Incorporation of 32PO4 directly taken-up into acid-soluble phosphates of Artemia salina

A study of the direct uptake by Artemia salina of phosphate ion from the medium and its incorporation into acid-soluble organic phosphorous compounds over a range of exposure time from 2 to 30 min, using ³²PO₄ ion, indicated that the phosphate ion was directly taken up and was rapidly incorporated into the energy-rich compounds, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), guanosine triphosphate (GTP), and adenosine diphosphate (ADP), which were separated by ion-exchange chromatography using Dowex-1, X2. Even after an exposure of 2 min, the sum of the radioactivity of nucleotide-fractions was 37.4% of that of the whole acid-soluble extract. The most rapid incorporation of ³²P occurred into ATP, followed by GTP and ADP. The amount of ³²P incorporated into each fraction increased with increased exposure, giving straight lines when the radioactivity of each fraction was plotted against the exposure time on a logarithmic scale. Almost no difference, however, was observed in the distribution rate of ³²P into each fraction at 2, 5, 10 and 30 min. These results show that inorganic phosphate absorbed by A. salina is rapidly incorporated into the energy-rich nucleotides, and that a dynamic equilibrium is established among various acid-soluble phosphorous compounds even after very short periods of time.     

Detonation characteristics of ammonium nitrate and activated carbon mixtures

To better understand the detonation characteristics of ammonium nitrate (AN) and activated carbon (AC) mixtures, steel tube tests were carried out for AN/AC mixtures of various compositions and different forms of AN (powdered, prilled, phase stabilized and granular), and the detonation velocity was measured. The powdered AN/AC mixtures gave higher detonation velocities than the other AN forms. For all the AN/AC mixtures, the experimentally observed detonation velocities at each loading density were far below the theoretically predicted values calculated by the CHEETAH code based on thermohydrodynamics, exhibiting so-called non-ideal detonation. The lowest detonation velocity of powdered AN/AC mixtures was obtained as D=1.25 km/s for an AC content of 0.1 wt%. This was considered to be close to the critical condition for stable detonation.     

Modeling of mercury sorption by activated carbon in a confined,a semi-fluidized,and a fluidized bed

A process model was developed to simulate elemental mercury sorption by activated carbon in three distinct beds, namely a confined, a semi-fluidized, and a fluidized bed. The model involved the coupling of a kinetic model based on the mechanisms of surface equilibrium and external mass transfer, and a material balance model based on the tank-in-series approach. For surface equilibrium, three different equilibrium laws were used in the model, namely the Henry's Law, the Langmuir isotherm and the Freundlich isotherm. Literature mercury sorption data were used to determine the best-fit values of parameters for these equilibrium expressions. The parameter-fitted model was then used to simulate mercury sorption processes in the three distinct beds. The simulation parameters were mercury concentration, gas flow rate, adsorption temperature and the degree of semi-fluidization. The simulation results have indicated that the model is capable of describing the literature available mercury sorption data. All the three surface equilibrium laws appear to simulate the adsorption profiles equally well mainly because the sorption process occurs in an extremely low concentration range. The simulation results for the three distinct beds have suggested that the confined bed has the best mercury control performance; however, it generates the highest pressure-drop across the bed. A fluidized bed creates the least pressure drop; however, its sorption performance is poor. A semi-fluidized bed offers acceptable performance with affordable pressure-drops and can be a practical candidate for the process.     

The first ceratopsian dinosaur from South Korea

In 2008, a new basal neoceratopsian was discovered in the Tando beds (Albian) of Tando Basin in South Korea. It represents the first ceratopsian dinosaur in the Korean peninsula and is assigned to Koreaceratops hwaseongensis gen. et sp. nov. Autapomorphies of Koreaceratops include very tall neural spines over five times higher than the associated centra in the distal caudals, and a unique astragalus divided into two fossae by a prominent craniocaudal ridge on the proximal surface. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that Koreaceratops is positioned between Archaeoceratops and all more derived neoceratopsians, and the elongation of caudal neural spines was an important derived character in non-ceratopsid neoceratopsians. The very tall caudal neural spines in Koreaceratops, Montanoceratops, Udanoceratops, Protoceratops, and Bagaceratops appear to be homoplasious, suggesting an independent adaptation, possibly for swimming. Skeletal evidence suggests that obligate quadrupedalism occurred gradually in neoceratopsians progressing from bipedal through facultative quadrupedalism, to complete quadrupedalism in Coronosauria.     

Statistical tools for analysing the data obtained from repeated dose toxicity studies with rodents: a comparison of the statistical tools used in Japan with that of used in other countries

In the present study, an attempt was made to compare the statistical tools used for analysing the data of repeated dose toxicity studies with rodents conducted in 45 countries, with that of Japan. The study revealed that there was no congruence among the countries in the use of statistical tools for analysing the data obtained from the above studies. For example, to analyse the data obtained from repeated dose toxicity studies with rodents, Scheffé's multiple range and Dunnett type (joint type Dunnett) tests are commonly used in Japan, but in other countries use of these statistical tools is not so common. However, statistical techniques used for testing the above data for homogeneity of variance and inter-group comparisons do not differ much between Japan and other countries. In Japan, the data are generally not tested for normality and the same is true with the most of the countries investigated. In the present investigation, out of 127 studies examined, data of only 6 studies were analysed for both homogeneity of variance and normal distribution. For examining homogeneity of variance, we propose Levene's test, since the commonly used Bartlett's test may show heterogeneity in variance in all the groups, if a slight heterogeneity in variance is seen any one of the groups. We suggest the data may be examined for both homogeneity of variance and normal distribution. For the data of the groups that do not show heterogeneity of variance, to find the significant difference among the groups, we recommend Dunnett's test, and for those show heterogeneity of variance, we recommend Steel's test.     

Shifting from apple to peach farming in Kazuno, northern Japan: perceptions of and responses to climatic and non-climatic impacts

Apple farmers in Kazuno, northern Japan, have started to grow peaches in the northernmost climatic region suitable for peach farming. Here, we investigate the process from the initial introduction of peach cultivation to its diffusion focusing on the farmers’ perceptions of climatic and non-climatic stimuli and their actions to respond to these stressors. Interviews with the farmers identified three distinct groups. Four farmers (Group 1) initiated the transition to peach production, which then spread to other farmers (Group 2) via personal connections. Later, after the provision of various means of support from the local government and the producers’ cooperative, many more apple farmers (Group 3) decided to begin peach production. Most farmers recognized the risk of damages to apple production as a result of typhoons and drought. However, only Group 1 farmers, who depend on direct sales to customers, mentioned these climate-related damages as a reason to shift toward peach cultivation in order to maintain their customers. The peach fruit was specifically chosen as a replacement for apple because it is less vulnerable to these climatic stressors. For Group 3 farmers, the financial losses associated with these climate-related events could be compensated for by insurance. Their decision to grow peach is largely due to its higher price and immunity against a specific disease which affects apples but they only shifted once institutional support was available, thereby reducing the risk in cultivating a new species. Our findings suggest that the role of institutions was not to drive the process of the adaptation itself but rather to provide relevant support to farmers to enable them to shift to new crop varieties more easily. We argue that such process-based understanding is crucial in formulating strategies to increase adaptive capacity in agriculture.     

Development of injury criteria for pelvic fracture in frontal crashes

OBJECTIVE: This article assesses the position-dependent injury tolerance of the hip in the frontal direction based on testing of eight postmortem human subjects. METHODS: For each subject, the left and right hemipelvis complex was axially loaded using a previously developed test configuration. Six positions were defined from a seated femur neutral condition, combining flexed, neutral, and extended femur positions with abducted, neutral, and adducted positions. RESULTS: Axial injury tolerances based on peak force were found to be 6,850 +/- 840 N in the extended, neutral position and 4,080 +/- 830 N in the flexed, neutral position. From the flexed neutral orientation, the peak axial force increased 18% for 20 degrees abduction and decreased 6% for 20 degrees adduction. From the extended, neutral orientation, the peak axial force decreased 4% for 20 degrees abduction and decreased 3% for 20 degrees adduction. However, as there is evidence that increases in loading may occur after the initiation of fracture, the magnitude of the peak force is likely related to the extent of injury, not to the initial tolerance. Using the axial femur force at the initiation of fracture (assessed with acoustic crack sensors) as a potentially more relevant indicator of injury may lower the existing injury criteria. This fracture initiation force varied by position from 3,010 +/- 560 N in the flexed, neutral position to 5,470 N in the extended, abducted position. Further, there was a large position-dependent variation in the ratio of fracture initiation force to the peak axial force. The initiation of fracture was 83% of the peak axial force in the extended, abducted position, but the ratio was 34% in the extended, adducted position. CONCLUSIONS: This may have significant implications for the development of pelvic injury criteria by automobile designers attempting to mitigate pelvis injuries.     

Influence of temperature on product distribution and biochar properties by municipal sludge pyrolysis

Biochar has the potential to amend degraded soil and improve crop yield. An experiment involving municipal sludge pyrolysis was carried out in a horizontal quartz reactor over the temperature range of 300–700 °C. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of pyrolysis temperature on product distribution and biochar properties required for agronomic applications. Results of the experiment showed that yield and energy conversion efficiency of biochar decreased as pyrolysis temperatures rose, while bio-oil and syngas increased gradually. Biochar aromaticity barely changed, while polarity gradually decreased and specific surface area increased with a rise in pyrolysis temperature. Nutritive elements showed different enriching characteristics in the sludge pyrolysis process: nitrogen failed to enrich in biochars, whereas both phosphorus and potassium were enriched. Heavy metals showed good stability in the pyrolysis process except chromium; the contents of all metals used in the biochar conformed to Chinese control standards for agronomic application.     

Impact of global warming on agricultural product markets: stochastic world food model analysis

Climatic change through global warming and drought is a major issue for agricultural production. Most researchers who discuss the effects of such changes on agriculture report estimated yield changes based on crop process models. However, studies focusing on the impact of climatic change on agricultural product markets are very rare. This paper examines the relationship between climatic change and world food markets, i.e., the supply and demand of crops, by using a stochastic version of a world food model, the International Food and Agricultural Policy Simulation Model. The results suggest that variations in the production of maize and soybeans in some major producing countries will be large, and variations in the producer prices of all crops will increase. Countries that suffer higher price risk because of high sensitivity to temperature fluctuations may need to consider changes in cropping patterns.     

苏州市生活垃圾两种处置方法的生命周期影响评价

采用生命周期评价的方法,比较了苏州市垃圾填埋和垃圾焚烧2种处置方法对环境的影响。研究的系统范围主要包括垃圾收集、垃圾运输、垃圾填埋或焚烧以及发电等几个部分。采用收集的垃圾组分数据,利用IPCC推荐的模型等,计算了垃圾填埋和垃圾焚烧时CO₂等气体污染物的排放量。根据对垃圾渗滤液的实测数据,计算了水污染物的排放量。环境影响评价采用日本开发的AIST-LCA Ver4计算机软件进行。计算结果表明：垃圾填埋的生态币值要大得多,可见垃圾焚烧对环境的影响比垃圾填埋的影响要小。所获得的结论较为客观地反映了对环境的影响,可以作为中国城市垃圾处置决策的参考依据。