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AbstractIn 1970s, barley straw has been known to be capable of controlling algal growth. In vitroand in situexperiments were performed to investigate the effects of barley straw on algal growth inhibition substances. In addition, its ecotoxicity and the algal growth inhibition substances extracted from barley straw were examined. In the in vitroexperiment, barley straw and retinaspora leaf treatment groups caused significant decreases (pvalue < 0.05) in the number of cells in Anabaena affinis, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Scenedesmus quadricaudacompared with the control group. However, the treatment group, which applied 0.2 g of barley straw, showed a tendency of increasing the number of cells in S. quadricaudacompared with the control group. It reveals that types of algae and proper applications of barley straw are important to inhibit algal growth. In addition, the barley straw showed almost no ecotoxicities in ecotoxicity experiments while the retinaspora leaf showed a certain degree of ecotoxicity (Toxicity unit >36). In the in situexperiment, algal growth was inhibited by barley straw. In particular, diatoms exhibited a tendency of decreasing the number of algal cells compared with blue-green algae. It shows that the barley straw does not inhibit the growth of all algae and shows different effects according to types of algae. The algal growth inhibition substances were extracted from the barley straw and tested. It was found that a ferulic acid in various phenol compounds affected the algal growth most.

In 1970s, barley straw has been known to be capable of controlling algal growth. In vitroand in situexperiments were performed to investigate the effects of barley straw on algal growth inhibition substances. In addition, its ecotoxicity and the algal growth inhibition substances extracted from barley straw were examined. In the in vitroexperiment, barley straw and retinaspora leaf treatment groups caused significant decreases (pvalue < 0.05) in the number of cells in Anabaena affinis, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Scenedesmus quadricaudacompared with the control group. However, the treatment group, which applied 0.2g of barley straw, showed a tendency of increasing the number of cells in S. quadricaudacompared with the control group. It reveals that types of algae and proper applications of barley straw are important to inhibit algal growth. In addition, the barley straw showed almost no ecotoxicities in ecotoxicity experiments while the retinaspora leaf showed a certain degree of ecotoxicity (Toxicity unit >36). In the in situexperiment, algal growth was inhibited by barley straw. In particular, diatoms exhibited a tendency of decreasing the number of algal cells compared with blue-green algae. It shows that the barley straw does not inhibit the growth of all algae and shows different effects according to types of algae. The algal growth inhibition substances were extracted from the barley straw and tested. It was found that a ferulic acid in various phenol compounds affected the algal growth most.

By using the piezocone penetration test (PCPT or CPTu), one can develop not only a better understanding of the soil stratification, but also an understanding of soil behavior parameters related to soil compressibility, as well as soil strength. This paper describes a case study that utilizes incomplete piezocone dissipation test to estimate status of consolidation of a soil deposit. Incomplete pore pressure dissipation record of PCPT is extrapolated on an inverse time scale (1/tmethod) to estimate the “in situ” pore pressure and “residual excess” pore pressure. No case study has been reported in open literature where this methodology has been utilized to estimate the status of consolidation of the soil deposit. In this paper, the 1/tmethod was verified using dissipation data from rigorous calibration chamber tests and field test data.

A 5-month-old Korean boy who presented with lethargy and cardiomyopathy was diagnosed with very long chain acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency by organic acid, fatty acid, acylcarnitine, and molecular genetic analysis. The patient was a compound heterozygote for mutations in the VLCAD gene. One allele contains a 3-bp deletion in exon 6, deleting glutamic acid in codon 130 (E130del ); this allele is of paternal origin. The patient's maternally derived allele is a novel mutation, C1843T in exon 20, which creates a premature termination codon (R615stop ). Although molecular genetic characterization of VLCAD deficiency is limited to a few patients, heterogeneity of mutations is already apparent. However, the E130del is a relatively frequent mutant allele, which has been noted in 2 previously identified patients. The 2 mutant alleles in our patient appear to be responsible for his severe and fatal clinical manifestations. (J Pediatr 1999;135:250-3)

Background: Recent investigations have suggested that the citrus red mite (Panonychus citri ) is the most important allergen affecting citrus-cultivating farmers with asthma, allergic rhinitis, or both. Objective: We sought to evaluate type I hypersensitivity to spider mites, particularly the European red mite (Panonychus ulmi ) and the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae ), and to determine the relationship between hypersensitivity to spider mites and respiratory dysfunction. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey. Questionnaires were given, and skin prick tests for 11 inhalant allergens common in Korea and 2 species of spider mites (European red mite and two-spotted spider mite) were performed in 725 apple-cultivating farmers in Korea. Results: Results of skin prick tests in the apple farmers indicated that European red mite (23.2%) was the most common sensitizing allergen, followed by Tyrophagus putrescentiae (21.2%), two-spotted spider mite (16.6%), Dermatophagoides farinae (16.3%), D pteronyssinus (14.4%), cockroach (13.1%), and Hop Japanese (Humulus Japonicus ) pollen (12.0%). Positive skin responses (mean wheal size >=3 mm) to one or more of 13 inhalant allergens were found in 48.2% of farmers tested, whereas 40 subjects (8.6%) had an isolated skin response to the spider mites. Among 119 farmers with work-related asthmatic symptoms, the positive skin response rates to European red mite and two-spotted spider mite were 40.4% and 27.0%, respectively. These figures were significantly higher than those found among farmers without work-related symptoms (19.1% and 14.1%, respectively; P < .01). The prevalence of work-related asthma symptoms was higher in farmers with positive skin responses to spider mites than in those with negative skin responses to spider mites and those with positive skin responses to any allergen tested (31.4% vs 15.0% vs 21.0%, respectively; P < .05). Conclusion: Spider mites, particularly European red mite and 2-spotted spider mite, are common sensitizing allergens in apple-cultivating farmers. These spider mites may be important causative allergens in the development of work-related respiratory symptoms in these workers. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;1285-92.)

In this paper a parameter optimization method with a new performance measure is proposed for the selection of PSS parameters. Outputs (or states) of a linear or linearized system are composed of various modes. So it is possible to regulate outputs (or states) by suppressing all modes or concerned modes in outputs. Thus here the performance is defined as weighted sum of areas under squares of concerned mode envelopes. Since all the modes are represented by eigenvalues and eigenvectors, they are affected by the parameters contained in system matrix. That is a reason to adopt a parameter optimization approach. The steepest descent method is used for minimizing the performance. The gradient of the performance with respect to PSS parameters is derived in an explicit form. In the optimization procedure it is required to calculate eigenvalues and eigenvectors at each iteration of updating parameters. Its computation time is quite a burden but can be reduced by a sensitivity analysis. Eigenvalue and eigenvector sensitivities with respect to parameters are applied to update them when parameters are changed to better directions. The proposed algorithm is applied to a one-machine infinite-bus system and two machine system. Simulation results show improvement in the stability of sample systems.

Asymmetric creep responses of ceramics between tension and compression under high temperature were investigated. Multiaxial creep equations were proposed for ceramic materials under general loading conditions. The proposed constitutive equations were implemented into a finite element program (ABAQUS) to simulate asymmetric creep responses of ceramics under complex loading conditions. Finite element calculations were compared with experimental data in the literature for siliconized silicon carbide (Si-SiC) C-rings under compression and alumina and Si-SiC bending specimens under bending creep. Finite element calculations agreed well with experimental data when the principal stresses are smaller than the threshold stress for creep damage. A good agreement was also obtained for damage zone in a Si-SiC bending specimen compared with experimental data.

A new current control scheme with the reference voltage estimation for a voltage-fed pulsewidth modulated (PWM) inverter is presented. This scheme is simple and can provide smaller current error than predictive control with the same switching frequency when the load parameters are mismatched.