Materials and Component Development for Advanced Turbine Systems

Hydrogen-fired and oxy-fueled land-based gas turbines currently target inlet operating temperatures of ∼1425-1760°C (∼2600-3200°F). In view of natural gas or syngas-fired engines, advancements in both materials, as well as aerothermal cooling configurations are anticipated prior to commercial operation. This paper reviews recent technical accomplishments resulting from NETL’s collaborative research efforts with the University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University for future land-based gas turbine applications

Research approvals iceberg: how a 'low-key' study in England needed 89 professionals to approve it and how we can do better.

BACKGROUND: The red tape and delays around research ethics and governance approvals frequently frustrate researchers yet, as the lesser of two evils, are largely accepted as unavoidable. Here we quantify aspects of the research ethics and governance approvals for one interview- and questionnaire-based study conducted in England which used the National Health Service (NHS) procedures and the electronic Integrated Research Application System (IRAS). We demonstrate the enormous impact of existing approvals processes on costs of studies, including opportunity costs to focus on the substantive research, and suggest directions for radical system change. MAIN TEXT: We have recorded 491 exchanges with 89 individuals involved in research ethics and governance approvals, generating 193 pages of email text excluding attachments. These are conservative estimates (e.g. only records of the research associate were used). The exchanges were conducted outside IRAS, expected to be the platform where all necessary documents are provided and questions addressed. Importantly, the figures exclude the actual work of preparing the ethics documentation (such as the ethics application, information sheets and consent forms). We propose six areas of work to enable system change: 1. Support the development of a broad range of customised research ethics and governance templates to complement generic, typically clinical trials orientated, ones; 2. Develop more sophisticated and flexible frameworks for study classification; 3. Link with associated processes for assessment, feedback, monitoring and reporting, such as ones involving funders and patient and public involvement groups; 4. Invest in a new generation IT infrastructure; 5. Enhance system capacity through increasing online reviewer participation and training; and 6. Encourage researchers to quantify the approvals processes for their studies. CONCLUSION: Ethics and governance approvals are burdensome for historical reasons and not because of the nature of the task. There are many opportunities to improve their efficiency and analytic depth in an age of innovation, increased connectivity and distributed working. If we continue to work under current systems, we are perpetuating, paradoxically, an unethical system of research approvals by virtue of its wastefulness and impoverished ethical debate

The evaluation of shellfish wastes as antimicrobial agent on Rainbow trout

This study aims to investigate antimicrobial effects of chitosan obtained from shell wastes of Metapenaeus stebbingi on refrigerated rainbow trout fillets. In the study, the fillets were dipped with different concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, 1%) of extracted and commercial chitosan and were packed with vacuum and air conditions and subsequently, changes in total bacteria were observed during refrigerated storage period (4±1°C). There were decreases in the number of microorganisms of both groups plunged in natural and commercial chitosan during 12 days of storage compared to control group, and the best results was obtained as 0.1% in the groups applied with natural and commercial chitosan (p<0.05). In conclusion, chitosan obtained from shell wastes of M. stebbingi could be used as an effective natural alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents during the storage period of fish. © by PSP

Effects of chitosan on color, sensory and microbiological properties of european eel (Anguilla anguilla) fillets during refrigerated storage

In this study, the effects of chitosan extracted from Metapenaeus stebbingi shells and commercial chitosan (CC) on color, sensory and microbiological properties of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) during refrigerated storage (4±1C) were examined. The control and treated fillet samples were analyzed periodically for color (L*, a* and b*), sensory and microbiological (total viable count) characteristics. Both chitosans had no significant effect on L*, b*, chroma, hue and whiteness values of the European eel fillets during storage (P>0.05). However, a* value was determined higher in control group in the last days of storage (P<0.05), and the development of total bacteria was slower in fillets containing chitosan compared with control group. The results indicated that both chitosans improved the quality characteristics of eel fillets and extended the shelf life during the refrigerated storage, which was supported by the results of sensory and microbial analyses. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: There is an increasing interest in food additives nowadays. Chitosan draws attention as a preservative substance in food industry because of its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. This study investigated the effects of chitosan extracted from shrimp shells discarded in Turkey and also the commercial chitosan on color, sensory and microbiological properties of European eel, a highly perishable food, during refrigerated storage. These findings can be well utilized by researchers as well as manufacturers in the long-term storage of fish and fish products. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Antimicrobial Activity of the Chitosan Extracted from Metapenaeus stebbingi Shell Wastes

In the study, chitosan chemically extracted from Metapenaeus stebbingi shells obtained from shrimp processing factories and commercial chitosan were used as antimicrobial materials. Antimicrobial activities of the chitosans dissolved in acetic, lactic, formic and hydrochloric acid at different concentrations (1. 00, 0. 50, 0. 25, 0. 10 and 0. 05%) were tested in vitro by using the disk diffusion method with standard microorganisms (Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli 1, Escherichia coli 2, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterecoccus faecalis, Aeromonas caviae). On the other hand, gentamicin was used as positive control. Antimicrobial test results indicated that chitosan demonstrated different effects depending on the chitosan concentration, solvent material and bacteria type. In the present study, both the extracted and commercial chitosans were observed to have antimicrobial effects on nearly all types of the bacteria. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Anterior sacral meningocele in a patient with currarino syndrome as a cause of ileus

Currarino's syndrome (CS) is characterized by a triad of a sacral bony defect, anorectal malformations and presacral mass, most commonly an anterior sacral meningocele. Since it was first described as a syndrome by Currarino et al. in 1981, approximately 300 cases have been reported in the literature. Diagnosis of CS in adulthood is rare. We present an adult patient with CS, manifesting by an acute intestinal obstruction. To our knowledge, acute intestinal obstruction in an adult as a presentation of CS has not been reported previously

Some Environmental Factors Affecting on Growth Characteristics in Eastern Anatolian Red Cattle

Doğu Anadolu Kırmızısı (DAK) ırkı sığırların farklı yaşlardaki canlı ağırlık, canlı ağırlık artışları ve bazı vücut ölçüleri belirlenerek, bu özellikler üzerine etkili çevre faktörleri incelenmiştir. Ana yaşının doğum ağırlığı üzerine etkisi çok önemli (P<0.01) bulunmuştur. En düşük ortalama doğum ağırlığı 3 yaşlı analardan doğan buzağılardan, en yüksek doğum ağırlığı ise 5 yaşlı anaların buzağılarından elde edilmiştir. Erkek hayvanların değişik yaşlarda dişilere göre daha yüksek canlı ağırlığa ve ağırlık artışlarına sahip oldukları görülmüştür. Cinsiyetin canlı ağırlık üzerine etkisi, 9 ve 12 ay ağırlıkları hariç çok önemli (P<0.01) bulunmuştur. Buzağılara farklı miktarlarda sütle beslemenin 3, 6 ve 9 ay ağırlıkları ile ağırlık artışları üzerine çok önemli derecede (P<0.01) etki yaptığı saptanmıştır. Doğum yılının DAK’larda günlük canlı ağırlık artışları üzerine etkisi de çok önemli (P<0.01) olmuştur. Bu sonuçlar ele alınan özellikler üzerine çevresel faktörlerin önemini ortaya koymakta olup, yapılacak ıslah çalışmalarında bunlara göre düzeltmelerin yapılması gerekmektedir.Live weights, weight gains and some body measurements at different ages of Eastern Anatolian Red Cattle (EAR) were determined and some environmental factors affecting on these traits were investigated. The effect of dam’s age on the birth weight was highly significant (P<0.01). Although the lowest birth weight was obtained from calves of dams at the 3 years of age, the highest birth weight was obtained from calves given birth by cows at the 5 years of age. The males had heavier live weights and weight gains at different ages than the females. The effect of the sex on the live weights except for 9 and 12 months weights was found as highly significant (P<0.01). Feeding of the calves with different amount of milk had significant (P<0.01) influence on the 3, 6 and 9 months weights as well as weight gains. The effect of the years on the daily weight gains in EAR was also highly significant (P<0.01). The results shows the importance of the environmental effects on the traits studied and revealed that there is need for them to be corrected prior to the improvement studies