Low Speed (low + speed)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Influence of temperature on hydrodynamic costs of morphological defences in zooplankton: experiments on models of Eubosmina (Cladocera)

FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
R. Lagergren
Abstract 1.,If swimming speed is correlated to fitness (e.g. by affecting food intake or the chance to evade predators) or considerable energy is expended in swimming, zooplankton wearing protruding structures (as predator defence) that significantly increase drag resistance must pay a cost for the better protection against predators that these traits imply. 2.,In an experiment with plastic models, the drag and energy consumption of swimming in two species of Eubosmina were examined. Eubosmina longispina has a typical Bosmina morphology with a low carapace and short antennule, whereas E. coregoni gibbera has a very high carapax and long antennule. 3.,At 5 °C, E. c. gibbera had 32,45% higher drag than E. longispina. At 20 °C, the difference is 20,45%. 4.,A mathematical model of swimming predicts that these differences in drag should result in 18,20 (at 5 °C) or 14,16 (at 20 °C) percentage lower speed for E. c. gibbera than for E. longispina if they use the same amount of energy in swimming. 5.,The relative difference in drag or swimming speed between the two species was highest at low Reynolds number (i.e. low speed or low temperature). These results show that hydrodynamic costs of extreme morphology may increase with decreasing temperature. 6.,The increased cost of morphological antipredator defence at low temperatures may be enlightening with regard to the role of temperature in the induction of cyclomorphic traits in zooplankton. This may be one explanation for why extreme forms of E. c. gibbera and some Daphnia are only found in the summer when water temperature is high. [source]


Recovery of Enterococcus faecalis after single- or multiple-visit root canal treatments carried out in infected teeth ex vivo

INTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 10 2005
N. Vivacqua-Gomes
Abstract Aim, To assess the presence of Enterococcus faecalis after root canal treatment in single or multiple visits in an ex vivo model. Methodology, Forty-five premolar teeth were infected ex vivo with E. faecalis for 60 days. The canals were then prepared using a crowndown technique with System GT and Gates,Glidden burs and irrigated with 2% chlorhexidine gel. The specimens were divided into five groups (G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5) according to the time elapsed between chemical,mechanical preparation and root canal filling, the irrigant solution used and the use or nonuse of a calcium hydroxide intra-canal medicament. The teeth were then root-filled and incubated for 60 days at 37 °C. Dentine chips were removed from the canal walls with sequential sterile round burs at low speed. The samples obtained with each bur were immediately collected in separate test tubes containing Brain,Heart Infusion broth. These samples were placed onto agar plates and colony forming units were counted after 24 h at 37 °C. Data were ranked and analysed using the Kruskal,Wallis statistical test. Results,Enterococcus faecalis was recovered from 20% (three of 15 specimens) of G1 (chlorhexidine irrigation and immediate root filling in a single visit), 25% (four of 15 specimens) of G2 (chlorhexidine irrigation and filling after 14 days use of a calcium hydroxide dressing in multiple visits), 40% (two of five specimens) of G3 (chlorhexidine irrigation and filling after 7 days), 60% (three of five specimens) of G4 (saline irrigation and filling after 7 days) and from 100% (five of five specimens) of G5 (saline irrigation and immediate filling without sealer). Conclusions, Neither single- nor multiple-visit root canal treatment ex vivo, eliminated E. faecalis completely from dentinal tubules. Up to 60 days after root filling, E. faecalis remained viable inside dentinal tubules. When no sealer was used, E. faecalis presented a higher growth rate. [source]


Prediction, potential and control of plume from wet cooling tower of commercial buildings in Hong Kong: A case study

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 8 2007
S. K. Tyagi
Abstract This paper presents a case study of the prediction, potential and control of plume in wet cooling towers from a huge commercial building in Hong Kong based on the weather data available for a particular year. The power input is found to be lower and the coefficient of performance (COP) moderate when all the 10 towers with low speed are in use, while it is found to be reverse when there are five towers, especially, three low and two high-speed towers are used. It is also found that the combined heating and cooling option can be a better approach than that of the heating option alone from the point of view of thermodynamics as well as from the point of view of economics. The COP of the chillers increases from 6.01 to 7.09 when the number of cooling towers increases from five to ten. On the other hand, the power consumption first decreases and then increases which is mainly due to the increment in the consumption of fan power from 270 to 900 kW for both options. The overall power consumption decreases slightly for the combined heating and cooling option, while in the heating option, the overall power consumption increases slightly. However, it is observed that a proper operation of cooling towers is an effective means to control and/or at least reduce the potential of visible plume generated by wet cooling towers at the existing chilling plant design for this particular building. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Spatial organization, group living and ecological correlates in low-density populations of Eurasian badgers, Meles meles

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
Eloy Revilla
Summary 1,Territoriality and group living are described in a low-density population of Eurasian badgers, Meles meles L., by studying the patterns of spatial grouping and territory marking, as well as the differences between individuals in some of their characteristics (body condition and dispersal) and in their space use (seasonally, periods of activity and interaction between pairs of individuals) under strong seasonal fluctuations in the availability of the key resource (young rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus L.). Finally, the role of the spatial distribution of the main prey (young rabbits) in the development of sociality was also studied in order to test some of the assumptions and predictions of the resource dispersion hypothesis (RDH). 2,Badgers were territorial, showing a flexible system of territory marking, which includes the marking of the most used areas (sett-latrines at the centres of activity) and additionally, at the smaller territories, a system of border-latrines in the areas of contact between territories. The maximum use of border-latrines was associated with the reproductive season, and that of sett-latrines with the season of food scarcity. 3,In the study area where badgers had rabbits as main prey, territories were occupied by small groups of animals, formed by one adult female who reproduced, one adult male who also showed signs of reproductive activity, the cubs of the year (if there was reproduction) and some animals born during previous years, which remained in their natal territory until their dispersal (normally during the mating season of their third or fourth year of life). This system was not strictly fixed as males, given the opportunity, expanded their territories to encompass additional females. Territories in another study site were occupied by one adult female (marked), plus the cubs of the year and another adult individual (unmarked). 4,In winter and spring dominant females and subordinates used only a small fraction of their territories, moved short distances, at a low speed and covering small areas per night. These seasons corresponded with the reproduction of rabbits (highest food availability). Dominant females were the only individuals using all the territory available in the summer (lowest food availability), when badgers had the worst body condition. Food availability increased again in autumn, as did body condition, while range sizes were again reduced. Dominant males used the same proportion of their territories over all seasons. However, in winter (reproductive season) they moved faster, over longer distances, and covered larger areas per period of activity. These results indicate that use of space by dominant males was affected by different factors from that of dominant females and subordinates. 5,RDH does not seem to explain group living in our populations because: (a) territoriality in each pair of primary animals was driven by different factors (trophic resources for females and females for males); (b) dominant males acted as expansionists; and (c) territory size was related to its richness and not to patch dispersion. 6,We propose an integrative hypothesis to explain not only group formation but also interpopulation variability in the social organization of badgers within ecological, demographic and behavioural constraints and in the light of current theory on delayed dispersal. [source]


Combination of a urease inhibitor and a plant essential oil to control coliform bacteria, odour production and ammonia loss from cattle waste

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
V.H. Varel
Abstract Aim:, To evaluate urea hydrolysis, volatile fatty acid (VFA) production (odour) and coliforms in cattle waste slurries after a urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and a plant oil component (thymol) were added. Methods and Results:, Faeces from cattle fed a diet of 70% corn silage and 30% alfalfa haylage, urine and distilled water in the ratio 50 : 35 : 15 were blended at high speed for 1 min. Triplicate aliquots of 750 ml were amended with NBPT plus or minus thymol and reblended for 1 min, and were poured into 1·6 l wide-mouth jars covered 90% with a lid. After 56 days, thymol (2000 mg kg,1 waste) in combination with NBPT (80 mg kg,1 waste) retained 5·2 g of an initial 9·2 g of urea in cattle waste slurries, compared with less than 1 g of urea retained when NBPT was the only additive (P < 0·05). Another experiment using excreta from cattle fed 76·25% high moisture corn, 19·25% corn silage and a 4·5% supplement, blended at a low speed, gave a similar response with urea hydrolysis; and the two treatments, thymol alone and thymol in combination with NBPT, reduced VFA production (P < 0·01) and eliminated all coliform bacteria by day 1. A third experiment indicated coliforms disappeared in the no addition treatment after 8 days; however, they were viable at 6·6 × 104 CFU g,1 waste beyond 35 days in the NBPT treatment. Conclusions:, Thymol supplements the effect of NBPT by increasing the inhibitory period for hydrolysis of urea in cattle waste slurries and nitrogen retention in the waste. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Thymol and NBPT offer the potential to reduce odour and pathogens in cattle manure, and increase the fertilizer value. [source]


Synthesis of sub-micrometer core,shell rubber particles with 1,2-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator and deformation mechanisms of modified polystyrene under various conditions

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 10 2009
Rujun Dai
Abstract BACKGROUND: Sub-micrometer core-shell polybutadiene- graft -polystyrene (PB- g -PS) copolymers with various ratios of polybutadiene (PB) core to polystyrene (PS) shell were synthesized by emulsion grafting polymerization with 1,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator. These graft copolymers were blended with PS to prepare PS/PB- g -PS with a rubber content of 20 wt%. The mechanical properties, morphologies of the core-shell rubber particles and deformation mechanisms under various conditions were investigated. RESULTS: Infrared spectroscopic analysis confirmed that PS could be grafted onto the PB rubber particles. The experimental results showed that a specimen with a ,cluster' dispersion state of rubber particles in the PS matrix displayed better mechanical properties. Transmission electron micrographs suggested that crazing only occurred from rubber particles and extended in a bridge-like manner to neighboring rubber particles parallel to the equatorial plane at a high speed for failure specimens, while the interaction between crazing and shear yielding stabilized the growing crazes at a low speed in tensile tests. CONCLUSION: AIBN can be used as an initiator in the graft polymerization of styrene onto PB. The dispersion of rubber particles in a ,cluster' state leads to better impact resistance. The deformation mechanism in impact tests was multi-crazing, and crazing and shear yielding absorbed the energy in tensile experiments. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source]


Self-Assembly of a Chiral Lipid Gelator Controlled by Solvent and Speed of Gelation

CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 38 2009
Pengchong Xue Dr.
Abstract Glutamine derivative 1 with two-photon absorbing units has been synthesized and was found to show gelation ability in some solvents. Its self-assembly in the gel phase could be controlled by the solvent and speed of gelation. For example, in DMSO the organogelator self-assembled into H-aggregates with weak exciton coupling between the aromatic moieties. On the other hand, in DMSO/diphenyl ether (1:9, v/v) the molecules formed 1D aggregates, but with strong exciton coupling due to the small distance between the chromophores. Moreover, the formation of these two kinds of aggregates could be adjusted by the ratio of DMSO to diphenyl ether. In DMSO/toluene, DMSO/butanol, DMSO/butyl acetate, and DMSO/acetic acid systems similar results were observed. Therefore, conversion of the packing model occurs irrespective of the nature of the solvent. Notably, a unique sign inversion in the CD spectra could be realized by controlling the speed of gelation in the DMSO/diphenyl ether (1:9, v/v) system. It was found that a low speed of gelation induces the gelator to adopt a packing model with strong ,,, interactions between the aromatic units. Moreover, the gels, when excited at 800,nm, emit strong green fluorescence and the quantum chemical calculations suggest that intramolecular charge transfer leads to two-photon absorption of the gelator molecule. [source]


Nitration of nitrobenzene at high-concentrations of sulfuric acid: Mass transfer and kinetic aspects

AICHE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010
M. Rahaman
Abstract This article reports studies on mass transfer and kinetics of nitration of nitrobenzene at high concentrations of sulfuric acid in a batch reactor at different temperatures. The effects of concentration of sulfuric acid, speed of stirring, and temperature on mass transfer coefficient were investigated. The kinetics of nitration under homogenized conditions was studied at different sulfuric acid concentrations at these temperatures. The reaction rate constants were determined. The variation of rate constant with sulfuric acid concentration was explained by the Mc function. The activation energies of the reactions were determined from the Arrhenius plots. The regimes of the reactions were determined using the values of the mass transfer coefficients and the reaction rate constants. A model was developed for simultaneous mass transfer and chemical reaction in the aqueous phase. The yields of the three isomers of dinitrobenzene were determined, and the variation of isomer distribution with sulfuric acid concentration and temperature was analyzed. This work demonstrates that more than 90% conversion of nitrobenzene is possible at high-sulfuric acid concentrations resulting in high yield of the product even at moderate temperatures and at low speeds of stirring. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010 [source]