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Good Potential (good + potential)
Selected AbstractsFabrication, Optical Modeling, and Color Characterization of Semitransparent Bulk-Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells in an Inverted StructureADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 10 2010Tayebeh Ameri Abstract Semitransparent inverted organic photodiodes are fabricated with a Baytron PH500 ethylene-glycol layer/silver grid as the top electrode. Reasonable performances are obtained under both rear- and front-side illumination and efficiencies up to 2% are achieved. Some light is shed on visual prospects through optical simulations for a semitransparent device of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and the C60 derivative 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)propyl-1-phenyl[6,6]C71 (PC70BM) in the inverted structure. These calculations allow the maximum efficiency achievable to be predicted for semitransparent cells based on P3HT:PC70BM versus the transparency perception for a human eye. The simulations suggest that low-bandgap materials such as poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b,]dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT) have a better potential for semitransparent devices. In addition, the color range recognized by the human eye is predicted by the optical simulation for some semitransparent devices including different active layers. [source] Catalytic Performances of Binder-free ZSM-5 Catalysts for Dehydration of Crude Methanol to Dimethyl EtherCHINESE JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2010Jing Wang Abstract A series of binder-free ZSM-5 catalysts and a binder-containing catalyst were prepared and characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), 27Al magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), N2 sorption and ammonia temperature-programmed deposition (TPD) methods. The catalytic activity and selectivity in the dehydration of crude methanol to dimethyl ether (DME) were evaluated in a fixed-bed reactor for the catalysts. The outstanding structural characters such as high zeolite contents, sufficiently open channels and richness in mesopores have been proved on these binder-free catalysts. The influence of the solid-acidity, which is closely related to the framework silica alumina ratio (SAR) of the catalysts, on the catalytic properties has been discussed. A binder-free catalyst with a better potential in application has been selected for its high activity and selectivity, long life-time and non-sensitivity to water contents in the feed. The reason for its excellent performance of the catalyst was discussed. [source] The virtual interaction panel: an easy control tool in augmented reality systemsCOMPUTER ANIMATION AND VIRTUAL WORLDS (PREV: JNL OF VISUALISATION & COMPUTER ANIMATION), Issue 3-4 2004M. L. Yuan Abstract In this paper, we propose and develop an easy control tool called Virtual Interaction Panel (VirIP) for Augmented Reality (AR) systems, which can be used to control AR systems. This tool is composed of two parts: the design of the VirIPs and the tracking of an interaction pen using a Restricted Coulomb Energy (RCE) neural network. The VirIP is composed of some virtual buttons, which have meaningful information that can be activated by an interaction pen during the augmentation process. The interaction pen is a general pen-like object with a certain color distribution. It is tracked using a RCE network in real-time and used to trigger the VirIPs for AR systems. In our system, only one camera is used for capturing the real world. Therefore, 2D information is used to trigger the virtual buttons to control the AR systems. The proposed method is real-time because the RCE-based image segmentation for a small region is fast. It can be used to control AR systems quite easily without any annoying sensors attached to entangling cables. This proposed method has good potential in many AR applications in manufacturing, such as assembly without the need for object recognition, collaborative product design, system control, etc. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Capillary electrophoresis-time of flight-mass spectrometry using noncovalently bilayer-coated capillaries for the analysis of amino acids in human urineELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 12 2008Rawi Ramautar Abstract A capillary electrophoresis-time of flight-mass spectrometry (CE-TOF-MS) method for the analysis of amino acids in human urine was developed. Capillaries noncovalently coated with a bilayer of Polybrene (PB) and poly(vinyl sulfonate) (PVS) provided a considerable EOF at low pH, thus facilitating the fast separation of amino acids using a BGE of 1,M formic acid (pH,1.8). The PB,PVS coating proved to be very consistent yielding stable CE-MS patterns of amino acids in urine with favorable migration time repeatability (RSDs <2%). The relatively low sample loading capacity of CE was circumvented by an in-capillary preconcentration step based on pH-mediated stacking allowing 100-nL sample injection (i.e. ca. 4% of capillary volume). As a result, LODs for amino acids were down to 20,nM while achieving satisfactory separation efficiencies. Preliminary validation of the method with urine samples showed good linear responses for the amino acids (R2 >0.99), and RSDs for peak areas were <10%. Special attention was paid to the influence of matrix effects on the quantification of amino acids. The magnitude of ion suppression by the matrix was similar for different urine samples. The CE-TOF-MS method was used for the analysis of urine samples of patients with urinary tract infection (UTI). Concentrations of a subset of amino acids were determined and compared with concentrations in urine of healthy controls. Furthermore, partial least squares,discriminant analysis (PLS,DA) of the CE-TOF-MS dataset in the 50,450,m/z region showed a distinctive grouping of the UTI samples and the control samples. Examination of score and loadings plot revealed a number of compounds, including phenylalanine, to be responsible for grouping of the samples. Thus, the CE-TOF-MS method shows good potential for the screening of body fluids based on the analysis of endogenous low-molecular weight metabolites such as amino acids and related compounds. [source] Molecular analysis of bacterial populations in the ileum of broiler chickens and comparison with bacteria in the cecumFEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Jianhua Gong Abstract Bacterial populations in the ileum of broiler chickens were analyzed by molecular analysis of 16S rRNA genes and compared to those in the cecum. Bacteria found in the ileal mucosa were mainly Gram-positive with low G+C content. There were 15 molecular species among 51 cloned sequences. More than 70% of the cloned sequences were related to lactobacilli and Enterococcus cecorum. Two sequences had 95% or less homology to existing database sequences. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis revealed differences among bacterial populations present in the mucosa and lumen of the ileum. Comparative studies by T-RFLP and sequence analyses of 16S rRNA genes indicated a less diverse bacterial population in the ileum (mucosa and lumen) than in the cecum. Lactobacilli, E. cecorum, and butyrate-producing bacteria related (including both identified and unidentified species) sequences were the three major groups detected in ilea and ceca. Although butyrate-producing bacteria may have good potential in the development of novel probiotics for poultry, verifying the presence of the bacteria in the chicken gut is required to warrant further investigation. [source] Constraints on recovery: using molecular methods to study connectivity of aquatic biota in rivers and streamsFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007JANE M. HUGHESArticle first published online: 2 MAR 200 Summary 1. The ,Field of Dreams Hypothesis' states ,if we build it, they will come', referring to the assumption that if habitats are restored, species will recolonise them. However, the ability of a species to recolonise a restored site will depend not only on the appropriate habitat being present, but also on the ability to get there. This is likely to depend on both the species' dispersal behaviour and the position of a site in the landscape. 2. Animals with good potential for dispersal are more likely to be able to disperse to newly restored sites. Similarly, sites in lowland streams with limited altitudinal differences between sites may be easier to reach than upstream sites. This is because upstream sites are connected to one another via lowland streams that have different characteristics and therefore may be difficult for animals to traverse. 3. In this paper, genetic data from a range of freshwater species that have been analysed in my laboratory are used to assess the importance of life cycle and position in the landscape (i.e. upland versus lowland streams) on connectivity patterns (and thus recolonisation potential) among populations. 4. In general, contemporary dispersal across catchment boundaries is negligible, except for aquatic insects with an adult flight stage. Dispersal among streams within catchments appears to be more limited than was predicted from knowledge on life histories, except for fish in lowland rivers and streams. 5. As predicted, dispersal of fish, crustaceans and molluscs among streams within catchments is significantly greater in lowland rivers than in upland streams. 6. Overall, these analyses suggest that, with the exception of most insects, and fishes in lowland rivers, natural recolonisation of restored sites is only likely from sites within the same stream. If a species has disappeared from the whole stream, then restoration of habitat alone may not be sufficient for its re-establishment. [source] Reconstruction of a 1436-year soil moisture and vegetation water use history based on tree-ring widths from Qilian junipers in northeastern Qaidam Basin, northwestern ChinaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Zhi-Yong Yin Abstract Tree-ring widths have been used widely in studies of environmental changes and reconstructions of past climate. Eleven tree-ring chronologies of approximately 800,1500 years long were developed from Qilian junipers (Sabina przewalskii Kom.) for northeastern Qaidam Basin, along the margin of the Qinghai,Tibetan Plateau. Previous studies have revealed that water usage stress is the most limiting factor for tree growth in the study region. To evaluate the impact of the combined effects of temperature and precipitation changes over time, we performed water balance modelling using 1955,2002 meteorological data. We found that the tree-ring widths were strongly correlated with variables representing soil moisture conditions obtained from the water balance model. Specifically we considered actual evapotranspiration (AE) to represent the combined effect of water use demand and moisture availability, deficit as the difference between potential evapotranspiration (PE) and AE to represent the severity of water use stress, and relative soil moisture as the measure of moisture availability. For certain individual monthly and seasonal combinations, the tree-ring chronologies explained up to 80% of the variation in the soil moisture variables in regression analysis, indicating very good potential for reconstruction of regional soil moisture conditions in the past. These soil moisture variables outperformed precipitation and Palmer's drought severity index in most cases. We reconstructed the soil moisture conditions from 566 AD to 2001, which revealed major dry and wet periods and a general trend toward a wetter condition during the most recent 300 years. By comparing with other proxies in the region, we concluded that the moisture conditions reconstructed from tree-ring widths very well reflected the climate variability at the interannual and interdecadal scales. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Geothermal-based hydrogen production using thermochemical and hybrid cycles: A review and analysisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2010M. Tolga Balta Abstract Geothermal-based hydrogen production, which basically uses geothermal energy for hydrogen production, appears to be an environmentally conscious and sustainable option for the countries with abundant geothermal energy resources. In this study, four potential methods are identified and proposed for geothermal-based hydrogen production, namely: (i) direct production of hydrogen from the geothermal steam, (ii) through conventional water electrolysis using the electricity generated through geothermal power plant, (iii) by using both geothermal heat and electricity for high temperature steam electrolysis and/or hybrid processes, and (iv) by using the heat available from geothermal resource in thermochemical processes. Nowadays, most researches are focused on high-temperature electrolysis and thermochemical processes. Here we essentially discuss some potential low-temperature thermochemical and hybrid cycles for geothermal-based hydrogen production, due to their wider practicality, and examine them as a sustainable option for hydrogen production using geothermal heat. We also assess their thermodynamic performance through energy and exergy efficiencies. The results show that these cycles have good potential and attractive overall system efficiencies over 50% based on a complete reaction approach. The copper-chlorine cycle is identified as a highly promising cycle for geothermal-hydrogen production. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Original article: Antifungal activities of cinnamon oil against Rhizopus nigricans, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium expansum in vitro and in vivo fruit testINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Yage Xing Summary The postharvest pathogens such as R. nigricans, A. flavas and P. expansum are the causal agents of jujube or orange fruit, therefore, in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of cinnamon oil to inactivate these fungi were investigated. Cinnamaldehyde is the main constituent of cinnamon oil. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of cinnamon oil against Rhizopus nigricans, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium expansum were 0.64% (v/v), 0.16% (v/v) and 0.16% (v/v), respectively. The antifungal activity of cinnamon oil against A. flavus and P. expansum was stronger than that against R. nigricans and the activity was improved with increasing its concentration. In an in vivo study, cinnamon oil with concentrations of 2.0% (v/v) and 3.0% (v/v) showed complete control the growth of fungi in wound-inoculated Lingwu Long Jujube and Sand Sugar Orange fruits. These results revealed that cinnamon oil has a good potential to be as a natural antifungal agent for fruit applications. [source] Comparative effects of some botanicals for the control of the seed weevil Caryedon serratus Olivier (Col., Bruchidae)JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 10 2002H. A. El Atta Leaf powder, seed kernel powder and oil extracted from the seeds of A. indica and leaf powder and oil extracted from the leaves of E. camaldulensis and benzene hexachloride (BHC) were tested at 1, 3 and 5% (w/w or v/w) against C. serratus. Eucalyptus leaf oil (ELO) and neem oil (NO) at 3 and 5% were as efficient as BHC and significantly (P=0.0001) reduced egg laying by C. serratus, whereas Eucalyptus leaf powder (ELP) had no significant effect. Neem seed kernel powder (NSKP) at 5%, ELO (3 and 5%) and NO (3 and 5%) significantly (P=0.0001) reduced egg hatching more than BHC at all doses. NO (3 and 5%) and ELO (3 and 5%) significantly (P=0.0001) reduced larval development more than BHC, whereas ELP and Neam Leaf Powder had no significant effect. Adult emergence and mortality were also significantly (P=0.0001) affected by some botanicals tested, especially oils. Oils were more effective as compared with powder. The study indicated that the botanicals tested have a good potential in replacing conventional pesticides because of their high efficacy and environmental safety. [source] Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and structurally related synthetic food additives towards Clostridium perfringensJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009W. Si Abstract Aims:, To assess the potential of essential oils and structurally related synthetic food additives in inhibiting the growth of Clostridium perfringens for the control of necrotic enteritis in chickens. Methods and Results:, The antimicrobial activity of essential oils/compounds was measured by determining the inhibition of bacterial growth. Thirty-three of 66 oils/compounds exhibited ,80% inhibition. Seven with the highest potency were further studied. The oils/compounds had MIC95 values between 167 and 425 ,g ml,1. Most of them were tolerant to low pH (2·0) and exhibited minor or no inhibition of Lactobacillus isolates from the chicken intestine. When mixed with chicken ileal digesta, the oils/compounds retained their efficacy against C. perfringens, but had little effect on the total number of lactobacilli and anaerobic bacteria in the digesta. Conclusions:, Some essential oils/compounds demonstrated good potential in controlling C. perfringens. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study has identified candidates of essential oils/compounds for in vivo studies for the control of necrotic enteritis in chickens. [source] Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and structurally related synthetic food additives towards selected pathogenic and beneficial gut bacteriaJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2006W. Si Abstract Aims:, To assess the potential of essential oils and structurally related synthetic food additives in reducing bacterial pathogens in swine intestinal tract. Methods and Results:, The antimicrobial activity of essential oils/compounds was measured by determining the inhibition of bacterial growth. Among 66 essential oils/compounds that exhibited ,80% inhibition towards Salmonellatyphimurium DT104 and Escherichia coli O157:H7, nine were further studied. Most of the oils/compounds demonstrated high efficacy against S. typhimurium DT104, E. coli O157:H7, and E. coli with K88 pili with little inhibition towards lactobacilli and bifidobacteria. They were also tolerant to the low pH. When mixed with pig cecal digesta, these oils/compounds retained their efficacy against E. coli O157:H7. In addition, they significantly inhibited E. coli and coliform bacteria in the digesta, but had little effect on the total number of lactobacilli and anaerobic bacteria. Conclusions:, Some essential oils/compounds demonstrated good potential, including efficacy, tolerance to low pH, and selectivity towards bacterial pathogens, in reducing human and animal bacterial pathogens in swine intestinal tract. Significance and Impact of the Study:, This study has identified candidates of essential oils/compounds for in vivo studies to develop antibiotic substitutes for the reduction of human and animal bacterial pathogens in swine intestinal tract. [source] Pervaporation of tertiary butanol/water mixtures through chitosan membranes cross-linked with toluylene diisocyanate,JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 12 2005Smitha Biduru Abstract Membranes made from 84% deacetylated chitosan biopolymer were cross-linked by a novel method using 2,4-toluylene diisocyanate (TDI) and tested for the separation of t -butanol/water mixtures by pervaporation. The unmodified and cross-linked membranes were characterized by Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies and sorption studies in order to understand the polymer,liquid interactions and separation mechanisms. Thermal stability was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) while tensile strength measurement was carried out to assess mechanical strength. The membrane appears to have good potential for breaking the aqueous azeotrope of 88.2 wt% t -butanol by giving a high selectivity of 620 and substantial water flux (0.38 kg m,2 hr,1). The effects of operating parameters such as feed composition, membrane thickness and permeate pressure on membrane performance were evaluated. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY AND CHEMICAL CONSTITUTIONS OF OLEA EUROPAEA L. LEAF EXTRACTSJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 3 2010MIHRIBAN KORUKLUOGLU ABSTRACT The in vitro antimicrobial activity of aqueous, acetone, diethyl ether and ethyl alcohol extracts of olive leaves (Olea europaea L.) was studied. The aqueous extract of olive leaves had no antibacterial effect against the test microorganisms, whereas acetone extract showed inhibitory effect on Salmonella enteritidis, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activities of some phenolic compounds against microorganisms were tested. The most effective compound was found to be oleuropein while syringic acid was found ineffective. The characterization of phenolic compounds in different extracts determined by high performance liquid chromatography-air pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry detector (HPLC-APCI-MSD GC-MS) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The acetone and the ethyl alcohol extracts had the most and the least oleuropein content, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS In recent years the extracts of many plant species have become popular, and attempts to characterize their bioactive principles have gained speed for many pharmaceutical and food-processing applications. Especially, antimicrobial properties of plants have revived as a consequence of current problems associated with the use of chemical preservatives. Because of consumers' negative perspectives of synthetic preservatives, attention is shifting toward natural alternatives. The findings suggest that olive leaf extracts and their phenolic compounds have good potential as antibacterial substances in food preservation as they may be more acceptable to consumers and the regulatory agencies in comparison with synthetic chemical compounds. [source] Hydrogen Peroxide and Calcium Chloride Added to Irrigation Water as a Strategy to Reduce Bacterial Populations and Improve Quality of Fresh MushroomsJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2005Naveen Chikthimmah ABSTRACT The quality and value of fresh mushrooms are often diminished by the presence of high bacterial populations that cause a brown, blotchy appearance. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the addition of hydrogen peroxide and/or calcium chloride to irrigation water as a means to reduce total bacterial populations on fresh mushrooms. Crops were grown using commercial mushroom growing practices except for the addition of 0.75% hydrogen peroxide and/or 0.3% calcium chloride irrigation water added to the crop starting 11 d after the casing layer was applied on top of mushroom compost. Irrigation water without the added treatments acted as the control. Mushrooms were aseptically sampled from the production beds for enumerating bacterial counts. Total aerobic bacterial populations were determined by standard microbiological plating procedures. Mushroom whiteness (L -value) and color (delta E) after harvest and postharvest storage were measured using a Minolta chromameter. Harvested mushrooms were separated by treatment and weighed to record yield. Mushrooms irrigated with water (control) had 7.3 log colony-forming units (CFU) of aerobic bacterial populations per gram of fresh mushroom tissue. Compared with the control, irrigation with 0.75% hydrogen peroxide and 0.3% calcium chloride reduced the bacterial populations on fresh mushrooms by 87% (6.4 log CFU/g). Irrigation with hydrogen peroxide and calcium chloride significantly enhanced mushroom whiteness after harvest as well as after 6 d of postharvest storage at 12 °C. The irrigation treatments did not have a significant effect on crop yields; hence, the addition of hydrogen peroxide and calcium chloride to irrigation water was demonstrated to have good potential as a practical strategy to reduce bacterial populations and to improve the quality of fresh mushrooms. [source] A Noncontact Ultrasound Approach for Mechanical Property Determination of CheesesJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 7 2003B.-K. Cho ABSTRACT: Noncontact ultrasound parameters, such as velocity and attenuation coefficient, were directly measured using air instability compensation transducers and correlated with Young's modulus, hardness, and toughness of different types of cheeses. Ultrasound velocity was highly correlated with the mechanical properties of cheeses whereas no significant relationship between the ultrasound energy attenuation coefficient and the mechanical properties were shown. The noncontact ultrasound technique demonstrated excellent performance for thickness measurement of cheeses with an accuracy of 99.98% (standard error = 0.089 mm). Results indicated that noncontact air instability compensation ultrasound technique has a good potential for nondestructive and accurate measurement of ultrasound parameters, thickness, and mechanical properties of food materials. [source] SOURCE ROCK EVALUATION AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF CONDENSATES AND NATURAL GASES, OFFSHORE NILE DELTA, EGYPTJOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 2 2003L. M. Sharaf Geochemical analyses of mudstones from wells in the NE offshore Nile Delta suggest that the Early Miocene Qantara Formation has "good" potential to generate hydrocarbons at the studied locations. Its generating capability and oil-proneness increase northwards, towards areas where better organic-matter preservation and a greater contribution from marine source material can be expected. By contrast, the Middle Miocene Sidi Salem Formation has "poor to fair" potential to generate mixed gas and oil, while the overlying Wakar and Kafr El Sheikh Formations have "poor" capability to generate gas with minor oil. Based on pyrolysis Tmax and thermal alteration index assessments, the Wakar and Kafr El Sheikh Formations are immature in the study area. The Sidi Salem and Qantara Formations are immature in the southern part of the study area, but are within the oil window in the north, around well Temsah-4. Biomarker distributions based on GC-MS analyses of two condensate samples from the Wakar and Sidi Salem Formations indicate that hydrocarbons are derived from siliciclastic source rocks containing significant terrestrial material and limited marine organic matter. The condensates were generated during early maturation of Type III kerogen from deeper and more mature source rocks than those encountered in the drilled wells. Geochemical and isotopic data from natural gas produced from the Kafr El Sheikh Formation suggest mixed biogenic and thermogenic sources. [source] Visualizing feature evolution of large-scale software based on problem and modification report dataJOURNAL OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND EVOLUTION: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, Issue 6 2004Michael Fischer Abstract Gaining higher-level evolutionary information about large software systems is a key challenge in dealing with increasing complexity and architectural deterioration. Modification reports and problem reports (PRs) taken from systems such as the concurrent versions system (CVS) and Bugzilla contain an overwhelming amount of information about the reasons and effects of particular changes. Such reports can be analyzed to provide a clearer picture about the problems concerning a particular feature or a set of features. Hidden dependencies of structurally unrelated but over time logically coupled files exhibit a good potential to illustrate feature evolution and possible architectural deterioration. In this paper, we describe the visualization of feature evolution by taking advantage of this logical coupling introduced by changes required to fix a reported problem. We compute the proximity of PRs by applying a standard technique called multidimensional scaling (MDS). The visualization of these data enables us to depict feature evolution by projecting PR dependence onto (a) feature-connected files and (b) the project directory structure of the software system. These two different views show how PRs, features and the directory tree structure relate. As a result, our approach uncovers hidden dependencies between features and presents them in an easy-to-assess visual form. A visualization of interwoven features can indicate locations of design erosion in the architectural evolution of a software system. As a case study, we used Mozilla and its CVS and Bugzilla data to show the applicability and effectiveness of our approach. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Rainfall-Runoff Model for Typhoons Making Landfall in Taiwan,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 4 2007Ray-Shyan Wu Abstract:, In this study, we examine a physical raster-based distributed-parameter flood simulation model combining one-dimensional (1D) channel flow and two-dimensional (2D) overland flow. Continuity equations based on the water budget concept and momentum equations based on Manning's formula are included. The Shihmen reservoir watershed, situated in northern Taiwan, is selected as the study site, and data regarding the passage of Typhoons Xangsane [2000] and Nari [2001] are utilized to test the model. Comparative analysis shows that the description of the riverbed obtained by the gradient method is superior to that obtained by the GIS approach. This study suggests the Thiessen polygon method to interpolate spatial precipitation. The best calibrations are obtained at a spatial resolution of 160 m × 160 m, with a simulated time step of less than 5 s. The case study indicates that the proposed model has a good potential for inflow description, but does not accurately simulate the inflow amount. The proposed model is a flash reacting event-based watershed model. To improve simulation accuracy, a good infiltration model and soil moisture model are needed, and their formulation could be our next task. [source] Comparison of in vitro starch digestibility methods for predicting the glycaemic index of grain foodsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 4 2008Kirsty A Germaine Abstract BACKGROUND:In vitro starch digestibility tests are useful for the prediction of glycaemic index (GI). However, there are no internationally recognised methods and no one method has been found to be suitable for all food types. This study compared six in vitro methods, using four grain foods, including those with a varied particle size and soluble fibre content. Method variations included using chewing or mincing, mincing with or without amylase and incubation in a restricted versus non-restricted system. Hydrolysis index (HI) values, calculated from the starch digestibility curves and GI prediction equations were used to compare the in vitro results to GI. RESULTS: HI values for five of the six methods ranked all foods in the same order as the GI values. Using a GI prediction equation (predicted GIHI) the mincing (without amylase) non-restricted method had the smallest standard error of prediction between the predicted GIHI and GI values. This method was then validated using 14 grain foods and demonstrated a significant correlation (r = 0.93, P < 0.01) between the in vitro starch digestibility and reported GI responses. CONCLUSIONS: The non-restricted mincing method showed good potential as a new in vitro starch digestibility method for predicting GI in grain foods. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Comparison of two plant functional approaches to evaluate natural restoration along an old-field , deciduous forest chronosequenceJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009Isabelle Aubin Abstract Question: Are direct and indirect trait-based approaches similar in their usefulness to synthesize species responses to successional stages? Location: Northern hardwood forests, Québec, Canada (45°01,,45°08,N; 73°58,,74°21,W). Methods: Two different trait-based approaches were used to relate plant functional traits to succession on an old-field , deciduous forest chronosequence: (i) a frequently used approach based on co-occurrence of traits (emergent groups), and (ii) a new version of a direct functional approach at the trait level (the fourth-corner method). Additionally, we selected two different cut-off levels for the herb subset of the emergent group classification in order to test its robustness and ecological relevance. Results: Clear patterns of trait associations with stand developmental stages emerged from both the emergent group and the direct approach at the trait level. However, the emergent group classification was found to hide some trait-level differences such as a shift in seed size, light requirement and plant form along the chronosequence. Contrasting results were obtained for the seven or nine group classification of the herbaceous subset, illustrating how critical is the number of groups for emergent group classification. Conclusion: The simultaneous use of two different trait-based approaches provided a robust and comprehensive characterization of vegetation responses in the old-field , deciduous forest chronosequence. It also underlines the different goals as well as the limitations and benefits of these two approaches. Both approaches indicated that abandoned pastures of the northern hardwood biome have good potential for natural recovery. Conversion of these lands to other functions may lead to irremediable loss of biodiversity. [source] Study of synthesised ecofriendly and biodegradable esters: fire resistance and lubricating propertiesLUBRICATION SCIENCE, Issue 3 2010Ponnekanti Nagendramma Abstract Biodegradable esters have been synthesised using Polyols such as 2-methyl-2-n-propyl 1,3-propane diol, 2,2-di methyl 1,3-propane diol, 1,1,1-[tris] hydroxyl methyl propane, 1,1,1-[tris] hydroxyl methyl ethane and carboxylic acids (C6-C12) both pure and their mixtures with indigenous ion exchange resin (Indion-130) catalyst. The products were characterised for their physico-chemical properties and were evaluated for their lubrication performance. These were then compared with VG-22 grade fire resistant hydraulic fluids (FRHFs). The products were found to have good potential for use as a base stock for formulations as FRHF of VG-22 grade. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Synthesis of Folic Acid Functionalized PLLA- b -PPEGMA Nanoparticles for Cancer Cell TargetingMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 8 2009Feixiong Hu Abstract Poly(L -lactic acid)- block -poly(poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate) (PLLA- b -PPEGMA) has been prepared by the ring-opening polymerization of lactide with a double-headed initiator, 2-hydroxyethyl 2,-methyl-2,-bromopropionate (HMBP), followed by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethacrylate (PEGMA). PLLA- b -PPEGMA nanoparticles with encapsulated Fe3O4 are prepared by a solvent evaporation/extraction technique, and then further functionalized with folic acid, a cancer targeting ligand. Our results show that such functionalized PLLA- b -PPEGMA nanoparticles have good potential as carriers for targeted drug delivery in cancer treatment. [source] Plukenetia huayllabambana sp. nov. (Euphorbiaceae) from the upper Amazon of PeruNORDIC JOURNAL OF BOTANY, Issue 4 2009Rainer W. Bussmann A new species of Plukenetia from the Peruvian Department of Amazonas is described. Plukenetia huayllabambana R. W. Bussmann, C. Téllez & A. Glenn sp. nov. seems to be endemic to rocky patches in the cloud forest region of Mendoza. The species is similar to Plukenetia volubilis L., a species widely known from the Caribbean and Latin America, and Plukenetia stipellata L. J. Gillespie, which is only known from Central America. Both of these species occur only up to about 1200,m a.s.l., while Plukenetia huayllabambana has only been found above 1300,m a.s.l. The new species distinctly differs in its small number of stamens, stylar column length, and very large fruits and seeds. In Peru, Plukenetia spp. are widely known as ,Sacha Inchi' (forest Peanut), and Plukenetia huayllabambana could have a good potential to become an income source for the local communities. [source] Potential of resveratrol in anticancer and anti-inflammatory therapyNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 8 2008Chibuike C Udenigwe Phytochemicals present in food have shown significant prospects in the treatment and management of a vast array of human diseases. Resveratrol is a stilbene-type aromatic phytoalexin predominantly found in grapes, peanuts, berries, turmeric, and other food products. Resveratrol has been reported to exhibit several physiological activities including anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in experimental animal models, as well as in humans. Anticancer activity of this compound is mainly due to induction of apoptosis via several pathways, as well as alteration of gene expressions, all leading to a decrease in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. Resveratrol exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through modulation of enzymes and pathways that produce mediators of inflammation and also induction of programmed cell death in activated immune cells. Resveratrol has been shown to produce no adverse effects, even when consumed at high concentrations. Hence, resveratrol possesses good potential to be used as an adjunctive or alternative therapy for cancer and inflammatory diseases. [source] QTL analysis of crown rust resistance in perennial ryegrass under conditions of natural and artificial infectionPLANT BREEDING, Issue 4 2007B. Schejbel Abstract Crown rust is an economically devastating disease of perennial ryegrass. Both artificial crown rust inoculations, with the possibility of several selection cycles in one year, as well as marker-assisted selection can be used for more efficient breeding of new resistant cultivars. The objective of this study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for response to crown rust infection in perennial ryegrass. In order to identify relevant markers for response to crown rust infection, QTL mapping was performed on a ryegrass mapping population which was evaluated for resistance in the field for two years as well as by artificial pathogen inoculations using a detached leaf assessment. The broad sense heritability values for the field, detached leaf and combined assays were 0.42, 0.56, and 0.64, respectively, indicating a good potential for selection for crown rust resistance. A total of six QTLs were identified and mapped to linkage groups (LG) LG1, LG4 and LG5, explaining between 6.8% and 16.4% of the total phenotypic variation. [source] Molecular cytogenetic analysis of a durum wheat ×Thinopyrum distichum hybrid used as a new source of resistance to Fusarium head blight in the greenhousePLANT BREEDING, Issue 5 2001Q. Chen Abstract Fusarium head blight (FHB, scab), caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, is a serious and damaging disease of wheat. Although some hexaploid wheat lines express a good level of resistance to FHB, the resistance available in hexaploid wheat has not yet been transferred to durum wheat. A germplasm collection of Triticum durum× alien hybrid lines was tested as a potential source of resistance to FHB under controlled conditions. Their FHB reaction was evaluated in three tests against conidial suspensions of three strains of F. graminearum at the flowering stage. Two T. durum×Thinopyrum distichum hybrid lines, ,AFR4' and ,AFR5,, expressed a significantly higher level of resistance to the spread of FHB than other durum-alien hybrid lines and a resistant common wheat line ,Nyu-Bay'. Genomic in situ hybridization using total genomic DNA from alien grass species demonstrated that ,AFR5' had 13 or 14 alien genome chromosomes plus 27 or 28 wheat chromosomes, while ,AFR4' had 22 alien genome and 28 wheat chromosomes. All of the alien chromosomes present in these two lines belonged to the J genome. ,AFR5' is likely to be more useful as a source of FHB resistance than ,AFR4' because of its relatively normal meiotic behaviour, high fertility and fewer number of alien chromosomes. ,AFR5' shows good potential as a source for transferring FHB resistance gene into wheat. The development of T. durum addition lines carrying resistance genes from ,AFR5' is underway. [source] A Special Orogenic-type Rare Earth Element Deposit in Maoniuping, Sichuan, China: Geology and GeochemistryRESOURCE GEOLOGY, Issue 3 2001Denghong WANG Abstract: The Maoniuping REE deposit is the second largest light rare earth elements deposit in China, explored recently in the northern Jinpingshan Mountains, a Cenozoic intracontinental orogenic belt in southwestern China. It is a vein-type deposit hosted within, and genetically related to, carbonatite-alkalic complex. Field investigation and new geochemical data of the carbonatites from the carbonatite-alkalic complex support an igneous origin for the Maoniuping carbonatites and related REE mineralization. Carbonatite itself carries rare earth elements which were enriched by hydrothermal solution. It is known that most of the REE deposits related to carbonatite-alkalic complexes were formed in relatively stable tectonic setting such as cratonic or rifting environment. The Maoniuping deposit, however, was formed during the processes of Cenozoic orogeny. Although the Maoniuping deposit is located in the north sector of the Panxi paleo-rift zone, the rift had been closed before early Cenozoic and evolved into an intracontinental orogenic belt, i.e., the Jinpingshan Orogen, which was formed since later Mesozoic to early Cenozoic. Geochronological and geochemical data also prove that the Maoniuping REE deposit was formed in an intracontinental orogenic belt instead of rift system or stationary block. The Maoniuping REE deposit is similar to the Mountain Pass REE deposit in many respects such as the high contents of bastnaesite and barite, the low content of niobium, and the common occurrence of sulfides. The discovery of the Maoniuping deposit and other REE deposits during the past two decades suggest a good potential for prospecting REE deposits along the alkalic complex belt located on the eastern side of the Qinghai,Xizang,West Sichuan Plateau. [source] Properties of Some Alkyl Substituted Phthalocyanines and Related MacrocyclesTHE CHEMICAL RECORD, Issue 4 2002Michael J. Cook Abstract This report provides an account of research undertaken at the University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, into phthalocyanine derivatives substituted at six or more of the nonperipheral sites by alkyl groups. When first prepared they were only the second series of substituted phthalocyanines known to exhibit columnar liquid crystal behaviour. The compounds also form structured films by the spin-coating technique, a formulation with potential for FET devices. The zinc metallated derivatives are photosensitisers of singlet oxygen and show good potential for applications in photodynamic therapy. A mixed cyclotetramerisation of a 3,6-dialkylphthalonitrile with a second aromatic dinitrile forms so-called 3,:,1 phthalocyanines in which three of the benzenoid rings are substituted with two alkyl groups and the fourth is substituted differently. Appropriate substituents provide amphiphilic compounds that form well-ordered films by the Langmuir-Blodgett method and self-assembly techniques. Characterisation of the films using a variety of methods is discussed and applications described. Examples of 3,:,1 phthalocyanine-like macrocycles in which one of the benzenoid rings is replaced by a heterocycle extend the range of properties exhibited. These include broadband absorption in the near infrared and, in particular cases, edge-to-face dimerisation through coordination of a pyridine nitrogen to a zinc centre in a second macrocycle. The potential for using suitably functionalised 3,:,1 phthalocyanines as building blocks for more complex structures such as liquid crystalline main-chain polymeric phthalocyanines and phthalocyanino-dehydroannulenes is described. © 2002 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Chem Rec 2: 225,236, 2002: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.10028 [source] Investigations on the digestibility and metabolizability of the major nutrients and energy of maize leaves and barnyard grass in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)AQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 3 2010E.B. DONGMEZA Abstract In the uplands of northern Vietnam, culture of grass carp contributes significantly to income and household food security of Black Thai farmers. Maize is one of the most important upland crops and barnyard grass is the most important weed in the paddy rice fields. Thus, these are frequently used by small-scale fish farmers as fish feed. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted simultaneously in a recirculation and in a respirometric system to determine the digestibility and metabolizability of the nutrients of maize leaves and barnyard grass, to assess their crude protein, lipid and energy conversion and to estimate the energy allocation in grass carp. The following diets were used: diet ,A' (reference diet) containing 39% crude protein with 19.8 MJ kg,1 gross energy; diets ,B', ,C' and ,D', which contained the same amount of the reference diet as the control diet, supplemented with a known amount of dried barnyard grass, dried maize leaves or fresh maize leaves, respectively. Five fish were assigned to each treatment in each experimental unit. Reference and test diets were fed to fish and faecal samples were collected and the oxygen consumption was measured in order to set up an energy budget of the fish over the whole experimental period. The weekly development of the body weight was recorded. The body weight gain of the fish fed diet D was significantly higher than that of the group fed diet A, which also in turn was significantly higher than that of fish fed diet B or C. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of nutrients and gross energy for the different experimental diets in fish kept in the aquaria were, for diets A, B, C and D respectively, 94.1%, 60.9%, 70.5% and 84.7% for protein, 91.3%, 60.7%, 76.8% and 71.8% for lipid; 95.9%, 44.5%, 60.6% and 69.1% for gross energy. The partial ADC of plant leaf ingredients were determined and barnyard grass and dried maize leaves were found to be not only poorly digestible but having negative impact on the digestibility of the reference diet, while fresh maize leaves were well digested. The results of the present study indicated that fresh maize leaves have a good potential to be used as supplement in diets for grass carp. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||