Glycogen Resynthesis and Recovery from Exercise: Effects of Very-Long Chain Acyl-Coenzyme, A Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Disorders of fatty acid metabolism pose a variety of problems including hypoglycemia, muscle weakness, muscle cramping, rhabdomyolysis, and, in the most severe cases, death. Individuals with a deficiency of very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD ), the enzyme initiating the oxidation of very-long-chain fatty acids, are particularly prone to exercised-induced declines in muscle function because oft he importance of very-long-chain fatty acids to energy metabolism in exercise. The purpose of this project was to study muscle glycogen resynthesis in the recovery from high intensity exercise in VLCAD deficient mice. Recovery of skeletal muscle function (gastrocnemius) following exercise is not as rapid in VLCAD deficient mice as recovery in non-deficient mice. Based upon previous reports, recovery of muscle from exercise is, at least in part, related to glycogen resynthesis. It was hypothesized that muscle glycogen levels as well as liver glycogen levels would be significantly depressed 24 hours after exercise in VLCAD deficient exercised mice compared to non-exercised VLCAD deficient and exercised and non-exercised non-deficient mice. Twenty VLCAD deficient mice (knockout mice) and 20 non-deficient 129 Sv/C57BL6 mice were used in this project. Ten from each group exercised on a motor-driven treadmill to exhaustion using high intensity interval exercise while an additional] 0 animals from each group served as non-exercised controls. The exercised mice were allowed to recover for 24 hours and then anesthetized using sodium pentobarbital (80 mg ·Kg -1). The right and left gastrocnemius muscles, the vastus lateralis muscle, the heart, and the liver were removed and frozen and the glycogen content subsequently determined. The resynthesis of glycogen was only significantly (p \u3c 0.05) effected in the vastus lateralis muscle and the liver. Resynthesis was significantly reduced in the vastus muscle of VLCAD deficient mice and enhanced in the vastus muscle of non-deficient mice. It was concluded that VLCAD deficiency does delay recovery of muscle glycogen after exercise and that the delay may be affected by muscle fiber type or patterns of recruitment

Two systems developed for purifying inert atmospheres

Two systems, one for helium and one for argon, are used for purifying inert atmospheres. The helium system uses an activated charcoal bed at liquid nitrogen temperature to remove oxygen and nitrogen. The argon system uses heated titanium sponge to remove nitrogen and copper wool beds to remove oxygen. Both use molecular sieves to remove water vapor

Arthropod Fauna Associated with Wild and Cultivated Cranberries in Wisconsin

The cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) is an evergreen, trailing shrub native to North American peatlands. It is cultivated commercially in the US and Canada, with major production centers in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, Québec, and British Columbia. Despite the agricultural importance of cranberry in Wisconsin, relatively little is known of its arthropod associates, particularly the arachnid fauna. Here we report preliminary data on the insect and spider communities associated with wild and cultivated cranberries in Wisconsin. We then compare the insect and spider communities of wild cranberry systems to those of cultivated cranberries, indexed by region. Approximately 7,400 arthropods were curated and identified, spanning more than 100 families, across 11 orders. The vast majority of specimens and diversity derived from wild ecosystems. In both the wild and cultivated systems, the greatest numbers of families were found among the Diptera (midges, flies) and Hymenoptera (bees, ants, wasps), but numerically, the Hymenoptera and Araneae (spiders) were dominant. Within the spider fauna, 18 new county records, as well as a new Wisconsin state record (Linyphiidae: Ceratinopsis laticeps (Em.)), were documented. While more extensive sampling will be needed to better resolve arthropod biodiversity in North American cranberry systems, our findings represent baseline data on the breadth of arthropod diversity in the Upper Midwest, USA

Feasibility Study of Consolidating Public Safety Answering Points in Berea, Broadview Heights, Brook Park, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls, Seven Hills, and Strongsville, Ohio

This study found that – based on selected configurations of communities and specific cost considerations – it is economically viable to consolidate public safety answering points (PSAPs) in Berea, Broadview Heights, Brook Park, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls, Seven Hills, and Strongsville. When comparing 2012 staffing and noncapital costs to estimated staffing and noncapital costs for a consolidated PSAP, the consolidated PSAP would provide an estimated collective reduction in costs ranging from $117,500 to$1.72 million. The analysis also revealed that consolidation is legally feasible. It would also offer improved service by ensuring all dispatchers are certified professionals and would provide an environment in which dispatchers can work together in the same facility, thus offering improved communications across community boundaries. An assessment of technology and equipment will be provided in a separate document. Consolidation of services would reduce the duplication of services and redundant capital projects. This in turn would free up funds to maintain and replace capital items as they expire. Instead of the duplicate purchase of expensive equipment by several communities, the cost of large capital would be distributed over a larger base of beneficiaries. Centralization will reduce the physical blueprint of dispatch operations which in turn should reduce operating costs such as natural gas, electric, and maintenance. Given an investment in high quality equipment, facilities, and staff, the level and quality of service provided by a consolidated dispatch center should exceed those currently being supplied by communities

Feasibility Study of Consolidating Public Safety Answering Points in Berea, Broadview Heights, Brook Park, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls, Seven Hills, and Strongsville, Ohio

This study found that – based on selected configurations of communities and specific cost considerations – it is economically viable to consolidate public safety answering points (PSAPs) in Berea, Broadview Heights, Brook Park, North Royalton, Olmsted Falls, Seven Hills, and Strongsville. When comparing 2012 staffing and noncapital costs to estimated staffing and noncapital costs for a consolidated PSAP, the consolidated PSAP would provide an estimated collective reduction in costs ranging from $117,500 to$1.72 million. The analysis also revealed that consolidation is legally feasible. It would also offer improved service by ensuring all dispatchers are certified professionals and would provide an environment in which dispatchers can work together in the same facility, thus offering improved communications across community boundaries. An assessment of technology and equipment will be provided in a separate document. Consolidation of services would reduce the duplication of services and redundant capital projects. This in turn would free up funds to maintain and replace capital items as they expire. Instead of the duplicate purchase of expensive equipment by several communities, the cost of large capital would be distributed over a larger base of beneficiaries. Centralization will reduce the physical blueprint of dispatch operations which in turn should reduce operating costs such as natural gas, electric, and maintenance. Given an investment in high quality equipment, facilities, and staff, the level and quality of service provided by a consolidated dispatch center should exceed those currently being supplied by communities

Evaluation of the 20 L Dust Explosibility Testing Chamber and Comparison to a Modified 38 L Vessel for Underground Coal

The phenomenon of combustible dust explosions is present within many industries. Tests for explosibility of dust clouds per ASTM E1226 use a 20 L explosive chamber that places the combustible dust directly below the dispersion nozzle which generates a thorough mixture for testing purposes. However, in the underground coal mining industry, there are a number of geologic, mining, and regulatory factors that change the deposition scheme of combustible coal dust. This causes the atmosphere of a coal mine to have a variable rock dust-coal dust mixture at the time of ignition. To investigate the impact of this variable atmosphere, a series of lean explosibility tests were conducted on a sample of Pittsburgh Pulverized coal dust. These explosibility tests were conducted in a 38 L chamber with a 5 kJ Sobbe igniter. The 38 L chamber generates a variable air-dust mixture prior to ignition. The test results indicate that the 38 L chamber experiences reduced explosive pressures, and lower explosibility index values when compared to the 20 L chamber

Arthropod Fauna Associated with Wild and Cultivated Cranberries in Wisconsin

The cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) is an evergreen, trailing shrub native to North American peatlands. It is cultivated commercially in the US and Canada, with major production centers in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, Québec, and British Columbia. Despite the agricultural importance of cranberry in Wisconsin, relatively little is known of its arthropod associates, particularly the arachnid fauna. Here we report preliminary data on the insect and spider communities associated with wild and cultivated cranberries in Wisconsin. We then compare the insect and spider communities of wild cranberry systems to those of cultivated cranberries, indexed by region. Approximately 7,400 arthropods were curated and identified, spanning more than 100 families, across 11 orders. The vast majority of specimens and diversity derived from wild ecosystems. In both the wild and cultivated systems, the greatest numbers of families were found among the Diptera (midges, flies) and Hymenoptera (bees, ants, wasps), but numerically, the Hymenoptera and Araneae (spiders) were dominant. Within the spider fauna, 18 new county records, as well as a new Wisconsin state record (Linyphiidae: Ceratinopsis laticeps (Em.)), were documented. While more extensive sampling will be needed to better resolve arthropod biodiversity in North American cranberry systems, our findings represent baseline data on the breadth of arthropod diversity in the Upper Midwest, USA

Heat recovery mechanism in the excitation of radiative polaritons by broadband infrared radiation in thin oxide films

This work probes radiative polaritons in thin oxide layers as a mean to capture and absorb broadband infrared radiation and transform it into heat. A heat recovery mechanism, based on the Seebeck effect, is used as the tool of the investigation. Heat production challenges the current understanding which views the excitation of radiative polaritons as only accompanied by the emission of electromagnetic radiation. The heat recovery mechanism presented here can inspire the design of infrared energy harvesting devices, similar to photovoltaic cells, and other devices to convert energy from a wide range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum using thermoelectric power generators

Explosive Dust Test Vessel Comparison using Pulverized Pittsburgh Coal

Explosions of coal dust are a major safety concern within the coal mining industry. The explosion and subsequent fires caused by coal dust can result in significant property damage, loss of life in underground coal mines and damage to coal processing facilities. The United States Bureau of Mines conducted research on coal dust explosions until 1996 when it was dissolved. In the following years, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) developed a test standard, ASTM E1226, to provide a standard test method characterizing the “explosibility” of particulate solids of combustible materials suspended in air. The research presented herein investigates the explosive characteristic of Pulverized Pittsburgh Coal dust using the ASTM E1226-12 test standard. The explosibility characteristics include: maximum explosion pressure, (Pmax); maximum rate of pressure rise, (dP/dt)max; and explosibility index, (Kst). Nine Pulverized Pittsburgh Coal dust concentrations, ranging from 30 to 1,500 g/m3 , were tested in a 20-Liter Siwek Sphere. The newly recorded dust explosibility characteristics are then compared to explosibility characteristics published by the Bureau of Mines in their 20 liter vessel and procedure predating ASTM E1126-12. The information presented in this paper will allow for structures and devices to be built to protect people from the effects of coal dust explosions