A Simulator for the Motorola M6800 Microprocessor

The Motorola Company has developed a microprocessor called the M6800 Microprocessor. While the microprocessor is being configured, it is general practice to develop the software at the same time. This is where simulation of the proposed hardware operation can become very important to the success of the design effort. The simulator duplicates the microprocessor execution of machine language instructions on another computer. The simulator discussed in this paper is denoted the SIM6800. The purpose of this paper is to describe the structure, coding, and execution of the SIM6800 simulator. A User\u27s Guide and sample program have been included

Atmospheric transport and deposition of water -soluble nitrogen to the Gulf of Maine

An intensive sampling program was carried out from May 1994 through November 1997 on the shore of the Gulf of Maine in New Castle, New Hampshire. Daily (24 hour averages) samples of bulk aerosol and gas phase HNO3, precipitation, and 20 aerosol size distributions were obtained. Particulate NH4+ and gas phase HNO3 were the dominant water-soluble nitrogen species in the atmosphere. Nitrate was the dominant inorganic nitrogen ion in precipitation. These samples were used with 1000 hPa streamlines to classify sampled air masses according to their surface level transport and chemistry. Overall, mixed conditions occurred in 42% of the samples, continental species were dominant in 37%, and marine species were dominant in 21%. Rain occurred frequently under sea salt dominant conditions; about 47% of the days classified as such had rain events. Particulate NO3-- was associated with sea salt Na+ in the coarse aerosol fraction peaking at approximately 4 mum in diameter. Particulate NH4+ was associated with non-sea-salt-SO42--, with the bulk of the NH4+ present on particles in the 0.43--1.1 mum diameter range. The direct atmospheric deposition of water-soluble nitrogen to the surface waters of the Gulf of Maine was assessed. Wet deposition dominated dry deposition, contributing 80--90% of the total flux annually. The total atmospheric direct nitrogen (ADN) deposition numbers reported here do not include the contributions of fog and dissolved organic nitrogen as they were not regularly sampled during this study. Total ADN flux ranged from 1--4262 mumol N m--2 d--1 (median 23 mumol N m --2 d--1), depositing 52 mmol N m --2 yr--1 to the surface waters of the Gulf of Maine, 3% of the total N input to those waters annually. However, this deposition was highly episodic with events over 500 mumol N m--2 d--1 occurring in 8% of the days sampled, but contributing 56% of the total measured flux. Estimates of the episodic atmospheric nitrogen flux to the Gulf of Maine surface waters suggest large deposition events could be sufficient to support substantial chlorophyll a production

DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF CURCUMIN CONJUGATED POLY(BETA-AMINO ESTER) NETWORKS FOR CONTROLLED RELEASE IN OXIDATIVE STRESS ENVIRONMENTS

Oxidative stress, the imbalance of free radical generation with antioxidant defenses, leads to cellular inflammation, apoptosis and cell death. This compromised environment results in debilitating diseases, such as oral mucositis (OM), atherosclerosis, and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Antioxidant therapeutics has been a proposed strategy to ameliorate these imbalances and maintain homeostatic environments. However, the success of these approaches, specifically curcumin, has been limited due to characteristics such as hydrophobicity and high reactivity when released as bolus doses to contest to oxidative stress induced diseases. The development of a controlled release system to aid in protection of the antioxidant capacity of curcumin, as well as a tunable system to aid in proper rate of release for disease can overcome these limitations. Previously, the use of a poly(beta-amino ester) (PBAE) chemistry has been developed in Dziubla and Hilt laboratories to provide desirable properties. The dynamic mechanical analysis and efficacy in cellular protection has been studied, yet the sensitivity and responsiveness of these polymers to abnormal environments found within oxidative stress compromised environments are unknown. In this work, a series of networks were comprised of different molar ratios of modified acrylated curcumin, poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate, and a primary diamine crosslinker to create tunable hydrolytically degradable crosslinked hydrogels. I hypothesized a consumption rate difference of free curcumin and curcumin as a released product from the crosslinked network in the presence of a free radical generating system. After the consumption profiles of each were reported differently, the experimental data was translated into a kinetic rate model to identify quantitative consumption rate parameters of curcumin and active film degradation products. The effect on the released products arose the question of curcumin consumption in other oxidizing environments. These networks were then investigated in low concentrations of a hydrogen peroxide insult, and interestingly showed sensitivity to hydrolysis by recovering significantly more curcumin at an accelerated rate of release. Identifying the sensitivity of these tunable networks to environmental stimuli, they were then presented to a series of low pH environments, which significantly reduced the degradation time, finding a dependence of rate of release on the weight loading of curcumin present within the film. To translate these responsive materials to an application-based system, the curcumin conjugated PBAE polymers were investigated as an oral rinse drug delivery system for the treatment of radiation-induced OM in a hamster model. Radiation-induced OM onset and severity was reduced with a 20 wt% microparticle loaded mucoadhesive system that releases curcumin over 24 hours, providing promising results of a therapeutic effect from curcumin when incorporated in to a controlled release delivery system. Overall, curcumin conjugated PBAE polymers show selectivity of hydrolysis in abnormal environments related to oxidative stress. This information is beneficial to the proper design and loading of antioxidant therapeutics within crosslinked polymers, giving the ability to tune release to treat and deliver based on the environment’s insult. This can advance the potential use for antioxidant therapeutics in pharmaceutical applications in the future

Re-Establishing Food Retail in St. John, Kansas

Presenters lead a session that highlights a case study on developing a new grocery facility in a town of 1200 people. They describe what it took and the lessons learned, such as defining the size of the market; feasibility; and compensating when the market isn’t big enough to justify the investment they want from a public policy/town survival viewpoint. Some perspectives gained during the experience include conducting a market study; the value of a Citizen Committee; the real issue of population decline and job creation; how other businesses can be incorporated into the store (such as fuel, laundromat, liquor store, cell phone provider, etc.); the need for an experienced established operator; and what it takes to build a business and keep grocery stores going

Exploring the Role of Intrusive Advising in Community College Students’ Persistence

AbstractThe role of intrusive advising in the persistence of community college students has not been well-studied even though intrusive advising has been touted as a practice to improve retention in U.S. community colleges. Student retention is important for sustaining community colleges that serve as open admissions institutions because they are increasingly dependent on tuition revenue, especially in an era of reduced state and federal funding. Retaining students also helps improve the educational attainment in the geographic area the community college serves. The purpose of this basic qualitative inquiry was to explore the role of intrusive advising on retaining students. Bandura’s triadic reciprocal causation model and Tinto’s model of student integration were used to conceptually frame the study. The research questions guiding the basic qualitative inquiry focused on students’ experiences with intrusive advising and how intrusive advising influences students’ persistence in college. The study involved semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of eight student participants who had experience with intrusive advising. Inductive thematic analysis yield 10 axial categories and five themes: environmental experiences and support; internal and external factors; feeling valued as a student; growth; and, impact of intrusive advising. Discrepant cases were included in the results. The findings overall revealed that intrusive advising had a positive impact on students’ decision to persist. The results of study may effect social change by informing the practice of academic advising, informing advising policy, advancing the study of advising as teaching, and adding to the literature about intrusive advising as a practice to improve persistence among community college students

Intensified gasification of fuel cane bagasse for power production using solid oxide fuel cells

PhD ThesisGasification of fuel cane bagasse the waste residue from an energy crop known as Fuel Cane was carried out in an intensified 50 kWe air-blown downdraft gasifier. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of fuelling solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with the syngas generated during gasification of this feedstock. Optimal operation of the gasifier system was evaluated in terms of syngas heating value, syngas yield, equivalence ratio, stability of gasifier operating zones and cold gas efficiency. Mass balances were calculated to examine the reliability of the results generated. Contaminants in syngas were investigated to assess the possible impact of the syngas produced on the SOFC system. The effect of CaO as a primary measure and sulphonated PolyHIPE polymer (PHP) as a novel secondary treatment process on tar production and conversion during gasification were investigated. Optimal gasification occurred at an equivalence ratio of 0.26 producing syngas with a heating value of 5.7 ± 0.6 MJ Nm-3 and syngas yield of 3.2-3.9 Nm3 kg-1. The air/fuel ratio was 1.17 Nm3 kg-1 (dry basis), cold gas efficiency 77-85 % and mass balances closures ranged from 92-94 %. Increasing the moisture content in the lower oxidation zone increased H2 production generating a medium heating value syngas suitable for power, liquid fuels and chemicals production. Tar concentration in the syngas was 621 ± 11 mg Nm-3 of which Class 1 tars comprised 3 %, the remainder was dominated by Class 2 and 5 tars. In-bed 6 wt% CaO reduced the tar yield by 35 %, increased the syngas yield by 37 % and reduced the tar dew point to 30-32 oC whereas sulphonated PHP had no effect on syngas yield but reduced the tar yield by 77 % and the tar dew point to 72.6 oC. Chemical fractionation studies showed that 30 % of the K released to the syngas was ‗captured‘ by aluminosilicates in the feedstock and retained in the ash. Potassium, HCl and H2S concentrations in the gas phase were 371 ± 62 mg m-3, 27 ± 8 mg m-3 and 40 ± 7 ppmv respectively. It is evident therefore that syngas from fuel cane bagasse can be used to power SOFCs, however a high potential for fouling of the SOFC anodes exist. Therefore a combination of primary and secondary syngas treatment systems for removal of Class 1, 2 and 5 tars as well as alkali metal sorbents will be essential for commercial operation of fuel cane bagasse fuelled SOFCs.Government of Barbados &Barbados Light and Power Compan

Notes and tips for improving quality of lipid-protein overlay assays

To reduce costs of lipid-binding assays, allow for multiple lipids to be screened for protein binding simultaneously, and to make lipid binding more user friendly, lipids have been dotted onto membranes to investigate lipid-protein interactions. These assays are similar to a western blot where the membrane is blocked, incubated with a protein of interest and detected using antibodies. Although the assay is inexpensive and straightforward, problems with promiscuous or poor binding, as well as insufficient blocking occur frequently. In this technical note, we share several specific improvements to ensure lipid-protein overlay assays are of high quality and contain proper controls

A Comparison of 4-H and Other Youth Development Organizations in the Development of Life Skills

The article briefly describes the results of a study on the influence of 4-H and other youth development programs on the development of 36 life skills including critical thinking, goal setting, communication, decision-making and community service. Respondents (n=223) were high achieving 4-H alumni who participated it the Oklahoma 4-H Program between the years 1969 and 1998. Results suggest that while respondents credited 4-H with influencing the development of the majority of the identified life skills, other youth organizations were also identified as having some influence on the development in different life skills. Recommendations for 4-H programming are offered

It Takes a Village: Protecting Rural African American Youth in the Context of Racism

Prior research demonstrates negative consequences of racism, however, little is known about community, parenting, and intrapersonal mechanisms that protect youth. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study illuminated linkages between positive and negative contextual influences on rural African American adolescent outcomes. Quantitative results provide support for Structural Ecosystems Theory, in that the influence of discrimination and collective socialization on adolescent outcomes was mediated by racial socialization and positive parenting. Parenting and community influences contributed to adolescent racial identity and self image, which protected against common negative responses to racism; including academic underachievement, succumbing to peer pressure, and aggressive tendencies. Qualitative results indicate that current measures of discrimination may underestimate adolescents’ experiences. Adolescents reported racist experiences in the domains of school, peers, and with the police (males only). Moreover, qualitative findings echoed and expanded quantitative results with respect to the importance of the protective nature of parents and communities