Identification and differentiation of Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica using a simple PCR-restriction enzyme method

Accurate morphological differentiation between the liver fluke species Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica is difficult. We evaluated PCR-restriction enzyme profiles of internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) that could aid in their identification. Fifty F. hepatica and 30 F. gigantica specimens were collected from different hosts in three provinces of Iran. For DNA extraction, we crushed fragments of the worms between two glass slides as a new method to break down the cells. DNA from the crushed materials was then extracted with a conventional phenol-chloroform method and with the newly developed technique, commercial FTA cards. A primer pair was selected to amplify a 463-bp region of the ITS1 sequence. After sequencing 14 samples and in silico analysis, cutting sites of all known enzymes were predicted and TasI was selected as the enzyme that yielded the most informative profile. Crushing produced enough DNA for PCR amplification with both the phenol-chloroform and commercial FTA card method. The DNA extracted from all samples was successfully amplified and yielded a single sharp band of the expected size. Digestion of PCR products with TasI allowed us to distinguish the two species. In all samples, molecular identification was consistent with morphological identification. Our PCR-restriction enzyme profile is a simple, rapid and reliable method for differentiating F. hepatica and F. gigantica, and can be used for diagnostic and epidemiological purposes. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Fluid properties at high pressures and temperatures: Experimental and modelling challenges

Thermophysical properties impact many aspects of the chemical process industries. Here three example areas, primarily in the energy sector, are highlighted to provide context for the experimental and modelling challenges associated with obtaining fluid property data at high pressures and temperatures (HPHT). These three areas include the recovery of petroleum reserves in ultra-deep reservoirs, the use of lubricants to reduce frictional losses in the automotive industries, and the use of high-pressure, common rail diesel fuel delivery to reduce soot emissions for greener environments. The accurate knowledge of thermodynamic and transport properties in these three focused areas minimizes associated operating uncertainties and accelerates safe, reliable, and robust process and product development

Microstructural evolution in solution heat treatment of gas- atomised Al alloy (7075) powder for cold spray

Cold gas dynamic spray is being explored as a repair technique for high-value metallic components, given its potential to produce pore and oxide-free deposits of between several micrometers and several millimeters thick with good levels of adhesion and mechanical strength. However, feedstock powders for cold spray experience rapid solidification if manufactured by gas atomization and hence can exhibit non-equilibrium microstructures and localized segregation of alloying elements. Here, we used sealed quartz tube solution heat treatment of a precipitation hardenable 7075 aluminum alloy feedstock to yield a consistent and homogeneous powder phase composition and microstructure prior to cold spraying, aiming for a more controllable heat treatment response of the cold spray deposits. It was shown that the dendritic microstructure and solute segregation in the gas-atomized powders were altered, such that the heat-treated powder exhibits a homogeneous distribution of solute atoms. Micro-indentation testing revealed that the heat-treated powder exhibited a mean hardness decrease of nearly 25% compared to the as received powder. Deformation of the powder particles was enhanced by heat treatment, resulting in an improved coating with higher thickness (* 300 lm compared to * 40 um for untreated feedstock). Improved particle–substrate bonding was evidenced by formation of jets at the particle boundaries

Radiation Protection Studies for LCLS Tune Up Dump

The Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center is a pioneer fourth generation hard x-ray free electron laser that shall start to deliver laser pulses in 2009. Among other components of LCLS that present radiation protection concerns, the tune up dump (tdund) is of special interest because it also constitutes an issue for machine protection, as it is placed close to radiation sensitive components, like electronic devices and permanent magnets in the undulators. This paper first introduces the stopper of tdund looking at the heat load, and then it describes the shielding around the dump necessary to maintain the prompt and residual dose within design values. Next, preliminary comparisons of the magnetization loss in a dedicated on-site magnet irradiation experiment with FLUKA simulations serve to characterize the magnetic response to radiation of magnets like those of LCLS. The previous knowledge, together with the limit for the allowed demagnetization, are used to estimate the lifetime of the undulator. Further simulations provide guidelines on which lifetime can be expected for an electronic device placed at a given distance of tdund

Fermentación controlada de aceitunas verdes picholine marroquíes sometidas a choque térmico e inoculadas sin sal

The present work reports the controlled fermentation of heat-shocked, unsalted and inoculated green olives. The effects of heat-shock (60, 70 and 80 °C three times for 5 min), inoculation with the oleuropeinolytic strain of L. plantarum FSO175 (L.p-FSO175) and the addition of Cell-Free Supernatant of C. pelliculosa L18 (CFS of C.p-L18) on the fermentation process of unsalted green olives were examined. The results showed a drastic reduction in the initial indigenous Enterobacteria, and an improvement in the acidification of heat-shocked olives at 70 and 80 °C, when compared to 60 °C. The inoculation with L.p-FSO175 and addition of CFS of C.p-L18 enhanced the fermentation and preservation of unsalted green olives, indicated by a significant decrease in pH, increase in free acidity and total disappearance of Enterobacteria. The heat-shock treatment at high temperature (80 °C), inoculation with L.p-FSO175 and addition of CFS of C.p-L18 led to the best reduction in bitterness, and favorable color changes (L, a, and b) in fermented olives. This sequential method led to more appreciated sensory characteristics (mainly bitterness and color) of fermented olives, lower spoilage incidence in olives, and reduced fermentation time to 50 days, and therefore may be suitable to control the fermentation of unsalted green olives of the Moroccan picholine variety.El presente trabajo reporta la fermentación controlada de aceitunas verdes sometidas a choque térmico, sin salar e inoculadas. Se estudian los efectos del choque térmico (60 °C, 70 °C y 80 °C tres veces durante 5 min), la inoculación con cepa oleuropeinolítica de L. plantarum FSO175 (L.p-FSO175) y la adición de sobrenadante libre de células de C. pelliculosa L18 (CFS de C.p-L18), sobre el proceso de fermentación de aceitunas verdes sin salar. Los resultados mostraron la drástica reducción de las enterobacterias autóctonas iniciales, y la mejora de la acidificación de las aceitunas sometidas a choque térmico de 70 °C y 80 °C, en comparación con 60 °C. La inoculación con L.p-FSO175 y la adición de CFS de C.p-L18 mejoró la fermentación y conservación de las aceitunas verdes sin salar, indicada por una disminución significativa del pH, aumento de la acidez libre y desaparición total de enterobacterias. El choque térmico a alta temperatura (80 °C), la inoculación con L.p-FSO175 y la adición de CFS de C.p-L18 condujeron a una mejor reducción del amargor y cambios de color favorables (L, a y b) en aceitunas fermentadas. Este método secuencial, que permitió apreciar las características sensoriales (principalmente amargor y color) de las aceitunas fermentadas, y una menor incidencia de deterioro en las aceitunas, y redujo el tiempo de fermentación a 50 días, puede ser adecuado para controlar la fermentación de aceitunas verdes sin salar de Marruecos, variedad picholine

Mosaic trisomy 22 in a 4-year-old boy with congenital heart disease and general hypotrophy: A case report

Background: Trisomy 22 mosaicism is a rare autosomal anomaly with survival compatibility. Recognition of the complete trisomy 22 which is incompatible with life from the mosaic form is critical for genetic counseling. Affected mosaic cases have prevalent clinical presentations such as webbed neck, developmental delay, abnormal ears, cardiac disorders, and microcephaly. Phenotype of these patients is milder than full chromosomal aneuploidy, and the severity of the phenotype depends on the count of trisomic cells. We describe a 4-year-old boy with mosaic trisomy 22 from healthy parents and no family history of any genetic disorders in the pedigree. Method and Results: The patient had determined dysmorphic clinical features including facial asymmetry, cleft palate, gastroenteritis, hydronephrosis, developmental delay, genital anomalies, dysplastic toenails, flattened nasal bridge, congenital heart defect, hearing loss, cryptorchidism, and hypotonic muscle. He is the first reported with hypothyroidism and larynx wall thickness in worldwide and the first with atrial septal defect (ASD) from Iran. Chromosomal analyses using G-banding indicated a de novo Mos 47,XY,+22(6)/46,XY(44) karyotype with no other chromosomal structural changes. Conclusions: Our observations confirm the importance of cytogenetic analyses for determining the cause of congenital anomalies and provide a useful genetic counseling. In addition, due to the fact that some of mosaic trisomy 22 features are unavoidable such as CHD and general hypotrophy, we suggest including echocardiography test for early diagnosis during the clinical assessment. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

The Next Linear Collider machine protection system

The Next Linear Collider (NLC) electron and positron beams are capable of damaging the linac accelerating structure and beamline vacuum chambers during an individual aberrant accelerator pulse. Machine protection system (MPS) considerations, outlined in this paper, have an impact on the engineering and design of most machine components downstream of the damping ring injector complex. The MPS consists of two functional levels. The first is a system that provides a benign, single bunch, low intensity, high emittance beam that will be used for commissioning and at any time that the integrity or the settings of the downstream component are in doubt. This level also provides for the smooth transition back and forth between high power operation and the benign diagnostic pilot bunch operation. The pilot bunch parameters in the main linac are estimated on the basis of the expected stress in the accelerator structure copper. Beam tests have been done at the SLAC linac to examine the behaviour of the copper at the damage stress threshold. Typical pilot beam parameters (compared with nominal) are: 10 times reduced intensity, 10 times increased horizontal emittance and 1000 times increased vertical emittance, resulting in a reduction in charge density of 105. The second level is the primary protection against a single aberrant pulse. It’s goal is to reduce the possibility that a substantial transverse field changes the trajectory of the high power beam from one pulse to the next. All devices that could produce such a field are 1) monitored by a fast response network and 2) have deliberately slowed response times. A ‘maximum allowable interpulse difference ’ is evaluated for each such device as well as the beam trajectory monitors in each interpulse period.

Direct Mass Measurements in the Light Neutron-Rich Region Using a Combined Energy and Time-of-Flight Technique

Historically, masses have been determined one at a time via decay or reaction Q-value measurements. In general only after several such individual measurements could one establish a trend in the binding energies and thus develop an improved understanding of the nuclear mass surface. With the advancement of online mass spectrometers, it became possible to measure long isotopic sequences. Although only alkali elements have been extensively measured to date, this technique has proved successful in revealing sudden changes in nuclear structure and in pointing out systematic deficiencies of various mass models. In the experiment described herein, we have worked to extend mass measurement capabilities one step further with the development of a more general approach in which a whole series of nuclei can be measured simultaneously, independent of their N or Z. Below we demonstrate that direct mass measurements can be performed for fast recoiling nuclei using a combined energy and time-of-flight (i.e., M proportional to ET/sup 2/) technique

Heat treatment of cold-sprayed C355 Al for repair: microstructure and mechanical properties

Cold gas dynamic spraying of commercially pure aluminum is widely used for dimensional repair in the aerospace sector as it is capable of producing oxide-free deposits of hundreds of micrometer thickness with strong bonding to the substrate, based on adhesive pull-off tests, and often with enhanced hardness compared to the powder prior to spraying. There is significant interest in extending this application to structural, load-bearing repairs. Particularly, in the case of high-strength aluminum alloys, cold spray deposits can exhibit high levels of porosity and microcracks, leading to mechanical properties that are inadequate for most load-bearing applications. Here, heat treatment was investigated as a potential means of improving the properties of cold-sprayed coatings from Al alloy C355. Coatings produced with process conditions of 500 °C and 60 bar were heat-treated at 175, 200, 225, 250 °C for 4 h in air, and the evolution of the microstructure and microhardness was analyzed. Heat treatment at 225 and 250 °C revealed a decreased porosity (~ 0.14% and 0.02%, respectively) with the former yielding slightly reduced hardness (105 versus 130 HV0.05 as-sprayed). Compressive residual stress levels were approximately halved at all depths into the coating after heat treatment, and tensile testing showed an improvement in ductility