Dry reforming of methane with CO2 on an electron-activated iron catalytic bed

A preliminary experimental investigation of dry reforming of methane with carbon dioxide, that has been performed on an iron bed activated with an electric current is reported. Operating conditions for the reaction included temperature ranging from 700 to 800° C and pressure close to 1 atm. The reaction, involving an excess of pure methane and carbon dioxide, was performed with and without addition of water vapour, provided by hot water saturation of the gaseous feed. According to syngas compositions, the electron flow has a dramatic effect on the conversion of both methane and carbon dioxide. It was shown also that hot water saturation of the CO(2) and CH(4) mixture allowed very good conversion, giving a syngas with a composition very close to what was expected from equilibrium calculations.     

Antiviral activity in vitro of two preparations of the herbal medicinal product Sinupret? against viruses causing respiratory infections

Sinupret(?), a herbal medicinal product made from Gentian root, Primula flower, Elder flower, Sorrel herb, and Verbena herb is frequently used in the treatment of acute and chronic rhinosinusitis and respiratory viral infections such as common cold. To date little is known about its potential antiviral activity. Therefore experiments have been performed to measure the antiviral activity of Sinupret(?) oral drops (hereinafter referred to as "oral drops") and Sinupret(?) dry extract (hereinafter referred to as "dry extract"), in vitro against a broad panel of both enveloped and non-enveloped human pathogenic RNA and DNA viruses known to cause infections of the upper respiratory tract: influenza A, Chile 1/83 (H1N1) virus (FluA), Porcine Influenza A/California/07/2009 (H1N1) virus (pFluA), parainfluenza type 3 virus (Para 3), respiratory syncytial virus, strain Long (RSV), human rhinovirus B subtype 14 (HRV 14), coxsackievirus subtype A9 (CA9), and adenovirus C subtype 5 (Adeno 5). Concentration-dependent antiviral activity (EC(50) between 13.8 and 124.8 μg/ml) of Sinupret(?) was observed against RNA as well as DNA viruses independent of a viral envelope. Remarkable antiviral activity was shown against Adeno 5, HRV 14 and RSV in which dry extract was significantly superior to oral drops. This could be ascertained with different assays as plaque-reduction assays in plaque forming units (PFU), the analyses of a cytopathogenic effect (CPE) and with enzyme immunoassays (ELISA) to determine the amount of newly synthesised virus. Our results demonstrate that Sinupret(?) shows a broad spectrum of antiviral activity in vitro against viruses commonly known to cause respiratory infections.     

On the botanic model of plant growth with intermediate vegetative-reproductive stage

The application of dynamic optimization to mathematical models of ontogenic biological growth has been the subject of much research [see e.g. . J. Theor. Biol. 33, 299-307]. Koz?owsky and Zió?ko [1988. Thor. Popul. Biol. 34, 118-129] and Zió?ko and Koz?owski [1995. IEEE Trans. Automat. Contr. 40(10), 1779-1783] presented a model with gradual transition from vegetative to reproductive growth. The central point of their model is a mixed state-control constraint on the rate of reproductive growth, which leads to a mixed vegetative-reproductive growth period. Their model is modified here in order to take into account the difference of photosynthesis use efficiency when energy is accumulated in the vegetative and in the reproductive organs of a plant, respectively. The simple assumption on correlation between photosynthesis and temperature permits us to modify the model in a form that is useful for changing climate. Unfortunately, the mathematical solution of the optimal control problem in Koz?owsky and Zió?ko (1988) and Zió?ko and Koz?owski (1995) is incorrect. The strict mathematical solution is presented here, the numerical example from is solved, and the results are compared. The influence of the length of the season and the relative photosynthesis use efficiency, as well as of the potential sink demand of the reproductive organs, on the location and duration of the mixed vegetative-reproduction period of growth is investigated numerically. The results show that the mixed growth period is increased and shifted toward the end of the season when the lengths of the season is increased. Additional details of the sensitivity analysis are also presented.     

Dry granulation and compression of spray-dried plant extracts

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the influence of dry granulation parameters on granule and tablet properties of spray-dried extract (SDE) fromMaytenus ilicifolia, which is widely used in Brazil in the treatment of gastric disorders. The compressional behavior of the SDE and granules of the SDE was characterized by Heckel plots. The tablet properties of powders, granules, and formulations containing a high extract dose were compared. The SDE was blended with 2% magnesium stearate and 1% colloidal silicon dioxide and compacted to produce granules after slugging or roll compaction. The influences of the granulation process and the roll compaction force on the technological properties of the granules were studied. The flowability and density of spray-dried particles were improved after granulation. Tablets produced by direct compression of granules showed lower crushing strength than the ones obtained from nongranulated material. The compressional analysis by Heckel plots revealed that the SDE undergoes plastic deformation with a very low tendency to rearrangement at an early stage of compression. On the other hand, the granules showed an intensive rearrangement as a consequence of fragmentation and rebounding. However, when the compaction pressure was increased, the granules showed plastic deformation. The mean yield pressure values showed that both granulation techniques and the roll compaction force were able to reduce the material's ability to undergo plastic deformation. Finally, the tablet containing a high dose of granules showed a close dependence between crushing strength and the densification degree of the granules (ie, roll compaction force). Published: October 14, 2005     

AGFA Drystar 5500干式相机图像质量控制

在医院集中式DICOM医用打印系统中,一台高速DICOM打印机往往连接着多台DICOM主机。由于各主机对输出图像的质量要求不同,如何在打印机端适应主机的要求,控制打印图像质量,是得到令人满意的胶片输出的医用图像的关键。本文以AGFADrystar5500干式相机为例探讨该DICOM医用打印机的图像控制原理和方法,以及在临床上的实际应用。     

Biomass allocation in herbaceous plants under grazing impact in the high semi-arid Andes

Among the plant traits that affect performance, vitality and herbivore resistance in rangeland vegetation, biomass partitioning ranks top, commonly outweighing processes at single leaves (e.g., photosynthesis, respiration). We explored the allometry of a broad sample of herbaceous species from two high elevation sites in the Andes in order to explain biomass partitioning under harsh climatic conditions and risk of biomass losses under strong camelid grazing pressure. We combined data from NW-Argentina and W-Bolivia from elevations between 4200 and 4250 m in a landscape dominated by tall Festuca orthophylla tussocks and a drought driven seasonality (rainfall only between November and March). Across 10–20 taxa per region we found less investment in leaves with a mean leaf mass fraction of only 11% and instead a massive storage in below-ground compartments (rhizomes, tap roots), particularly at the colder Argentinean site. Though grazing pressure was much greater in Bolivia, the foliage mass fraction was there larger than in Argentina. The inter-tussock space in these open, dry plains (‘pajonal’) was dominated by rosette forming species with a below-ground shoot apex and massive tap roots (70% of all species), rendering these species less sensitive to grazing and trampling. The storage organs of these species represented more than 50% of total biomass. Llamas, which represented the main vertebrate herbivore in these open plains at the Bolivian site, preferred non tap-root herbs and species with low leaf nitrogen concentration. Palatable forbs for llamas (22% of all species at the Bolivian site) only survived when nested (facilitated) in the rigid, tall Festuca orthophylla tussocks or thorny shrubs. In conclusion, these extremely high elevation rangeland herbs invest preferentially in structures for persistence (K-strategy) rather than maximizing carbon gain.     

Electrophysiological identification of hygroreceptor neurons from the antennal dome-shaped sensilla in the ground beetle Pterostichus oblongopunctatus

This study gives the first electrophysiological evidence of hygroreceptors in carabids. Extracellular recordings from the antennal dome-shaped sensilla of the carabid beetle Pterostichus oblolongopunctatus (Coleoptera, Carabidae) clearly show the presence of moist and dry neuron antagonistically responding to humidity changes. The cold neuron of the same sensillum did not respond to changes in humidity. For the first time, we demonstrate that the binary system of two antagonistic hygroreceptor neurons discriminates differences between steady-state humidity levels more sensitively than either neuron separately. Another advantage of the binary system is that it guarantees immediate and strong phasic-tonic response to rapid humidity changes in either direction. In the hygrosensing system of carabids, this would allow detection of subtle step-changes in humidity with greater sensitivity than differences in steady-state values of humidity. Thus, construction of the hygrosensing system with opposing receptor neurons may allow insects to detect environmental humidity differences critical for their habitat and microhabitat selection, and survival with great precision.     

Identification key for European strand-forming house-rot fungi

An identification key for 20 common strand-forming indoor wood decay fungi is given. The key is based on observations of material from affected buildings and on wood samples that have been incubated in the laboratory. The key is with macro- and microscopic photographs.     

Longitudinal analysis of taurine induced effects on the tear proteome of contact lens wearers and dry eye patients using a RP-RP-Capillary-HPLC-MALDI TOF/TOF MS approach

Tear proteomic studies revealed distinct similarities between contact lens wearers and dry eye patients. AMO Complete® multipurpose contact lens cleaning solutions containing taurine seem to have a beneficial effect regarding contact lens induced dry eye. To illuminate the effect of taurine on the tear proteome of contact lens wearers and sicca patients we developed a gel-based RP-RP capillary HPLC–MALDI TOF/TOF MS strategy. Two contact lens wearer groups, one using eye drops containing 0.05% taurine; the other for control physiological NaCl solution were monitored. Also, a third group of sicca patients using taurine solution was studied (N = 4 individuals/group). Tear pools of each group at six time points over 5 weeks were analyzed. In summary 267 tear proteins were identified. We found a protein subset showing a linear taurine response with R² values ≥ 0.5. Taurine effects were detected predominantly in the contact lens group demonstrated by distinct level decreases. Most protein candidates were related to inflammation. Since levels of these proteins differentiate from those of a healthy non-contact lens wearer reference they are supposed to be involved in contact lens induced dry eye and should be focused on in further studies.     

山东省冬小麦干热风灾害预警模型研究

以30年的气象和产量数据为研究对象,对冬小麦成熟收获前16天的23个温度指标、23个空气相对湿度指标和16个风速指标与相对气象产量进行统计分析.通过相关分析确定不同生态区的干热风灾害风险因子,对不同生态区的风险因子和相对气象产量进行回归分析,构建冬小麦干热风灾害风险预警模型.结果表明:同类气象因子在不同生态区中的作用表现不同,模型因素构成以因子的互作为主,单因子的直接影响作用不突出.鲁西北和鲁中是干热风灾害的高危险区,鲁西南干热风灾害的危险最小.