A Solar-Hydrogen Energy Conversion Scheme for Agricultural Use

A solar energy activated system is presented which can produce hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels (methanol) for use on farms. The device, named solar-kine , also can produce fertilizer (anhydrous ammonia) as a byproduct of the hydrogen. A cost analysis shows that solar-kine may be mass-producible and sold to farmers for between $7,200 and$14,700. This is equivalent to giving the fanner energy at a price of $1.79 to$3.66 per million BTU\u27s (in 1974 dollars). Presently (Spring, 1974) regular gasoline used in tractors at 43¢ per gallon, represents a cost to the farmer of $3.77 per million BTU\u27s. As oil-based fuels increase in price in the next few years, solar-kine may represent a reasonable alternative to keep food prices down. The solar-kine system uses concentrated solar energy which can be converted into a high-density electric current by means of a thermionic heat engine. The rejected heat and electric current from the thermionic converter is supplied to an electrolysis cell which, in turn, produces hydrogen and oxygen gas. Chemical process equipment will use the hydrogen and oxygen to produce a methanol (CH3OH) fuel supply for internal combustion engines used on farm machines. The hydrogen can also be used to manufacture ammonia, ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4)] fertilizers. The following materials can be produced which are useful to the farmer: a) hydrogen gas, b) oxygen gas, c) liquid tractor fuel, d) fertilizer, e) ammonia, f) electricity, and e) heat energy We feel that any unconventional energy system, such as solar-kine, must interface and serve the conventional use of fuel energy if it is to have lasting merits. This is why we feel that it is desirable to have the complete conversion of solar energy into a liquid fuel that is safe to handle and store, and which also can be used in any conventional fossil-fuel burning system with minimum modifications. Solar energy is compatible with our environment; it is free, and its supply cannot be exhausted. It is also available at any geographic location without requiring transportation to the user\u27s site (See Fig. 2). Its major advantage over fossil fuel comes from the fact that it does not add any net heat content to the earth [5,6]. A small on-site energy system is best for the farmer because, a) It can be mass produced at 106 or more, units per year,b) Power levels needed by farms are low, 100-500 KW, c)Farm energy is used over a large geographical area, d)The main source of energy (the sun) is everywhere available,e) Heat rejected from the heat engine (thermionic) is used in other portions of the system to increase overall efficiency, and may be used in part to heat buildings,f) The farmer would be energy-independent from the price and supply undulations of the industrial complex,g) Legal considerations which regulate the large energy distribution systems would not apply, or affect, the proposed system as used by the farmer,h) Last, and possibly most important, the farmer would have a dependable fuel supply at the lowest possible cost. In the future, the proposed system will supply energy at a cost much lower than petroleum-derived energy

AID-Targeting and Hypermutation of Non-Immunoglobulin Genes Does Not Correlate with Proximity to Immunoglobulin Genes in Germinal Center B Cells

Upon activation, B cells divide, form a germinal center, and express the activation induced deaminase (AID), an enzyme that triggers somatic hypermutation of the variable regions of immunoglobulin (Ig) loci. Recent evidence indicates that at least 25% of expressed genes in germinal center B cells are mutated or deaminated by AID. One of the most deaminated genes, c-Myc, frequently appears as a translocation partner with the Ig heavy chain gene (Igh) in mouse plasmacytomas and human Burkitt's lymphomas. This indicates that the two genes or their double-strand break ends come into close proximity at a biologically relevant frequency. However, the proximity of c-Myc and Igh has never been measured in germinal center B cells, where many such translocations are thought to occur. We hypothesized that in germinal center B cells, not only is c-Myc near Igh, but other mutating non-Ig genes are deaminated by AID because they are near Ig genes, the primary targets of AID. We tested this “collateral damage” model using 3D-fluorescence in situ hybridization (3D-FISH) to measure the distance from non-Ig genes to Ig genes in germinal center B cells. We also made mice transgenic for human MYC and measured expression and mutation of the transgenes. We found that there is no correlation between proximity to Ig genes and levels of AID targeting or gene mutation, and that c-Myc was not closer to Igh than were other non-Ig genes. In addition, the human MYC transgenes did not accumulate mutations and were not deaminated by AID. We conclude that proximity to Ig loci is unlikely to be a major determinant of AID targeting or mutation of non-Ig genes, and that the MYC transgenes are either missing important regulatory elements that allow mutation or are unable to mutate because their new nuclear position is not conducive to AID deamination

Therapy with Muslim Couples and Families: Basic Guidelines for Effective Practice

Despite the growing numbers of Muslims in the United States, there is a scarcity of research dealing with mental health practitioners working with Muslim families. This lack of research may leave clinicians unprepared to adequately help Muslim patients and families faced with discrimination and misunderstanding, which may inadvertently lead to the perpetuation of biases in therapy. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is (a) to provide mental health practitioners with foundational information regarding the Islamic faith and the values of the traditional Muslim families and (b) to provide culturally sensitive guidelines for clinical practice

Primary trauma of female partners in a military sample: individual symptoms and relationship satisfaction

Research traditionally has focused on the development of symptoms in those who experienced war-trauma directly but overlooked the impact of trauma in the partners of soldiers. The current study reports data from 45 couples where the male partners were Army soldiers who recently returned from deployments to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) or Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom). Results from this study indicated that female partner primary trauma, particularly trauma related to PTSD re-experiencing and arousal symptoms, has an influence on levels of relationship satisfaction, both for female partners and soldiers

The impact of individual trauma symptoms of deployed soldiers on relationship satisfaction

Research traditionally has focused on the development of individual symptoms in those who experienced trauma directly but has overlooked the interpersonal impact of trauma. The current study reports data from 45 male Army soldiers who recently returned from a military deployment to Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) or Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom)and their female spouses/partners. The results indicated that increased trauma symptoms, particularly sleep problems, dissociation, and severe sexual problems, in the soldiers significantly predicted lower marital/relationship satisfaction for both soldiers and their female partners. The results suggest that individual trauma symptoms negatively impact relationship satisfaction in military couples in which the husband has been exposed to war trauma