lower energy input. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Enhancement of ultrafiltration using gas sparging: a comparison of different membrane modules,JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 2-3 2003Zhanfeng Cui Abstract Ultrafiltration is widely used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food and water industries. Practical difficulties arise in designing and operating the process due to concentration polarisation and membrane fouling. Enhancement of ultrafiltration is highly desirable to achieve a higher permeate flux at a fixed energy input, or a reduced energy input whilst maintaining the level of permeate flux, or an improved selectivity of the membrane. One effective, simple, and economic technique used to enhance ultrafiltration is the use of gas bubbles, ie injecting gas into the feed stream to create a gas,liquid two-phase cross-flow operation. In this paper, an attempt is made to compare the effect of ,bubbling' on the ultrafiltration performance, using different membrane modules (in particular, tubular and hollow fibre membrane modules). The difference in performance can be related to the feature of two-phase flow hydrodynamics and its respective effect on mass transfer. The advantages and drawbacks of using this technique to enhance ultrafiltration are discussed. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] JOURNAL of FOOD PROCESSING and PRESERVATION SEP 2000 Vol-24.4. DEVELOPMENT of A PROCESS FOR DETECTING NONTHERMAL EFFECTS of MICROWAVE ENERGY ON MICROORGANISMS AT LOW TEMPERATURE,JOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 4 2000MICHAEL KOZEMPEL We developed an experimental process capable of isolating thermal and nonthermal effects of microwave energy relative to the destruction of microorganisms at low temperature. the concept combines instantaneous energy input to the food system by microwaves with rapid removal of thermal energy. the process used a double tube heat exchanger inside a continuous microwave dryer. the outer tube was transparent to microwaves, whereas the inner tube was stainless steel and was used for cooling the system. the microwave energy, 5,6 kW power, was absorbed by the process fluid in the annulus. the cooling water flowing in the inner tube removed the thermal energy from the process fluid to control temperature at or below 45C. the process was at turbulent flow to assure a uniform temperature and dwell time. There were no detected nonthermal effects from microwave energy for yeast, Pediococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, or Enterobacter aerogenes in various test fluids, such as water, liquid egg, beer, apple juice, apple cider, and tomato juice. [source] Hydrodynamic Cavitation: Characterization of a Novel Design with Energy Considerations for the Inactivation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in Apple JuiceJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008P.J. Milly ABSTRACT:, A Shockwave PowerÔ Reactor consisting of an annulus with a rotating pock-marked inner cylinder was used to induce hydrodynamic cavitation in calcium-fortified apple juice flowing in the annular space. Lethality on Saccharomyces cerevisiae was assessed at processing temperatures of 65 and 76.7 °C. Details of the novel equipment design were presented and energy consumption was compared to conventional and pulsed electric fields processing technologies. The mean log cycle reduction of S. cerevisiae was 6.27 CFU/mL and all treatments resulted in nonrecoverable viable cells. Induced lethality from hydrodynamic cavitation on S. cerevisiae exceeded the predicted values based on experimentally determined thermal resistance. Rotation of 3000 and 3600 rpm at flow rates greater than 1.0 L/min raised product temperature from 20 to 65.6 or 76.7 °C, respectively, and energy input was less than 220 kJ/kg. Conversion efficiency from electrical to thermal was 55% to 84%. Hydrodynamic cavitation enhanced lethality of spoilage microorganisms in minimally processed juices and reduced energy usage. [source] Moisture Migration in Solid Food MatricesJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 8 2003Y.-C. Fu ABSTRACT: The goals of this study were to measure moisture migration in a porous solid matrix simulating a real food (flour dough) and to accomplish heating of the solid matrix. An off-line technique and a microwave temperature controller system were developed for measuring moisture concentration under isothermal heating condition. A temperature profile of a cylindrical dough sample was achieved by accurate control of microwave energy input and preheated carrier gas temperature. Results showed a simplified 1st order kinetic model adequately predicted moisture loss in dough samples. Effect of temperature on the rate constant was adequately modeled by the Arrhenius relationship. The rate constant was found to be affected by porosity of the dough sample. [source] Heat capacity measurement by flow calorimetry: An exact analysisAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009T. K. Hei Abstract The principal unsolved problem in flow calorimetry for liquid heat capacity measurement accurate accounting for heat loss from the heater lead-in wires as a function of system properties is analyzed by exact procedures for a five-zone calorimeter model. Temperature distributions in the fluid, and bi-metal wire are obtained from solutions of the governing third-order ODE in the fluid temperature for realistic boundary conditions. Conductive heat losses at the fluid exit qHL/q, are large (up to 20% of energy input), and physical property and flow rate dependent. A new correlating equation for (qHL/q,) gives separately and explicitly, for the first time, its dependence on calorimeter characteristics, flow rates and fluid properties. Experiments on five pure liquids confirmed the predictions of the theoretical model and produced Cp values in close agreement with literature data. Fluid friction and small convection heat losses (UiAi (,T)lm) were accounted for experimentally. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009 [source] Wet granulation in a twin-screw extruder: Implications of screw designJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 4 2010M.R. Thompson Abstract Wet granulation in twin-screw extrusion machinery is an attractive technology for the continuous processing of pharmaceuticals. The performance of this machinery is integrally tied to its screw design yet little fundamental knowledge exists in this emerging field for granulation to intelligently create, troubleshoot, and scale-up such processes. This study endeavored to systematically examine the influence of different commercially available screw elements on the flow behavior and granulation mechanics of lactose monohydrate saturated at low concentration (5,12%, w/w) with an aqueous polyvinyl-pyrrolidone binder. The results of the work showed that current screw elements could be successfully incorporated into designs for wet granulation, to tailor the particle size as well as particle shape of an agglomerate product. Conveying elements for cohesive granular flows were shown to perform similar to their use in polymer processing, as effective transport units with low specific mechanical energy input. The conveying zones provided little significant change to the particle size or shape, though the degree of channel fill in these sections had a significant influence on the more energy-intensive mixing elements studied. The standard mixing elements for this machine, kneading blocks and comb mixers, were found to be effective for generating coarser particles, though their mechanisms of granulation differed significantly. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99: 2090,2103, 2010 [source] PfCRT and the trans -vacuolar proton electrochemical gradient: regulating the access of chloroquine to ferriprotoporphyrin IXMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Patrick G. Bray Summary It is accepted that resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine (CQ) is caused primarily by mutations in the pfcrt gene. However, a consensus has not yet been reached on the mechanism by which resistance is achieved. CQ-resistant (CQR) parasite lines accumulate less CQ than do CQ-sensitive (CQS) parasites. The CQR phenotype is complex with a component of reduced energy-dependent CQ uptake and an additional component that resembles energy-dependent CQ efflux. Here we show that the required energy input is in the form of the proton electrochemical gradient across the digestive vacuole (DV) membrane. Collapsing the DV proton gradient (or starving the parasites of glucose) results in similar levels of CQ accumulation in CQS and CQR lines. Under these conditions the accumulation of CQ is stimulated in CQR parasite lines but is reduced in CQS lines. Energy deprivation has no effect on the rate of CQ efflux from CQR lines implying that mutant PfCRT does not function as an efflux pump or active carrier. Using pfcrt -modified parasite lines we show that the entire CQ susceptibility phenotype is switched by the single K76T amino acid change in PfCRT. The efflux of CQ in CQR lines is not directly coupled to the energy supply, consistent with a model in which mutant PfCRT functions as a gated channel or pore, allowing charged CQ species to leak out of the DV. [source] A census of the Carina Nebula , II.MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2007Energy budget, global properties of the nebulosity ABSTRACT The first paper in this series took a direct census of energy input from the known OB stars in the Carina Nebula, and in this paper we study the global properties of the surrounding nebulosity. This detailed comparison may prove useful for interpreting observations of extragalactic giant H ii regions and ultraluminous infrared (IR) galaxies. We find that the total IR luminosity of Carina is about 1.2 × 107 L,, accounting for only about 50,60 per cent of the known stellar luminosity from Paper I. Similarly, the ionizing photon luminosity derived from the integrated radio continuum is about 7 × 1050 s,1, accounting for ,75 per cent of the expected Lyman continuum from known OB stars. The total kinetic energy of the nebula is about 8 × 1051 erg, or ,30 per cent of the mechanical energy from stellar winds over the lifetime of the nebula, so there is no need to invoke a supernova (SN) explosion based on energetics. Warm dust grains residing in the H ii region interior dominate emission at 10,30 ,m, but cooler grains at 30,40 K dominate the IR luminosity and indicate a likely gas mass of ,106 M,. We find an excellent correlation between the radio continuum and 20,25 ,m emission, consistent with the idea that the ,80-K grain population is heated by trapped Ly, photons. Similarly, we find a near perfect correlation between the far-IR optical depth map of cool grains and 8.6-,m hydrocarbon emission, indicating that most of the nebular mass resides as atomic gas in photodissociation regions and not in dense molecular clouds. Synchronized star formation around the periphery of Carina provides a strong case that star formation here was indeed triggered by stellar winds and ultraviolet radiation. This second generation appears to involve a cascade toward preferentially intermediate- and low-mass stars, but this may soon change when , Carinae and its siblings explode. If the current reservoir of atomic and molecular gas can be tapped at that time, massive star formation may be rejuvenated around the periphery of Carina much as if it were a young version of Gould's Belt. Furthermore, when these multiple SNe occur, the triggered second generation will be pelted repeatedly with SN ejecta bearing short-lived radioactive nuclides. Carina may therefore represent the most observable analogue to the cradle of our own Solar system. [source] Hot and cold gas accretion and feedback in radio-loud active galaxiesMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2007M. J. Hardcastle ABSTRACT We have recently shown that X-ray observations of the population of ,low-excitation' radio galaxies, which includes most low-power, Fanaroff,Riley class I sources as well as some more powerful Fanaroff,Riley class II objects, are consistent with a model in which the active nuclei of these objects are not radiatively efficient at any waveband. In another recent paper, Allen et al. have shown that Bondi accretion of the hot, X-ray emitting phase of the intergalactic medium (IGM) is sufficient to power the jets of several nearby, low-power radio galaxies at the centres of clusters. In this paper, we combine these ideas and suggest that accretion of the hot phase of the IGM is sufficient to power all low-excitation radio sources, while high-excitation sources are powered by accretion of cold gas that is in general unrelated to the hot IGM. This model explains a number of properties of the radio-loud active galaxy population, and has important implications for the energy input of radio-loud active galactic nuclei into the hot phase of the IGM: the energy supply of powerful high-excitation sources does not have a direct connection to the hot phase. [source] Cosmological simulations of intergalactic medium enrichment from galactic outflowsMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2006Benjamin D. Oppenheimer ABSTRACT We investigate models of self-consistent chemical enrichment of the intergalactic medium (IGM) from z= 6.0 , 1.5, based on hydrodynamic simulations of structure formation that explicitly incorporate outflows from star-forming galaxies. Our main result is that outflow parametrizations derived from observations of local starburst galaxies, in particular momentum-driven wind scenarios, provide the best agreement with observations of C iv absorption at z, 2,5. Such models sufficiently enrich the high- z IGM to produce a global mass density of C iv absorbers that is relatively invariant from z= 5.5 , 1.5, in agreement with observations. This occurs despite continual IGM enrichment causing an increase in volume-averaged metallicity by ,× 5,10 over this redshift range, because energy input accompanying the enriching outflows causes a drop in the global ionization fraction of C iv. Comparisons to observed C iv column density and linewidth distributions and C iv -based pixel optical depth ratios provide significant constraints on wind models. Our best-fitting outflow models show mean IGM temperatures only slightly above our no-outflow case, metal filling factors of just a few per cent with volume-weighted metallicities around 10,3 at z, 3, significant amounts of collisionally ionized C iv absorption and a metallicity,density relationship that rises rapidly at low overdensities and flattens at higher ones. In general, we find that outflow speeds must be high enough to enrich the low-density IGM at early times but low enough not to overheat it, and concurrently must significantly suppress early star formation while still producing enough early metals. It is therefore non-trivial that locally calibrated momentum-driven wind scenarios naturally yield the desired strength and evolution of outflows, and suggest that such models represent a significant step towards understanding the impact of galactic outflows on galaxies and the IGM across cosmic time. [source] Erratum: A census of the Carina Nebula , I. Cumulative energy input from massive starsMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 4 2006Nathan Smith No abstract is available for this article. [source] Turgor pressure, membrane tension and the control of exocytosis in higher plantsPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 9 2000Wieland Fricke ABSTRACT Both turgor pressure and differences in membrane tension are capable of providing an energy input into exocytosis, the process of fusion of Golgi vesicles with the cell membrane in plants. It is shown that the contribution of turgor pressure is much larger than that of membrane tension, so that the exocytotic process is not likely on thermodynamic grounds to be reversible unless another source of energy is made available. However, recycling of membrane material as flattened, empty vesicles is energetically possible and is likely to be favoured when the magnitude of membrane tension in the cell membrane is low. Thus the outward flows of membrane and cell wall material are in principle linked to turgor, whereas membrane tension influences the inward flow of membrane material. [source] Cover Picture: Plasma Process.PLASMA PROCESSES AND POLYMERS, Issue 2 2007Polym. Cover: The aquamarine discharge exemplifies polymerization of acetylene in a DBD reactor. In total, over 20 precursors were classified for their "ease" of film deposition and growth at low energy input. Next to acetylene, pyrrole is the precursor of choice. In-depth analysis of the polymer films offers insights in their physicochemical properties. The research was a combined effort of VITO and KULeuven. Further details can be found in the article by P. Heyse, R. Dams, S. Paulussen,* K. Houthoofd, K. Janssen, P. A. Jacobs, and B. F. Sels on page 145. [source] Artificial molecular-level machinesTHE CHEMICAL RECORD, Issue 6 2001Vincenzo Balzani Abstract The concept of "machine" can be extended to the molecular level by designing supramolecular species capable of performing mechanical-like movements as a consequence of an appropriate energy supply. Molecular-level machines operate via electronic and nuclear rearrangements, for example, through some kind of chemical reaction. Like macroscopic machines, they are characterized by: (i) the kind of energy input supplied to make them work, (ii) the kind of movement performed by their components, (iii) the way in which their operation can be controlled and monitored, (iv) the possibility to repeat the operation at will and establish a cyclic process, (v) the time scale needed to complete a cycle of operation, and (vi) the function performed. A crucial issue is that concerning energy supply. Artificial machines powered by chemical energy ("fuels") produce waste products whose accumulation compromises the operation of the machine unless they are removed from the system. Photochemical and electrochemical energy inputs, however, can be used to make a machine work without formation of waste products. Examples of chemically, electrochemically, and photochemically powered machines investigated in our laboratory are reviewed, and future directions for the construction of novel machines are illustrated. The two most interesting kinds of applications of molecular-level machines are related to the mechanical aspect, which can be exploited, for example, for molecular-level transportation purposes, and the logic aspect, which can be exploited for information processing at the molecular level and, in the long run, for the construction of molecular level (chemical) computers. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and The Japan Chemical Journal Forum Chem Rec 1:422,435, 2001 [source] Effects of ultrasound in coating nano-precipitated CaCO3 with stearic acidASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2009K. W. Kow Abstract Nano-Precipitated CaCO3 (NPCC) are coated with stearic acid to improve its dispersion in polymer as well as to reduce agglomeration. In this work, coating was done by wet method using ethanol. Ultrasonication was applied to NPCC to de-agglomerate micron size NPCC into smaller size. Effects of amplitude, temperature and energy input of ultrasonication was investigated. The amplitude was varied from 60% to 100% whereas temperature was varied from 5°C to 45°C. The energy input was stressed up from 3.6 kJ to 180 kJ. Mean diameter of NPCC were observed by using Particle Size Analyzer and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). It was found that mean diameter of NPCC do not vary significantly with temperature. Mean diameter of NPCC, however, decreases exponentially with the energy input. Comparisons were done on NPCC coated with others methods such as dry ball milling and aqueous coating. TEM images show that coating NPCC with ultrasonication is more uniform than other methods. In addition, first derivative mass loss with temperature (DTG) reveals that NPCC coated with ultrasonication do not contain excessive free acid as exhibited by those coated in aqueous and dry ball milling. Copyright © 2009 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A multi-wavelength view of the archetypical CSS radio galaxy 3C303.1: Evidence for shocks and induced star formationASTRONOMISCHE NACHRICHTEN, Issue 2-3 2009C.P. O'Dea Abstract I discuss multi-wavelength data on the archetypal CSS radio galaxy 3C303.1. The radio source is sub-galactic in scale where it can directly affect the ISM of the host galaxy. The emission line kinematics and ionization diagnostics are consistent with energy input from shocks driven by the radio source. The Spitzer IRS spectrum indicates that star formation is occurring in the host galaxy. The HST/ACS/HRC UV image shows UV light which is aligned with the radio source axis. I suggest that the UV light is from young stars which have been triggered by the radio lobes. XMM observations detect the ISM of the host galaxy with a temperature of 0.8 keV plus an additional component whose properties are not well defined. I suggest the second component is a hot shocked gas (T = 45 keV) consistent with a Mach number of 13 for the expanding bow shock. Thus, the multi-wavelength data give a consistent picture in which the radio source drives shocks into the ISM which ionize dense clouds, trigger star formation, and shock heat the hot component of the ISM to very high temperature. These observations demonstrate that radio sources can provide significant feedback to their host galaxy (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Large-scale production, harvest and logistics of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) , current technology and envisioning a mature technologyBIOFUELS, BIOPRODUCTS AND BIOREFINING, Issue 2 2009Shahab Sokhansanj Abstract Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a promising cellulosic biomass feedstock for biorefineries and biofuel production. This paper reviews current and future potential technologies for production, harvest, storage, and transportation of switchgrass. Our analysis indicates that for a yield of 10 Mg ha,1, the current cost of producing switchgrass (after establishment) is about $41.50 Mg,1. The costs may be reduced to about half this if the yield is increased to 30 Mg ha,1 through genetic improvement, intensive crop management, and/or optimized inputs. At a yield of 10 Mg ha,1, we estimate that harvesting costs range from $23.72 Mg,1 for current baling technology to less than $16 Mg,1 when using a loafing collection system. At yields of 20 and 30 Mg ha,1 with an improved loafing system, harvesting costs are even lower at $12.75 Mg,1 and $9.59 Mg,1, respectively. Transport costs vary depending upon yield and fraction of land under switchgrass, bulk density of biomass, and total annual demand of a biorefinery. For a 2000 Mg d,1 plant and an annual yield of 10 Mg ha,1, the transport cost is an estimated $15.42 Mg,1, assuming 25% of the land is under switchgrass production. Total delivered cost of switchgrass using current baling technology is $80.64 Mg,1, requiring an energy input of 8.5% of the feedstock higher heating value (HHV). With mature technology, for example, a large, loaf-collection system, the total delivered cost is reduced to about $71.16 Mg,1 with 7.8% of the feedstock HHV required as input. Further cost reduction can be achieved by combining mature technology with increased crop productivity. Delivered cost and energy input do not vary significantly as biorefinery capacity increases from 2000 Mg d,1 to 5000 Mg d,1 because the cost of increased distance to access a larger volume feedstock offsets the gains in increased biorefinery capacity. This paper outlines possible scenarios for the expansion of switchgrass handling to 30 Tg (million Mg) in 2015 and 100 Tg in 2030 based on predicted growth of the biorefinery industry in the USA. The value of switchgrass collection operations is estimated at more than $0.6 billion in 2015 and more than $2.1 billion in 2030. The estimated value of post-harvest operations is $0.6,$2.0 billion in 2015, and $2.0,$6.5 billion in 2030, depending on the degree of preprocessing. The need for power equipment (tractors) will increase from 100 MW in 2015 to 666 MW in 2030, with corresponding annual values of $150 and $520 million, respectively. © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||