UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Hemoglobin and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) tests are commonly used to screen for iron deficiency, but little research has been done to systematically evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A cross-sectional medical examination of a copper smelter work force included determination of blood lead (Pb-B), zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP), blood cadmium (Cd-B), urinary cadmium (Cd-U), and urinary arsenic (As-U), since it was known that such metal impurities were present in the copper concentrate. A total of 776 copper smelter employees (680 active and 96 retirees and ex-employees) were examined. Another 144 men, never employed in the smelter, but who had worked in copper mines (and sometimes in gold mines) were also examined. Mean Pb-B, ZPP, Cd-B, and As-U were significantly higher in active copper smelter employees than in retirees or miners, indicating exposure and absorption in the copper smelter. Significant correlations between Pb-B and Cd-B, and Cd-U and As-U were present, confirming the common source of absorption. Although there was evidence for an increased lead absorption, this was very moderate, with practically no Pb-B levels in ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We consider the dynamics toward the initial singularity of Bianchi type IX vacuum and orthogonal perfect fluid models with a linear equation of state. The 'Bianchi type IX attractor theorem' states that the past asymptotic behavior of generic type IX solutions is governed by Bianchi type I and II vacuum states (Mixmaster attractor). We give a comparatively short and self-contained new proof of this theorem. The proof we give is interesting in itself, but more importantly it illustrates and emphasizes that type IX is special, and to some extent misleading when one considers the broader context of generic models without symmetries.

CERN Document Server

We consider the dynamics towards the initial singularity of Bianchi type IX vacuum and orthogonal perfect fluid models with a linear equation of state. The `Bianchi type IX attractor theorem' states that the past asymptotic behavior of generic type IX solutions is governed by Bianchi type I and II vacuum states (Mixmaster attractor). We give a comparatively short and self-contained new proof of this theorem. The proof we give is interesting in itself, but more importantly it illustrates and emphasizes that type IX is special, and to some extent misleading when one considers the broader context of generic models without symmetries.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We investigate the asymptotic properties of the Bianchi type IX cosmological model in the brane-world scenario. The matter content is assumed to be a combination of a perfect fluid and a minimimally coupled scalar field that is restricted to the brane. A detailed qualitative analysis of the Bianchi type IX brane-world containing a scalar field having an exponential potential is undertaken. It is found that the brane-Robertson-Walker solution is a local source for the expanding Bianchi type IX models, and if k"2<2 the ever-expanding Bianchi IX models asymptote to the power-law inflationary solution. The only other local sink is the contracting brane-Robertson Walker solution. An analysis of the Bianchi type IX models with a scalar field with a general potential is discussed, and it is shown that in the case of expanding models, for physical scalar field potentials close to the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

It is proven that there do not exist any diagonal Bianchi type-IX universes which expand for an infinite time, provided only that the matter satisfies the dominant energy condition and has non-negative average principal pressures.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The wave function of the Bianchi type-IX universe with small anisotropy is calculated using the Hartle-Hawking prescription.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

(Aug 1973). United States Moser, AR Matzner, RA Ryan, MP Jr. Center

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

It is proven that there do not exist any Bianchi type-IX universes which expand for an infinite time, provided only that the matter satisfies the dominant energy condition and has non-negative average pressure (i.e., a non-negative trace of the spatial projection of the stress-energy tensor). This generalizes a proof recently given by us for the case of diagonal Bianchi type-IX solutions.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Spatially homogeneous space-times of Bianchi type IX are considered. A general scheme for the derivation of exact solutions of Einstein's equations corresponding to perfect fluid plus pure radiation fields is outlined. Some simple rotating Bianchi type IX cosmological models are presented. The details of these solutions are also discussed. 9 refs. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We show that the chaotic dynamical behaviour displayed by diagonal Bianchi type IX metrics in general relativity does not occur on approach to the singularity in higher-order lagrangian theories of gravity. However, chaotic behaviour does occur in the more general non-diagonal type IX models in these theories. An interpretation of these results in terms of the hamiltonian potential picture of the type IX evolution is given. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

According to the invention, a zinc foil is arranged between the negative electrode of a zinc/air battery (round cell) and the expansion space compensating for the reactive increase in volume of the zinc powder. This zinc foil functioning as a stop diaphragm particularly ensures, from the very onset, that the zinc filling has a density and compactness necessary for good electronic conductance.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

For the development of a long-lived electrically rechargeable zinc/air battery, the structure and wettability of pasted zinc electrodes were optimized. Pasted zinc electrodes, having the same nominal capacities but containing 1% to 10% cellulose, were prepared and tested under defined charge and discharge conditions in zinc-oxygen cells. The maximum power as well as the cycle life of these cells were measured. After different times of operation, the porosity and the pore size distribution of the pasted zinc electrodes were measured by means of mercury porosimetry. (author) 4 figs., 1 tab., 6 refs.

Science.gov (United States)

... Accession Number : ADA547552. Title : Aluminum-Zinc (Al-Zn) Dust Analyses for Recycling Purposes. Descriptive Note : Technical rept. ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Recent work on N=2 supersymmetric Bianchi type IX cosmologies coupled to a scalar field is extended to a general treatment of homogeneous quantum cosmologies with explicitly solvable momentum constraints, i.e., Bianchi types I, II, VII, VIII in addition to the Bianchi type IX, and special cases, namely, the Freidmann universes, the Kantowski-Sachs space, and Taub-NUT space. In addition to the earlier explicit solution of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation for Bianchi type IX, describing a virtual wormhole fluctuation, an additional explicit solution is given and identified with the ''no-boundary state.''.

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

(Dec 1971). United States Ryan, MP Jr. v. 68(2) p. 541-555. cosmological

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The zinc-air battery/fuel cell is an old technology invented one hundred years ago. However, there is renewed interest in this technology in response to the growing need for clean energy technology. The zinc-air battery/fuel cell is more attractive than similar technologies because its characteristics include high power density, safe operation and storage, and low cost. Zinc-air battery/fuel cells can be made in milliwatts to mega watts to accommodate different applications. The zinc-air battery/fuel cell has four major designs, namely primary, mechanically rechargeable, continuous feed and electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery/fuel cells. Among the different designs, the most common is the air cathode. There are 3 generations of catalysts used in the air cathodes. This paper discussed the different designs of the zinc-air battery/fuel cell, and more ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report summarizes the results of research conducted during the sixteen month continuation of a program to develop rechargeable zinc-air batteries for electric vehicles. The zinc-air technology under development incorporates a metal foam substrate for the zinc electrode, with flow of electrolyte through the foam during battery operation. In this soluble'' zinc electrode the zincate discharge product dissolves completely in the electrolyte stream. Cycle testing at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, where the electrode was invented, and at MATSI showed that this approach avoids the zinc electrode shape change phenomenon. Further, electrolyte flow has been shown to be necessary to achieve significant cycle life (> 25 cycles) in this open system. Without it, water loss through the oxygen electrode results in high-resistance failure of the cell. The Phase I program, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The authors report a novel configuration for a zinc-particle, packed-bed anode in which an open structure of high hydraulic permeability is maintained indefinitely in a cell with closely spaced walls by the formation of particle bridges and associated gaps. The configuration minimizes electrolyte pumping costs, allows rapid refueling and partial recharge, and provides for 100% zinc consumption. This approach benefits zinc/air fuel batteries by allowing nearly continuous operation and fuel recycle without commercial infrastructure; it benefits Zn/[Fe(CN){sub 6}]{sup {minus}3} batteries by eliminating shape-change and polarization problems found with planar anodes.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A Bianchi type-IX cosmological model has been found as a solution of Einstien's vacuum field equations with a cosmological constant. The solution represents a rotating generalziation fo the de Sitter universe. This universe shows a transition to exponential expansion and the vorticity begins to decay exponentially at the grand-unified-theory time. The point of time for this transition is independent of the magnitude of the vorticity. During the Guth inflationary era the vorticity decays by a factor of the order 10 US.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The propriety of the cosmic no-hair conjecture to the Bianchi-type-IX spacetime is discussed from a quantum cosmological point of view. It is shown that most, but not all, classical universes which are created quantum cosmologically are inflationary. The probability of inflation among such universes is also discussed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A higher-dimensional homogeneous spacetime is investigated satisfying the vacuum Einstein equations. It is assumed that the algebra of Killing vectors L admits a non-trivial Levi decomposition L=N+so(3), i.e. that the subalgebras N and so(3) do not commute. It is found that the model behaves in a non-chaotic way and cosmological dimensional reduction inevitably occurs. This model completes all the possible types within the class of higher-dimensional extensions of Bianchi type-IX cosmology.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The dimensionally reduced effective action of the bosonic sector of the heterotic string in critical dimensions is employed to derive a Wheeler-DeWitt equation for the Bianchi type-IX cosmology. An exact solution is found that becomes strongly peaked around the isotropic limit as the volume of the three-geometry increases. In principle the global O(6,6) symmetry of the effective action can be employed to generate new solutions from the one presented here.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A higher-dimensional homogeneous spacetime is investigated satisfying the vacuum Einstein equations. It is assumed that the algebra of Killing vectors L admits a non-trivial Levi decomposition L=N+so(3), i.e. that the subalgebras N and so(3) do not commute. It is found that the model behaves in a non-chaotic way and cosmological dimensional reduction inevitably occurs. This model completes all the possible types within the class of higher-dimensional extensions of Bianchi type-IX cosmology. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Electric Fuel Limited (EFL) refuelable zinc-air battery system is currently being tested in a number of electric vehicle demonstration projects, the largest of which is a field test of zinc-air postal vans sponsored chiefly by Deutsche Post AG (the German Post Office). The zinc-air battery is not recharged electrically, but rather is refueled through a series of mechanical and electrochemical steps that will require a special infrastructure in commercial application. As part of the German Post Office field test program, Electric Fuel designed and constructed a pilot zinc anode regeneration plant in Bremen, Germany. This plant is capable of servicing up to 100 commercial vans per week, which is adequate for the field test vehicle fleet. This paper will describe the design and operation of each of the areas and devices within the plant.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Known vertebrate GATA proteins contain two zinc fingers and are required in development, whereas invertebrates express a class of essential proteins containing one GATA-type zinc finger. We isolated...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

1. Proteolytic enzyme activities were examined in the pancreas of zinc-deficient and control rats. 2. No change was detected in trypsin-plus-chymotrypsin activity. 3. Carboxypeptidase activity was...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Zinc is an essential trace metal ion for growth, but an excess of Zn is toxic and microorganisms express diverse resistance mechanisms. To understand global bacterial responses to excess Zn, we conducted...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Zinc modulates the activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase, the rate limiting enzyme in the synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter. Low cerebrospinal...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gel filtration of human erythrocyte (RBC) lysate incubated with labeled thyroxine (Tu) or triiodothyronine (Tt) revealed co-elution of a major iodothyronine-binding fraction (R-2) and hemoglobin. Solutions of purified human hemoglobin and Tt also showed co-elution of hormone and hemoglobin. Because hematin and protoporphyrin were shown to bind labeled Tt, the oxygen-binding site on hemoglobin was excluded as the site of iodothyronine-hemoglobin interaction. Analysis of hormone binding by heme and globin moieties showed Tt binding to be limited to the heme fraction. Addition of excess unlabeled Tt to hemoglobin or heme incubated with labeled Tt indicated 75% to 90% of hormone binding was poorly dissociable. These observations suggested that the presence of hemoglobin in RBC lysate or in serum could influence the measurement of Tu and Tt by specific radioimmunoassay (RIA). Subsequent studies of the addition to serum of human hemoglobin revealed a significant ...

KoreaScience (Korea)

Full Text Available

International Science & Technology Center (ISTC)

Research on Diffusion Zinc Cladding of Structural Steels, as Well as Their Mechanical and Corrosion Properties to Replace Their Cyanic Cadmium Plating

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Short note. 2 refs.; 1 tab.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The evolution of Bianchi type-I and type-IX universes for a theory of gravity with an #epsilon#R"2 term added to the usual Lagrangian is considered. As in the spatially flat Robertson-Walker case considered previously by others, inflation is found to occur. For any amount of initial anisotropy, the anisotropy decays quickly relative to the length of the inflationary epoch, and the amount of expansion is enhanced by the anisotropy. The exceptions are Bianchi type-IX universes near or at isotropy. In these cases a wide range of initial parameters causes the universe to recollapse, thus reducing the phase space in which inflation can occur. The diagonal metric is shown to be the most general form in the R"2 theory for both Bianchi type-I universes with a perfect fluid and vacuum Bianchi type-IX models.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Algorithms for generating new exact solutions of the Einstein-Klein-Gordon field equations, which describe inhomogeneous universes with S/sup 3/ topology of spatial sections, are developed. The known exact vacuum and still-fluid solutions with S/sup 3/ topology are used as an input. The methods developed are further applied to derive inhomogeneous generalizations of Bianchi type IX solutions and inhomogeneous S/sup 3/ Gowdy models with gravitational and scalar waves. It is shown that the new solutions, which are generalizations of the Bianchi type IX models, permit identification of the scalar field with the velocity potential of the stiff irrotational fluid. The latter result is further used to study the growth rate of density perturbations of the isotropic and anisotropic Bianchi type IX universes in a fully nonlinear relativistic regime. The role of anisotropy on the rate of growth of density perturbations is studied in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Every Bianchi type-IX universe can be interpreted as a closed Friedmann universe on which is superimposed circularly polarized gravitational waves with the longest wavelength that will fit into a closed universe. In this paper, I give a new derivation of this result based on the concept of homogeneous tensor fields on the three-sphere. Every homogeneous symmetric traceless tensor field is shown to be a longest-wavelength three-sphere harmonic. Contrary to previous authors, I show that the wavelength of these gravitational waves is one-half the circumference of the universe. In order to maintain homogeneity, the gravitational waves must all have the same polarization. There are five longest-wavelength modes for each polarization. This interpretation is an {ital exact} description that is valid for every Bianchi type-IX universe---it is in no way limited to first-order perturbations of a Friedmann universe.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The dynamical effects of spatially homogeneous electromagnetic fields on anisotropic Bianchi type-IX models are studied. The Lagrangians and Hamiltonians affecting the evolution of anisotropy (including the gravitational and electromagnetic potentials) are obtained for very general spatially homogeneous metrics by means of the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner Hamiltonian formalism. For models having diagonal metrics an exact solution for the electromagnetic fields is obtained. This solution allows a qualitative solution for the gravitational variables. The total solution is similar to that of Brill. For Bianchi type-IX models having symmetric and general metrics, a discussion of the qualitative behavior of the universe point under the influence of the above potentials is given. In particular, it is shown that in some cases the presence of the electromagnetic potential inhibits some types of singularities.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Three new classes of finite, homogeneous and nonsingular solutions of Einstein's equations which have time-dependent expansion, shear and rotation are presented. The t-constant sections are of Bianchi type IX. The source of these geometries is a fluid which has not been thermalized. (Author).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Haemophilia, the commonest hereditary bleeding disorder, arises because of the absence of, decrease in, or deficient functioning of plasma coagulation factor VIII or factor IX. With rare exceptions,...Full Text Available

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The energy-momentum tensor of a massless spinor field is constructed and studied based on the previously proposed interpretation of quantum effects of such a field in the anisotropic metric of Bianchi type IX. The characteristic properties of the energy-momentum tensor in the mixed universe model are discussed.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Research was conducted to determine the effect of electrochemical aging on large area arc-sprayed zinc anodes for cathodic protection of bridges and other reinforced concrete structures. The study focused on the influence of total charge passed and concrete surface preparation on the bonding of the zinc to the concrete. Half of the samples were preheated prior to being arc-sprayed with zinc. The preheated samples had initial bond strengths that were 80% higher than the unheated samples. This difference in bond strength became insignificant after the passage of approximately 200 kC/m{sup 2} (5.2 A-h/ft{sup 2}) and bond strengths for all samples started to decrease after approximately 600 kC/m{sup 2} (15.5 A-h/ft{sup 2}). These changes in bond strength were correlated with observed changes in the permeability of the zinc coating to water, the electrical behavior of the zinc-concrete ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We prove a cosmic no-hair theorem for Bianchi models in power-law inflation. Provided that the potential of an inflaton {phi} is exp({minus}{lambda}{kappa}{phi}) with 0{le}{lambda}{lt} {radical}2/3 , we find that the isotropic power-law solution is the unique attractor for any initially expanding Bianchi-type models except type IX. For Bianchi type IX, this conclusion is also true if the initial ratio of the vacuum energy to the maximum three-curvature is larger than one half.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The diagonal and symmetric Bianchi type IX models are coupled to a homogeneous spinor field. An action for the combined fields is constructed, where the orthonormal basis used is given explicitly in terms of the metric. This allows one to vary the action with respect to the metric and the spinor fields only. Next, a Hamiltonian formulation is given, and a qualitative solution for the problem is presented. We also show that the k = +1 FRW (Friedmann--Robertson--Walker) model is not compatible with a homogeneous spinor field, while the more complicated models are.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We examine the late-time behavior of initially expanding homogeneous cosmological models satisfying Einstein's equation with a positive cosmological constant ..lambda... It is shown that such models of all Bianchi types except IX exponentially evolve toward the de Sitter solution, with time scale (3/..lambda..)/sup 1/2/. The behavior of Bianchi type-IX universes is similar, provided that ..lambda.. is sufficiently large compared with spatial-curvature terms. Thus, a positive cosmological constant provides an effective means of isotropizing homogeneous universes.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This document reports the progress and accomplishments of a 16 month program to develop a rechargeable zinc-air battery for electric vehicle propulsion, from October 1988 through January 1990. The program was the first stage in the transition of alkaline zinc electrode technology, invented at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, to private industry. The LBL invention teaches the use of a copper metal foam substrate for the zinc electrode, in combination with forced convection of electrolyte through the foam during battery operation. Research at LBL showed promise that this approach would avoid shape change (densification and dendrite growth), the primary failure mode of this electrode. The program comprised five tasks; (1) cell design, (2) capacity maximization, (3) cycle testing, (4) materials qualification, and (5) a cost/design study. The cell design contemplates a plate and frame stack, with alternating ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

X-ray fluorescence analysis was used to determine the zinc content of the ''Perilacin'' powder and the ZnO content of the ''Epiderman-pix'' powder. The characteristic Ksub(#alpha#) line of zinc was excited using a "1"4"7Pm/Mo source (10"7 s"-"1) and the molybdenum Ksub(#alpha#) line (17.47 keV). 4 to 5% Zn and 45 to 49% ZnO were determined with a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. The radiation intensity was found to decrease with particle size. (M.K.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A numerical model has been developed to simulate the charging and discharge behaviour of an electrically rechargeable alkaline zinc-air battery. Further a galvanostatic experiment including three charge/discharge cycles has been performed. The cell voltages, the Zn electrode potentials versus a Zn reference, and the O{sub 2} electrode potentials versus a Zn reference calculated with the model are in fairly good agreement with the corresponding experimental data. The model is expected to be useful for zinc-air battery design and for analysis of experimental data. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report is an examination and analysis of the zinc-air system as the motive power source for electric vehicle propulsion. Various versions of the zinc-air system and operating schemes along with their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Baseline cost calculations are also presented in order to compare the cost effectiveness of each of the systems. The treatise is conceptual in nature and is not based on new experimental work. The information is based on published literature and investigations carried out at ERC in the past. The study also includes recommendations and suggestions in areas that require further research and development work to achieve a smooth transition from the conceptual stage to a practical, viable, and cost effective system.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract BACKGROUND: In Brazil, the usual forms of zinc (Zn) supply to coffee plants have limitations that compromise the element availability to the plant. This study proposes to test an alternative approach to supplying the nutrient to Coffea arabica L. using trunk implanted zinc tablets. Additionally, the effect of Zn on the production and quality of coffee beans was also evaluated. RESULTS: The highest total coffee bean production was recorded in plants implanted with Zn tablets (TA), while the lowest was recorded in the control treatment, without zinc supply (WZn), reaching a bianual production of 188.2 and 130.1 60-kg bags of processed beans per hectare, respectively. In the treatments where Zn were applied as tablet implantation or as foliage spraying (SZn); the bean size was larger...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The dithiocarbamate and thiuram compounds, including disulfiram, were compared for their efficacies in influencing tissue distribution of a trace dose of intravenously injected lead plus "2"0"3Pb in rats. The tested compounds were sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC), sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate (DMDTC), tetraethylthiuram disulfide (disulfiram), a complex of zinc and manganese ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (mancozeb), manganese ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (maneb), sodium monomethyldithiocarbamate (metham), zinc propylene bisdithiocarbamate (propineb), tetramethylthiuram disulfide (thiram), zinc ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (zineb), and zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate (ziram). The results of this study show that interactions can occur between lead and DEDTC, DMDTC, disulfiram, metham, thiram, and ziram, resulting in increased levels of lead in brain and probably potentiation of the neurotoxic effects of lead.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An investigation was conducted into alternative techniques for zinc and electrolyte regeneration and reuse in the refuelable zinc/air battery that was developed by LLNL and previously tested on a moving electric bus using cut wire. Mossy zinc was electrodeposited onto a bipolar array of inclined Ni plates with an energy consumption of 1.8 kWh/kg. Using a H{sub 2}-depolarized anode, zinc was deposited at 0.6 V (0.8 kA/m{sup 2}); the open circuit voltage was 0.45 V. Three types of fuel pellets were tested and compared with results for 0.75 mm cut wire: spheres produced in a spouted bed (UCB); coarse powder produced by gas-atomization (Noranda); and irregular pellets produced by chopping 1-mm plates of compacted zinc fines (Eagle-Picher, Inc.). All three types transported within the cell. The coarse powder fed continuously from hopper to cell, as did the compacted pellets (< ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The canonical quantum theory of gravity-quantum geometrodynamics (QG)-is applied to the homogeneous Bianchi type IX cosmological model. As a result, a framework for the quantum theory of homogeneous cosmologies is developed. We show that the theory is internally consistent and prove that it possesses the correct classical limit (the theory of general relativity). To emphasize the special role that the constraints play in this new theory, we compare it to the traditional ADM square-root and Wheeler-DeWitt quantization schemes. We show that, unlike traditional approaches, QG leads to a well-defined Schroedinger equation for the wavefunction of the universe that is inherently coupled to the expectation value of the constraint equations. This coupling to the constraints is responsible for the appearance of a coherent spacetime picture. Thus, the physical meaning of the constraints of the theory is quite different from Dirac's interpretation. In light of this ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We present a new class of exact solutions of Deser, Jackiw, and Templeton's theory (DJT) of topologically massive gravity which consists of homogeneous, anisotropic manifolds. In these solutions the coframe is given by the left-invariant 1-forms of 3-dimensional Lie algebras up to constant scale factors. These factors are fixed in terms of the DJT coupling constant #mu#m which is the constant of proportionality between the Einstein and Cotton tensors in 3-dimensions. Differences between the scale factors result in anisotropy which is a common feature of topologically massive 3-manifolds. We have found that only Bianchi Types VI, VIII, and IX lead to nontrivial solutions. Among these, a Bianchi Type IX, squashed 3-sphere solution of the Euclideanized DJT theory has finite action, Bianchi Type VIII, IX solutions can variously be embedded in the de Sitter/anti-de Sitter space. That is, some DJT 3-manifolds that we shall ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We find instanton/cosmological solutions with biaxial Bianchi-IX symmetry, involving nontrivial spatial dependence of the CP"1-CP"2-sigma-models coupled to gravity. Such manifolds arise in N = 1, d 4 supergravity with supermatter actions and hence the solutions can be embedded in supergravity. There is a natural way in which the standard coordinates of these manifolds can be mapped into the four-dimensional physical space. Due to its special symmetry, we start with CP"2 with its corresponding scalar ansatz; this further requires the spacetime to be SU(2) x U(1)-invariant. The problem then reduces to a set of ordinary differential equations whose analytical properties and solutions are discussed. Among the solutions there is a surprising, special family of exact solutions which owe their existence to the nontrivial topology of CP"2 and are in 1-1 correspondence with matter-free Bianchi-IX metrics. These solutions can also be found by coupling ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A Zinc/Air Battery Review and Strategic Planning Meeting was held in 1993. One outcome of the meeting was recognition of the need for a report on the current status of the technology. This report contains contributions from many of the attendees at the above meeting and expresses their views on where the technology is today and what could/should be done to improve its performance.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

To evaluate the relationship between sperm motility and total seminal plasma zinc concentration and high molecular weight zinc bound protein values in infertile Iraqi men. A case-control study was conducted at the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq between March 2005 to February 2006. The subjects for the study included 60 infertile male patients who were recruited Al-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital, and Institute of Embryo Research and Infertility Treatment, Baghdad, Iraq. They were categorized according to their seminal parameters to oligozoospermia (n=32), azoospermia (n=22), and asthenozoospermia (n=6). Thirty nine fertile men (age range 31.87 +/- 3.76 years) were selected as controls, whose partners had conceived within the last year before participation with this study, and having normal spermiogram parameters. Seminal plasma zinc concentration and high ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A zinc-air battery in a case including a zinc particle bed supported adjacent the current feeder and diaphragm on a porous support plate which holds the particles but passes electrolyte solution. Electrolyte is recycled through a conduit between the support plate and top of the bed by convective forces created by a density of differential caused by a higher concentration of high density discharge products in the interstices of the bed than in the electrolyte recycle conduit.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Because of its high energy density, compatibility with aqueous electrolytes and the low toxicity of its active materials, the zinc-air battery system is an interesting candidate for electric vehicle applications. The use of O{sub 2} from the air as a reactant requires a partially open cell construction and a technologically challenging air interface. This report describes the research and development program at the Paul Scherrer Institute which finally led to the demonstration of a durable, electrically rechargeable zinc-oxygen battery. In a first phase the research program was focused on the development of bifunctional oxygen diffusion electrodes and pasted zinc electrodes. The current-potential behaviour and the cycle life performance of anodes and cathodes was tested in single electrode measurements (three-electrode arrangements) as well as in complete monopolar zinc-oxygen and ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The problem in perturbation theory in general relativity is finding a natural gauge which simplifies the equations considerably. We solved the first and second order perturbation equations in the ''Lorentz gauge'' using the two-timing method. The equations were deduced from the equations of Einstein in the presence of a matter energy-momentum tensor of a perfect fluid with equation of state p = (#gamma#-1) rho. It is found that the 0--0 component of the first order equations together with the gauge conditions are consistent with the Bianchi type V model, without axial symmetry. It represents a ''ground state'' situation of the Bianchi type IX model (Mixmaster model.) The second order equations, describing the reaction back of the gravitational waves on the slowly varying background, give rise to rotation and will disturb the isotropization mechanism. The numerical solutions show all the features which are expected to appear. Moreover, it is found that the frequency ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Within the framework of the Bianchi type-IX homogeneous space, we set up a system of coupled equations for the cosmic scale factors, scalar field, and radiative energy density. At the tree level, the equations are written in a self-consistent, Hartree-Fock form. For phi/sup 4/ theory, the system of nine first-order differential equations is solved numerically for a varying ratio of the energy of anisotropy to the vacuum energy. As the vacuum energy increases, there appears to be less reheating, since the energy of anisotropy is more efficiently converted into isotropic expansion. If the energy of anisotropy is large enough, the inflationary phase is prevented. In this case, a series of cosmological phase transitions will take place each time the square of the effective mass changes its sign.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The behaviour of the wave function of the universe under the barrier for the anisotropic cosmological Bianchi type-IX model taking account of the scalar field is explored. In view of the known difficulties with the interpretation of multidimensional ones is offered. For this purpose in the frameworks of the semiclassical approach the system of characteristics equations relative to one variable is written out. This system describes a bundle of the characteristics along which the multidimensional problem is reduced to a one-dimensional one that allows to utilize the standard interpretation of the wave function as well as the usual Schroedinger equation. The obtained results for the Bianchi type-IX model are reduced to the following statement: the universe tunnels through the barrier from an isotropic state with small anisotropy that is necessary for providing a ling-lived inflation to derive the universe.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Proof-of-principle experiments are reported for a new concept in electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery. The zinc electrode is a porous flow-thru type using a copper foam metal substrate with zinc deposition onto the foam metal from concentrated zincate electrolyte (as used in zinc-slurry type batteries). The bifunctional air electrode employs low-cost materials, being fabricated entirely from carbon-based precursors and small amounts of nickel and/or cobalt oxide. Corrosion measurements on the graphite materials in the air electrode indicate sufficient corrosion resistance for 8000 h life on charge. A prototype single cell was constructed having 1.5 Ah capacity producing 1.2 V discharge -2.0 charge at the three hour rate and has produced stable voltages for more than 150 cycles. Based on the 1.5 Ah prototype characteristics, design calculations for a 32 kWh battery project an energy density of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An analysis is given of the evolution of a massive scalar field in a closed mixmaster universe of Bianchi type IX. Although the scalar field violates the strong energy condition, the probability of the model ''bouncing'' at a very early time is infinitesimally small; of the order of the ratio of the minimum to maximum sizes of the universe approx. 10/sup -40/.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We describe exact cosmological solutions with rotation and expansion in the low-energy effective string theory. These models are spatially homogeneous (closed Bianchi type IX) and they belong to the family of shear-free metrics which are causal (no closed timelike curves are allowed), admit no parallax effects and do not disturb the isotropy of the background radiation. The dilaton and the axion fields are nontrivial, in general, and we consider both cases with and without the central charge (effective cosmological constant)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A Monte Carlo simulation of the vacuum Bianchi type-IX (mixmaster) cosmology yields a significant correlation between large universe volume and high anisotropy. An analog of the model's chaotic classical behavior is seen in the break up of the universe wave function at large volume into fingers in the corners of the minisuperspace anisotropy potential.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Gadolinium removal during the first approach to criticality of TAPP-4 540 MWe reactor using mixed bed resin (strong acid cation resin and weak base anion resin) topped with strong acid cation exchange resin yielded IX column outlet pH of >6 during the first 6 h of run during which [Gd] decreased from 2.1 to 1 mg/kg. However, the main moderator system pH was between 5.0-5.5. Technical specification for pH of moderator is in the range 5.0-5.5 as long as Gd is present. This is to avoid any precipitation of Gd in the core and a pH of 5.8 or even a pH of 5.6 when carbonate is present is specified as the upper limit of the moderator system pH for this purpose. The situation of IX column outlet pH being #>=# 6 mixing with a system water having Gd results in local mixing zone pH in the range of 6- 5.4. In order to have an iso-pH regime (5-5.5) both with respect to the IX outlet as well as in the system, studies were conducted ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We analyze the behavior of some Bianchi type-IX, mixmaster cosmological models possessing extra dimensions. We find that, unlike the three-dimensional case, they do not exhibit chaotic behavior on approach to their initial singularity. A finite sequence of stochastic mixmaster oscillations is, in general, replaced by monotonic contraction of the three-space scale factors on approach to a singularity whenever additional spatial dimensions exist with the metric form we consider.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We apply Hawking's proposal for the initial state of the Universe to a rotating Bianchi type-IX minisuperspace model in order to examine the problem of rotation in a closed cosmology. Using the Feynman path-integral techniques instead of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation, we are able to say that for a small angular velocity the closed Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model is indeed the most probable initial state for the Universe.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The possibility of having inflation in a renormalizable cosmological model is investigated. The cosmic no-hair conjecture is proved to hold for all Bianchi types except Bianchi type IX. By the use of a conformal transformation on the metric we show that these models are equivalent to the ones described by the Einstein-Hilbert action for gravity minimally coupled to a set of scalar fields with inflationary potentials. Henceforth, we prove that inflationary solutions behave as attractors in solution space, making it a natural event in the evolution of such models.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We present a set of exact solutions for quantum Bianchi type-IX anisotropic cosmological models (including the Taub model) of the form {Psi}={ital We}{sup {minus}{ital S}}. These solutions are spread over all values of anisotropy near the singularity, but at larger values of the radius of the universe they are strongly peaked around the {ital k}=+1 Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We consider the problem of rotation in a homogeneous Bianchi type IX cosmological model. Studying the Wheeler-De Witt equation corresponding to this minisuperspace, and adopting a particular choice of the factor ordering, we are able to find a particular solution which is strongly peaked about isotropy. This result confirms all the previous investigations in this field, and suggests the conclusion that the machian nature of our universe is the natural, i.e. most likely, outcome of the Planck epoch. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A flexible battery is printed on paper by screen-printing a zinc/carbon/polymer composite anode on one side of the sheet, polymerising a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) cathode on the other side of the sheet, and applying a lithium chloride electrolyte between the two electrodes. The PEDOT cathode is prepared by inkjet printing a pattern of iron(III)p-toluenesulfonate as a solution in butan-1-ol onto paper, followed by vapour phase polymerisation of the monomer. The electrolyte is prepared as a solution of lithium chloride and lithium hydroxide and also applied by inkjet printing on to paper, where it is absorbed into the sheet cross-section. Measurements on a zinc/carbon-PEDOT/air battery in a similar configuration on a polyethylene naphthalate substrate shows a discharge capacity of up to 1.4 mAh cm{sup -2} for an initial load of 2.5 mg zinc, equivalent to almost 70% of the zinc content of ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A protective film has been developed on the surface of carbon steel in low chloride aqueous environment using a synergistic mixture of an environmentally friendly phosphonic acid, N,N-bis(phosphonomethyl) glycine (BPMG), and zinc ions. Impedance studies of the metal/solution interface indicated that the surface film is highly protective against the corrosion of carbon steel in the chosen environment. Potentiodynamic polarization studies showed that the inhibitor is a mixed inhibitor. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis (XPS) of the film showed the presence of the elements iron, phosphorus, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, and zinc. Deconvolution spectra of these elements in the surface film showed the presence of oxides/hydroxides of iron(III), Zn(OH)2, and [Zn(II)-BPMG] complex. This infe...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The biosorption of lead, copper and zinc ions on Rhizopus arrhizus has been studied for three single-component and two binary systems. The equilibrium data have been analysed using the Freundlich adsorption model. The characteristic parameters for the Freundlich adsorption model have been determined and the competition coefficients for the competitive biosorption of Pb(II)-Cu(II) at pH 4.0 and 5.0, and Pb(II)-Zn(II) at pH 5.0 have been calcualted. For the individual single-component isotherms, lead has the highest biosorption capacity followed by copper, then zinc. The capacity of lead in the two binary systems is always significantly greater than those of the other metal ions, in agreement with the single-component data. Only a partial selectivity for copper ions has been obtained at pH 4.0. (orig.)

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundChanges in ionic concentration have a fundamental effect on numerous physiological processes. For example, IP₃-gated thapsigargin sensitive intracellular calcium...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The development of new methods for gene addition to mammalian genomes is necessary to overcome the limitations of conventional genetic engineering strategies. Although a variety of DNA-modifying enzymes...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The human zinc finger protein genes (ZFX/Y) were identified as a result of a systematic search for the testis-determining factor gene on the human Y chromosome. Although they play no direct role in sex determination, they are of particular interest because they are highly conserved among mammals, birds, and amphibians and because, in eutherian mammals at least, they have active alleles on both the X and the Y chromosomes outside the pseudoautosomal region. We used in situ hybridization to localize the homologues of the zinc finger protein gene to chromosome 1 of the Australian echidna and to an equivalent position on chromosomes 1 and 2 of the playtpus. The localization to platypus chromosome 1 was confirmed by Southern analysis of a Chinese hamster [times] platypus cell hybrid retaining most of platypus chromosome 1. This localization is consistent with the cytological homology of chromosome 1 between the two species. The ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analysis was used for the determination of iron, calcium, potassium, copper, manganese and zinc in waste water from the production process of citric acid. (author).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe zinc-finger transcription factor GLI3 is an important mediator of Sonic hedgehog signaling and crucial for patterning of many aspects of the vertebrate body plan. In...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The technical feasibility of the solar carbothermal reduction of ZnO has been successfully demonstrated in a pilot plant. The economics of this process is addressed by means of a single sensitivity analysis and a Monte-Carlo risk analysis. A medium-term and a long-term scenario have been investigated, each for a 5 and a 30 MW{sub th} plant. For a discount rate of 15% the zinc production costs vary between 482 and 245 $/t for the medium-term scenario and between 312 and 146 $/t for the long-term scenario, respectively. These costs do not account for the zinc oxide input material. In addition, a risk analysis was conducted for the 30 MW{sub th} long-term scenario. For each input parameter, a probability distribution was estimated and the probability distribution of the zinc production cost was calculated by means of a Monte-Carlo method. The expected mean zinc production costs vary from 95 $/t for a ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A photon-induced x-ray fluorescence method allowing the simultaneous determination of iron, copper, zinc, bromine and rubidium in human blood and blood plasma samples is described. The method is reliable and has a good sensitivity for a wide range of elements. (author).

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundEvidence on human semen quality as it relates to exposure to various metals, both essential (e.g., zinc, copper) and nonessential (e.g., cadmium, lead), is inconsistent....Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This document, Part 2 of Volume 2, provides appendices to this report and includes the following technologies, zinc/air battery; lithium/molybdenum disulfide battery; sodium/sulfur battery; nickel/cadmium battery; nickel/iron battery; iron/oxygen battery and iron/air battery. (FI)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The gel electrolyte for the zinc-air cell was prepared by mixing hydroponics gel with a 6M potassium hydroxide aqueous solution. The self-discharge of cells was characterized by measuring the open-circuit voltage. The effect of a discharge rate of 50mA constant current on cell voltage and plateau hour, as well as the voltage-current and current density-power density were measured and analysed. The electrode degradation after discharge cycling was characterized by structural and surface methods. The oxidation of the electrode surface further blocked the utilization of the Zn anode and was identified as a cause for the failure of the cell. (author)

Science.gov (United States)

The possibility of using lead and lead-bismuth mixed oxides as positive active materials in organic electrolyte lithium cells with a working voltage similar to those of silver zinc cells has been considered. Button cells of SR 44 size have been developed as a test vehicle and studied under various conditions of discharge rate and storage. This paper describes the performance characteristics obtained under these conditions and suggests in conclusion the possible replacement of silver zinc cells by such systems for a large range of low-rate applications on the basis of cost effectiveness.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The key component for improving the energy efficiency and cycle life of the electrically rechargeable zinc-air battery is the bifunctional air electrode. The air electrodes described in this paper contained different types of carbon black as the substrate for the perovskite catalyst (La{sub 0.6}Ca{sub 0.4}CoO{sub 3}). Morphological and physical properties of the carbon substrates play an important role in enhancing the activity and stability of the bifunctional air electrode. Current-potential curves and cycle-life tests were applied in order to gather information on the activity and stability of these electrodes. (authors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This contribution describes our research and development effort towards an electrically rechargeable zinc/air battery which is capable of meeting the demands of a scaled power profile (driving-cycle tests). The power profiles DST (Dynamic Stress Test) and ECE15-L (European Driving Cycle for alkaline Batteries) were applied to our 200 and 50 cm{sup 2} electrically rechargeable Zn/O{sub 2} cells with nominal capacities of 30 and 7.5 Ah, respectively. (authors)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Carbon steel, copper, zinc and aluminium samples were exposed in different sizes with known ambient parameters in Gran Canaria Island and atmospheric corrosion was investigated. Weight-loss measurements used to determine corrosion damage were complemented with metallographic and XP S determination in order to characterize the structure and morphology of surface corrosion products. The ambient aggressiveness could be well evaluated from meteorological and pollution data. All atmospheric corrosion and environmental data were statistically processed for establishing general corrosion damage functions for carbon steel, copper, aluminium and zinc in terms of Gran Canaria extreme meteorological and pollution parameters. (Author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The problem in perturbation theory in general relativity is finding a natural gauge which simplifies the equations considerably. We solved the first and second order perturbation equations in the ''Lorentz gauge'' using the two-timing method. The equations were deduced from the equations of Einstein in the presence of a matter energy-momentum tensor of a perfect fluid with equation of state p = (..gamma..-1) rho. It is found that the 0--0 component of the first order equations together with the gauge conditions are consistent with the Bianchi type V model, without axial symmetry. It represents a ''ground state'' situation of the Bianchi type IX model (Mixmaster model.) The second order equations, describing the reaction back of the gravitational waves on the slowly varying background, give rise to rotation and will disturb the isotropization mechanism. The numerical solutions show all the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We investigate the quantum cosmology of spatially homogeneous models with compact spatial sections admitting a u(2) isometry algebra. The metric ansatz in these models is that of Bianchi type IX with two scale factors set to be equal. We apply the Hartle-Hawking no-boundary path integral prescription and find the semi-classical contributions to the wave function. Exact formulae are obtainable for certain contributions and otherwise the limits of large and small anisotropy (for the pure vacuum case) and large spatial volume or small anisotropy (for the case with a positive cosmological constant) are considered. For the pure vacuum case we find no rapidly oscillating semiclassical components in the wave function, and hence do not recover lorentzian space-time as a prediction of the no-boundary proposal. For the case with a cosmological constant the wave function does contain rapidly oscillating components and thus predicts approximately lorentzian space-times; ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A new class of solutions of the euclidean Einstein equations with #LAMBDA#-term ( A-class ) is found by solving the complex two-dimensional Kaehler Einstein equations with the following realization of complex metrics. The A-Class includes two gravitational instantons already known: the CP"2 and the Eguchi-Hanson metric, and allows a U(1)-generalized spin structure. It is shown that all Einstein euclidean two-axial Bianchi type IX metrics are exhausted by the Taub-NUT-de Sitter family and the A-class. (orig.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The symposium covers papers under different sections namely, (i) Core physics and Fuel management, (ii) Commissioning of facilities and systems, (iii) Operational experience and Human resource development, (iv) Fuel handling, Maintenance management and Surveillance, (v) Instrumentation and Control and Power supply systems, (vi) Analysis, modifications and developments for enhancing operational safety, (vii) Chemistry control and Effluent management, (viii) Radiation and industrial safety and (ix) Steam generators, Turbo-generators and other auxiliaries. Papers relevant to INIS are indexed separately. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We show using covariant techniques that the Einstein static universe containing a perfect fluid is always neutrally stable against small inhomogeneous vector and tensor perturbations and neutrally stable against adiabatic scalar density inhomogeneities so long as c"2_s > 1/5, and unstable otherwise. We also show that the stability is not significantly changed by the presence of a self-interacting scalar field source, but we find that spatially homogeneous Bianchi type IX modes destabilize an Einstein static universe. The implications of these results for the initial state of the universe and its pre-inflationary evolution are also discussed. (letter to the editor)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We discuss various superstring effective actions and, in particular, their common sector which leads to the so-called pre-big-bang cosmology (cosmology in a weak coupling limit of heterotic superstring theory). Using the conformal relationship between these two theories we present Kasner asymptotic solutions of Bianchi type IX geometries within these theories and make predictions about possible emergence of chaos. Finally, we present a possible method of generating Horava-Witten cosmological solutions out of the well-known general relativistic or pre-big-bang solutions.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

As part of a project to complete a comprehensive catalogue of astrophysically relevant emission lines in support of new-generation X-ray observatories using the Lawrence Livermore electron beam ion traps EBIT-I and EBIT-II, we studied emission lines of argon and sulfur in the soft X-ray and extreme ultraviolet region. Here we present observations of Ar IX through Ar XVI and S VII through S XIV between 20 and 75 {angstrom} to illustrate our work.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We investigate the dynamics of an 11-dimensional homogeneous cosmological model. We assume that the t = const hypersurfaces are products of a 3-dimensional Bianchi type-IX space and a 7-dimensional torus. Most results of our investigation hold when the 7-dimensional torus is replaced by an m-dimensional torus T/sup m/. We show that for a large class of vacuum solutions the physical space expands while the microspace contracts providing a natural mechanism of dimensional reduction. Matter satisfying a simple barotropic equation of state always breaks the process of dynamical dimensional reduction. With special attention we study the behavior of our model close to the initial singularity. In contrast with the 4-dimensional Bianchi type-IX cosmological model the Kasner solution always describes an approach to the initial singularity. We study the transition from the Kasner regime to the oscillatory regime. We show that matter does not ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The role of macroinvertebrates and diatoms as indicator for metal pollution was investigated by assessing both biota along a metal gradient in the Belgian river the Dommel. Macroinvertebrates and diatoms were sampled in summer and winter and physical-chemical characteristics of the water were measured at four different sample periods and related to sediment characteristics. Although metal concentrations, except cadmium, in the water nowhere exceeded water quality standards, high metal concentrations were measured in the sediment, indicating historical contamination of the Dommel. At the sites that were situated downstream of the pollution source, high levels of conductivity and chloride were measured in the water. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) indicated pH, phosphate and zinc as the significant environmental variables explaining each respectively 7.7%, 11.6% and 22.6% of the macroinvertebrate community composition. Two clusters could be separated, with Gammarus pulex, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A zinc-air battery using zinc regeneration electrolysis with propanol oxidation as a counter electrode reaction is reported in this paper. It possesses functions of both zincate reduction and electrochemical preparation, showing the potential for increasing the electronic energy utilization. Charge/discharge tests and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs reveal that when a nickel sheet plated with the high-H{sub 2}-overpotential metal, cadmium, was used as the negative substrate electrode, the dendritic formation and hydrogen evolution are suppressed effectively, and granular zinc deposits become larger but relatively dense with the increase of charge time. The performance of batteries is favorable even if the charge time is as long as 5 h at the current density of 20 mA cm{sup -2}. Better discharge performance is achieved using a 'cavity-opening' configuration for the discharge cell rather than ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Increased use of wetlands for habitat and water quality improvement emphasize the need for further study of abiotic-biotic interactions in these systems. This research examined contaminant assimilation within the water column of two newly created Colorado prairie wetlands (RMA3 and RMA4). To examine the influence of abiotic factors (e.g., alkalinity, suspended solids), ten chronic toxicity tests were performed from December 1991 through November 1993. In the first set of tests, Ceriodaphnia dubia were exposed to water from the two wetlands which was spiked with various concentrations of zinc. These tests suggested that water from RMA4 had higher contaminant assimilative capacity than water from RMA3. Preliminary analysis suggested suspended solids, pH, conductivity, and temperature were important factors affecting neonate production by C. dubia when exposed to zinc-spiked wetland water. To test the importance of suspended solids in contaminant ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The solar thermal production of zinc is considered for the conversion of solar energy into storable and transportable chemical fuels. The ultimate objective is to develop a technically and economically viable technology that can produce solar zinc. The program strategy for achieving such a goal involves research on two paths: a direct path via the solar thermal splitting of ZnO in the absence of fossil fuels, and an indirect path via the solar carbothermal/CH{sub 4}-thermal reduction of Zn O, with fossil fuels (coke or natural gas) as chemical reducing agents. Both paths make use of concentrated solar energy for high-temperature process heat. The direct path brings us to the complete substitution of fossil fuels with solar fuels for a sustainable energy supply system. The indirect path creates a link between today`s fossil-fuel-based technology and tomorrow`s solar chemical technology and builds bridges between present and future energy ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Diagnostic x-ray spectrometry, a method based on x-ray fluorescence analysis, was used for noninvasive determination of iron and zinc in two distinct skin areas, representing predominantly dermal and epidermal tissues, in 56 patients with beta-thalassemia major and intermedia. The mean iron levels in the skin of patients with beta-thalassemia major and intermedia were elevated by greater than 200% and greater than 50%, respectively, compared with control values. The zinc levels of both skin areas examined were within the normal range. The data indicate that the rate and number of blood transfusions, which correlated well with serum ferritin levels (r . 0.8), are not the only factors that determine the amount of iron deposition in the skin (r less than 0.6). Other sources of iron intake contribute to the total iron load in the tissues, particularly in patients who are not given multiple transfusions. The noninvasive quantitation of skin levels ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Extraction of copper-, nickel-, zinc- and cadmium complexes with 4-(2 pyridilazo)-resorcin (PAR) is studied in the presence of 2-aminopyridine (Am). Maximum optical densities of the extracts are attained at pH=7.5-8.0; 6.0-7.0; 6.5-7.0 and 7.0-8.0, respectively. The ratio of components in the complexes extractable by chloroform was defined by the method of isomolar series and equilibrium shift. It is established that nickel and copper are extracted to the organic phase as the NiAm(PAR)_2 and CuAmPAR complexes, and, in the case of zinc and cadmium, complexes of different composition are extracted, for example Zn(Am)_2PAR and ZnAm(PAR)_2. The light absorption spectra are studied and molar extinction coefficients of complex extracts are determined at lambdasub(max). It is shown that the general low of light absorption is observed within a sufficiently wide range of concentrations for all the elements.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Coaxial nanocables with a single-crystalline zinc telluride (ZnTe) nanowire core and an amorphous silicon oxide (SiO_x) shell have been synthesized via a simple one-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method on gold-decorated silicon substrates. The single-crystal ZnTe nanowire core is in zinc-blende structure along the [111] direction, while the uniform SiO_x shell fully covers the core with no observable pin-hole or crack. Formation mechanisms of the ZnTe-SiO_x nanocables are discussed. The ZnTe nanowire core shows p-type electrical properties while the SiO_x shell acts as an effective insulating layer. The ZnTe-SiO_x nanocables may have potential applications in nanoscale devices, such as p-type FETs and nanosensors.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A new reagent 7-(6-Br-2-henzthiazolilazo)-8-oxyquinoline-5-sulphoacid has been studied spectrophotometrically. Dissociation constants have been determined in 50% acetone (pK_1=2.5 and pK_2=5.9) and 50% dioxane (pK_1=1.7 and pK_2=6.1) as well as molar extinction coefficients of the reagent dissociated form in the same solvents (71.1.10"3 and 72.4.10"3). The conditions have been studied of complexing the reagent with ions of uranium (6), zinc (2), and manganese (2) in 50% dioxane (pH 2.5-4.5) and the properties of the formed complexes.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mining of copper and zinc took place at the Clinton Mine located in the Estrie region of Quebec between 1973 and 1975, during which time 115,000 tons of mineral were treated at the Solbec plant. In this poster presentation, the authors provided the background information pertaining to this mine and described the state in which it was in 1994. The pit was covered with good quality water, with a pH of 7,1 and copper and zinc content ranging between 0,1 and 0,6 mg/l, and iron ranging between 0,2 and 1,8 mg/l. The tailings basin drainage was found to have a pH of between 3,6 and 6,1. A program for the characterization of the site was implemented and the concept for the restauration of the Clinton site was developed and implemented. The work carried out at the site is discussed during this presentation as well as the monitoring taking place. 27 figs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the Carpathian Basin, significant percentage of watershed area and floodplains of rivers are utilised agriculturally. Several potential sources of poisonous metal pollution have been identified in these areas. Because of spills from some of them a few severe accidents have happened especially in the watershed area of Tisza River during the last decades. The motivation of our present work was to produce "6"2","6"5Zn and "2"0"3Pb radioisotopes because they can be used especially as tracers for studying the kinetics of uptake, transport and accumulation of zinc and lead by plants under different circumstances. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The concentrations of iron, chromium, zinc, and aluminum were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy in the lipid-soluble fractions of tar from the process stream of an experimental coal gasifier as part of large study on the health risks of coal gasification. Lipid solubility was inferred from octanol/water-partitioning and benzene-solubility tests. The properties of the lipid-soluble metals were compared to reference compounds by Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. The ability of the lipid-soluble metals to remain lipid soluble after treatment with acid and base was also tested. Lipid-soluble iron, chromium, zinc, and aluminum were present at 360, 12, 3, and 1 ppM, respectively, in the gasifier coal tar. The presence of these metals in lipid-soluble form may have important consequences relative to the potential toxicity of the tar if persons are exposed to it.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Electric Fuel zinc-air battery yielded energy densities from 6.8 to 10.2 times higher than those of the lead-acid batteries. The higher the power and the more difficult the driving cycle, the higher this ratio of energy densities grew. Not only was the Electric Fuel battery capable of extended high-power discharge, the impact of such discharge conditions on energy and driving range was show to be quite small, and was much smaller than the comparable impact on lead-acid traction batteries. At the time of writing this paper, tests are scheduled to continue with the 110-kWh battery in the Mercedes van, and preliminary plans have been made for testing of additional batteries on other vehicle types.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A method is described for determination of aluminium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, manganese, nickel, lead, strontium, zinc, titanium and vanadium in iron ore. After dissolution, a 1 gram sample of iron ore is applied to a column of AGI-X8 anion exchange resin (chloride form), in 100 ml of 7M HCl. Aluminium, chromium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, manganese, nickel, lead, strontium, titanium and vanadium are eluted with 7M HCl; iron, copper and cobalt are eluted with 0.5M HCl; cadmium and zinc are eluted with 2M HNO_3. Iron is subsequently removed from copper and cobalt by a solvent extraction with methyl isobutyl ketone. The elements are determined in the eluates by atomic absorption spectrometry, except for titanium and vanadium, which are determined spectrophotometrically.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

We are developing a refuelable zinc/air battery (6-cells) for evaluation under the five USABC `core` test protocols. In the first half of the two year project ($1OOK, FY1997), an advanced refuelable design was developed, fabricated and tested at power levels up to 415 W. Performance matched or exceeded that of earlier multicell systems. A computer program was developed for automated data acquisition and drive cycle simulation. Small mockup cells (80 cm 2) were constructed for rapid testing of components. In the follow-on effort (FY1998, $1OOK) we will make minor advances in system design and fabrication efficiency, and seek to improve cathode performance and life, before delivery of two final units for test at DOE laboratory.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There have been a number of studies considering the possibility of removing and recovering heavy metals from diluted solutions. These are due, principally, because of the commercial value of some metals as well as in the environmental impact caused by them. The traditional methods for removing have several disadvantages when metals are present in concentrations lower than 100 mg/l. Biosorption, which uses biological materials as adsorbents, has been considered as an alternative method. In this work, variables like pH and biomass chemical pretreatment have been studied for its effect on the capacity for zinc biosorption by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. Also, studies to determinate the time for zinc adsorption were carried out. Results indicate that a capacity as high as 82.61 mg of Zn(II)/g of dry biomass can be obtained at a temperature of 25 C and that the biosorption process occurs in a time of 30 min. (orig.)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A new heterogeneous catalyst for the esterification of free fatty acids and the transesterification of vegetable oils is reported. The layered compound zinc hydroxide nitrate (Zn5(OH)8(NO3)22H2O) was very effective in the alcoholysis of palm oil and the esterification of lauric acid with m(ethanol), even when hydrated ethanol was used. Over the range of 100-140degreeC, the ester yield was the highest at 140degreeC, while the catalyst concentration had a much greater effect on ester yields than the molar ratio of alcohol to acid did. Total ester contents above 95wt% were obtained in both reactions and 93.2wt% glycerin streams were recovered as a result of methanolysis.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

To reconstruct the profiles of heavy metal levels in the South Ocean ecosystem of Antarctica, the concentrations of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) in seal hairs and lake sediments spanning the past 1500?years from Fildes Peninsula of King George Island and in weathering lake sediments from Nelson Island of West Antarctica were determined. The lead contents in the seal hairs and the weathering sediments show a sharp increase since the late 1800s, very likely due to anthropogenic contamination from modern industries. After the 1980s, the Pb content in seal hairs dropped by one-third, apparently due to the reduced usage of leaded gasoline in the Southern Hemisphere. Copper arises mainly from the weathering process, and its level may be substantially affected...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The separation, concentration, and determination of trace elements in iron ores are described. After the sample has been dissolved, the iron is separated by liquid-liquid extraction with a liquid cation-exchanger, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid. The trace elements aluminium, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, potassium, sodium, vanadium, and zinc are determined in the aqueous phase by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry.

Science.gov (United States)

In this study, six groups of rats were fed as follows: Groups 1 and 2 were fed formulated diets supplemented with zinc or without zinc respectively. Groups 3 and 4 were fed formulated diets supplemented with zinc plus phytic acid extracted from sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) or commercial phytic acid respectively. Groups 5 and 6 were fed formulated diets supplemented with phytic acid extract from sweet potato or commercial phytic acid respectively. The animals were fed for three weeks and then sacrificed The activities of key enzymes of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism as well as transaminases in the liver were determined. Blood glucose level was also assessed. Phytic acid extract consumption from sweet potato and commercial phytic acid plus zinc supplement lowered blood glucose levels. There was no significant change in the activity of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase among the groups. Similarly, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

An evaluation was made of the effectiveness of the action of reagents used for cleaning cyan-containing waste water for conditioning of the overflow of copper concentrate thickners of the Belousovskiy enrichment before sorption extraction of gold by activated charcoal. It was established that conditioning of the overflow by iron sulfates (II), copper and zinc diminshes, and by hypochlorite increases the capacitance of the activated charcoal for gold.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Thlaspi caerulescens is a heavy metal hyperaccumulator plant species that is able to accumulate extremely high levels of zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) in its shoots (30,000 μg...Full Text Available

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Energy storage can be a cost-effective component of hybrid remote power systems. Storage serves the special role of taking advantage of intermittent renewable power sources. Traditionally this role has been played by lead-acid batteries, which have high life-cycle costs and pose special disposal problems. Hydrogen or zinc-air storage technologies can reduce life-cycle costs and environmental impacts. Using projected data for advanced energy storage technologies, LLNL ran an optimization for a hypothetical Arctic community with a reasonable wind resource (average wind speed 8 m/s). These simulations showed the life-cycle annualized cost of the total energy system (electric plus space heating) might be reduced by nearly 40% simply by adding wind power to the diesel system. An additional 20 to 40% of the wind-diesel cost might be saved by adding hydrogen storage or zinc-air fuel cells to the system. Hydrogen produced by electrolysis of water using ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Cadmium (Cd) exposure causes glucosuria (glucose in the urine). Previously, it was shown that Cd exposure of primary cultures of mouse kidney cells (PMKC) decreased mRNA levels of the glucose...Full Text Available

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this article, we present our consistent efforts to explore the dynamical pathways of the migration of electronic radiation by using ultrafast (picosecond/femtosecond time scales) F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique. The ultrafast non-radiative energy migration from an intrinsic donor fluorophore (Tryptophan, Trp214) present in domain IIA of a transporter protein human serum albumin (HSA) to various non-covalently/covalently attached organic/inorganic chromophores including photoporphyrin IX (PPIX), polyoxovanadate [V15As6O42(H2O)]-6 clusters (denoted as V15) and CdS quantum dots (QDs) has been explored. We have also used other covalently/non-covalently attached extrinsic fluorogenic donors (NPA, ANS) in order to exploit the dynamics of resonance energy migration of an enz...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Based on a collisional-radiative model, an atomic-kinetic calculation of the gains on the 41.8-nm transitions of Pd-like xenon was performed for the plasma produced due to the interaction of a femtosecond laser pulse with gaseous xenon. The gains g(z,?) averaged over the spatial and temporal coordinates were compared with the known gains which had been measured experimentally in Xe8+. The amplification was shown to occur under the conditions of ionisation of the working ions, and the time of output radiation saturation depends on the time of Xe8+ transformation to higher-ionised ions. Our theoretical investigation enables determining the optimal pump parameters, at which the product of the gain g by the active medium length L is about 20, which exceeds the experimental gL value. (active media)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Lorentz and coordinate covariant calculus of spinors in Riemannian spacetime, which is the mathematical model for the description of the quantum mechanics of elementary particles with spin interacting with the classical gravitation field, is explored. The Dirac equation describing the interaction of neutrinos with the gravitational fields of the Robertson-Walker cosmological world models is separated, and the spectrum of eigenfunctions and eigenvalues for particular choices of the set of quantum numbers is given explicitly for the k = 0 and k = +1 models, although only the radial equations determining the final quantum number are given for the k = -1 model. The mathematical theory of the motion of a perfect fluid whose elements interact via long-range neutrino-exchange forces, as well as gravitationally, is developed. The formalism for calculating, by calculating the Bogoliubov transformation of the Fock space operators that instantaneously diagonalize their quantized field ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We consider perturbations of a particular type (homogeneous of Bianchi type IX) from a closed Friedmann-Robertson-Walker model. By considering a perfect fluid, we obtain closed-form solutions for the perturbations in three interesting cases: stiff matter, radiation, and dust. As a cosmological application, we obtain an upper limit on the relative shear, (sigma/theta)_0 < b/sub 0exp/, if the microwave background radiation was last scattered at a mean red-shift element of [7,10"3] and the density parameter is #OMEGA# element of (1,10), where b/sub 0exp/ is the relative root-mean-square deviation of the temperature over the whole sky.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We investigate the quantum cosmology of spatially homogeneous models with compact spatial sections admitting a u(2) isometry algebra. The metric ansatz in these models is that of Bianchi type IX with two scale factors set to be equal. We apply the Hartle-Hawking no-boundary path integral prescription and find the semi-classical contributions to the wave function. Exact formulae are obtainable for certain contributions and otherwise the limits of large and small anisotropy (for the pure vacuum case) and large spatial volume or small anisotropy (for the case with a positive cosmological constant) are considered. For the pure vacuum case we find no semiclassical components which would correspond to Lorentzian universes. For the case with a cosmological constant the Hartle-Hawking boundary conditions formally constrain one of the parameters in the Lorentzian solutions to be purely imaginary. Possible interpretations of this imaginary parameter are discussed. 27 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nitric acid leaching from the weak base anion (WBA) exchanger had been evaluated and based on this a 5% mixture of nitric acid loaded weak base anion exchanger with fresh weak base anion exchanger (NLWBA) at the bottom of the ion exchange column has been devised to maintain an outlet pH in the range of 5.0 to 5.5 during Gd removal from the moderator system of TAPP - 3 and 4. A three layered bed had been constituted wherein strong acid cation (SAC) exchanger is placed as the top layer while a mixed bed of SAC and WBA or pure WBA is used as the middle layer and the 5% NLWBA was used as the bottom most layer. This bed configuration would result in an iso-pH regime in the moderator system during the Gd removal along with quantitative removal of Gd. Two three-layer bed columns were prepared at TAPS - 3 and 4 in July 07. The resin was loaded in batches and after preparing the column, the column was deuterated with heavy water (> 99.75 % w/w) at a steady flow rate of 280 ml/min. After ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In a recent publication [I. Galanakis, K. Ozdog-tilde an, E. Sasiog-tilde lu, B. Aktas, Phys. Rev. B 74 (2006) 140408(R)] we have shown that in the case of CrAs and related transition-metal chalcogenides and pnictides, crystallizing in the zinc-blende structure, the excess of the transition-metal atoms leads to half-metallic ferrimagnetism. The latter property is crucial for spintronic applications with respect to ferromagnets due to the lower stray fields created by these materials. We extend this study to cover the case where the transition-metal atoms sitting at antisites are not identical to the ones in the perfect sites. In Cr-based compounds, the creation of Mn antisites keeps the half-metallic ferrimagnetic character produced also by the Cr antisites. In the case of VAs, Cr and Mn antisites keep the half-metallic character of VAs (contrary to V antisites) due to the larger exchange splitting exhibited by these atoms.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The reduction of CO{sub 2} concentration in a gas stream containing 500ppm of CO{sub 2} by a technique combining chemical absorption with Higee (high gravity) was investigated in this study. Using a 2.0L aqueous amine-based solution to treat the feed gas with a flow rate which varied from 12.9 to 20.6Lmin{sup -1}, piperazine (PZ) was found to be more effective than 2-(2-aminoethylamino) ethanol (AEEA) and monoethanolamine (MEA) for reducing the CO{sub 2} concentration to a level below 20ppm. The effects of temperature, rotating speed, amine solution flow rate, and gas flow rate on the removal efficiency of CO{sub 2} were systematically examined. The results indicated that the proposed compact device could effectively reduce CO{sub 2} to a level below 20ppm, as required by a zinc/air battery, for a long period of time using PZ and its mixture with AEEA and MEA as the absorbents. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The photon rupture method, by which oxide film and metal are removed by focused pulsed Nd-YAG laser beam irradiation, was applied to form artificial micro-pits in Zn-5 mass% Al alloy-coated steel. The zinc alloy-coated layer was removed by pulsed laser irradiation treatment for about one second in a neutral buffer solution with NaCl. The rest potential transient with the laser treatment was measured. In the early stage of the laser treatment the rest potential of zinc alloy-coated steel changed to the negative direction immediately after every irradiation of a laser pulse and then returned to the previous value. However, after the steel substrate was exposed to the solution, the rest potential moved to the positive direction immediately after every irradiation of a laser pulse and then returned to the previous value. The amplitude and duration of the potential change after the laser irradiation increased with repetition of laser irradiation, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The electrochemical method has been used to deposit zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films from aqueous zinc nitrate solution at 80 deg. C onto fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrates. ZnO thin films were grown between - 0.900 and - 1.025 V vs Ag/AgCl as established by voltammogram. Characterisation of ZnO films was carried out for both as-deposited and annealed films in order to study the effect of annealing. Structural analysis of the ZnO films was performed using X-ray diffraction, which showed polycrystalline films of hexagonal phase with (002) preferential orientation. Atomic force microscopy was used to study the surface morphology. Optical studies identified the bandgap to be {approx} 3.20 eV and refractive index to 2.35. The photoelectrochemical cell signal indicated that the films had n-type electrical conductivity and current-voltage measurements showed the glass/FTO/ZnO/Au devices exhibit rectifying properties. The thickness of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Apparatus and methods are described for generating heat and electricity from the consumption of a variety of aluminum products. The method consists of (A) a reaction chamber containing an aqueous electrolyte solution and adapted for introduction therein of aluminum pieces of various shapes and sizes up to a certain maximum predetermined size and for effecting a chemical reaction between said aqueous electrolyte and said aluminum pieces yielding aluminum hydroxide and an intermediate reactant; (B) means for feeding said aluminum pieces into said reaction chamber in small quantities upon demand; (C) means for removing the heat generated in said chamber as a result of said reaction; (D) means for removing said aluminum hydroxide reaction product; and (E) means for oxidizing said intermediate reactant in an electrochemical cell, thereby generating electrical energy. The intermediate reactant is preferably hydrogen or zinc. The latter may be used in a slurry type ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Glasses in the system (1 - x) [29Na2O- 4Al2O3- 67B2O3]- xZnO (0 ? x ? 35 mol%), have been prepared by the melt quenching technique. Elastic properties, X-ray and FT-IR spectroscopic studies have been employed to study the role of ZnO on the structure of the investigated glass system. Elastic properties and Debye temperature have been investigated using sound wave velocity measurements at 4 MHz at room temperature. The results showed that the density increases and the molar volume decreases while both sound velocities and the determined glass transition temperatures decrease with increase in x. X-ray and infrared spectra of the glasses reveal that the borate network consists of diborate units and is affected by the increase in the concentration of ZnO content. These results are interpreted in terms of the decrease in the N4 values (fraction of tetrahedral coordinated boron atoms), and substitution of longer bond lengths of Zn-O in place of shorter B-O bond. The results indicate that ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

To reconstruct the profiles of heavy metal levels in the South Ocean ecosystem of Antarctica, the concentrations of lead (Pb), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) in seal hairs and lake sediments spanning the past 1500 years from Fildes Peninsula of King George Island and in weathering lake sediments from Nelson Island of West Antarctica were determined. The lead contents in the seal hairs and the weathering sediments show a sharp increase since the late 1800s, very likely due to anthropogenic contamination from modern industries. After the 1980s, the Pb content in seal hairs dropped by one-third, apparently due to the reduced usage of leaded gasoline in the Southern Hemisphere. Copper arises mainly from the weathering process, and its level may be substantially affected by climatic conditions. The concentrations of Cd, As, and Zn do not show any clear temporal trends.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The rechargeability of the slurry-Zn/air battery was demonstrated with a practical recharge cell that requires minimal hydraulic and mechanical energy for operation. A dendritic Zn was deposited on a Mg plate substrate from which it was easily, periodically and automatically scraped to regenerate dendritic Zn slurries. Excellent discharge results were obtained with the regenerated dendritic Zn slurry, comparable to those obtained with slurries made with mixtures of Zn powder. The dendritic Zn slurry allowed, however, twice the utilization of Zn. 13 refs., 24 figs., 2 tabs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The principle of conservation and transferability of chemical bonds explains the recent discovery by extended x-ray absorption fine-structure measurements of two unequal anion-cation bond lengths R/sub A/C and R/sub B/C in A/sub x/B/sub 1-x/C zinc-blende semiconductor alloys despite the close adherence of the lattice constant to the average value (Vegard rule). This bond alternation, manifested as a structural distortion to a local chalcopyrite coordination around the anions, explains also most of the observed optical bowing in semiconductor alloys.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The long term goal is to determine the ecological importance of specific toxic metals (copper and zinc) in harbors, through an understanding of their chemistry and biological effects at the base of marine food chains. This work provides information on potential problems with Zn and Cu, which may help to foresee problems in the future. Anthropogenic inputs of both metals are increasing; they are derived from diverse sources and are a simple function of population growth in coastal regions.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A number of herbal drugs are used in the Unani (Greco-Arab) System of Medicine for cardiovascular diseases. The herbs were analyzed by flame AAS and ICP-AES to determine if their therapeutic actions can be associated with the elements present in them. Cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, nickel, phosphorus, lead and zinc were some of the elements which play various roles in cardiovascular affections. An effort was made to correlate the role of these elements in cardiac diseases. (Auth.). 2 tabs., 32 refs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The present invention provides a compound of the formula (Cat).sup.+.sub.z[M.sup.++(5-nitro-1H-tetrazolato-N2).sup.-.sub.x(H.sub.2- O).sub.y] where x is 3 or 4, y is 2 or 3, x+y is 6, z is 1 or 2, and M.sup.++ is selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, chromium, and manganese, and (Cat).sup.+ is selected from the group consisting of ammonium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium. A method of preparing the compound of that formula is also disclosed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This short communication aims to update the review of non-nitro radiation sensitizers (Shenoy and Singh 1985) and correct omissions. Work is mentioned and bibliography given for studied of cis-platinum, potassium permanganate, cobalt hexammine, sodium bromide, dimethylsulphoxide, zinc and copper ions, organic nitroxyl free radicals (TAN,TMPN and NPPN + PNAP), halogenated pyrimidines, organic and inorganic iodine containing compounds, diacetyl, acetone and acetophenone, rho-hydrobenzoic acid and its esters, pentobarbitone and secobarbitone, heparin and 9-anilinoacridines, dehydropiandosterone and paraquat. (U.K.).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Radioactive "1"4C sucrose was found to be an ideal marker for microleakage because it did not penetrate tooth tissue, dental cement, or mounting resin. The main finding is that the adhesive cements--the glass-ionomer and polycarboxylate--are significantly more effective at preventing microleakage than are the traditional phosphate cements--silicate and zinc phosphate. The differences can be as high as two orders of magnitude. The adhesive cements provide almost perfect and reliable seals. By contrast, the nonadhesive cements are erratic sealants with most of the restorations leaking.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A novel zinc-air battery might soon enhance the mileage and applications of electric vehicles. The battery named Zoxy battery weighs 80% less than a conventional lead battery, but has an equal amount of energy in store. (orig./CB) [Deutsch] Eine neuartige Zink-Luft-Batterie koennte vor allem dem Elektroauto groessere Reichweiten und neue Einsatzmoeglichkeiten erschliessen. Die sogenannte Zoxy-Batterie ist 80% leichter als eine herkoemmliche Bleibatterie - bei gleichem Energiegehalt. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Studies dialysis kinetics of zinc dialkyldithiophosphates, detergent-dispersing agents, alkyl-phenols and base oils. It was established that diffusion kinetics of oil hydrocarbons through membrane of individual compounds and narrow fractions is described by Brinzinger's formula, which is identical to the kinetic reaction formula of the 1st order. It was shown that dialysis can be utilized to determine the content of the ''active substance'' only in sulphonate and alkylsalycilate additives. Increasing temperature from 20 to 40/sup 0/ results in an increased dialysis constant for all studied products by 1.4-1.9 times.

Science.gov (United States)

Since 1901, ASARCO, Inc. has owned and operated an 89-acre cadmium-refining smelter in the Globeville neighborhood of north Denver, Colorado. According to complaints filed by EPA and local residents, operations at the smelter have allegedly contaminated the air, ground water, surface water, and soil; contamination from arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc has occurred both onsite and offsite. EPA proposed to add the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in May 1993.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The verification test program on zinc injection applicability to Japanese BWRs was started in 1997. Laboratory tests using high temperature water loops under BWR reactor water conditions are in progress. This paper is an interim report on results obtained so far. Co-58 and Zn-65 were simultaneously used in the Co radioactivity buildup test to evaluate zinc injection suppression effects towards cobalt deposition on pre-oxidized stainless steel. The following results were obtained. The Co deposition was suppressed effectively by Zn injection, even when there was a pre-oxide film. For the test piping that had the pre-oxide film formed under the NWC (normal water chemistry) condition, when soaked under the HWC (hydrogen water chemistry) condition a large amount of Co-58 was taken into a small part of the inner layer. The distribution ratio of Co-58 in the inner layer and outer layer of the oxide film was almost the same for both the pre-oxidized ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Electric vehicles that can`t reach trolley wires need batteries. In the early 1900`s electric cars disappeared when owners found that replacing the car`s worn-out lead-acid battery costs more than a new gasoline-powered car. Most of today`s electric cars are still propelled by lead-acid batteries. General Motors` Impact, for example, uses starting-lighting-ignition batteries, which deliver lots of power for demonstrations, but have a life of less than 100 deep discharges. Now promising alternative technology has challenged the world-wide lead miners, refiners, and battery makers into forming a consortium that sponsors research into making better lead-acid batteries. Horizon`s new bipolar battery delivered 50 watt-hours per kg (Wh/kg), compared with 20 for ordinary transport-vehicle batteries. The alternatives are delivering from 80 Wh/kg (nickel-metal hydride) up to 200 Wh/kg (zinc-bromine). A Fiat Panda travelled 260 km on a single charge of its ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We consider spatially homogeneous (but generally non-isotropic) cosmologies in the recently proposed Horava-Lifshitz gravity and compare them to those of general relativity using Hamiltonian methods. In all cases, the problem is described by an effective point particle moving in a potential well with exponentially steep walls. Focusing on the closed-space cosmological model (Bianchi type IX), the mixmaster dynamics is now completely dominated by the quadratic Cotton tensor potential term for a very small volume of the universe. Unlike general relativity, where the evolution toward the initial singularity always exhibits chaotic behavior with alternating Kasner epochs, the anisotropic universe in Horava-Lifshitz gravity (with parameter #lambda# > 1/3) is described by a particle moving in a frozen potential well with fixed (but arbitrary) energy E. Alternating Kasner epochs still provide a good description of the early universe for very large E, but the evolution ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The first-step formation constants of UO_2"2"+-complexes of some N-hydroxysuccinamic acids viz. N-phenyl N-hydroxysuccinamic acid (Rsub(p)H(sub(2))), N-o-toyl N-hydroxysuccinamic acid(Rsub(t)oHsub(2)) and N-m-tolyl N-hydroxysuccinamic acid (Rsub(t)mHsub(2)) have been determined spectrophotometrically. Stabilities are in the ligand order Risup(m)Hsub(2)>Rsub(t)oHsub(2)>Rsub(p)Hsub(2). The first-step hydrolysis constant k' of UO_2"2"+ ion has been determined spectrophotometrically and found to be pk'=4.00 at a constant ionic strength (#mu#=0.5) at 30deg-+0.5deg and the molar extinction coefficients of the species UO_2"2"+ and UO_2(OH)"+ at #LAMBDA#=385 nm are found to be 2.0 and 13.0 respectively. (author).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The quantum behavior of the vacuum Bianchi type-IX universe with the cosmological constant is investigated in terms of the Ashtekar variables. An exact solution to the quantum Hamiltonian constraint in the holomorphic representation is given. This solution reduces to the Hartle-Hawking wave function in the spatially isotropic sector and extends in the triad representation to the classically forbidden region where the determinant of the spatial metric becomes negative. The analysis of the quantum Robertson-Walker universe indicates that if the superspace is extended to such a classically forbidden region, the holomorphic representation picks up some restricted class of solutions in general. This observation leads to a new ansatz on the boundary condition of the Universe. In particular, the behavior of the Lorentzian and Euclidean WKB orbits corresponding to the solution suggests a new picture on the semiclassical behavior of the quantum Universe: that the Universe ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A sum-over-histories generalized quantum theory is developed for homogeneous minisuperspace type A Bianchi cosmological models, focusing on the particular example of the classically recollapsing Bianchi type-IX universe. The decoherence functional for such universes is exhibited. We show how the probabilities of decoherent sets of alternative, coarse-grained histories of these model universes can be calculated. We consider in particular the probabilities for classical evolution defined by a suitable coarse graining. For a restricted class of initial conditions and coarse grainings we exhibit the approximate decoherence of alternative histories in which the universe behaves classically and those in which it does not. For these situations we show that the probability is near unity for the universe to recontract classically if it expands classically. We also determine the relative probabilities of quasiclassical trajectories for initial states of WKB form, recovering ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Deutsche Post AG is a transport company that with approximately 55,000 vehicles owns one of the biggest fleets in Europe. Being aware of its responsibility in the field of environmental policy it is looking for an alternative solution of an environmentally friendly vehicle drive system that also takes into account economic efficiency. Extensive investigations have led to a new energy storage based on the zinc-air energy system that has been developed and manufactured by the Israeli Company Electric Fuel Ltd. First tests showed an extraordinarily high capacity potential, drive values and ranges, which had been considered as impossible until that point of time. After these tests the Deutsche Post AG decided together with other well-known partners at home and abroad to carry out a territorial test with the zinc-air energy system in order to obtain insight into the day-to-day capability, economic efficiency, environmental friendliness under ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zirconium is a transition element located along with sister elements titanium and hafnium in Group IVB of the periodic table. It is grayish white metal, with a density somewhat less than carbon steel. Zirconium is the ninth most common metallic element in the earth's crust, and is more abundant than zinc, lead, nickel, or even copper. Zirconium is exceptionally resistant to corrosion by many common acids and alkalis. It is resistant to most organic acids, such as formic, acetic, lactic, and oxalic acids. It also has a high resistance to localized forms of corrosion, such as pitting, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking. Its corrosion resistance is caused by the formation of a dense, tenaciously adherent, chemically inert oxide film on the surface. This oxide film protects the base metal from both chemical and mechanical attack at temperatures up to about 400 C (750 F). This article describes zirconium's formability, machinability, corrosion resistance, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The slurry-Zn/air battery system has received renewed R and D interest because it does not have the shape-change problems of batteries with Zn-plate electrodes and can sustain higher current densities and specific peak power than other metal-air battery systems. Additional advantages of the slurry-Zn/air battery include safety, low environmental impact, potential low cost, and separation of energy density from power density functions for design purposes. In this work we present results obtained at the individual cell level as a basis to estimate the performance of a secondary slurry-Zn/air battery system. The expected specific energy of such systems has been increased as a result of the use of capacity-extension additives, which has been one of the major thrusts of this work. 8 refs., 20 figs., 5 tabs.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Biosorption behaviour of and toxic effects of heavy metals in submersed and immobilised microorganisms was studied in batches and in continuous processes in an airlift-recycle reactor. Nickel, cadmium, and zinc were used as heavy metals. (orig./VHE) [Deutsch] Am Beispiel einer Naphthalin-2-sulfonsaeure-abbauenden Kultur wurde das Biosorptionsverhalten und die toxische Wirkung von Schwermetallen auf submerse und immobilisierte Mikroorganismen im Batch-Ansatz und im kontinuierlichen Betrieb in einem Airlift-Schlaufenreaktor untersucht. Als Schwermetalle wurden Nickel, Cadmium und Zink eingesetzt. (orig./VHE)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Statement of problem Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) titanium ceramic restorations were developed with the potential for replacing expensive, high noble metal ceramic restorations. However, there is a lack of information about the clinical performance of CAD/CAM titanium ceramic single crowns. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate CAD/CAM titanium ceramic single crowns after 3 years in function. Material and methods A total of 41 crowns were fabricated for 21 patients. The titanium copings were CAD/CAM milled (Everest CAD/CAM system) with an even thickness of 0.5 mm, and low-fusing veneering porcelain (Vita Titanium Porcelain) was added incrementally. The crowns were cemented using zinc phosphate cement after confirming that there were no mechanical...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This pilot project was carried out for the purpose of testing methods for active biological monitoring. It covered a period of three years (until September 1994), including two years of exposure. The measurements served to determine pollutant levels in plants used as animal fodder and dust-borne heavy metal concentrations in different sites and, on this basis, to obtain indirect information on human exposure. Among others, the pilot project investigated the suitability of Italian rye-grass as a biological indicator for aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, mercury, magnesium, manganese, nickel, lead, platinum, antimony, titanium, and zinc. (orig./GL).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This illustrated final report for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) presents the results of a project concerning a new, highly active oxygen reduction electrode for PEM fuel cell and zinc/air battery applications. The goal of this project was, according to the authors, to increase the efficiency of the oxygen reduction reaction by lowering the activation polarisation through the right choice of catalyst and by lowering the concentration polarisation. In this work, carbon nanotubes are used as support material. The use of these nanotubes grown on perovskites is discussed. Theoretical considerations regarding activation polarisation are discussed and alternatives to the use of platinum are examined. The results of experiments carried out are presented in graphical and tabular form. The paper is completed with a comprehensive list of references.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Contents: recent trend of battery technologies; alkaline manganese battery with no mercury addition; high capacity zinc-air battery series for hearing aids; characteristics of vanadium-niobium-lithium rechargeable battery; high-energy density lithium-ion rechargeable battery; lithium polymer rechargeable battery: polymer gel electrolyte and electrode; high-capacity ni-cd battery sm120; high-capacity nickel-metal hydride battery; sealed-type batteries for electric vehicles; high-temperature-durable calcium-type battery for automobiles; sealed lead acid batteries for upss; solar cell power unit; solid oxide fuel cell (1); battery management system.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The present volume on modeling of batteries and fuel cells discusses the significance of the effectiveness factor for flooded porous electrodes, active pore distribution spectroscopy for characterizing porous battery electrodes, the agglomerate model for porous electrodes, and dynamic-performance measurements of battery cells for electric vehicles and other applications. Attention is given to mathematical modeling of a primary zinc/air battery, mathematical modeling of Grace Li-TiS2 cells, modeling of electrocrystallization processes in battery systems, and rotating disk electrode studies in molten Li/K carbonate eutectic. Topics addressed include the variability of nickel oxide cathode dissolution in molten carbonate fuel cells, water transport properties of fuel cell ionomers, modeling water content effects in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, and computer algebra applied in electrochemistry and fuel cell modeling.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Iron, zinc, copper and manganese are essential metals for cellular enzyme functions while cadmium, mercury and the metalloid arsenic lack any biological function. Both, essential metals, at high concentrations, and non-essential metals and metalloids are extremely reactive and toxic. Therefore, plants have acquired specialized mechanisms to sense, transport and maintain essential metals within physiological concentrations and to detoxify non-essential metals and metalloids. This review focuses on the recent identification of transporters that sequester cadmium and arsenic in vacuoles and the mechanisms mediating the partitioning of these metal(loid)s between roots and shoots. We further discuss recent models of phloem-mediated long-distance transport, seed accumulation of Cd and As and rec...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In Haiti, and other semiarid regions of the world, the need for fuelwood and forage is critical. The report summarizes research conducted over a ten year period on developing replicable plantations of leguminous trees in semiarid lands, especially in areas near seawater salinity levels. Research included greenhouse and laboratory work followed by field trials in Haiti and focused on two species: Prosopis and Leucaena. (Acacia is mentioned in the report's title but not in the report itself.) Results were as follows. (1) Greenhouse experiments identified leaf diagnostic criteria indicating mineral nutrient deficiencies in field trees. It also established the importance of micronutrients, especially zinc, in permitting growth in high pH (9.0) soils.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Previous studies indicate that the hatching success of brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) cysts is surprisingly sensitive to ambient metal concentrations. These studies estimated median effective concentrations (EC50s) of 7, 5, and 28??g l?1 for Cd, Cu, and Zn, suggesting that the hatching end point for A. franciscana is the most sensitive tested to date for Cd and Zn in saline environments and comparable in sensitivity with the most sensitive tested to date for Cu. Furthermore, these data suggest that brine shrimp are at significant risk from Cu and Zn in Great Salt Lake (GSL), UT, where ambient concentrations as high as 10 and 14??g l?1, respectively, have been measured. Given that brine shrimp appear to be successfully reproducing in GSL, we hypothesized that these toxicity values were ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In the dehydrodesulfurization of ethanethiol at 400/sup 0/C, the activities of sodium X, Y, and A zeolites decreased in the order given as did the activities of nickel, cobalt, zinc, cadmium, copper, silver, lead, manganese, barium, calcium, sodium, and iron Y zeolite catalysts. A volcano-shape order was observed between the catalytic activity and the electronegativity of the metal ions. The changes in the activity of hydrogen Y zeolite catalyst in ethanethiol dehydrodesulfurization and cumene dealkylation by calcination agreed with the decrease in the Broensted acidity but were independent of Lewis acidity. For hydrodesulfurization of thiophene, the activities of nickel, cobalt, copper, and silver Y zeolite catalysts decreased in the order given and were greater than for a commercial hydrodesulfurization catalyst; reduced and presulfided catalysts showed selective hydrodesulfurization activity. Addition of 5% of nickel or molybdenum oxides to cobalt or nickel Y ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Kawasaki Steel has constructed many facilities for 15 years to produce cold rolled products and galvanized products in Mizushima Works and Chiba Works. To efficiently and stably produce high and uniform quality products, various new control methods have been developed and applied to these new facilities. Especially, temperature control in a continuous annealing line, zinc coating control in a continuous galvanizing line or paint coating control in a multi-purpose coating line and tension control to achieve stable processing are the most advanced technologies and are introduced in this paper. (author)

Science.gov (United States)

The zinc-blende (ZB) and wurtzite (W) structures are the most common crystal forms of binary octet semiconductors. In this work we have developed a simple scaling that systematizes the {ital T}=0 energy difference {Delta}{ital E}{sub W{minus}ZB} between W and ZB for all simple binary semiconductors. We have first calculated the energy difference {Delta}{ital E}{sub W{minus}ZB}{sup LDF}({ital AB}) for AlN, GaN, InN, AlP, AlAs, GaP, GaAs, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, CdS, C, and Si using a numerically precise implementation of the first-principles local-density formalism (LDF), including structural relaxations. We then find a {ital linear} scaling between {Delta}{ital E}{sub W{minus}ZB}{sup LDF}({ital AB}) and an atomistic orbital-radii coordinate {ital {tilde R}}({ital A},{ital B}) that depends only on the properties of the free atoms {ital A} and {ital B} making up the binary compound {ital AB}. Unlike classical structural coordinates (electronegativity, atomic sizes, electron ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Remote Alaskan communities pay economic and environmental penalties for electricity, because they must import diesel as their primary fuel for electric power production, paying heavy transportation costs and potentially causing environmental damage with empty drums, leakage, and spills. For these reasons, remote villages offer a viable niche market where sustainable energy systems based on renewable resources and advanced energy storage technologies can compete favorably on purely economic grounds, while providing environmental benefits. These villages can also serve as a robust proving ground for systematic analysis, study, improvement, and optimization of sustainable energy systems with advanced technologies. This paper presents an analytical optimization of a remote power system for a hypothetical Alaskan village. The analysis considers the potential of generating renewable energy (e.g., wind and solar), along with the possibility of using energy storage to take full advantage of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Fe{sub x}Zn{sub 1-x} alloys were electrochemically deposited on aluminum substrates from a sulfate bath. The K{beta}/K{alpha} x-ray intensity ratios of Zn and Fe in Fe{sub x}Zn{sub 1-x} thin films have been experimentally studied. The energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technique was used to measure K x-ray photons. Samples were excited by using 59.5 keV photons emitted by a 50 mCi {sup 241}Am radioactive source. The emitted K x-rays were detected by an Ultra-LEGe detector having a resolution of 150 eV at 5.9 keV. In addition, the effect of bath composition on the phase structure was investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The composition of the thin films was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry analysis. Iron content was shown to strongly affect the structure of Zn-Fe alloys. It was found that the K-shell x-ray intensity ratio changed in Fe{sub x}Zn{sub 1-x} thin films for different values of x. The reason for this change may be that the electronegativity of ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Impact of some heavy metals like zinc, lead, copper, chromium and cadmium were studied at four spots on the macro-invertebrate fauna of the Thaddo stream, a tributary of Malir River. This was in correlation with an earlier study on the physico-chemical aspects of water which showed a severe pollution in this stream. Present data for the qualitative and quantitative analyses of macro-invertebrates and the ranges of heavy metals (Zn 0.5-3.5, Pb 0.90-1.42, Cu 0.35-0.93, Cr 0.0-0.08 and Cd 0.003-0.01 ppm) in the water samples also indicate high level of pollution in the stream. Macro-invertebrate fauna comprises only of aquatic insects which include larvae of Chironomus spp., adults of the Notonectus sp., and nymphs of Gomphus sp. (dragon fly) belonging to the order Diptera , Hemiptera and Odonata, respectively. Quantitatively Notonectus sp. predominated and followed by Chironomus larvae. The maximum concentrations of all heavy metals were recorded at spot 3. A general ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Glasses in the system (1 - x) [29Na{sub 2}O- 4Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}- 67B{sub 2}O{sub 3}]- xZnO (0 {<=} x {<=} 35 mol%), have been prepared by the melt quenching technique. Elastic properties, X-ray and FT-IR spectroscopic studies have been employed to study the role of ZnO on the structure of the investigated glass system. Elastic properties and Debye temperature have been investigated using sound wave velocity measurements at 4 MHz at room temperature. The results showed that the density increases and the molar volume decreases while both sound velocities and the determined glass transition temperatures decrease with increase in x. X-ray and infrared spectra of the glasses reveal that the borate network consists of diborate units and is affected by the increase in the concentration of ZnO content. These results are interpreted in terms of the decrease in the N{sub 4} values (fraction of tetrahedral coordinated boron atoms), and substitution of longer bond lengths of Zn-O in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In response to the 1990 Clean Air Act, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) developed a compliance plan known as the Low Emission Vehicle Program. An integral part of that program was a sales mandate to the top seven automobile manufacturers requiring the percentage of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) sold in California to be 2% in 1998, 5% in 2001 and 10% by 2003. Currently available ZEV technology will probably not meet customer demand for range and moderate cost. A potential option to meet the CARB mandate is to use two Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) technologies, namely, zinc-air refuelable batteries (ZARBs) and electromechanical batteries (EMBs, i. e., flywheels) to develop a ZEV with a 384 kilometer (240 mile) urban range. This vehicle uses a 40 kW, 70 kWh ZARB for energy storage combined with a 102 kW, 0.5 kWh EMB for power peaking. These technologies are sufficiently near-term and cost-effective to plausibly be in production by the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The stability properties of a class of spacetimes with quasiregular singularities is discussed. Quasiregular singularities are the end points of incomplete, inextendible geodesics at which the Riemann tensor and its derivatives remain at least bounded in all parallel-propagated orthonormal (PPON) frames; observers approaching such a singularity would find that their world lines come to an end in a finite proper time. The Taub-NUT (Newman-Unti-Tamburino)-type cosmologies investigated are R"1 x T"3 and R"3 x S"1 flat Kasner spacetimes, the two-parameter family of spatially homogeneous but anisotropic Bianchi type-IX Taub-NUT spacetimes, and an infinite-dimensional family of Einstein-Rosen-Gowdy spacetimes studied by Moncrief. The behavior of matter near the quasiregular singularity in each of these spacetimes is explored through an examination of the behavior of the stress-energy tensors and scalars for conformally coupled and minimally coupled, massive and massless ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The emission isolation flux chamber (EIFC) methodology was applied to Superfund investigations at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300 to determine if on-site workers were exposed to VOCs volatilizing from the subsurface and what, if any, health risks could be attributed to the inhalation of the VOCs volatilizing from the subsurface. During July and August of 1996, twenty, eighteen, and twenty six VOC soil vapor flux samples were collected in the Building 830, 832, and 854 areas, respectively using EIFCS. The VOC concentrations in the vapor samples were used to calculate soil flux rates which were used as input into an air dispersion model to calculate ambient air exposure-point concentrations. The exposure-point concentrations were compared to EPA Region IX Preliminary Remediation Goals (PRGs). Buildings 830 and 832 exposure-point concentrations were less then the PRGs therefore no cancer risks were calculated. The cancer risks for Building 854 ...

Science.gov (United States)

The extensive reserves of mined coal types, their great variety and the complexity of the composition and properties, as well as their important role as an energy fuel and industrial feedstock, cause one to give special attention to their classification. Of course, one of the principal fields of technological processing of coal is coking. In addition to the production of blast furnace coke, in the future specialized plants will be developed for production of coke and other carbonized materials for non-blast-furnace processes (electrothermal processes, production of calcium carbide, ferroalloys, zinc, yellow phosphorus, copper, etc.). One important area is new nonfuel uses, including a number of processes for processing of coal feedstocks to obtain a wide range of carbonaceous materials (coal-graphite products, carbon black, adsorbents, etc.), liquid fuels, and chemical products. In choosing a given area of coal utilization a determining factor is the ...

CERN Document Server

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) have been regarded as promising semiconductor materials for hard X-ray and Gamma-ray detection. The high atomic number of the materials (Z_{Cd} =48, Z_{Te} =52) gives a high quantum efficiency in comparison with Si. The large band-gap energy (Eg ~ 1.5 eV) allows us to operate the detector at room temperature. However, a considerable amount of charge loss in these detectors produces a reduced energy resolution. This problem arises due to the low mobility and short lifetime of holes. Recently, significant improvements have been achieved to improve the spectral properties based on the advances in the production of crystals and in the design of electrodes. In this overview talk, we summarize (1) advantages and disadvantages of CdTe and CdZnTe semiconductor detectors and (2) technique for improving energy resolution and photopeak efficiencies. Applications of these imaging detectors in future hard X-ray and ...

CERN Document Server

High pressure xenon ionization chamber detectors are possible alternatives to traditional thallium doped sodium iodide (NaI(Tl)) and hyperpure germanium as gamma spectrometers in certain applications. Xenon detectors incorporating a Frisch grid exhibit energy resolutions comparable to cadmium/zinc/telluride (CZT) (e.g. 2% (at) 662keV) but with far greater sensitive volumes. The Frisch grid reduces the position dependence of the anode pulse risetimes, but it also increases the detector vibration sensitivity, anode capacitance, voltage requirements and mechanical complexity. We have been investigating the possibility of eliminating the grid electrode in high-pressure xenon detectors and preserving the high energy resolution using electronic risetime compensation methods. A two-electrode cylindrical high pressure xenon gamma detector coupled to time-to-amplitude conversion electronics was used to characterize the pulse rise time of deposited gamma photons. Time ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The "6"2Zn-"6"2Cu generator system is one of the few which yield a pure positron emitting daughter. The authors have developed a method for the preparation of this generator system following 32 MeV #alpha# particle bombardment of nickel targets. The chemical processing involves two stages: first a hydrous zirconium oxide column is used at pH 4-5 to separate the zinc and copper activities produced in the target nickel, and secondly, a conventional anion exchange column is used to retain the "6"2Zn and remove all copper activities in 2M HCl. This column serves as the "6"2Cu generator which will yield pure "6"2Cu repeatedly, free from "6"2Zn and other impurities, in a mixture of HCl and NaCl. A method is outlined also to obtain a solution of "6"2Zn using the hydrous zirconium oxide (HZO) column. "6"1Cu can be prepared as a by-product in the above procedure, but a method for the preparation of "6"1Cu alone using an 18 MeV #alpha# particle beam on a nickel target and ...

CERN Document Server

Zinc molybdate (ZnMoO4) single crystals were grown for the first time by the Czochralski method and their luminescence was measured under X ray excitation in the temperature range 85-400 K. Properties of ZnMoO4 crystal as cryogenic low temperature scintillator were checked for the first time. Radioactive contamination of the ZnMoO4 crystal was estimated as <0.3 mBq/kg (228-Th) and 8 mBq/kg (226-Ra). Thanks to the simultaneous measurement of the scintillation light and the phonon signal, the alpha particles can be discriminated from the gamma/beta interactions, making this compound extremely promising for the search of neutrinoless Double Beta Decay of 100-Mo. We also report on the ability to discriminate the alpha-induced background without the light measurement, thanks to a different shape of the thermal signal that characterizes gamma/beta and alpha particle interactions.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

One of the most challenging topics in the area of organic electronic devices is the growth of transparent electrodes onto flexible polymeric substrates that will be characterized by enhanced conductivity in combination with high optical transparency. An essential aspect for these materials is their synthesis and/or microstructure which define the transparency, the stability and the interfacial chemistry which in turn determine the performance and stability of the organic electronic devices, such as organic light emitting diodes, organic photovoltaics, etc. In this work, we will discuss the latest advances in the growth of organic (e.g. PEDOT:PSS) and inorganic (e.g. zinc oxide-ZnO, indium tin oxide-ITO) conductive materials and their deposition onto flexible polymeric substrates. We will compare the optical, structural, nano-mechanical and nano-topographical properties of the inorganic and organic materials and we investigate the effect of their structure on their ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Micronutrient deficiencies in flooded rice have been recognized with increasing frequency in recent years. Zinc deficiency is the most widespread disorder, followed by Fe, Mn, and Cu deficiencies. Boron and Mo deficiencies have not been reported in field culture. The peculiar characteristics of a flooded soil are: 1) a layer of standing water; 2) absence of oxygen; 3) a soil profile largely in a reduced chemical state; 4) the presence of large biological carbon dioxide excesses; 5) the presence of high concentrations of soluble Fe"+"+ and Mn"+"+; 6) alteration of soil pH; 7) the presence of toxic substances; 8) increased soluble Na"+, K"+, Ca"+"+, Mg"+"+, NH_4"+, HCO_3"-, H_2PO_4"-, and Si(OH)_4 in the soil solution. Micronutrient availability in flooded soils is affected by: 1) increased solubility of relatively insoluble minerals due to dilution effects; 2) pH changes in relation to solubility and plant availability; 3) changes in oxidation-reduction equilibria; ...

Science.gov (United States)

Metal cations of arsenic, antimony, tin, manganese, zinc, cadmium, indium, and thallium have been evaluated in a preliminary way as possible3 inhibitors for controlling denting corrision observed in steam generators used with pressurized water reactors (PWR). The rationale for this approach was based upon the well-known inhibition effects of metal cations on corrosion rates in electrolyte/metal systems. A review of corrosion inhibition by metal cations (H. Leidheiser, Jr., Corrosion 36, 339 (1982)) has identified eleven inhibition mechanisms. The major test methods used for this evaluation were: (1) Isothermal capsule tests of carbon/steel/Inconel 600 tube bulging rates at temperatures up to 288/sup 0/C in seawater/copper-nickel chloride bulge-accelerating solutions. (2) Immersion weight-loss tests of steel coupled to Inconel 600 in boiling (102/sup 0/C) 3% sodium chloride solutions. In addition, electrochemical measuremens and surface analyses were performed. The ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A combination of measuring instruments, consisting of a Beta-Sedimeter and a radionuclide X-ray fluorescence instrument, is described. With the Beta-Sedimeter the C-14-radiation is measured. Through direct irradiation with photons of a Pu238-source in an ancillary irradiation chamber and energy dispersing measurement of the K- and L-radiation resp. of the excited heavy metals with the aid of a Si(Li)-semiconductor detector and a 4-channel analyzer the heavy metal concentrations of the heavy metals Zn, Cr, Ni and Pb are determined. For the determination of cadmium the indirect excitation with Am-241 and Dy-targets is described. The system produces records and operates fully automatically in a step-by-step mode with a testing cycle of 45 minutes. In connection with the process monitoring of the wastewater from a zinc plating plant during a period of 8 months the concentration of the solid material and of the metals Cr and Zn, which were considered to be ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The new multi-purpose oxygen cupola furnace is a coke-fired shaft furnace that is operated on pure oxygen. The top gas is recirculated, and the fumes are drawn off at temperatures ranging from 800 to 1 000 C. The furnace offers the possibility of melting down contaminated and zinc-bearing scrap without the occurrence of any environment-polluting gas emissions. The absence of nitrogen ballast permits a high energy efficiency. (orig.) [Deutsch] Der neue Mehrzweck-Sauerstoff-Kupolofen ist ein koksbeheizter Schachtofen, der mit reinem Sauerstoff betrieben wird. Das Gichtgas wird im Kreislauf gefuehrt, und das Abgas wird aus einem Bereich mit Temperaturen von 800 bis 1 000 C abgefuehrt. Der Ofen bietet die Moeglichkeit, verunreinigte und zinkhaltige Schrotte einzuschmelzen, ohne dass umweltbelastende Gasemissionen auftreten. Der fehlende Stickstoffbalast bewirkt einen hohen energetischen Wirkungsgrad. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Activated charcoal which is the desulfurizing agent for the fuel cell plant can be used only at the normal temperature, and it must be placed upstream of the fuel gas, increasing the displacement flow of the fuel gas processed in the desulfurizer. In addition, a large quantity of activated charcoal must be filled or the frequency of its exchange must be increased because activated charcoal used at the normal temperature has little sulfur absorbing capacity. This invention is concerned with provision of a desulfurizer in the downstream of the fuel gas compressor of the fuel cell plant to remove sulfur content in the fuel gas by this desulfurizer. As a result, the displacement flow of the processing gas is decreased to increase the processing capacity of the desulfurizing agent. In addition, hydrogen recycling can be eliminated to realize compact arrangement of the equipment and economization of energy consumption. Metal oxide based desulfurizers of copper, iron, ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Low expression of osmotically responsive genes 2 (LOS2) encodes an enolase (2-phospho-D-glycerate hydrolase, EC 4.2.1.11) that converts 2-phospho-D-glycerate (PGA) to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) in the glycolytic pathway in Arabidopsis. Meanwhile, it is a transcriptional activator of cold-responsive gene, negatively controlling the expression of STZ/ZAT10, a zinc finger transcriptional repressor of cold-responsive gene from Arabidopsis. A novel LOS2 gene, designated PtrLOS2 (GenBank accession number GQ144341), was isolated from trifoliate orange [Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.]. The PtrLOS2 cDNA is 1 662 bp in length with a 1 338 bp open reading frame (ORF), encoding a deduced 445 amino acid residue protein with a predicted molecular mass of 47.79 kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.54. The ded...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The question concerning the existence of an electronic topological transition (ETT) in Zn metal under quasi-hydrostatic pressure at #approx#6.6 GPa caused a considerable controversy in the literature. We briefly review low-temperature "6"7Zn-Moessbauer data and scalar-relativistic augmented plane wave calculations and give a consistent interpretation in terms of an ETT. To highlight some important aspects of the controversy two theoretical and two experimental publications will be discussed in more detail. At present the existence of an ETT in Zn metal is disputed both from an experimental and from a theoretical point of view. The suggestion of a transition to a commensurate spin-density wave at #approx#6.6 GPa instead of an ETT may reconcile the seemingly contradictory results of "6"7Zn-Moessbauer experiments at 4.2 K and of room temperature inelastic neutron scattering measurements. However, it does not explain the anomalies found in theoretical calculations performed for Zn metal in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pitting corrosion measuring method for almunum alloys sold on the market was studied. By addition of a little quantity of Cu {sup ++} ion, corrosion potential of alminum alloys rapidly approachs to pitting corrosion potential in the solution including chloride. After Cu {sup ++} ion of 5ppm is added in advance into the solution including chrolide to measure the pitting corrosion potential, alminum alloy test pieces are imersed into the solution in the atmospheric air, then the stable corrosion potential is shown after three-minite imersion, and this potential is defined to the pitting corrosion potential. The pitting corrosion potential can be easily measured by this method stated above (copper ion method). The values measured by copper ion method is comparatively agreed with that measured by the existing potentio dynamic method. The pitting corrosion potential have a straight lined relation with the logarithm of Cl {sup -} concentration. As the measured values by potentio dynamic ...

Science.gov (United States)

Recent investigations of wood plastic composites have revealed a detrimental effect of using lubricant systems in production. This includes nullifying part or all of the mechanical benefit of using a polar compatibilizer, maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP), in the composite formulation. This investigation utilizes lubricants labeled with deuterium in conjunction with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to allow for the separation of individual lubricants from all other material constituents. All of the deuterium labeled lubricants, used without MAPP, revealed their expulsion from the wood interface during crystallization. MAPP coupling agent was found to exist near the wood, but it is unclear if any covalent bonding with the hydroxyl functionality on the wood surface occurred. The addition of zinc stearate lubricants appears to nullify the activity of the anhydride functionality near the wood surface as evidenced by a shift in the FT-IR spectra to ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The isotherms, kinetics and thermodynamics of Cd(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) biosorption by Penicillium simplicissimum were investigated in a batch system. The effects of pH, initial metal ions concentration, biomass dose, contact time, temperature and co-ions on the biosorption were studied. Adsorption data were well described by both the Redlich-Peterson and Langmuir model. Chemical ion-exchange was found to be an important process based on free energy value from Dubini-Radushkevich isotherm for all metal ions. The results of the kinetic studies of all metal ions at different temperature showed that the rate of adsorption followed the pseudo second-order kinetics well. The thermodynamics constants {delta}G{sup o}, {delta}H{sup o} and {delta}S{sup o} of the adsorption process showed that biosorption of Cd(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II) ions on Penicillium simplicissimum were endothermic and spontaneous.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

From a macroscopic point of view, corrosion of Zn alloy coated steel sheet occurs by the coating preceding corrosion mechanism; microscopically, however, the coated layer corrosion velocity in the tip of corrosion is different. In order to find the main factors of under-film corrosion of Zn and Zn-Fe alloy coatings in the salt water spray atmospheric exposure test, the correlation between point inflation-exfoliation width and chlorine penetration behavior, point adhesion, and the difference in chlorine penetration behavior due to alloy coating components were investigated. Consequently, the following results were obtained: 1. The better correlation was observed between chlorine penetration distance and point inflation-point exfoliation width. 2. The durability of coating against chlorine penetration improved by increase in point adhesion and Zn content in the coating layer. 3. Zn-Fe (10-20%) alloy coating showed better durability against chlorine penetration than pure Zn coating. 4. ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The objective of this task was to obtain powder property data on candidate glass former materials, sufficient to guide conceptual design and estimate the cost of glass former handling facilities as requested under Part B1 of BNFL Technical and Development Support. Twenty-nine glass forming materials were selected and obtained from vendors for the characterization of their physical properties, durability in caustic solution, and powder flow characteristics. A glass former was selected based on the characterization for each of the ten oxide classes required for Envelope A, B, and C mixtures. Three blends (A, B, and C) were prepared based on formulations provided by Vitreous State Laboratory and evaluated with the same methods employed for the glass formers. The properties obtained are presented in a series of attached Tables. It was determined that five of the ten glass formers, (kyanite, iron oxide, titania, zircon, and zinc oxide) have the potential to cause some ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

W have introduced template-synthesized metal phosphate nanoparticle labels for electrochemical immunoassay. Such use of an apoferritin template offers a simple and convenient route to prepare metallic nanoparticle labels for electrochemical immunoassays and avoid the complicated and time-consuming nanoparticle synthesis process (QD synthesis). Releasing metal ions from metal phosphate in an acetate buffer (pH 4.6) eliminates the harsh condition in the traditional metallic nanoparticle dissolution (e.g., strong acid dissolution of QDs and gold nanoparticles). This method is ultrasensitive and its DL is low to 77fM. The simultaneous detection of multiple protein targets is easily performed by using different metal phosphate nanoparticle labels (cadmium phosphate and lead phosphate). This approach can be extended to prepare multiple metal (such as zinc, lead, cadmium, copper, indium, gold, silver) phosphate nanoparticle labels or hybrid metal (bimetallic or ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Storing electrical energy in batteries is not a viable option for sustaining a country's energy economy. The mass and volume, as well as the costs, of electrochemical components required for this would be beyond all reason. Nevertheless, in certain applications the storage of electrical energy does have significant advantages over other technologies. For example, electrically powered road vehicles emit no exhaust fumes and very little noise at their place of operation. In this way they contribute substantially to air and noise pollution control in urban areas. Photovoltaic applications permit environmentally friendly electricity applications in places remote from the public grid where conventional solutions are prohibitively expensive. More than in the past, battery systems today have to meet a wide range of technical, economic and ecological requirements in order to be marketable. This is why the ''Zoxy'' zinc-air ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Major advances in 'Energy and Materials Cycles' have been achieved in the removal of heavy metals from the solid residues of municipal waste incineration. It has been conclusively shown that the oxidation/reduction conditions established during the thermal treatment of filter ash have a decisive influence on the evaporation of groups of heavy metals. With respect to biomass gasification, studies have been carried out with respect to the best way of extracting pure hydrogen from the low calorific value gas that is typically obtained from a biomass gasifier. The overarching goal of the laboratory 'High Temperature Solar Technology' is the use of solar energy for the production of solar fuels, or for the reduction of CO{sub 2} emissions in large scale industrial processes that are conventionally carried out with the use of fossil fuels. In a short-term project targeted at the solar production of lime, highly encouraging results (98% degree of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Studies were conducted of the bifunctional oxygen electrode. The development of a rechargeable metal-oxygen (air) cell has been hampered to a great extent by the lack of a stable and cost effective oxygen electrode capable of use during both charge and discharge. The first type of bifunctional electrode consists of two distinct catalytifc layers. The oxygen reduction catalyst layer containing a supported gold catalyst is in contact with a hydrophilic nickel layer in which evolution of oxygen takes place. Loadings of gold from 0.5 to 1.0 mg/cm/sup 2/ were investigated; carbon, graphite, metal, and spinel oxides were evaluated as substrates. The second part of the research effort was centered on developing a reversible oxygen electrode containing only one catalytic layer for both reduction and evolution of oxygen. The work was directed specifically to the study of perovskite type of oxides with the composition AA/sup 1/BO/sub 3/ where A is an element of the lanthanide series, A/sup 1/ is ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The US Department of the Army, Baltimore District Corps of Engineers, oversees a long-term monitoring study to assess and evaluate effects of the Jennings-Randolph reservoir on biota in the North Branch Potomac River. The reservoir was intended, in part, to mitigate effects of acid mine drainage originating in upstream and headwater area. The present study assessed recovery of benthos and fish in this system, six years after completion of the reservoir. Higher pH and lower iron and sulfate concentrations were observed upstream of the reservoir compared to preimpoundment conditions, suggesting better overall water quality in the upper North Branch. Water quality improved slightly directly downstream of the reservoir. However, the reservoir itself was poorly colonized by macrophytes and benthic organisms, and plankton composition suggested either metal toxicity and/or nutrient limitation. One large tributary to the North Branch and the reservoir (Stony River) was shown to have high (and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A study tour in autumn 1999, which was undertaken following the award of the Helmuth Burkhardt prize of Wirtschaftsvereinigung Bergbau e.V. to the authors, comprised visits to potash, molybdenum, lead, zinc, copper ore and coal mines in the mid-west of the USA. The Black Mesa Mine and Kayenta Mine of Peabody Western Coal Company in the Navajo Reserve in the north of Arizona, the Trapper Mine Inc. near Craig and the Twentymile Coal Company near Steamboat Springs, Colorado are described in this report. In addition to a brief description of the geology the coal winning is considered in greater detail. The Twentymile Coal Company was asked to explain the reasons for the successful operation of the colliery, which produces more than 5 mill. t anthracite per year by long wall working. (orig.) [German] Eine Exkursion im Herbst 1999, die durch die Verleihung des Helmuth-Burkhard-Preises der Wirtschaftsvereinigung Bergbau e.V. an Bergassessor Andreas Tschauder zustande kam, ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Varying coordination modes of the Schiff base ligand H"2L [5-methyl-1-H-pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (1-pyridin-2-yl-ethylidene)-hydrazide] towards different metal centers are reported with the syntheses and characterization of four mononuclear Mn(II), Co(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) complexes, [Mn(H"2L)(H"2O)"2](ClO"4)"2(MeOH) (1), [Co(H"2L)(NCS)"2] (2), [Cd(H"2L)(H"2O)"2](ClO"4)"2 (3) and [Zn(H"2L)(H"2O)"2](ClO"4)"2 (4), and a binuclear Cu(II) complex, [Cu"2(L)"2](ClO"4)"2 (5). In the complexes 1-4 the neutral ligand serves as a 3N,2O donor where the pyridine ring N, two azomethine N and two carbohydrazine oxygen atoms are coordinatively active, leaving the pyrazole-N atoms inactive. In the case of complex 5, each ligand molecule behaves as a 4N,O donor utilizing the pyridine N, one azomethine N...