Biomass Properties and Gasification Behavior of 7-Year-Old Siberian Elm

Studies were conducted to establish baseline information for use in characterizing Siberian elm as energy or fiber feedstock. Biomass properties were determined. Calorific value (4,698 cal/g) and specific gravity (0.55) of Siberian elm are similar to those of soft elms, and its fiber length is relatively short (1.00 mm). Ash content was 1.65%. Gasification produces a medium energy gas (3 x 106 cal/m3) with yield varying from 0.17 to 0.96 m3/kg over a gasification temperature range of 600 to 700 C. Ovendry yields were 9.8 t/ha annually at 700 trees/ha

Comparison of dimethyl sulfoxide treated highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) electrodes for use in indium tin oxide-free organic electronic photovoltaic devices

Indium tin oxide (ITO)-free organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices were fabricated using highly conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as the transparent conductive electrode (TCE). The intrinsic conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS films was improved by two different dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatments – (i) DMSO was added directly to the PEDOT:PSS solution (PEDOT:PSSADD) and (ii) a pre-formed PEDOT:PSS film was immersed in DMSO (PEDOT:PSSIMM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) studies showed a large amount of PSS was removed from the PEDOT:PSSIMM electrode surface. OPV devices based on a poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) bulk hetrojunction showed that the PEDOT:PSSIMM electrode out-performed the PEDOT:PSSADD electrode, primarily due to an increase in short circuit current density from 6.62 mA cm−2 to 7.15 mA cm−2. The results highlight the importance of optimising the treatment of PEDOT:PSS electrodes and demonstrate their potential as an alternative TCE for rapid processing and low-cost OPV and other organic electronic devices

Cytosolic chaperones influence the fate of a toxin dislocated from the endoplasmic reticulum

The plant cytotoxin ricin enters target mammalian cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis and undergoes retrograde transport to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here, its catalytic A chain (RTA) is reductively separated from the cell-binding B chain, and free RTA enters the cytosol where it inactivates ribosomes. Cytosolic entry requires unfolding of RTA and dislocation across the ER membrane such that it arrives in the cytosol in a vulnerable, nonnative conformation. Clearly, for such a dislocated toxin to become active, it must avoid degradation and fold to a catalytic conformation. Here, we show that, in vitro, Hsc70 prevents aggregation of heat-treated RTA, and that RTA catalytic activity is recovered after chaperone treatment. A combination of pharmacological inhibition and cochaperone expression reveals that, in vivo, cytosolic RTA is scrutinized sequentially by the Hsc70 and Hsp90 cytosolic chaperone machineries, and that its eventual fate is determined by the balance of activities of cochaperones that regulate Hsc70 and Hsp90 functions. Cytotoxic activity follows Hsc70-mediated escape of RTA from an otherwise destructive pathway facilitated by Hsp90. We demonstrate a role for cytosolic chaperones, proteins typically associated with folding nascent proteins, assembling multimolecular protein complexes and degrading cytosolic and stalled, cotranslocational clients, in a toxin triage, in which both toxin folding and degradation are initiated from chaperone-bound states

Management of undernutrition and failure to thrive in children with congenital heart disease in low- and middle-income countries

Poor growth with underweight for age, decreased length/height for age, and underweight-for-height are all relatively common in children with CHD. The underlying causes of this failure to thrive may be multifactorial, including innate growth potential, severity of cardiac disease, increased energy requirements, decreased nutritional intake, malabsorption, and poor utilisation of absorbed nutrition. These factors are particularly common and severe in low- and middle-income countries. Although nutrition should be carefully assessed in all patients, failure of growth is not a contraindication to surgical repair, and patients should receive surgical repair where indicated as soon as possible. Close attention should be paid to nutritional support - primarily enteral feeding, with particular use of breast milk in infancy - in the perioperative period and in the paediatric ICU. This nutritional support requires specific attention and allocation of resources, including appropriately skilled personnel. Thereafter, it is essential to monitor growth and development and to identify causes for failure to catch-up or grow appropriately

Cytosolic chaperones influence the fate of a toxin dislocated from the endoplasmic reticulum

The plant cytotoxin ricin enters target mammalian cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis and undergoes retrograde transport to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here, its catalytic A chain (RTA) is reductively separated from the cell-binding B chain, and free RTA enters the cytosol where it inactivates ribosomes. Cytosolic entry requires unfolding of RTA and dislocation across the ER membrane such that it arrives in the cytosol in a vulnerable, nonnative conformation. Clearly, for such a dislocated toxin to become active, it must avoid degradation and fold to a catalytic conformation. Here, we show that, in vitro, Hsc70 prevents aggregation of heat-treated RTA, and that RTA catalytic activity is recovered after chaperone treatment. A combination of pharmacological inhibition and cochaperone expression reveals that, in vivo, cytosolic RTA is scrutinized sequentially by the Hsc70 and Hsp90 cytosolic chaperone machineries, and that its eventual fate is determined by the balance of activities of cochaperones that regulate Hsc70 and Hsp90 functions. Cytotoxic activity follows Hsc70-mediated escape of RTA from an otherwise destructive pathway facilitated by Hsp90. We demonstrate a role for cytosolic chaperones, proteins typically associated with folding nascent proteins, assembling multimolecular protein complexes and degrading cytosolic and stalled, cotranslocational clients, in a toxin triage, in which both toxin folding and degradation are initiated from chaperone-bound states

Lung function in South African children with cystic fibrosis

Objective: To determine the pattern of lung function in stable cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and to investigate the relationship of abnormal lung function to demographic variables, CF genotype and pulmonary colonisation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA)Design: A descriptive study done at the CF clinic at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town.Methods: Data were recorded and pulmonary function testing (PFT) was performed in 42 CF patients.Results: 29 patients (69%) had mild disease,. while 11 (26%) and 2 (5%) had moderate and severe disease respectively. Twenty-four patients (57'%) demonstrated lower airway obstruction (LAO). Patients with moderate or severe disease were significantly older than those with mild disease (13.3 (3.7) years (mean (SD)) compared with 11.1 (3.0) years (t =2.1; P =OM)). PA colonisation status differed significantly with the pattern of lung function (X2 =6.6; P = 0.04) and severity of lung disease (X2=12.6; P =0.002.). Nine (35%) of the 26 patients tested before and after broncbodilator therapy showed a positive response.Conclusion: The majority of patients had mildly impaired or normal lung function, with LAO predominating. A minority of patients were bronchodilator-responsive. PA colonisation may be associated with the development of abnormal lung function and more severe pulmonary disease.

Medics in southern Queensland: Effects of sowing method, weed control and phosphorus application on plant population and biomass

Declining sown pasture productivity as a result of a tie-up in plant available soil nitrogen is an ongoing constraint to grazing production across the brigalow bioregion of central and southern Queensland. Research suggests that legume establishment offers the most cost effective long-term remediation strategy for improving pasture quality and yield. Within southern Queensland, medics (Medicago spp.) can provide valuable winter contributions to dietary protein and soil nitrogen, however establishment and yields are frequently poor and soil phosphorus often limiting. An experiment was established across two soil types (brigalow clay and poplar box red loam) 70 km north of Goondiwindi, Queensland to investigate the effects of sowing method, weed control and phosphorus fertiliser application on the establishment and yield of a mix of three medic cultivars (Medicago truncatula cv. Jester & cv .Caliph and Medicago orbicularis cv. Bindaroo Gold). On both soil types, plant population and biomass were significantly improved via direct drilling of seed as compared to broadcasting. On the loam, drilling increased average populations by between 519 and 1,900% above those recorded in broadcast treatments and improved biomass by between 144 and 315%. On the clay soil, drilling increased populations by between 339 and 983% above those measured in broadcast treatments. Clay soil drilling showed biomass improvements of between 124 and 1,368%. No significant biomass or legume population treatment effects were observed on the clay soil. No significant treatment effects were observed for yield on the loam soil. This study implies that medic establishment, plant populations and biomass can be greatly improved through the application of seed drilling

Catalytic enantioselective arylative cyclizations of alkynyl 1,3-diketones by 1,4-rhodium(i) migration

The enantioselective synthesis of densely functionalized polycarbocycles by the rhodium(I)-catalyzed reaction of arylboronic acids with 1,3-diketones is described. The key step in these desymmetrizing domino addition–cyclization reactions is an alkenyl-to-aryl 1,4-Rh(I) migration, which enables arylboronic acids to function effectively as 1,2-dimetalloarene surrogates

Determining the extent of declining pasture productivity with nitrogen fertiliser

Declining productivity of sown pastures due to a reduction in plant available soil nitrogen has typically reduced grass and beef production by 50% since initial land development within the Brigalow bioregion of southern and central Queensland. As this decline continues, it’s estimated it will cost the northern beef industry more than $17 billion over the next 30 years. To assist landholders determine the extent of declining pasture productivity on their own properties, and assess the magnitude of response if more nitrogen is made available, nitrogen fertiliser was applied to approximately 70 replicated and non-replicated sites across southern and central Queensland between 2012 and 2014. Nitrogen (N) fertiliser as Green Urea NV® (Incitec Fertilisers) was broadcast onto existing grass-pastures in the lead up to a forecast rainfall event in summer. A range of rates were applied, from 25 – 200 kg N/ha, and dry matter yields and protein levels were measured. At all sites the grass pasture responded to the added nitrogen, with the magnitude of response dependant on the amount of nitrogen applied. As the production from sown pastures continues to decline, options that improve nitrogen supply and address this decline will be required to improve beef production across the northern region

Best Practice in Conceptual Modelling for Environmental Software Development

Conceptual modelling is used in many fields with a varying degree of formality. In environmental applications, conceptual models are used to express relationships, explore and test ideas, check inference and causality, identify knowledge and data gaps, synchronize mental models and build consensus, and to highlight key or dominant processes. Conceptual model representations range from simple box and line interaction diagrams, through interaction representations and causal models, to complicated formal representations of the relationships between actors or entities, or between states and processes. Due to their sometimes apparent simplicity, the development and use of a conceptual model is often an attractive option when tackling an environmental problem where the system is either not well understood, or where the understanding of the system is not shared amongst stakeholders. However, we have experienced many examples where conceptual modelling has failed to live up to the promises of managing complexity and aiding decision making. This paper explores the development and application of conceptual modelling to environmental problems, and identifies a range of best practices for environmental scientists and managers that include considerations of stakeholder participation, model development and representation, integration of different and disparate conceptual models, model maturation, testing, and transition to application within the problem situation