Neutron capture cross-sections for 159Tb isotope in the energy range of 5 to 17 MeV.

The neutron capture cross-sections have been measured for the 159Tb(n, γ)160Tb reaction at the spectrum average peak neutron energies of 5.08 ±â€¯0.165, 12.47 ±â€¯0.825, and 16.63 ±â€¯0.95 MeV respectively. The experiment has been carried out using the standard neutron activation technique and off-line γ-ray spectrometry. The present measurement has been done for the energies where very few measured results are available in the data library. The results have been compared with ENDF/B-VII.1 and JENDL-4.0 data libraries. The present results have also been supported by theoretical predictions of nuclear model code TALYS 1.9. Detailed covariance analysis was carried out to find the uncertainty and the correlations among the measured cross-sections.

Mutagenicity and genotoxicity of ClearTaste.

The present study investigates whether ClearTaste is mutagenic/genotoxic by employing it as a test article in bacterial reverse mutation (Ames test) and in vitro human peripheral blood lymphocyte micronucleus assays conducted by a Good Laboratory Practice certified third party as parameterized by the United States Food and Drug Administration. ClearTaste is a taste modulator derived from the filtrate of submerged Cordyceps sinensis and is typically processed into a powder. It functions as a bitter, sour, astringency, metallic and lingering aftertaste mitigator/blocker. The Ames test includes revertant colony counts almost exclusively less than 100/plate and significantly fewer ClearTaste counts as opposed to known mutagen counts. The micronucleus assay reported cytotoxicity exclusively < 25% for doses up to 2,000 µg/L with Cytokinesis Block Proliferation Indices less than water and statistically significant differences between micronucelated cells post dosing compared to cyclophosphamide and vinblastine controls. The conclusion of these data is that ClearTaste is neither muta- nor carcinogenic.

E-Licensing of Radiation Applications (eLORA) in Armed Forces Hospitals: 'Nuts and Bolts'.

As per current statutory requirement, licence for operation of all medical radiation facilities (diagnostic radiology/radiotherapy/nuclear medicine) in India has to be obtained using the e-Licensing of Radiation Applications (acronym as 'eLORA') platform which is a web-based application on Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) website. This article is envisaged as a procedural guide for all medical administrators and radiologists in service institutions processing eLORA. Specific focus has been placed on practical methods to deal with inherent procedural hurdles unique to armed forces institutions, based on first-hand experience gained in successful eLORA processing at a tertiary care hospital.

Technical and economic evaluation of different reactors for methanotrophic cultures for propylene oxide production.

A two-stage process for the manufacture of propylene oxide is described. The preliminary economics based on use of methanol as a regeneration factor has resulted in a production cost of $12.10/lb of propylene oxide based on propylene oxide production rate of 40 mg/g-cell/h in conventional reactor. Increasing the propylene oxide production from 40 to 500 mg/g-cell/h resulted in a cost reduction from $12.10 to 5.8/lb of propylene oxide. The granular-activated, carbon-fluidized bed reactor (GAC-FBR) absorbs the propylene oxide and when saturated is eluted with ethyl acetate, and the bed is regenerated by steam to drive off the residual solvents. The estimated manufacturing costs are approx 59% lower (from $12.10/lb in conventional reactors to $5.00/lb for GAC-FBRs) for products that are highly inhibitory such as epoxides. In the GAC-FBR reactor, enhancing the propylene oxide production rate from 120 to 1500 mg/g-cell/h has resulted in the cost reduction to $2.00/lb. Enhancing the production capacity from 1 million lb to 10 million lb/yr has further reduced the cost of production to $1.00/lb.

Biological-chemical treatment of soils contaminated with exploration and production wastes.

Oil-gas exploration and production (E&P) soils contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) have been tested for degradation by two different treatments: biological and chemical. Biological treatment includes the use of native microorganisms for transformation of the various hydrocarbons found in E&P soils. Degradation of TPH of 80 and 86%, was achieved for two different soils, respectively in control experiments. The effect of growth stimulants such as glucose, acetic acid, and valeric acid was examined on TPH degradation. Incorporation of inducer (valerate) enhanced the degradation up to 89 and 93%, for the two soils, respectively. A large portion (> 41%) of contaminant in one soil was comprised of compounds in the carbon range of C10-C16 and < 7% constituted carbon range of C24-C28. The degradation of C10-C16 compounds was higher (> 98%) as compared to C24-C28 compounds (< 75%). Likewise, the degradation rate was also higher (58 mg/kg/d) for lower compounds as compared to higher carbon range compounds (6.7 mg/kg/d). Experiments conducted on chemical treatment included the effect of chelators on stabilization of H2O2, comparative studies between buffer and water (used for soil preparation), and the effect of pH on TPH degradation. The rate of oxygen evolution from H2O2 was significantly reduced with use of either chelated iron or phosphate buffer using naphthelene as a model compound. Chemical treatment demonstrated a higher degradation of TPH from contaminated soils at pH 4.0 as compared to a pH of 7.0. More degradation was obtained with slurry prepared in phosphate buffer as compared to deionized water.

Effect of temperature and pressure on growth and methane utilization by several methanotrophic cultures.

Several methanotrophic microorganisms, i.e., Methylococcus capsulatus (Bath), Methylomonas albus (BG-8), Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b, and Methylocystis parvus (OBBP), were evaluated for growth and methane utilization. The effect of temperature was examined in the range of 25 to 45 degrees C for growth and methane utilization. The temperature variations (25-35 degrees C) had minimal effect on growth of M. albus and M. parvus. Methane consumption varied at different temperatures with a maximum of 0.67 mol%/h and 0.53 mol%/h. at 30 and 35 degrees C, respectively, for M. albus and M. parvus. The growth and methane consumption was slower for M. trichosporium OB3b as a maximum methane consumption of 0.07 mol%/h was obtained at 25 degrees C and growth was inhibited at 35 degrees C. M. capsulatus grew the best at 37 degrees C and growth was affected at higher temperature of 45 degrees C. Of the different cultures examined, M. albus and M. capsulatus grew the best and were further evaluated for the effect of pressure in the range of 10-50 psi. The results obtained using M. albus demonstrated an enhancement in methane consumption rate by fourfold and final cell concentration by 40% at a pressure of 20 psi by injecting a methane/oxygen mixture, however further increase in the pressure up to 50 psi inhibited the growth. The inhibition was not seen with nitrogen incorporated mixture of oxygen and methane, which suggest that the high partial pressure of methane and/or oxygen are inhibitory for the growth of M. albus. M. capsulatus was more sensitive to pressure as evidenced by inhibition at the relatively low pressure of 10 psi.