Removal Of Chromium From Electroplating Effluents By The Sulfide Process

A method has been developed for the removal of chromium using ferrous sulphide generated in situ. The effects of experimental parameters such as pH, reagent dosages, interference from cations and chelating agents have been investigated. Under optimum conditions, removal efficiencies of 99 and 97% for synthetic and industrial samples have been obtained. The method offers all the advantages of sulphide precipitation process and can be adopted easily for industrial effluents.

Direct precipitation of lead zirconate titanate by the hydrothermal method

Direct precipitation of fine powders of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) in the complete range of solid solution, is investigated under hydrothermal conditions, starting from lead oxide and titania/zirconia mixed gels. The perovskite phase is formed in the temperature range of 165 – 340°C. Sequence of the hydrothermal reactions is studied by identifying the intermediate phases. The initial formation of PbO: TiO2 solid solution is followed by the reaction of the same with the remaining mixed gels giving rise to X-ray amorphous PZT phase. Further, through crystallite growth, the X-ray crystalline PZT is formed. This method can be extended for the preparation of PLZT powder as well. The resulting powders are sinterable to high density ceramics.

Ultrafast and reversible multiblock formation by the SET-Nitroxide radical coupling reaction

The single electron transfer-nitroxide radical coupling (SET-NRC) reaction has been used to produce multiblock polymers with high molecular weights in under 3 min at 50◦C by coupling a difunctional telechelic polystyrene (Br-PSTY-Br)with a dinitroxide. The well known combination of dimethyl sulfoxide as solvent and Me6TREN as ligand facilitated the in situ disproportionation of CuIBr to the highly active nascent Cu0 species. This SET reaction allowed polymeric radicals to be rapidly formed from their corresponding halide end-groups. Trapping of these carbon-centred radicals at close to diffusion controlled rates by dinitroxides resulted in high-molecular-weight multiblock polymers. Our results showed that the disproportionation of CuI was critical in obtaining these ultrafast reactions, and confirmed that activation was primarily through Cu0. We took advantage of the reversibility of the NRC reaction at elevated temperatures to decouple the multiblock back to the original PSTY building block through capping the chain-ends with mono-functional nitroxides. These alkoxyamine end-groups were further exchanged with an alkyne mono-functional nitroxide (TEMPO–≡) and ‘clicked’ by a CuI-catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction with N3–PSTY–N3 to reform the multiblocks. This final ‘click’ reaction, even after the consecutive decoupling and nitroxide-exchange reactions, still produced high molecular-weight multiblocks efficiently. These SET-NRC reactions would have ideal applications in re-usable plastics and possibly as self-healing materials.

Relocating the American Dream : The America of the 1960s as Portrayed by the New Journalists Norman Mailer, Hunter S. Thompson, and Tom Wolfe

The concept of the American Dream was subject to a strong re-evaluation process in the 1960s, as counterculture became a prominent force in American society. A massive generation of young people, moved by the Vietnam War, the hippie movement, and psychedelic experimentation, created substantial social turbulence in their efforts to break out of conventional patterns and to create a new kind of society. This thesis outlines and analyses the concept of the American Dream in popular imagination through three works of new journalism. My primary data consists of Tom Wolfe’s The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test (1967), Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream (1971), and Norman Mailer’s Armies of the Night: History as a Novel, the Novel as History (1968). In defining the American Dream, I discuss the history of the concept as well as its manifestations in popular culture. Because of its elusive and amorphous nature, the concept of the American Dream can only be examined in cultural texts that portray the values, sentiments, and customs of a certain era. I have divided the analytical section of my thesis into three parts. In the first part I examine how the authors discuss the American society of their time in relation to ideology, capitalism, and the media. In the second part I focus on the Vietnam War and the controversy it creates in relation to the notions of freedom and patriotism. In the third part I discuss how the authors portray the countercultural visions of a better America that challenged the traditional interpretations of the American Dream. I also discuss the dark side of the new dream: the problems and disillusions that came with the effort to change the world. This thesis is an effort to trace the relocation of the American Dream in the context of the 1960s counterculture and new journalism. It hopes to provide a valuable addition to the cultural history of the sixties and to the effort of conceptualizing the American Dream.

Climate response to physiological forcing of carbon dioxide simulated by the coupled Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3.1) and Community Land Model (CLM3.0)

Increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO2 decrease stomatal conductance of plants and thus suppress canopy transpiration. The climate response to this CO2-physiological forcing is investigated using the Community Atmosphere Model version 3.1 coupled to Community Land Model version 3.0. In response to the physiological effect of doubling CO2, simulations show a decrease in canopy transpiration of 8%, a mean warming of 0.1K over the land surface, and negligible changes in the hydrological cycle. These climate responses are much smaller than what were found in previous modeling studies. This is largely a result of unrealistic partitioning of evapotranspiration in our model control simulation with a greatly underestimated contribution from canopy transpiration and overestimated contributions from canopy and soil evaporation. This study highlights the importance of a realistic simulation of the hydrological cycle, especially the individual components of evapotranspiration, in reducing the uncertainty in our estimation of climatic response to CO2-physiological forcing. Citation: Cao, L., G. Bala, K. Caldeira, R. Nemani, and G.Ban-Weiss (2009), Climate response to physiological forcing of carbon dioxide simulated by the coupled Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3.1) and Community Land Model (CLM3.0).

Some cytoplasmic details of yeast revealed by the electron microscope

Abstract is not available.

Estimation of gear tooth deflection by the finite element method

The finite element method (FEM) is used to determine for pitch-point, mid-point and tip loading, the deflection curve of a Image 1 diamentral pitch (DP) standard spur gear tooth corresponding to number of teeth of 14, 21, 26 and 34. In all these cases the deflection of the gear tooth at the point of loading obtained by FEM is in good agreement with the experimental value. The contraflexure in the deflection curve at the point of loading observed experimentally in the cases of pitch-point and mid-point loading, is predicted correctly by the FEM analysis.

Preparation of CaTiO3 fine powders by the hydrothermal method

Fine powders consisting of 0.1–0.5 μm size crystallites of CaTiO3 are prepared at 150–200°C by the hydrothermal method starting from hydrated titania gel and reactive calcium oxide suspended as an aqueous slurry in an autoclave. The resulting high-purity CaTiO3 is characterised by TEM, X-ray powder diffraction, chemical analyses and sintering characteristics. The hydrothermally prepared CaTiO3 powders are sinterable to high-density ceramics below 1400°C. The dc conductivity behaviour of the chemically reduced ceramics is presented.

Susceptibility of source plants to sugarcane Fiji disease virus influences the acquisition and transmission of the virus by the planthopper vector Perkinsiella saccharicida

Fiji leaf gall (FLG) caused by Sugarcane Fiji disease virus (SCFDV) is transmitted by the planthopper Perkinsiella saccharicida. FLG is managed through the identification and exploitation of plant resistance. The glasshouse-based resistance screening produced inconsistent transmission results and the factors responsible for that are not known. A series of glasshouse trials conducted over a 2-year period was compared to identify the factors responsible for the erratic transmission results. SCFDV transmission was greater when the virus was acquired by the vector from a cultivar that was susceptible to the virus than when the virus was acquired from a resistant cultivar. Virus acquisition by the vector was also greater when the vector was exposed to the susceptible cultivars than when exposed to the resistant cultivar. Results suggest that the variation in transmission levels is due to variation in susceptibility of sugarcane cultivars to SCFDV used for virus acquisition by the vector.

Clinical signs and duration of cyanide toxicosis delivered by the M-44 ejector in wild dogs

Sodium cyanide poison is potentially a more humane method to control wild dogs than sodium fluoroacetate (1080) poison. This study quantified the clinical signs and duration of cyanide toxicosis delivered by the M-44 ejector. The device delivered a nominal 0.88 g of sodium cyanide, which caused the animal to loose the menace reflex in a mean of 43 s, and the animal was assumed to have undergone cerebral hypoxia after the last visible breath. The mean time to cerebral hypoxia was 156 s for a vertical pull and 434 s for a side pull. The difference was possibly because some cyanide may be lost in a side pull. There were three distinct phases of cyanide toxicosis: the initial phase was characterised by head shaking, panting and salivation; the immobilisation phase by incontinence, ataxia and loss of the righting reflex; and the cerebral hypoxia phase by a tetanic seizure. Clinical signs that were exhibited in more than one phase of cyanide toxicosis included retching, agonal breathing, vocalisation, vomiting, altered levels of ocular reflex, leg paddling, tonic muscular spasms, respiratory distress and muscle fasciculations of the muzzle.

Child rights as perceived by the community members in India

Attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions of an individual influence their behavior as well as culture of a society. The objective of the study was to understand the attitudes and knowledge of 584 Indian community members regarding child rights and their perceptions about whether selected child rights were secured in reality. Overall attitudes of vast majority (96 – 98%) of the participants towards child rights were found to be positive i.e., children should have rights in various respects except issue like right to meet others (Article 15 of CRC). Knowledge of majority of the participants about child rights related legislations was moderate and varied across the cities while participants were unanimous about poor lived experiences of child rights in reality. So far as attitude and perception are concerned about child rights, there was a significant difference in the distribution between cities (p<0.01). Overall, the Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 had the highest awareness (91.3%, n=533), followed by the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 (89.7%, n=523) and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (89.6%, n=523). Findings of the present study speak in favor of community awareness about child rights and penalties for violation of child rights.

Newspaper obituary for Max Molling in the Hannoverscher Anzeiger by the personel of M. Molling & Co.; Hannover, Germany.

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Transcriptional regulation by the orphan nuclear receptor ERRgamma

The nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily is comprised of receptors for small lipopfilic ligands such as steroid hormones, thyroid hormone, retinoids, and vitamin D. NRs are ligand-inducible transcription factors capable of both activating and repressing their target gene expression. They control a wide range of biological functions connected to growth, development, and homeostasis. In addition to the ligand-regulated receptors, the family includes a large group of receptors whose physiological ligands are unknown. These receptors are referred to as orphan NRs. Estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRgamma) belongs to the ERR subfamily of orphan NRs together with the related ERRalpha and ERRbeta. ERRs share amino acid sequence homology with the classical estrogen receptors (ERs) but they are unable to bind natural estrogenic ligands. ERRgamma is expressed in several embryonic and adult tissues but its biological role is still largely unknown. ERRgamma activates reporter gene expression in transfected cells independently of added hormones implying that ERRgamma harbors constitutive activity. However, the intrinsic activity of ERRgamma can be inhibited by synthetic compounds such as the selective estrogen receptor modulator 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT). Ligands of NRs can act as agonists that activate transcription, as antagonists that prevent activation of transcription, or as inverse agonists that antagonize the constitutive transcriptional activity of receptor. Most of the synthetic ERRgamma ligands act as inverse agonists but recently, a synthetic ERRgamma agonist GSK4716 was identified. This demonstrates that it is possible to design and identify agonists for ERRgamma. Prior to this thesis work, the structural and functional characteristics of ERRgamma were largely unknown. The aim of this study was to define the functional requirements for ERRgamma-mediated transcriptional regulation and to examine the cross-talk between ERRgamma and other NRs. Due to the fact that natural physiological ligands of ERRgamma are unknown, another aim of this study was to seek new natural compounds that may affect transcriptional activity of ERRgamma. Plant-derived phytoestrogens have previously been shown to act as ligands for ERs and ERRalpha, and therefore the effects of these compounds were also studied on ERRgamma-mediated transcriptional regulation. This work demonstrated that ERRgamma-mediated transcriptional regulation was dependent on DNA-binding, dimerization and activation function-2. Heterodimerization with ERRalpha inhibited the transcriptional activity of ERRgamma. In addition to 4-OHT, another anti-estrogen, 4-hydroxytoremifene (4-OHtor), was identified as an inverse agonist of ERRgamma. Interestingly, ERRgamma activated transcription in the presence of 4-OHT and 4-OHtor on activator protein-1 binding sites. ERRgamma was found to interact with another orphan NR Nurr1 by repressing the ability of Nurr1 to activate transcription of the osteopontin gene. Transcriptional activity of ERRgamma was shown to be stimulated by the phytoestrogen equol. Structural model analysis and mutational experiments indicated that equol was able to bind to the ligand binding domain of ERRgamma. The growth inhibitory effect of ERRgamma on prostate cancer cells was found to be enhanced by equol. In summary, this study demonstrates that despite the absence of an endogenous physiological ligand, the activity of ERRgamma can be modulated in other ways such as dimerization with related receptors or by cross-talk with other transcription factors as well as by binding some synthetic or natural compounds.

Determination of mode 1 notch stress intensity factor by the photoelastic technique

The structural integrity of any member subjected to a load gets impaired due to the presence of cracks or crack-like defects. The notch severity is one of the several parameters that promotes the brittle fracture. The most severe one is an ideal crack with infinitesimal width and infinitesimal or zero root radius. Though analytical investigations can handle an ideal crack, experimental work, either to validate the analytical conclusions or to impose the bounds, needs to be carried out on models or specimens containing the cracks which are far from the ideal ones. Thus instead of an ideal crack with infinitesimal width the actual model will have a slot or a slit of finite width and instead of a crack ending in zero root radius, the model contains a slot having a finite root radius. Another factor of great significance at the root is the notch angle along which the transition from the slot to the root takes place. This paper is concerned with the photoelastic determination of the notch stress intensity factor in the case of a “crack” subjected to Mode 1 deformation.

An investigation of migration and possible stock structuring by the stout whiting, Sillago robusta, in southern Queensland waters, and its impact on managing the fishery. Final Report on the Pilot Program

A highly polymorphic genetic locus of Stout Whiting was examined for evidence of geographical subdivision amongst samples collected from three locales in southern Queensland waters. Statistical indicators of subdivision were not significantly different from zero, suggesting that it is unlikely that the Stout Whiting resource in southern Queensland is genetically subdivided into separate stocks. It is recommended that the full-scale genetic program not proceed and that the resource be managed as a single stock.