Granule Diameter Research Articles

Characterization of demineralization behavior of bovine bone granules related to particulate properties

As a fundamental study on the preparation of partially demineralized bone matrix, the demineralization of bovine bone granules was investigated. Bone granules were obtained by pulverizing with a highspeed blade mill and classified by sieving into three fractions. The lengths along major and minor axes of the individual granules were measured by image analysis to calculate the circle equivalent diameter and the aspect ratio as particulate properties. The bone granules were dissolved in nitric acid, and the calcium concentration in the solution was measured to characterize the degree of demineralization in terms of the calcium content in the demineralized granules. Some weak correlations between the degree of demineralization and the particulate properties were found. The demineralization rate was fitted to a first order rate equation, which was modified by considering the sphere equivalent diameter of individual granule, the characteristic aspect ratio of each fraction and the effective surface area of the mineral component to improve the approximation accuracy.

Effect of particle size on the tribo-aero-electrostatic separation of plastics

Numerous research studies have been made on the electrostatic separation of granular insulating materials, with many industrial applications in the area of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling. However, very few investigators have studied the separation of finely-ground matter (i.e., granule diameter < 1 mm), in relation with applications in mineral processing, or in food industry. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of particle size on the selective sorting of fine particles in a two-rotating-disks-type tribo-aero-electrostatic separator. The experiments are carried out on a synthetic mixture composed of 50% Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and 50% Polystyrene (PS) particles of size 250 to 2000 microns. The performance of this separator is evaluated by setting up a measurement system that enables the continuous and simultaneous recording of the charges and the masses of the separated products. The conclusions of this study will serve at the optimum design of an industrial electrostatic separator for the recycling of micronized plastics from WEEE.

Oscillation-induced sand dunes in a liquid-filled rotating cylinder.

The dynamics of granular medium in a liquid-filled horizontal cylinder with a time-varying rotation rate is experimentally studied. When the cylinder is purely rotated, the granular medium develops an annular layer near the cylindrical wall. The interface between fluid and sand is smooth and axisymmetric. The time variation of the rotation rate initiates the azimuthal oscillation of the liquid in the cylinder's frame of reference and provokes the onset of quasisteady relief in the form of regular dunes. The stability of the axisymmetric sand surface and dynamics of regular dunes are examined. It is found that the ripple formation is provoked by the quasisteady instability of the Stokes boundary layer. In the range of high Reynolds numbers, the ripple formation occurs at a constant critical Shields number θ_{c}≃0.05. The spatial period of the relief is not sensitive to the fluid viscosity and granule diameter; it is determined by the amplitude of oscillation and ratio between the oscillation frequency and mean rotation rate. Long-term experiments show that there are forward and backward azimuthal drifts of dunes. An initial analysis of the issues related to the dune migration is provided.

Low-strength wastewater treatment in an anammox UASB reactor: Effect of the liquid upflow velocity

Two-stage systems have been proposed to overcome the drawbacks associated to the implementation of the autotrophic biological nitrogen removal process in the mainstream of urban wastewater treatment plants. In this study, an upflow anammox sludge blanket (UAnSB) reactor was successfully operated for 325days treating a low-strength synthetic influent mimicking mainstream conditions. A nitrogen loading rate of up to 1.8±0.2gNL−1d−1 was achieved at 26°C and the nitrogen removal rate obtained (1.7±0.1gNL−1d−1) resulted considerably higher than most of the previously reported values for systems treating low-strength wastewater at similar temperatures. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed a high enrichment in the anammox specie Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans during the whole operation. The evolution of the granule diameter was followed throughout the operation of the UAnSB reactor and a direct correlation of the average granule diameter with the liquid upflow velocity (Vup) was established, being the higher the Vup, the bigger the granules. A stable granule diameter of 790±40μm was achieved by maintaining a Vup of 1.0±0.1mh−1. The low VupS applied avoid the use of effluent recirculation which would present a huge inconvenient to implement UAnSB reactors at real scale, however these low VupS led to external mass transfer problems in the reactor. In spite of the mass transfer limitations, not only a high specific anammox activity (0.26±0.02gNg−1VSd−1) was achieved in the UASB reactor but also a high nitrogen removal (80±3%).

65 OVULATION OF IMMATURE OOCYTES WITH HIGH COMPETENCE RATES

Collection of immature oocytes from antral follicles in superovulated mice is a widely established technique for retrieval of germinal vesicle (GV) and metaphase I (MI) oocytes. Investigators use their experience to select antral follicles under a microscope before puncturing the follicles. This is sometimes followed by screening of oocytes based on morphology and diameter, and usually mouse oocytes of small diameters or abnormal morphologies are excluded. Shortcomings with the current technique may include varied oocyte yields and collection of oocytes from primary and secondary follicles. Moreover, such immature oocytes were observed to have different chromatin configurations, cortical granule distributions, spindle-chromosome organizations, fertilization rates, and diameters. This study was designed to investigate the potential of ovulated immature oocytes, resultant from superovulated mice treated with an FDA approved phosphodiesterase 3A inhibitor named cilostazol (CLZ), to substitute for ovarian immature oocytes collected from antral follicles of superovulated mice. Swiss Webster mice were superovulated and gavaged with 7.5 mg of CLZ once, at the same time as hCG injection, or twice, at the same time as hCG plus 6 h post-hCG injection, to result in ovulation of MI or GV oocytes, respectively. Control ovarian GV or MI oocytes were collected from ovarian antral follicles of superovulated mice not treated with CLZ. Ten mice were used in each treatment or control group. Single or multiple administrations of CLZ resulted in mice ovulating 85.8 ± 3.9% MI oocytes or 95.2 ± 3% GV oocytes (mean ± SEM), respectively. Treated GV oocytes had significantly higher rates of advanced chromatin configuration and cortical granule distribution than did control GV oocytes. Treated GV oocytes had lower cAMP levels and higher rates of meiotic maturation, IVF, and blastocyst formation than did control GV oocytes (P &lt; 0.0001). Treated MI oocytes had significantly higher rates of normal spindle and chromosomes aligned at the metaphase plates and offspring than did control MI oocytes. Control or treated GV oocytes were found to have greater diameters than did control or treated MI oocytes, respectively (P &lt; 0.007), indicating that initiation of meiotic maturation is associated with reduction in oocyte diameters and utilisation of cytoplasm proteins and cofactors. Moreover, control GV oocytes were found to have greater diameters than did treated GV oocytes (P = 0.007). This may refer to the readiness of treated GV oocytes to undergo germinal vesicle breakdown and transition into the MI stage, especially treated GV oocytes had high rates of meiotic development in comparison to control GV oocytes. Diameters of GV nuclei in treated GV oocytes were smaller than those in control GV oocytes (P = 0.006), which may also indicate a germinal vesicle that had started to undergo germinal vesicle breakdown. A similar significant difference was also noted with control and treated MI oocytes. In summary, we present a novel method for retrieval of immature oocytes at different stages of meiotic maturation. Treated ovulated immature oocytes had more uniform diameters and high developmental competence than did ovarian immature oocytes. Treated ovulated immature oocytes may substitute for ovarian immature oocytes and become an additional research resource.

Experimental and modeling study of fluidized bed granulation: Effect of binder flow rate and fluidizing air velocity

Abstract Fluidized bed granulation is a widely used technique of producing granules in pharmaceutical, food, detergent, and fertilizer industries. In this study, fluidized bed granulation of two powders – wheat flour and rice powder – with water as binder is studied experimentally and by modeling. The effects of two process parameters – binder flow rate, fluidizing air velocity – are determined. Experimental results show that increasing the binder flow rate favors the formation of bigger granules while increasing fluidizing air velocity leads to a decrease in average granule diameter. Population balance model with suitable form of coalescence kernel (β) has been used to describe the granule growth. Later, this kernel is linked with process parameters – binder flow rate and fluidizing air velocity.

Starch granule size distribution in wheat endosperm indirectly correlates to pasting property indicated by near-isogenic lines with different null-waxy alleles

The amylose content, size distribution and processing properties of isolated starch granules were compared between eight near-isogenic lines (NILs) of a wheat cultivar with different null waxy (wx) alleles. The increases in the amylose content (0.6%-34.6%), volume percentage of A-type starch granules (54.8%-67.6%), low (118-179 cP) and final viscosities (160-329 cP), and setback value (43-146 cP) were positively related to the number of waxy alleles. All the viscosity values, except those of the peak time and the pasting temperature, of the purified A-type starch granules were much higher than those of the B-type granules, and so did the swelling power. The amylose content and pasting properties of the purified A- and B-type starch granules showed similar patterns to those of flour in response to different null waxy alleles. In addition, wx-B1 had greater effects on the amylose content, starch granule diameter and pasting traits than the other alleles did. The diameter of the biscuits baked with the flour of NILs varied between 46.29 mm (the wild type) and 44.09 mm (the waxy type), but their hardness decreased from 2895 g to 1707 g as the number of the null wx alleles increased. The varied pasting traits of NILs were indirectly related to the modified size distributions of starch granules, but were directly ascribed to the regulated content of amylose due to deletion of the wx genes.

Modelling Methane Production and Sulfate Reduction in Anaerobic Granular Sludge Reactor with Ethanol as Electron Donor.

In this work, a mathematical model based on growth kinetics of microorganisms and substrates transportation through biofilms was developed to describe methane production and sulfate reduction with ethanol being a key electron donor. The model was calibrated and validated using experimental data from two case studies conducted in granule-based Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactors. The results suggest that the developed model could satisfactorily describe methane and sulfide productions as well as ethanol and sulfate removals in both systems. The modeling results reveal a stratified distribution of methanogenic archaea, sulfate-reducing bacteria and fermentative bacteria in the anaerobic granular sludge and the relative abundances of these microorganisms vary with substrate concentrations. It also indicates sulfate-reducing bacteria can successfully outcompete fermentative bacteria for ethanol utilization when COD/SO42− ratio reaches 0.5. Model simulation suggests that an optimal granule diameter for the maximum methane production efficiency can be achieved while the sulfate reduction efficiency is not significantly affected by variation in granule size. It also indicates that the methane production and sulfate reduction can be affected by ethanol and sulfate loading rates, and the microbial community development stage in the reactor, which provided comprehensive insights into the system for its practical operation.

Microbial structure and nitrogen compound conversions in aerobic granular sludge reactors with non-aeration phases and acetate pulse feeding.

A technological system was developed for efficient nitrogen removal from real digester supernatant in a single reactor with shortened aeration to increase the economical aspects of wastewater treatment. The supernatant (600 mg TKN/L, low COD/N ratio of 2.2) was treated in batch reactors with aerobic granules (GSBRs) to test how one, two, or three non-aeration phases and acetate pulse feeding in the cycle affect the morphological and microbial properties of biomass. Introduction of one non-aeration phase in the cycle increased nitrogen removal efficiency by 11 % in comparison with constantly aerated GSBR. The additional non-aeration phases did not diminish the efficiency of ammonia oxidation but did favor nitrification to nitrate. Acetate pulse feeding in the reactor with three non-aeration phases raised the efficiency of nitrogen removal to 77 %; in parallel, the number of denitrifiers possessing nosZ genes and performing denitrification to N2 increased. Ammonia was oxidized by aerobic and anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and heterotrophic nitrifiers (Pseudomonas sp. and Alcaligenes faecalis) that coexisted in granules. Azoarcus sp., Rhizobium sp., and Thauera sp. were core genera of denitrifiers in granules. An increase in the number of non-aeration phases diminished EPS content in the biomass and granule diameters and increased granule density.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11356-016-7709-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

High-resolution structural and elemental analyses of calcium storage structures synthesized by the noble crayfish Astacus astacus.

During premolt, crayfish develop deposits of calcium ions, called gastroliths, in their stomach wall. The stored calcium is used for the calcification of parts of the skeleton regularly renewed for allowing growth. Structural and molecular analyses of gastroliths have been primarily performed on three crayfish species, Orconectes virilis, Procambarus clarkii, and more recently, Cherax quadricarinatus. We have performed high-resolution analyses of gastroliths from the native noble crayfish, Astacus astacus, focusing on the microstructure, the mineralogical and elemental composition and distribution in a comparative perspective. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) observations showed a classical layered microstructure composed of 200-nm diameter granules aligned along fibers. These granules are themselves composed of agglomerated nanogranules of 50nm-mean diameters. Denser regions of bigger fused granules are also present. Micro-Raman spectroscopy show that if A. astacus gastroliths, similarly to the other analyzed gastroliths, are mainly composed of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), they are also rich in amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). The presence of a carotenoid pigment is also observed in A. astacus gastrolith contrary to C. quadricarinatus. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses demonstrate the presence of minor elements such as Mg, Sr, Si and P. The distribution of this last element is particularly heterogeneous. X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) reveals an alternation of layers more or less rich in phosphorus evidenced in the mineral phase as well as in the organic matrix in different molecular forms. Putative functions of the different P-comprising molecules are discussed.

A New Electrolytic Production Process of Silicon Using Liquid Zn Alloy Cathode in Molten Salt

1. Introduction In order to replace the present manufacturing process of solar-grade silicon (SOG-Si), the Siemens process, the establishment of low-cost SOG–Si production process is required. As a new approach, we demonstrated that solid SiO2can be directly reduced to solid Si by electrolysis in molten salts at 1123 K [1]. SiO2 + 4 e− (through conductor) = Si + 2 O2−(1) We also proposed that the electrolytic reduction of purified SiO2 is a potential method to realize the low-cost production of SOG-Si [2]. In recent years, we have been studying the electrochemical reduction of powdery SiO2 to establish a continuous process [3]. However, washing treatment using water or acid is necessary to recover the produced powdery Si from molten CaCl2 and the residual SiO2. To effectively recover the product, we recently proposed an electrolytic process utilizing a liquid Si–Zn alloy cathode as shown in Fig. 1 [4, 5]. In this process, solid SiO2is reduced to form a Si–Zn liquid alloy on the cathode, and then metallic Si is recovered by lowering the temperature to decrease the solubility of Si in the alloy. The Zn-rich liquid alloy after the separation step is recycled for the cathode. The produced Si is further purified to SOG-Si by directional solidification process. In this study, we investigated (i) the electrolytic reduction of SiO2 granules on a liquid Zn cathode in molten CaCl2 and (ii) the impurity segregation during the precipitation of Si from liquid Si-Zn alloy. 2. Experimental High-purity CaCl2 was charged in an alumina crucible and dried under vacuum at 773 K for 24 hours. All the electrochemical experiments were carried out in a dry Ar atmosphere at 1123 K. Electrochemical behavior was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and potentiostatic electrolysis using a liquid Zn electrode. The counter electrode was a carbon rod. An Ag+/Ag electrode was used as a reference electrode. 3. Results and discussion The potentiostatic electrolysis was conducted using a liquid Zn electrode with SiO2 granules (diameter ca. 0.1 mm) at 0.9 V vs. Ca2+/Ca for 1 h. By cross-sectional SEM measurement, several particles were observed in the Zn sample after the electrolysis. EDX analysis confirmed that the SiO2 powder had been reduced to Si. According to the Si–Zn phase diagram, solubility of Si in liquid Si–Zn alloy is 6 at% at 1123 K and that at room temperature is very low. Thus, it is concluded that SiO2 was reduced to form liquid Si–Zn alloy and then Si particles were precipitated during the cooling process. In the presentation, the mechanism of SiO2reduction and the impurity segregation behavior during the cooling process will be discussed. Acknowledgement This study was partly supported by the Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology (CREST) of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Reference [1] T. Nohira, K. Yasuda, and Y. Ito, Nat. Mater., 2, 397 (2003). [2] K. Yasuda, T. Nohira, R. Hagiwara, and Y. H. Ogata., Electrochim. Acta, 53, 106 (2007). [3] T. Toba, K. Yasuda, T. Nohira, X. Yang, R. Hagiwara, K. Ichitsubo, K. Masuda, and T. Homma, Electrochemistry, 81, 559 (2013). [4] T. Shimao, X. Yang, K. Yasuda, T. Nohira, R. Hagiwara, K. Ichitsubo, K. Masuda, and T. Homma, Technical Digest for The 6th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, 4WePo.7.52, (2014). [5] K. Yasuda, Molten Salts (Yoyuen Oyobi Koon Kagaku), 58, 20 (2015). Figure 1

Effects of CO2 enrichment and spikelet removal on rice quality under open-air field conditions

The increase of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration adversely affect several quality traits of rice grains, but the biochemical mechanism remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to determine how changes in the source-sink relationship affected rice quality. Source-sink manipulation was achieved by free-air CO2 enrichment from tillering to maturity and partial removal of spikelet at anthesis using a japonica rice cultivar Wuyunjing 23. Enrichment with CO2 decreased the head rice percentage and protein concentration of milled rice, but increased the grain chalkiness. In contrast, spikelet removal resulted in a dramatic increase in the head rice percentage and protein concentration, and much less grain chalkiness. Neither CO2 enrichment nor spikelet removal affected the starch content, but the distribution of starch granule size showed distinct treatment effects. On average, spikelet removal decreased the percentage of starch granules of diameter >10 and 5–10 µm by 23.6 and 5.6%, respectively, and increased those with a diameter of 2–5 and <2 µm by 4.6 and 3.3%, respectively. In contrast, CO2 elevation showed an opposite response: increasing the proportion of large starch granules (>5 µm) and decreasing that of <5 µm. The starch pasting properties were affected by spikelet removal much more than by CO2 elevation. These results indicated that the protein concentration and starch granule size played a role in chalkiness formation under these experimental conditions.

Effect of Cogranulation on Oxidation of Elemental Sulfur: Theoretical Model and Experimental Validation

Core Ideas Fertilizers with ES are usually in granular form. Cogranulation of ES reduces its oxidation rate. This granulation effect was modeled based on the reduction in effective surface area. The model was verified against experimental data for ES‐fortified fertilizers. Most studies on elemental sulfur (ES) oxidation have focused on small ES particles mixed through soil, even though commercial ES fertilizers are usually in granular form. Although it has been recognized that cogranulation of ES decreases its oxidation rate, no attempt has been made to quantify this effect. We developed a conceptual model that predicts the “effective diameter” (the diameter of ES particles mixed through soil that would oxidize at the same rate as the granulated ES) by taking into account the effect of granulation on the effective surface area available to the ES in the granule cavity after the soluble macronutrient compound in the fertilizer has diffused away. To validate the model, the oxidation rate was determined for ES‐fortified monoammonium phosphate fertilizer with varying ES content (20–250 g kg−1), ES particle diameter (25 or 60 μm), and granule diameter (1.8 or 3.4 mm). The time to reach 50% oxidation varied from 17 d for small granules at the lowest ES content to 210 d for the large granules with the highest ES content. In agreement with the model predictions, reducing ES particle size did not affect the oxidation rate except at the lowest ES rate, whereas reducing granule size increased the oxidation rate. Predicted and observed oxidation rates were in good agreement, indicating that the model describes the effect of granulation with reasonable accuracy. This model may assist in improving formulation of ES‐containing fertilizers and guiding fertilizer recommendations.

Structural and physicochemical characterization of Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms tuber starch

Several characteristics of African Yam Bean tuber starch (AYB) were studied and compared with that of a well-known native potato starch (P). The diameter of AYB granules ranged from 5.7μ to 49μ with a median at 19.5μ. During its pasting, AYB exhibited a low peak of viscosity in accordance with its low granules swelling and disintegration capacity. The gelatinization temperature of AYB was 75.2°C while that of P was 60.4°C. AYB was observed to be more stable during thermo-gravimetrical Analysis. Its degradation peak was observed at 308°C while that of P was 303°C. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that AYB belongs to the A-type crystalline group instead of C-type as claimed for several legumes starches. The stability of AYB and its capacity to structure starch-water systems make this resource an interesting ingredient for new food and non-food products.

The effects of granular velocity and shape factors on the generation of polymer-metal electrostatic charge

Electrostatic charge has been observed in many gas-solid two-phase processing systems, which may cause serious industry problems, such as particle clustering, blockage and explosion hazards. However, the fundamental mechanism of electrostatic charge generation has not yet been well studied. The effects of granule velocity, granular shape factors such as front-facing angle, length-ratio and sliding area, as well as charge saturation on electrostatic charge generation were studied in this work, using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) granules (diameter 1.1–4.1 mm, with triangular or trapezoidal sliding faces). The mechanism of electron transfer between polymer and metal was analyzed. It was found that the charge generation on granules is strongly dependent on the sliding velocity. The amount of electrostatic charge generated on a granule increases with the decreasing velocity. Longer contact time is considered to account for this phenomenon. For both triangular and trapezoidal granules, the electrostatic charge generated tends to become saturated after sliding certain times, where accurate charge saturation fitting has been achieved.

Frictional characteristics of granular system under high pressure

In order to reveal the force transmission features of the granules in the solid granule medium forming (SGMF) technology, the frictional characteristics of the non-metallic granule medium (NGM) under high pressure were investigated by tests and simulations. And the relevant changing curves of the internal friction coefficient of the granular system under different normal pressures were obtained by self-designed shear test. By the granule volume compression test, the accurate discrete element simulation parameters were obtained, based on this, the discrete element method (DEM) was adopted to reveal the evolution law of the NGM granules movement in the sample shear process from the microscopic view. Based on the DEM, the influence of granule diameter, surface friction coefficient, normal pressure and shear velocity on the internal friction coefficient of the granular system were studied. And the parameters were conducted to be dimensionless by introducing the inertia coefficient. Finally, the expression showing power-law relationship of inertia coefficient, surface friction coefficient and internal friction coefficient is obtained.

Clinical significance and validity of the subclassification for colorectal laterally spreading tumor granular type.

Colorectal laterally spreading tumor granular type (LST-G) is generally divided into two subtypes based on morphology. Here, we retrospectively investigated the clinical significance of a concrete, objective LST-G subclassification. This study examined 636 consecutive cases that were resected endoscopically or surgically. LST-G was subclassified as follows: Type 1, a lesion with homogenous uniform granules with uniform (<5 mm) nodules; Type 2, a lesion with granules and small nodules (≥5 mm, <10 mm); or Type 3, a lesion accompanied by large nodules (≥10 mm). For the validation study, 194 images were compiled from 97 cases investigated using conventional colonoscopy and chromoendoscopy with indigo carmine dye spraying. Images were distributed in a randomized order to students without prior endoscopy experience, less-experienced endoscopists (LEE group), and highly experienced endoscopists (HEE group). Diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement were then evaluated. There was no submucosal invasion in Type 1 lesions. The incidence of deep submucosal invasive carcinoma was higher for Type 3 lesions than for Type 2 lesions. Interobserver agreement was good in each group. Diagnostic accuracy was higher in the HEE group than in the student and LEE groups. Chromoendoscopy had a higher accuracy rate than conventional colonoscopy in the LEE and HEE groups (LEE, 0.74 vs 0.69, P < 0.05; HEE, 0.84 vs 0.78, P < 0.05). This subclassification of LST-G according to the diameters of granules and nodules was both useful for choosing therapeutic strategies in the clinical setting and universally applicable.

Genotypic and environmental effects on starch properties of Argentinean wheat flours

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of different environments and genotypes on starch characteristics and properties of Argentinean wheat flours. Amylose content, starch granule size distribution, thermal characteristics, and pasting properties of flours were determinate on 24 wheat genotypes from six environments. There were significant differences for all parameters analyzed among genotypes and environments (p &lt; 0.05). The environment was the main factor responsible for the increase of variability observed in amylose content. According to variance ratios, environmental conditions have a greater influence on the characteristics of A granules, while genotype influenced mostly B granules diameter and volume percentage. Balcarce‐2010 and Reconquista‐2010, environments which showed drought during grain filling, were the environments that presented the highest volume percent of B granules and the lowest percent of A granule. Genotype was the greatest source of variation, according to variance relationship, for DSC parameters. ΔH values were the highest on MarcosJuarez‐2009 and Reconquista‐2010 where high temperatures during grain filling period were recorded. Besides, these two environments also presented high pasting temperature values. Environment had a noticeable greater impact on starch properties of wheat than genotype for all pasting properties parameters except for pasting temperature. Both genetic and environmental factors control physicochemical characteristics of starch and the size distribution of starch granules in wheat grains at different degrees.

High frequency pacing of edge localized modes by injection of lithium granules in DIII-D H-mode discharges

A newly installed Lithium Granule Injector (LGI) was used to pace edge localized modes (ELM) in DIII-D. ELM pacing efficiency was studied injecting lithium granules of nominal diameter 0.3–0.9 mm, speed of 50–120 m s−1 and average injection rates up to 100 Hz for 0.9 mm granules and up to 700 Hz for 0.3 mm granules. The efficiency of ELM triggering was found to depend strongly on size of the injected granules, with triggering efficiency close to 100% obtained with 0.9 mm diameter granules, lower with smaller sizes, and weakly depending on granule velocity. Robust ELM pacing was demonstrated in ITER-like plasmas for the entire shot length, at ELM frequencies 3–5 times larger than the ‘natural’ ELM frequency observed in reference discharges. Within the range of ELM frequencies obtained, the peak ELM heat flux at the outer strike point was reduced with increasing pacing frequency. The peak heat flux reduction at the inner strike point appears to saturate at high pacing frequency. Lithium was found in the plasma core, with a concurrent reduction of metallic impurities and carbon. Overall, high frequency ELM pacing using the lithium granule injection appears to be compatible with both H-mode energy confinement and attractive H-mode pedestal characteristics, but further assessment is needed to determine whether the projected heat flux reduction required for ITER can be met.

Differetial Increase in Efficacy of Azotobacter Chroococcum and Bacillus Subtilis Co-Immobilized with Different Organic Manuares in Relation to Plant Growth, Nutritional Status and Grain Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Present study indicates that the growth, productivity and grain yield of wheat can be enhanced significantly by amending higher dose of &lt;italic&gt;Azotobacter chroococcum&lt;/italic&gt; and &lt;italic&gt;Bacillus subtilis&lt;/italic&gt; co-immobilized in 45mm diameter granules composed of different organic materials. The biofertilizers were co-immobilized in cow dung/ Farm Yard Manure (FYM) or vermicompost using acacia gum as binder, neem leaf powder and clay soil and applied to the earthen pots in forms of granules of 4-5 mm diameter. The vermicompost containing granules provided higher plant biomass (e.g. shoot height, root length, number of leaves, number of roots, tiller numbers, fresh weight and dry weight of shoot and root than others. FYM and cow dung based granules also enhanced the plant growth with a lower magnitude. The granules released NH&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;+&lt;/sup&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt;, NO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;-&lt;/sup&gt; and PO&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;&lt;sup&gt;3-&lt;/sup&gt; in the plant's rhizosphere and enhanced availability of essential nutrients to the plants. The co-immobilized form of biofertilizers with vermicompost also increased yield of wheat &lt;italic&gt;(Triticum aestivum&lt;/italic&gt; L. cv 502) in terms of grain weight per plant by 13.79%, with FYM by 11.65% and that with cow dung by 10.15% over free form of the chemical fertilizers (Recommended dose of urea; 150 kg/ha and DAP; 75 kg/ha). The studies indicate that the vermicompost is a better carrier for co-immobilization of the microbial biofertilizers &lt;italic&gt;A. chroococcum&lt;/italic&gt; and &lt;italic&gt;B. subtilis&lt;/italic&gt; to provide the better shelter and nutrient to the microbes and for higher nutrient availability during their application in the earthen pots.