CHEMICAL BASIS OF MIDDLE DISTILLATE FUEL INSTABILITY: Interactive Effects of Selected Nitrogen Heterocycles with Organic Bases in a Shale-Derived Diesel Fuel.

Fuel instability reactions are defined in terms of the formation of deleterious products such as filterable sediments and peroxides. Gravimetric stability tests have been carried out at 80^°C using two model nitrogen heterocycles: 2,5-dimethy1pyrrole, DMP, and 3-methylindole, 3-MI, in an otherwise stable shale derived middle distillate fuel. Potential interactive effects for these model nitrogen heterocycles have been described by the presence of organic base co-dopants. Organic bases employed included: tri-n-butylamine, N, N-dimethyl-aniline, and 4-dimethylaminopyridine. Simple organic amines exerted only minor interactive effects, usually an increase in filterable sediment in the range of 5-15%. However, the diamine species, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, interacted in a strong positive fashion to generate increased amounts, 22-44%, of sediment.     

Developmental changes in glucocorticoid receptor and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase oxidative and reductive activities in rat Leydig cells

Glucocorticoids directly regulate testosterone production in Leydig cells through a glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-mediated repression of the genes that encode testosterone biosynthetic enzymes. The extent of this action is determined by the numbers of GR within the Leydig cell, the intracellular concentration of glucocorticoid, and 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11betaHSD) activities that interconvert corticosterone (in the rat) and its biologically inert derivative, 11-dehydrocorticosterone. As glucocorticoid levels remain stable during pubertal development, GR numbers and 11betaHSD activities are the primary determinants of glucocorticoid action. Therefore, in the present study, levels of GR and 11betaHSD messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein were measured in rat Leydig cells at three stages of pubertal differentiation: mesenchymal-like progenitors (PLC) on day 21, immature Leydig cells (ILC) that secrete 5alpha-reduced androgens on day 35, and adult Leydig cells (ALC) that are fully capable of testosterone biosynthesis on day 90. Numbers of GR, measured by [3H]dexamethasone binding, in purified cells were 6.34 +/- 0.27 (x 10(3) sites/cell; mean +/- SE) for PLC, 30.45 +/- 0.74 for ILC, and 32.54 +/- 0.84 for ALC. Although GR binding was lower in PLC, steady state levels for GR mRNA were equivalent at all three stages (P > 0.05). Oxidative and reductive activities of 11betaHSD were measured by assaying the conversion of radiolabeled substrates in incubations of intact Leydig cells. Both oxidative and reductive activities were barely detectable in PLC, intermediate in ILC, and highest in ALC. The ratio of the two activities favored reduction in PLC and ILC and oxidation in ALC (oxidation/reduction, 0.33 +/- 0.33 for PLC, 0.43 +/- 0.05 for ILC, and 2.12 +/- 0.9 for ALC, with a ratio of 1 indicating equivalent rates for both activities). The mRNA and protein levels of type I 11betaHSD in Leydig cells changed in parallel with 11betaHSD reductive activity, which increased gradually during the transition from PLC to ALC, compared with the sharp rise that was seen in oxidative activity. We conclude that Leydig cells at all developmental stages have GR and that their ability to respond to glucocorticoid diminishes as net 11betaHSD activity switches from reduction to oxidation. This provides a mechanism for the Leydig cell to regulate its intracellular concentration of corticosterone, thereby varying its response to this steroid during pubertal development.     

Geotechnical field applications of AE/MS techniques at the Pennsylvania State University: a historical review

Since the early 1970s there has been an accelerating interest in the use of acoustic emission/microseismic (AE/MS) techniques for the laboratory and field investigation of geological materials and structures. Basic AE/MS research and the application of AE/MS techniques to a variety of geotechnical problems has been under way in the Penn State Rock Mechanics Laboratory since 1965. To date, studies have involved a wide variety of field topics, including: cavern stability, stability of natural gas storage reservoirs, strata control in longwall coal mines, rock bolt stability monitoring, effects of blasting, mine and tunnel roof stability, subsidence monitoring and rock slope stability evaluation. This paper reviews the development of AE/MS research at Penn State, describes briefly a number of the major field studies undertaken, and discusses on-going and future research programmes.     

Personal communications services

The history of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) examination of proposals to allocate radio frequency spectrum to a new and innovative range of services it calls personal communications services (PCS) is outlined. Personal communication networks (PCN), which will supply mobile two-way, mass-market communications services, the most advanced offering of the PCS area, and spectrum allocation for PCS are discussed. The results of a consumer market study of the potential for PCN services are also discussed     

Delaying transfer to the third day post-insemination, to select non-arrested embryos, increases development to the fetal heart stage

Voluntary food intake, digestibility and water turnover were determined in adult Malaysian lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus javanicus) given unlimited access to lundai foliage (Sapium baccatum). Daily dry matter (DM) intake was 42.4 g/kg metabolic live mass (M0.73) or 3.7% M. Digestible energy intake was 853 kJ/day (571 kJ metabolisable energy per M0.73), calculated to be used with 79% efficiency. Apparent digestibility (%) of organic matter was 83.8, crude fibre 63.7, acid detergent fibre 60.5, neutral detergent fibre 72.1 and crude protein 65.0. Urinary excretion of the purine derivative, allantoin, was 0.05 mg/g digestible DM intake suggesting rumen microbial yield efficiency may be lower than in other ruminant species. Total water intake was 182 ml/M0.82. The body-water content of the fed mouse-deer, from tritiated water dilution, was 77% M, consistent with a very lean carcass. Turnover of body water was 17% per day. The mouse-deer produced relatively dry, well-defined faecal pellets.     

500 mW coherent large aperture ring oscillators

A large aperture ring laser having a diffraction limited output measuring 0.2 degrees *0.2 degrees is described. The design uses angled incidence onto monolithic gratings for feedback and mode selectivity. Devices of this design have exhibited threshold current density less than 300 A/cm/sup 2/ and over 500 mW of single frequency output power.<>     

In-situ investigation of coupling between a fibre and a slab waveguide

The mode coupling between a fibre and a slab waveguide was experimentally investigated during the formation of the slab. A thin film has been deposited on a polished fibre close to the core-clad interface. By monitoring the optical transmittance of the fibre during the film deposition the coupling efficiency between the formed slab and the fibre has been studied as a function of the film thickness. Strong attenuation in the fibre output has been observed for thickness values at which the propagation constants of the optical mode in the fibre match those of the slab waveguide.<>