Improving Gas-Fired Heat Pump Capacity and Performance by Adding a Desiccant Dehumidification Subsystem

This paper examines the merits of coupling a desiccant dehumidification subsystem to a gas-engine- driven vapor compression air conditioner. A system is identified that uses a rotary, silica gel, parallel-plate dehumidifier. Dehumidifier data and analysis are based on recent tests. The dehumidification subsystem processes the fresh air portion and handles the latent portion of the load. Adding the desiccant subsystem increases the gas-based coefficient of performance 40% and increases the cooling capacity 50%. Increased initial manufacturing costs are estimated at around $500/ton ($142/kW) for volume production. This cost Level is expected to reduce the total initial cost per ton compared to a system without the desiccant subsystem

Improved Serological Techniques for the Detection and Identification of Groundnut Viruses

Serology is indispensable for the detection and identification of plant viruses. Recently, the highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM) techniques have been developed and may replace some of the conventional serological methods. The direct or standard double-antibody sandwich (DAS) form of ELISA. as first described by Clark and Adams (1977), has wide applications in plant virology. An indirect form of ELISA (I-ELISA) has recently been developed by Barbara and Clark (1982). The ISEM procedure developed by Derrick (1973) combines the specificity of serology with coventional electron microscopy. DAS-ELISA, I-ELISA and ISEM have been adapted for the detection and identification of several groundnut viruses. This paper will provide a description of each technique and its application for the detection and characterization of viruses occurring on groundnut in India

Isolation and characterization of a geminivirus causing yellow mosaic disease of horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.) in India.

Horsegram yellow mosaic disease was shown to be caused by a geminivirus; horsegram yellow mosaic virus (HYMV). The virus could not be transmitted by mechanical sap inoculation. Leaf dip and purified virus preparations showed geminate virus particles, measuring 15-18 * 30 nm. An antiserum for HYMV was produced and in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunosorbent electron microscopy (ISEM) tests HYMV was detected in leaf extracts of fieldinfected bambara groundnut, french bean, groundnut, limabean, mungbean, pigeonpea and soybean showing yellow mosaic symptoms. Bemisia tabaci fed on purified HYMV through a parafilm membrane transmitted the virus to all the hosts listed above but not to Ageratum conyzoides, okra, cassava, cowpea, Croton bonplandianus, Lab-lab purpureus, Malvastrum coromandalianum and tomato. No reaction was obtained in ELISA and ISEM tests between HYMV antibodies and extracts of plants diseased by whitefly-transmitted agents in India such as A. conyzoides yellow mosaic, okra yellow vein mosaic, C. bonplandianus, yellow vein mosaic, M. coromandalianum yellow vein mosaic, tomato leaf curl and cassava mosaic. HYMV was also not found to be related serologically to bean golden mosaic, virus

Overview of Vehicle Test and Analysis Results from NREL's A/C Fuel Use Reduction Research

This paper summarizes results of air-conditioning fuel use reduction technologies and techniques for light-duty vehicles evaluated over the last 10 years

Indian Peanut Clump Virus Isolates: Host Range, Symptomatology, Serological Relationships, and Some Physical Properties

The symptomatology of Indian peanut clump virus (IPCV) isolates collected from five different geographical locations, Bapatla (B), Chinnaganjam (C), Hyderabad (H), Ludhiana (L), and Talod (T), differed. B-IPCV and C-IPCV were indistinguishable by host range but could be distinguished from the other isolates by symptoms on Canavalia ensiformis, Nicotiana clevelandii × glutinosa, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Vigna unguiculata. B-IPCV, C-IPCV, and T-IPCV were related serologically, but could be distinguished from H-IPCV and L-IPCV isolates in serological tests. The five isolates could not be distinguished on the basis of particle size. Each isolate contained two RNA species of 1.90 × 106 and 1.65 × 106 Mr estimated under nondenaturing conditions and a single polypeptide of 24 × 103 Mr. Significance of these findings for the diagnosis of IPCV and for screening of peanut genotypes for resistance is discussed

Draft genome sequence of the plant-pathogenic soil fungus Rhizoctonia solani anastomosis group 3 strain Rhs1AP

The soil fungus Rhizoctonia solani is a pathogen of agricultural crops. Here, we report on the 51,705,945 bp draft consensus genome sequence of R. solani strain Rhs1AP. A comprehensive understanding of the heterokaryotic genome complexity and organization of R. solani may provide insight into the plant disease ecology and adaptive behavior of the fungus

Ocean Thermal Extractable Energy Visualization- Final Technical Report on Award DE-EE0002664. October 28, 2012

The Ocean Thermal Extractable Energy Visualization (OTEEV) project focuses on assessing the Maximum Practicably Extractable Energy (MPEE) from the world's ocean thermal resources. MPEE is defined as being sustainable and technically feasible, given today's state-of-the-art ocean energy technology. Under this project the OTEEV team developed a comprehensive Geospatial Information System (GIS) dataset and software tool, and used the tool to provide a meaningful assessment of MPEE from the global and domestic U.S. ocean thermal resources. The OTEEV project leverages existing NREL renewable energy GIS technologies and integrates extractable energy estimated from quality-controlled data and projected optimal achievable energy conversion rates. Input data are synthesized from a broad range of existing in-situ measurements and ground-truthed numerical models with temporal and spatial resolutions sufficient to reflect the local resource. Energy production rates are calculated for regions based on conversion rates estimated for current technology, local energy density of the resource, and sustainable resource extraction. Plant spacing and maximum production rates are then estimated based on a default plant size and transmission mechanisms. The resulting data are organized, displayed, and accessed using a multi-layered GIS mapping tool, http://maps.nrel.gov/mhk_atlas with a user-friendly graphical user interface

A Comprehensive Classification and Evolutionary Analysis of Plant Homeobox Genes

The full complement of homeobox transcription factor sequences, including genes and pseudogenes, was determined from the analysis of 10 complete genomes from flowering plants, moss, Selaginella, unicellular green algae, and red algae. Our exhaustive genome-wide searches resulted in the discovery in each class of a greater number of homeobox genes than previously reported. All homeobox genes can be unambiguously classified by sequence evolutionary analysis into 14 distinct classes also characterized by conserved intron–exon structure and by unique codomain architectures. We identified many new genes belonging to previously defined classes (HD-ZIP I to IV, BEL, KNOX, PLINC, WOX). Other newly identified genes allowed us to characterize PHD, DDT, NDX, and LD genes as members of four new evolutionary classes and to define two additional classes, which we named SAWADEE and PINTOX. Our comprehensive analysis allowed us to identify several newly characterized conserved motifs, including novel zinc finger motifs in SAWADEE and DDT. Members of the BEL and KNOX classes were found in Chlorobionta (green plants) and in Rhodophyta. We found representatives of the DDT, WOX, and PINTOX classes only in green plants, including unicellular green algae, moss, and vascular plants. All 14 homeobox gene classes were represented in flowering plants, Selaginella, and moss, suggesting that they had already differentiated in the last common ancestor of moss and vascular plants

Diversity, Phylogeny and Expression Patterns of Pou and Six Homeodomain Transcription Factors in Hydrozoan Jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi

Formation of all metazoan bodies is controlled by a group of selector genes including homeobox genes, highly conserved across the entire animal kingdom. The homeobox genes from Pou and Six classes are key members of the regulation cascades determining development of sensory organs, nervous system, gonads and muscles. Besides using common bilaterian models, more attention has recently been targeted at the identification and characterization of these genes within the basal metazoan phyla. Cnidaria as a diploblastic sister group to bilateria with simple and yet specialized organs are suitable models for studies on the sensory organ origin and the associated role of homeobox genes. In this work, Pou and Six homeobox genes, together with a broad range of other sensory-specific transcription factors, were identified in the transcriptome of hydrozoan jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbyi. Phylogenetic analyses of Pou and Six proteins revealed cnidarian-specific sequence motifs and contributed to the classification of individual factors. The majority of the Craspedacusta sowerbyi Pou and Six homeobox genes are predominantly expressed in statocysts, manubrium and nerve ring, the tissues with sensory and nervous activities. The described diversity and expression patterns of Pou and Six factors in hydrozoan jellyfish highlight their evolutionarily conserved functions. This study extends the knowledge of the cnidarian genome complexity and shows that the transcriptome of hydrozoan jellyfish is generally rich in homeodomain transcription factors employed in the regulation of sensory and nervous functions

Incisional hernia following colorectal cancer surgery according to suture technique: Hughes Abdominal Repair Randomized Trial (HART).

BACKGROUND: Incisional hernias cause morbidity and may require further surgery. HART (Hughes Abdominal Repair Trial) assessed the effect of an alternative suture method on the incidence of incisional hernia following colorectal cancer surgery. METHODS: A pragmatic multicentre single-blind RCT allocated patients undergoing midline incision for colorectal cancer to either Hughes closure (double far-near-near-far sutures of 1 nylon suture at 2-cm intervals along the fascia combined with conventional mass closure) or the surgeon's standard closure. The primary outcome was the incidence of incisional hernia at 1 year assessed by clinical examination. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. RESULTS: Between August 2014 and February 2018, 802 patients were randomized to either Hughes closure (401) or the standard mass closure group (401). At 1 year after surgery, 672 patients (83.7 per cent) were included in the primary outcome analysis; 50 of 339 patients (14.8 per cent) in the Hughes group and 57 of 333 (17.1 per cent) in the standard closure group had incisional hernia (OR 0.84, 95 per cent c.i. 0.55 to 1.27; P = 0.402). At 2 years, 78 patients (28.7 per cent) in the Hughes repair group and 84 (31.8 per cent) in the standard closure group had incisional hernia (OR 0.86, 0.59 to 1.25; P = 0.429). Adverse events were similar in the two groups, apart from the rate of surgical-site infection, which was higher in the Hughes group (13.2 versus 7.7 per cent; OR 1.82, 1.14 to 2.91; P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: The incidence of incisional hernia after colorectal cancer surgery is high. There was no statistical difference in incidence between Hughes closure and mass closure at 1 or 2 years. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN25616490 (http://www.controlled-trials.com)