Dehydration mechanism of a small molecular solid: 5-nitrouracil hydrate

Previous studies of the dehydration of 5-nitrouracil (5NU) have resulted in it being classified as a ‘‘channel hydrate’’ in which dehydration proceeds principally by the exit of the water molecules along channels in the structure. We have re-examined this proposal and found that in fact there are no continuous channels in the 5NU structure that would contribute to such a mechanism. Product water molecules would be immediately trapped in unlinked voids in the crystal structure and would require some additional mechanism to break loose from the crystal. Through a detailed structural analysis of the macro and micro structure of the 5NU as it dehydrates, we have developed a model for the dehydration process based on the observed development of structural defects in the 5NU crystal and the basic crystallography of the material. The model was tested against standard kinetic measurements and found to present a satisfactory account of kinetic observations, thus defining the mechanism. Overall, the study shows the necessity of complementing standard kinetic studies with a parallel macro and micro examination of the dehydrating material when evaluating the mechanisms of dehydration and decomposition processes

The effects of sorghum and cowpea genotype and sorghum sowing density in an intercrop system.

Five diverse sorghum genotypes were sown at sole crop density and at intercrop density with-out cowpea and with two contrasting cowpea genotypes, in the post-rainy season at Hyderabad, India. The interaction of sorghum genotype with sowing density was significant for sorghum dry fodder and grain yield, but the interaction of sorghum genotype with cowpea was not, because of compensation between yield components. The likely response of sorghum genotypes to intercropping can therefore be assessed initially from the performance of low density sole crops, followed by assessment in the presence of a single standard cowpea variety. The cowpea genotypes were affected by the presence of sorghum but not by the sorghum genotype. This suggests that the effect on the cowpea can be ignored when selecting a sorghum genotype for intercropping, and that a cowpea genotype for intercropping can be selected in the presence of a single sorghum genotype. However, these conclusions are unlikery to apply to rain season sowings, when sorghum dominates the intercrop more completely

El que he vist a Can Parés en els darrers quaranta anys : memòries d'Enric Galwey

Forma part del projecte: Biblioteca Digital d'Història de l'Art Hispànic (UAB)Localització de l'original: Universitat Autònoma de BarcelonaMemòries sobre la Sala Parés que va escriure el pintor Enric Galwey i que foren publicades l'any 1934 en motiu del cinquantenari de la galeria. Inclou anècdotes i records sobre els artistes i la gent que freqüentava la galeria.Memorias sobre la Sala Parés que escribió el pintor Enric Galwey y que fueron publicadas en 1934 con motivo del cincuentenario de la galería. Incluye anécdotas y recuerdos sobre los artistas y la gente que frecuentaba la galería.Memories about the Sala Parés written by the painter Enric Galwey and published in 1934 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the gallery. It includes anecdotes and memories about the artists and the people who frequented the gallery

Investigation into the potential shortfall of skilled and experienced test and power technicians across the generation industry

The New Zealand Generation Industry is concerned there is going to be a potential shortage of Power Technicians whose skills are critical to the functioning of generation assets. The systemic nature of the situation is recognised in the development of a framework that is used as both a diagnostic of the current situation and as a platform for future management. The framework is a synthesis of the Perpetual Inventory Model, Total Quality Management, Manpower Planning best practice and Capability Maturity Assessment, with the associated governance considerations being further addressed through the Viable Systems Model and the responsibility alignment tool RASCI. The demographics of the current working population of Power Technicians were identified through the use of surveys and interviews. The results showed that there is an ageing cohort of Power Technicians in the South Island, especially within the Hydro-specific Power Technician resource pool. Recommendations have been made from both a short-term response to the current situation, as well as a long-t erm strategic response to ensure that management systems and business processes are in place to achieve the necessary and sustainable levels of Power Technicians across the industry

Kinetic parameter estimation from TGA: Optimal design of TGA experiments

This work presents a general methodology to determine kinetic models of solid thermal decomposition with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) instruments. The goal is to determine a simple and robust kinetic model for a given solid with the minimum of TGA experiments. From this last point of view, this work can be seen as an attempt to find the optimal design of TGA experiments for kinetic modelling. Two computation tools were developed. The first is a nonlinear parameter estimation procedure for identifying parameters in nonlinear dynamical models. The second tool computes the thermogravimetric experiment (here, the programmed temperature profile applied to the thermobalance) required in order to identify the best kinetic parameters, i.e. parameters with a higher statistical reliability. The combination of the two tools can be integrated in an iterative approach generally called sequential strategy. The application concerns the thermal degradation of cardboard in a Setaram TGA instrument and the results that are presented demonstrate the improvements in the kinetic parameter estimation process

Genotypic variation in the response of sorghum to intercropping with cowpea, and in the effect on the associated legume.

Selection of sorghum genotypes for the sorghum-cowpea intercrop system would be simplified if it could be done in sole crop. In order to compare evaluation in sole crop and in the presence of the standard cowpea cultivar c 152, sorghum inbred lines, F2 hybrids and land races which differed in maturity date, height and canopy characters were grown in the two systems in two seasons at Hyderabad,India. Cowpea sole crop was included as an additional treatment. Sorghum canopy characters and yield components in intercrop were highly correlated with the same characters in sole crop. How-ever, multiple regression of sorghum grain yield in intercrop on characters measured in sole crop. Characters related to light interception were the most influential in determining sorghum yield, but some genetically determined variation in yield was unexplained by either multiple regression. Characters related to light interception had a negative influence on cowpea yield, though again some variation due to sorghum genotype was unexplained. Thus although the influence of sorghum plant characters on each component crop is predictable, compensation between the components makes the overall outcome more difficult to predict, and dependent upon which component isfavoured by the environment. The sorghum genotypes selected will therefore represent a compromise: they should not be dwarf types, but should be early maturing to escape drought, and have narrow canopies so as not to be too competitive on the cowpea. The final selection should be made in intercrop

Interactions among genes in the ErbB-Neuregulin signalling network are associated with increased susceptibility to schizophrenia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evidence of genetic association between the NRG1 (Neuregulin-1) gene and schizophrenia is now well-documented. Furthermore, several recent reports suggest association between schizophrenia and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ERBB4, one of the receptors for Neuregulin-1. In this study, we have extended the previously published associations by investigating the involvement of all eight genes from the ERBB and NRG families for association with schizophrenia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight genes from the ERBB and NRG families were tested for association to schizophrenia using a collection of 396 cases and 1,342 blood bank controls ascertained from Aberdeen, UK. A total of 365 SNPs were tested. Association testing of both alleles and genotypes was carried out using the fast Fisher's Exact Test (FET). To understand better the nature of the associations, all pairs of SNPs separated by ≥ 0.5 cM with at least nominal evidence of association (<it>P </it>< 0.10) were tested for evidence of pairwise interaction by logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>42 out of 365 tested SNPs in the eight genes from the ERBB and NRG gene families were significantly associated with schizophrenia (<it>P </it>< 0.05). Associated SNPs were located in ERBB4 and NRG1, confirming earlier reports. However, novel associations were also seen in NRG2, NRG3 and EGFR. In pairwise interaction tests, clear evidence of gene-gene interaction was detected for NRG1-NRG2, NRG1-NRG3 and EGFR-NRG2, and suggestive evidence was also seen for ERBB4-NRG1, ERBB4-NRG2, ERBB4-NRG3 and ERBB4-ERBB2. Evidence of intragenic interaction was seen for SNPs in ERBB4.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These new findings suggest that observed associations between NRG1 and schizophrenia may be mediated through functional interaction not just with ERBB4, but with other members of the NRG and ERBB families. There is evidence that genetic interaction among these loci may increase susceptibility to schizophrenia.</p

Integrated analysis of dermal blister fluid proteomics and genome-wide skin gene expression in systemic sclerosis: an observational study

Background: Skin fibrosis is a hallmark feature of systemic sclerosis. Skin biopsy transcriptomics and blister fluid proteomics give insight into the local environment of the skin. We have integrated these modalities with the aim of developing a surrogate for the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS), using candidate genes and proteins from the skin and blister fluid as anchors to identify key analytes in the plasma. Methods: In this single-centre, prospective observational study at the Royal Free Campus, University College London, London, UK, transcriptional and proteomic analyses of blood and skin were performed in a cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis (n=52) and healthy controls (n=16). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to explore the association of skin transcriptomics data, clinical traits, and blister fluid proteomic results. Candidate hub analytes were identified as those present in both blister and skin gene sets (modules), and which correlated with plasma (module membership >0·7 and gene significance >0·6). Hub analytes were confirmed using RNA transcript data obtained from skin biopsy samples from patients with early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis at 12 months. Findings: We identified three modules in the skin, and two in blister fluid, which correlated with a diagnosis of early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis. From these modules, 11 key hub analytes were identified, present in both skin and blister fluid modules, whose transcript and protein levels correlated with plasma protein concentrations, mRSS, and showed statistically significant correlation on repeat transcriptomic samples taken at 12 months. Multivariate analysis identified four plasma analytes as correlates of mRSS (COL4A1, COMP, SPON1, and TNC), which can be used to differentiate disease subtype. Interpretation: This unbiased approach has identified potential biological candidates that might be drivers of local skin pathogenesis in systemic sclerosis. By focusing on measurable analytes in the plasma, we generated a promising composite plasma protein biomarker that could be used for assessment of skin severity, case stratification, and as a potential outcome measure for clinical trials and practice. Once fully validated, the biomarker score could replace a clinical score such as the mRSS, which carries substantial variability. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline and UK Medical Research Council

Predicting fleece weight from the difference in live weight pre- and post-shearing

Radio frequency identification (RFID) and automated weighing platforms facilitate the practicality and ease with which individual live weight (LW) can be recorded. This raises the possibility for the difference in recorded LW of sheep between pre- and post-shearing to provide an estimate of fleece weight (eFW) which, in turn, could allow selection pressure to be applied for improved wool production. The eFW of yearling ewes (n=98), yearling rams (n=274) and mixed-age ewes (n=305) were compared with their recorded fleece weight (FW). Positive linear correlations (P<0.001 for all stock classes) were observed between eFW and FW and also the eFW rank and FW rank. Although some variability between stock classes existed, for all data combined, FW rank was able to account for 42% of the variation in eFW rank. Further, selecting individuals on eFW was able to retain an average of 64% of the selection differential obtained using recorded FW. Overall, these results suggest eFW calculated from the difference in LW between pre- and post-shearing, in combination with RFID and automated weighing platforms, may provide a useful and practical tool to assist with selection for improved wool production in a commercial setting

Model Free Approach for Non-Isothermal Decomposition of Un-Irradiated and γ-Irradiated Silver Acetate: New Route for Synthesis of Ag2O Nanoparticles

Kinetic studies for the non-isothermal decomposition of unirradiated and γ-irradiated silver acetate with 103 kGy total γ-ray doses were carried out in air. The results showed that the decomposition proceeds in one major step in the temperature range of (180–270 °C) with the formation of Ag2O as solid residue. The non-isothermal data for un-irradiated and γ-irradiated silver acetate were analyzed using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) and nonlinear Vyazovkin (VYZ) iso-conversional methods. These free models on the investigated data showed a systematic dependence of Ea on α indicating a simple decomposition process. No significant changes in the thermal decomposition behavior of silver acetate were recorded as a result of γ-irradiation. Calcinations of γ-irradiated silver acetate (CH3COOAg) at 200 °C for 2 hours only led to the formation of pure Ag2O mono-dispersed nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction, FTIR and SEM techniques were employed for characterization of the synthesized nanoparticles