Isotope geochemistry and denitrification processes in groundwaters

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:D67603/86 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

A process-based life cycle sustainability assessment of the space-based solar power concept

For space-based solar power (SBSP) to be considered as a truly viable renewable energy technology, there should be a clear environmental benefit gained from its application. Additionally, given the scale of investment and engineering development, the price of energy must remain comparable to terrestrial-based generation systems for commercial feasibility. For this reason, a process-based life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) study was conducted to identify the life cycle environmental, economic and social impacts of the 1978 DOE/NASA Solar Power Satellite (SPS) Reference System. This was one of the first ever LCSA studies for space systems to be performed worldwide and was applied using a new LCSA tool for space missions developed at the University of Strathclyde. Taking a burden-based approach, the tool has been used to calculate environmental impacts across a wide range of different environmental impact categories and quantify costs over the system life cycle. The inclusion of social impacts adds additional depth to the analysis by showcasing the sociological impacts of the system on various stakeholder groups in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The calculated life cycle impacts were then analysed further to identify potential hotspots through multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and by measuring the results against annual global impacts (AGIs) and planetary boundaries (PBs). Life cycle CO2e emissions and costs were then compared to terrestrial energy generation systems in order to benchmark the relative performance of the technology as part of the conventional energy mix. The results suggest that whilst the DOE/NASA SPS Reference System can generally be described as a ‘green’ and ‘cost-effective’ system, several design improvements can and should be made to lessen its life cycle impacts. Therefore, it is proposed that the identified hotspots are used as a baseline for comparison or as mission drivers to continually improve future SPS designs

Darling Harbour conservation and re-use with particular reference to Pyrmont Bridge

Part I of this thesis considers that part of Darling Harbour which lies south of Pyrmont Bridge in the City of Sydney. It traces the history of Darling Harbour from the time of the First Fleet through its development as: (i) a commercial port; (ii) the birthplace of Australian industry; and (iii) the largest railway Goodsyard in the State. Part I studies the present circumstances of the area and its potential. It examines the existing constraints upon the site and assesses the conflicting plans of various Australian, State and Local Government agencies. The question of conservation, or rather, the lack of conservation, is considered. Part II concludes by rejecting the proposal for the extension of longshore wharves south of Pyrmont Bridge and recommends the recycling of the Goodsyard for a major people oriented open space of regional significance together with a certain amount of housing and commercial development. Part II develops a proposal in which conservation is an essential and integral part. Without the retention of key historic structures like Pyrmont Bridge and the Darling Harbour Forwarding Station the proposal could not realise the full potential of Darling Harbour. The rpoposal envisages a Bicentennial waterfront park with a multitude of activities. Certain Government—owned land on the edge of the Goodsyard is earmarked for private development. Conservation includes the retention of Pyrmont Bridge, the Darling Harbour Forwarding Station, and the Corn Exchange and part of a railway shed. The success of the conservation proposals hinge on the construction of a pedestrian bridge link from Pyrmont Bridge to Market Street in the City Centre. Life and finance are injected into the conservation proposals by locating Paddy’s Market on the Bridge and the Sydney Maritime Museum and the Sydney Fishing Museum beneath it. The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences operates the swing span and operates the "Pyrmont Bridge Stations". This thesis includes a brief statement on a management structure which has insured the conservation of other bridges in NSW, and concludes that conservation, the forgotten element in all current plans, is an essential ingredient for the future of Darling Harbour

Core excitations across the neutron shell gap in ²⁰⁷Tl

The single closed-neutron-shell, one proton-hole nucleus 207Tl was populated in deep-inelastic collisions of a 208Pb beam with a 208Pb target. The yrast and near-yrast level scheme has been established up to high excitation energy, comprising an octupol

Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1 interacts with regulator of chromosome condensation 1 dynamically throughout the cell cycle

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein which plays an essential role in viral episome replication and segregation, by recruiting the cellular complex of DNA replication onto the origin (oriP) and by tethering the viral DNA onto the mitotic chromosomes. Whereas the mechanisms of viral DNA replication are well documented, those involved in tethering EBNA1 to the cellular chromatin are far from being understood. Here, we have identified Regulator of Chromosome Condensation 1 (RCC1) as a novel cellular partner for EBNA1. RCC1 is the major nuclear guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RanGEF) for the small GTPase Ran enzyme. RCC1, associated with chromatin, is involved in the formation of RanGTP gradients critical for nucleo-cytoplasmic transport, mitotic spindle formation, and nuclear envelope reassembly following mitosis. Using several approaches, we have demonstrated a direct interaction between these two proteins and found that the EBNA1 domains responsible for EBNA1 tethering to the mitotic chromosomes are also involved in the interaction with RCC1. The use of an EBNA1 peptide array confirmed the interaction of RCC1 with these regions and also the importance of the N-terminal region of RCC1 in this interaction. Finally, using confocal microscopy and FRET analysis to follow the dynamics of interaction between the two proteins throughout the cell cycle, we have demonstrated that EBNA1 and RCC1 closely associate on the chromosomes during metaphase, suggesting an essential role for the interaction during this phase, perhaps in tethering EBNA1 to mitotic chromosomes

Anticoagulant and antiplatelet properties of the latex of unripe fruits of Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae)

Background: Anticoagulants have found use clinically in the management of coagulation disorders. The aim of this study therefore was to ascertain the anticoagulant and antiplatelet properties of the latex of the unripe fruits of Carica papaya (CPUFL) using in vitro and in vivo models.Methods: CPUFL was screened for phytochemicals. The time taken, for 100 μL quantities of plasma or whole blood mixed with 100, 300, and 600 μg of CPUFL and standard assay reagents, to form clots in the prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and clotting time tests were determined (using 1 mg rivaroxaban, 50 IU heparin, or plasma as references). The time taken for cessation of induced marginal ear vein bleeding of New Zealand White rabbits pre-treated orally with either CPUFL (4-12 mg/kg), 2 mg/kg aspirin, or 1 ml/kg distilled water, or 1.5 mg/kg heparin intraperitoneally for 30 mins was also determined.Results: Saponins, tannins, glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids were present in CPUFL. Treatment with CPUFL (100-600 µg), increased both PT and aPTT significantly (p≤0.01-0.0001). There was also a significant increase (p≤0.0001) in clotting time of whole blood at 600 µg/100 µL. CPUFL treatment (4, 8, and 12 mg/kg) showed a dose-dependent increase (p≤0.0001) in bleeding time. Effect between CPUFL, heparin, and aspirin treatment were not significantly different.Conclusion: The latex of unripe fruits of C. papaya L. exhibited anticoagulant and antiplatelet properties suggesting its potential usefulness in the management of blood coagulation disorders

Analytic Detection Thresholds for Measurements of Linearly Polarized Intensity Using Rotation Measure Synthesis

A fully analytic statistical formalism does not yet exist to describe radio-wavelength measurements of linearly polarized intensity that are produced using rotation measure synthesis. In this work we extend the analytic formalism for standard linear polarization, namely that describing measurements of the quadrature sum of Stokes Q and U intensities, to the rotation measure synthesis environment. We derive the probability density function and expectation value for Faraday-space polarization measurements for both the case where true underlying polarized emission is present within unresolved Faraday components, and for the limiting case where no such emission is present. We then derive relationships to quantify the statistical significance of linear polarization measurements in terms of standard Gaussian statistics. The formalism developed in this work will be useful for setting signal-to-noise ratio detection thresholds for measurements of linear polarization, for the analysis of polarized sources potentially exhibiting multiple Faraday components, and for the development of polarization debiasing schemes.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA