Conjugated linoleic acids alter body composition differently according to physiological age in Moulard ducks

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) have been shown to have remarkable yet inconsistent metabolic effects in mice, rats, hamsters, chickens, cattle, and humans. In particular, effects on lipogenesis vary with tissue, physiological state and specie. In this study we tested the hypothesis that CLA would differentially affect ducks of the same genetic background but of differing age. Growing (7 wk) and maintenance (11 wk) Moulard ducks were grouped by age and fed a standard diet supplemented with either 5% soybean oil (control) or 5% CLA isomer mixture. Animals were harvested after 3 weeks or 6 weeks for assessment of body composition including adipose, liver, viscera, and empty carcass weight. Serum nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) and glucose concentrations were evaluated, and gene targets were cloned from the duck to use in quantifying mRNA abundance for genes involved in lipogenesis (fatty acid synthase, FAS; acetyl-CoA carboxylase, ACC) and lipid oxidation (carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1, CPT-1) in liver tissue from maintenance animals. After 3 weeks, the growing CLA group exhibited a 24% decrease in dissectible adipose tissue (P \u3c 0.05) while maintenance animals showed no significant diet effect. After 6 weeks, the growing CLA group exhibited a 20% increase in liver mass compared to the control (P \u3c 0.05), but no diet effect on adipose tissue. Maintenance animals receiving dietary CLA had a 42% decrease in adipose tissue mass after 6 weeks, increased serum NEFA, ACC and CPT-1 mRNA after 3 and 6 weeks (P \u3c 0.05), and increased FAS mRNA after 3 weeks of treatment (P \u3c 0.05). These data indicate that CLA have potent effects on lipid metabolism in ducks, but that these effects differ dependent on physiological age

An analysis of exposure panel data collected at Millstone Point, Connecticut

Published jointly by Ralph M. Parsons Laboratory for Water Resources and Hydrodynamics, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of TechnologySponsored by Northeast Utilities Service Company, New England Power Service Company under the MIT Energy Laboratory Electric Power Program

Hydrothermal modeling for optimum temperature control : an estimation-theoretic approach

Originally presented as part of the first author's thesis, (Environmental Engineer) in the M.I.T. Dept. of Civil EngineeringA short-term temperature forecasting (STF) system is proposed to predict and control plant intake and discharge temperatures at Salem Harbor Electric Generating Station. It is desired to minimize receiving-water (i.e., intake-water) temperatures during peak power demand periods, in order to minimize the cost of complying with the maximum discharge water temperature limit. This study addresses the hydrothermal modeling requirements of an STF system. An important element of an STF system is a predictive model of plant intake water temperatures. For application to Salem Harbor Station, strict model performance criteria exist, defining a model development problem: Develop a simple model to predict plant intake water temperatures 24 hours ahead, predicting daily peak intake temperatures within 10F on 90% of the days, and using only existing measurements. An estimation-theoretic approach to model development is used, which quantifies and minimizes the uncertainties in the model. The approach employs optimal filtering and full-information maximum- likelihood (FIML) estimation to obtain optimum parameter estimates. A two-basin, two-layer hydrothermal model of Salem Harbor is developed. The model computes hourly intake temperatures, incorporating tidal flushing, stratification, surface heat exchange, and wind advection of the plume. Twenty-eight model parameters and five noise statistics are estimated from intake-temperature data. Preliminary best-fit parameter values are obtained subjectively, followed by FIML parameter estimation using a data base of 96 hourly measurements (7/29 - 8/2/74). The model is tested for 106 days (5/17- 9/20/74) and various performance measures are computed, including sum- of-squares of measurement residuals (S), whiteness (P), percent of daily peak temperature predictions within 10F of actual (T), and others. Visual inspection of 24-hour intake temperature predictions shows that the two-basin, two-layer model performs qualitatively well. However, the model fails statistical tests on S and P, indicating structural weaknesses. FIML estimation yields physically unrealistic values for certain parameters, probably compensating for inadequate model structure. Despite structural flaws in the two-basin, two-layer model, FIML estimation yields parameters with consistently better performance than the preliminary estimates (by a small amount). It is concluded that the two-basin, two-layer model is presently unsuitable for STF use, largely due to structural weaknesses. Possible corrections are suggested; however, a statistical model of hourly temperatures appears to offer greater potential accuracy than physically-derived models. FIML parameter estimation is shown to be useful for water quality model development on a real system, particularly after subjective model development has been exhausted.New England Power Company under the MIT Energy Laboratory Electric Power Progra

High pressure compressor component performance report

A compressor optimization study defined a 10 stage configuration with a 22.6:1 pressure ratio, an adiabatic efficiency goal of 86.1%, and a polytropic efficiency of 90.6%; the corrected airflow is 53.5 kg/s. Subsequent component testing included three full scale tests: a six stage rig test, a 10 stage rig test, and another 10 stage rig test completed in the second quarter of 1982. Information from these tests is used to select the configuration for a core engine test and an integrated core/low spool test. The test results will also provide data base for the flight propulsion system. The results of the test series with both aerodynamic and mechanical performance of each compressor build are presented. The second 10 stage compressor adiabatic efficiency was 0.848 at a cruise operating point versus a test goal of 0.846

Meeting the Pharmaceutical Shipping Needs in the New Pee Dee Health Region

As the chief procurement officer for the Pee Dee Health Region, it is the author's responsibility to ensure that staff in the region has the supplies and services needed to perform their jobs. Since the former Public Health Region 6 expanded in the reorganization from three counties to twelve, procurement operations as a whole have undergone dramatic and sweeping changes, and continue to evolve almost daily. This project will focus primarily on providing essential pharmaceutical supplies to eighteen widely scattered health departments located throughout the Pee Dee Region

An analysis of water resource conflict and cooperation in Oregon between 1990 and 2004

This research provides details of water resource conflict and cooperation in Oregon between 1990 and 2004 by using an event database methodology. Events were concentrated in four of 18 basins. No basin accounted for more that 25% of the total water rights events, the most evenly distributed issue type. Overall more events were cooperative and very few were of high intensity. High intensity conflict covered one issue type- instream, while cooperative covered five supporting results seen at international scale. The occurrence of water quality events increases as the scale decreases. Spatial and temporal analysis indicate that surface water supply correlates to overall conflict and cooperation levels better than population density, consumptive use and water quality. However, major conflictive outbreaks or cooperative breakthroughs are correlated to institutional changes in the social system (cooperation in 1991, 1999, and 2004; conflict in 1991, 2001, and 2004), acting as either an instigator or resolution of resource conflict. Water resource conflict was shown to intensify over time, and major conflictive events tend to lead to major cooperative events. Additionally, this process is unique to conflict; cooperative processes are not easily undermined by a conflictive action. Finally, policy recommendations are presented to increase water resource manager’s ability to foster dispute resolution and to engage key stakeholders. Implementation of these techniques should provide water resource managers with the necessary tools to manage conflict, not make it disappear entirely