Preliminary estimates of galactic cosmic ray exposures for manned interplanetary missions

Preliminary estimates of radiation exposures resulting from galactic cosmic rays are presented for interplanetary missions. The calculations use the Naval Research Laboratory cosmic ray transport code. The heavy ion portion of the transport code can be used with any number of layers of target material, consisting of up to five different constituents per layer. The nucleonic portion of the transport code can be used with any number of layers of target material of arbitrary composition except hydrogen. Calculated galactic cosmic ray particle fluxes, doses, and dose equivalents behind various thicknesses of aluminum shielding are presented for solar maximum and solar minimum periods

A diffuse soft X-ray spectrometer

A design for a diffuse X-ray spectrometer utilizing Bragg reflection is described. The geometry has a very high throughput for a given physical size and allows simultaneous observation at all wavelengths within its range. Spectral resolving power is about 35 to 50. A similar unit equipped with thallium acid pthallate crystals will cover the 11 - 24 A-range with about half this throughput and twice the resolving power

Spectroscopy of compact extragalactic X-ray sources

The X-ray spectra of compact extragalactic sources obtained from the HEAO-1 A-2 experiment and the solid-state spectrometer onboard HEAO-2 (the Einstein Observatory) are reviewed. Seyfert spectra are remarkably consistent with characteristic power-law spectra of energy index alpha = 0.7 + .1 over a dynamic range of almost 100 in both luminosity for the whole sample, and energy for individual members. Radio-quiet quasars have similar spectra, perhaps slightly steeper, for the limited sample available. New solid-state spectrometer results for NGC 4151 yield a consistent picture for the geometry of the broad-line clouds in both these related radio-quiet classes of galactic nuclei. Radio-loud objects, especially BL Lacs, are considerably more variable in spectrum as well as luminosity. Direct synchrotron and synchrotron-self-Compton components are consistent with what we observe from these objects. Finally, the role of spectroscopy in addressing the extent to which compact extragalactic nuclei might contribute to the diffuse X-ray background is discussed

A catalog of ideas for underground yield determination

Because of the persistent problem of convenient determination of underground yield, Certain `electromagnetically` oriented ideas in this area are summarized. They all require much more detailed study and evaluation, although one or two of them are inexpensive enough to perhaps warrant an empirical test. Methods discussed are: Vertical sounding of the Ionosphere; The electromagnetic `Magnetic Bubble` scheme; Non-resonant scattering; Resonant scattering; and The gravitational pulse

Sotatercept, a novel transforming growth factor beta ligand trap, improves anemia in beta-thalassemia: a phase 2, open-label, dose-finding study

\u3b2-thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder caused by defective synthesis of hemoglobin \u3b2 globin chains, leads to ineffective erythropoiesis and chronic anemia that may require blood transfusions. Sotatercept (ACE-011) acts as a ligand trap to inhibit negative regulators of late-stage erythropoiesis in the transforming growth factor beta superfamily, correcting ineffective erythropoiesis. In this phase II, open-label, dose-finding study, 16 patients with transfusion-dependent \u3b2-thalassemia and 30 patients with non-transfusion-dependent \u3b2 thalassemia were enrolled at 7 centers in 4 countries from November 2012 to November 2014. Patients were treated with sotatercept at 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0 mg/kg to determine a safe and effective dose. Doses were administered by subcutaneous injection every 3 weeks. Patients were treated for 6422 months. Response was assessed as a 6520% reduction in transfusion burden sustained for 24 weeks in transfusion-dependent \u3b2-thalassemia patients, and an increase in hemoglobin level of 651.0 g/dL sustained for 12 weeks in non-transfusion-dependent \u3b2-thalassemia patients. Sotatercept was well tolerated. After a median treatment duration of 14.4 months (range 0.6-35.9), no severe life-threatening adverse events were observed; 13% of patients reported serious but manageable adverse events. The active dose of sotatercept was 650.3 mg/kg for non-transfusion-dependent \u3b2-thalassemia and 650.5 mg/kg for transfusion-dependent \u3b2-thalassemia patients. Of 30 non-transfusion-dependent \u3b2-thalassemia patients treated with 650.1 mg/kg sotatercept, 18 (60%) achieved a mean hemoglobin increase 651.0 g/dL, and 11 (37%) an increase 651.5 g/dL, sustained for 6512 weeks. Four (100%) transfusion-dependent \u3b2-thalassemia patients treated with 1.0 mg/kg sotatercept achieved a transfusion-burden reduction of 6520%. Sotatercept was effective and well tolerated in patients with \u3b2-thalassemia. Most non-transfusion-dependent \u3b2-thalassemia patients treated with higher doses achieved sustained increases in hemoglobin level. Transfusion-dependent \u3b2-thalassemia patients treated with higher doses of sotatercept achieved notable reductions in transfusion requirement. The registration number at ClinicalTrials.gov was NCT01571635

Kinetics of aerobic utilization of mixed sugars by heterogeneous microbial populations

Ph.D.W. E. Gate

Proceedings of the Symposium on the Study of the Sun and Interplanetary Medium in Three Dimensions

A series of papers are presented from a symposium attended by over 200 European and American scientists to examine the importance of exploring the interplanetary medium and the sun by out-of-the-ecliptic space missions. The likely scientific returns of these missions in the areas of solar, interplanetary, and cosmic ray physics is examined. Theoretical models of the solar wind and its interaction with interplanetary magnetic fields are given

X-Ray astronomy the 1980's

The status of the current understanding of important problems to which X-ray astronomical techniques can be applied is summarized and the prospects for such research in the future is discussed. Relatively near-term X-ray astronomical research objectives are presented. The importance of a continuing program of balloon-borne research as a cost effective means by which studies at energies in excess of 20 keV may be performed is emphasized. The scientific opportunities presented by the Space Transpotation System to develop low cost experiments which are beyond the scope of balloon-borne capabilities are also highlighted

Managing the hard-to-cook (HTC) phenomenon in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) processing for resource limited communities in Zimbabwe

Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) is a legume crop with great agronomic and nutritional potential to alleviate malnutrition and improve food security of many rural communities in semi-arid regions of sub-Saharan Africa. Optimal use of bambara groundnut is limited due to the hard-to-cook (HTC) phenomenon and the lack of adequate processing and cooking techniques. To optimise use, this thesis explored various methods of managing the hard-to-cook phenomenon in the context of resource-limited communities. Long cooking time, milling challenges and firewood and water shortages were the constraints to processing and consumption of bambara groundnut. Useful techniques to process HTC legumes found include cooking with alkaline salts; and soaking, roasting and milling in the production of grits and flour. Results on reviewed published data implicated microstructural and compositional changes as factors leading to the development HTC phenomenon. Cooking bambara groundnut seeds with alkaline rock salts (0.5% NaHCO­3 and 0.5% gowa) caused 13 and 20% reduction in cooking time, respectively. The contribution of bambara groundnut phenolic compounds to salt softening effects was evaluated by monitoring phenolic compounds solubilisation pattern in relation to cooking time reduction. Protocatechuic acid, catechin and epicatechin were indicators of softening in relation to cooking time reduction. Grit production was an efficient sustainable way of circumventing the HTC phenomenon as shown by a better processing aptitude as compared to traditional boiling of whole seeds. Different methods of grit processing had a similar dehulling efficiency with no significant varietal influence. Both traditional boiling and grit production improved IVSD, IVPD and mineral bioaccessibility. Dry roasted grits had the lowest IVPD (42%), followed by the combined soaking and roasting (45%), soaking (48%) and boiling (68%). Additionally, grit production was superior in improving mineral bioaccessibility, i.e. Zn, K, P and Mg. Bambara groundnut grits were found to be healthy and sustainable as they contribute to dietary diversity and the RDI values for protein, starch and minerals. Bambara groundnut flour produced by different pre-treatment methods i.e., roasting, soaking and combined soaking and roasting was regarded as nutritious and comparable to other legume flours. The soaked and combined soaked and roasted flours was recommended for further research in product development and consumer acceptance of locally consumed food products such as porridge, soups, bread, cakes and fritters. Overall, insights provided by this thesis is useful in designing effective interventions for sustainably managing processing problems for legume crops for resource-limited communities, thereby contributing to improved food and nutrition security.</p

The enzymatic removal of lactose from skimmed milk using a membrane reactor.

Many people are lactose intolerant. The aim of this project was to produce suitable alternative on milk products with low lactose. The hydrolysis of lactose in skimmed milk was investigated using an enzyme reaction employing beta-galactosidase in membrane bioreactor (MBR). This process with suitable membrane technology can produce low lactose milks. Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp bulgaricus NCTC 11778 was selected to be the source of beta-galactosidase production since as it already used in fermented foods and produces relatively high levels of intracellular beta-galactosidase. Initially, the effects on nutrient composition of growth medium for L. delbrueckii were studied in test tube to fonmilate a medium for high cell productivity. The suitable growth medium consisted of (g/1) yeast extract 10, soy peptone 10, lactose 20, KH2PO4 2.5, sodium acetate 5, triammonium citrate 2, MgS04.7H20 0.2, MnS04.H20 0.05 and tween80 1 ml/1. The optimum pH for cell growth conducted in 5-1 batch fermenter at control temperature 37 &deg;C was range from 5.0 to 5.5. From this study, the pH value at 5.5 was selected for cultivation in 140-1 pilot femienter because growth time to stationary phase was shorter than pH at 5.0. Harvested the cells from pilot fermenter were washed buffer in microfiltration (MF) membrane system, the cells were disrupted to release the enzyme by using high pressure homogenisation. The pressure at 25 kpsi (172 MPa) was used based on optimal release in high protein and enzyme contents. The enzyme was separated and purified from cell debris by membrane separation apparatus. A 0.2 mum MF membrane was used to remove soluble protein from cell debris and this was dialyzed to remove additional enzyme from debris. The penneate was then concentrated in ultrafiltration (UF) membrane system with MWCO 50 kDa to form the partially purified enzyme used for hydrolysis. The properties of beta-galactosidase from both crude and partially purified enzyme showed good activity on ONPG and lactose at neutral pH range from 6.0 to 7.0. The optimum pH value for both substrates was at 6.5. The activity of beta-galactosidase increased with the rising temperature from 20 to 65 &deg;C. However, the stability of the enzyme at temperature above 40 &deg;C decreased rapidly. The calculated Vmax and Km values based on the Michaelis-Menten equation and of Lineweaver-Burk transfomiation plots in two substrates, ONPG and lactose were investigated. The Vmax values from crude enzyme were 1.25 and 0.91 mumol/min/ml and Km values were 12.63 mM and 23.23 mM respectively. While the Vmax values from purified fonn were 1.04 and 1.34 mumol/min/ml and Km values were 17.62 mM and 27.58 mM when ONPG or lactose were applied as substrate respectively. The results also indicate that glucose and galactose acted as non-competitive inhibitor for beta-galactosidase. Additions of Na2+ in lactose hydrolysis reduced the enzyme activity while Ca2+ also strongly inhibited the activity. Only the presence of K+ seemed to promote beta-galactosidase activity. The enzymatic lactose hydrolysis reaction in synthetic and skimmed milk preparation was carried out in both batch bioreactor and membrane bioreactor (MBR) with 50 kDa MWCO UF membrane. Lactose concentrations and amount of enzyme activity influenced the hydrolysis. The results from batch bioreactor were in agreement with that observed in MBR. High concentration of lactose and enzyme increased the productivity. Low penneate flow rate during operating MBR resulted in greater hydrolysis yield (the obtained product was 67.7 mumol/ml at flow rate 8 ml/min) than when at high permeate flow rate (the obtained product was 44.7 mumol/ml at flow rate 25 ml/min). But in terms of productivity, high flow rates gave greater productivity (1117 mumol/min at flow rate 25 ml/min whereas 541mumol/min at flow rate 8 ml/min). The kinetics of lactose hydrolysis in batch bioreactor could be predicted by mathematical model based on reversible reaction from Haldane equation while in MBR did not correlate well with the model. Using the results of the work, a basic unoptimised design study showed that 1.5-1.75% lactose milk could be prepared for a cost of 15 pence per litre which suggest that process may be viable