Single VC Research Articles

Preparation and Characterization of GX-50 and Vitamin C Co-encapsulated Microcapsules by a Water-in-Oil-in-Water (W1/O/W2) Double Emulsion-Complex Coacervation Method.

Co-encapsulated xanthoxylin (GX-50) and vitamin C (Vc) microcapsules (GX-50-Vc-M) were prepared by the combination of a water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) double emulsion with complex coacervation. The W1/O/W2 double emulsion was prepared by two-step emulsification, and it has a uniform particle size of 8.388 μm and high encapsulation efficiencies of GX-50 (85.95%) and Vc (67.35%) under optimized process conditions. Complex coacervation occurs at pHs 4.0-4.7, which has the highest encapsulation efficiency of GX-50 and Vc at pH 4.5. The complex coacervate with tannic acid solidifying (namely, wet microcapsules) has better mechanical properties and also enhances the ability of co-encapsulation of active ingredients. The resulting microcapsules by freeze-drying of wet microcapsules were characterized by UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy (UV-vis), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FI-IR), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) radical scavenging, and in vitro permeation measurements. Under optimal conditions, the encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of GX-50-Vc-M for GX-50 and Vc are, respectively, 78.38 ± 0.51 and 59.34 ± 0.56%, and 35.6 ± 0.68 and 29.8 ± 0.92%. A slight shift in the FTIR peak between single GX-50 or Vc and GX-50-Vc-M confirmed the successful co-encapsulation of GX-50 and Vc in microcapsules. GX-50-Vc-M has bridged irregular spherical aggregates, while GX-50 and Vc are, respectively, encapsulated in hydrophobic and hydrophilic cavities of microcapsules in an amorphous dissolved state. GX-50-Vc-M has the highest DPPH· radical scavenging rate of 62.51%, and the scavenging process of GX-50-Vc-M on DPPH· radicals is more in line with the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation model. Moreover, the in vitro permeation of GX-50 and Vc in GX-50-Vc-M can reach maximum values of 40 and 60%, respectively. This concludes that GX-50-Vc-M is a promising delivery system for the penetration of the antioxidant into the deeper layers of the skin for the antioxidant effect.

The evolution of vitamin C biosynthesis and transport in animals

BackgroundVitamin C (VC) is an indispensable antioxidant and co-factor for optimal function and development of eukaryotic cells. In animals, VC can be synthesized by the organism, acquired through the diet, or both. In the single VC synthesis pathway described in animals, the penultimate step is catalysed by Regucalcin, and the last step by l-gulonolactone oxidase (GULO). The GULO gene has been implicated in VC synthesis only, while Regucalcin has been shown to have multiple functions in mammals.ResultsBoth GULO and Regucalcin can be found in non-bilaterian, protostome and deuterostome species. Regucalcin, as here shown, is involved in multiple functions such as VC synthesis, calcium homeostasis, and the oxidative stress response in both Deuterostomes and Protostomes, and in insects in receptor-mediated uptake of hexamerin storage proteins from haemolymph. In Insecta and Nematoda, however, there is no GULO gene, and in the latter no Regucalcin gene, but species from these lineages are still able to synthesize VC, implying at least one novel synthesis pathway. In vertebrates, SVCT1, a gene that belongs to a family with up to five members, as here shown, is the only gene involved in the uptake of VC in the gut. This specificity is likely the result of a subfunctionalization event that happened at the base of the Craniata subphylum. SVCT-like genes present in non-Vertebrate animals are likely involved in both VC and nucleobase transport. It is also shown that in lineages where GULO has been lost, SVCT1 is now an essential gene, while in lineages where SVCT1 gene has been lost, GULO is now an essential gene.ConclusionsThe simultaneous study, for the first time, of GULO, Regucalcin and SVCTs evolution provides a clear picture of VC synthesis/acquisition and reveals very different selective pressures in different animal taxonomic groups.

Short and long term efficacy and prevalence of Cryphonectria parasitica hypovirulent strains released as biocontrol agents of chestnut blight

Chestnut blight, Cryphonectria parasitica (Murrill) Barr, was reported in Portugal in 1989. The disease rapidly spread within the chestnut region of the Trás-os-Montes (the Northeast of Portugal). Eradication and mechanical/burning exclusion failed to control the disease and natural hypovirulence is still absent or of very low incidence. The introduction of human-assisted therapeutic hypovirulence is therefore required to control the disease. We presente here the efficacy of field applications (short and long term) of a locally characterized hypovirulent strain (CHV1-RBB111), by the punch method in two chestnut orchards (Valpaços and Vinhais). The Valpaços disease incidence was 68% (65 out of 96 trees) and in Vinhais it was 46% (78 out of 169 trees). In both locations, diversity of vegetative incompatibility (vc type) was low and largely dominated (> 85%) by a single vc type (EU11). In Valpaços, all cankers of the orchard were treated (63 cankers) and in Vinhais 31 trees (cankers) were treated. One year after application, field efficacy was very high with 93.8% of healed cankers in Valpaços and 90.3% in Vinhais, these values increased to 100% and 93.5% (respectively) after four years. The persistence of the introduced CHV1-RBB 111 strain was high and present in almost all treated cankers and it was dominant both inwards and on the application site revealing an endophytic behavior. The non-C. parasitica microfungi were abundant with 14 different species. Biscogniauxia mediterranea (De Not.) Kuntze was the most abundant in both orchards. Treatment with the introduced hypovirulent strain (CHV1-RBB111) was found to be effective in controlling chestnut blight with regeneration of cortical tissues and recovery of treated trees.

Effects of Formulated Fertilization on Fruit Quality of Early Ripe Peach ‘Beijing 2’

The early ripe peach ‘Beijing 2’ in Shanquan Town, Longquanyi District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province of China was used as the material to study the effects of formulated fertilization on the fruit quality of peach. Compared with the control, each treatment had the effect on the quality of ‘Beijing 2’ peach fruit. Base fertilizer of organic fertilizer 600 kg/667m2, urea 12-20 kg/667m2, monoamine phosphate 24 kg/667m2, superphosphate 80 kg/667m2, potassium sulfate 56 kg/667m2; germination fertilizer application borax 6 kg/667m2, urea 10 kg/667m2; hard-core fertilizer compound fertilizer 40 kg/667m2, potassium sulfate 20 kg/667m2 had the best effect, making ‘Beijing 2’ peach single fruit weight, hardness, TSS, total sugar and VC increased by 21.97%, 320%, 21.33%, 15.69% and 54.01%, respectively, compared with the control. By formulated fertilization, the application of organic fertilizer 600 kg/667m2, fertilizer reduction 80-96 kg/667m2, fertilizer application decreased by 23.53%-28.24%, and improved the fruit quality of‘Beijing 2’ peach.

Effects of balanced fertilization on growth and fruit quality of 'Huang-guan' pear on desert area.

A field experiment was carried out to study the effects of balanced fertilization on growth and development, yield, fruit quality and mineral content in 'Huang-guan' pear to provide a theoretical basis for the reasonable level of fertilization in pear orchards. Four treatments were arranged with 12-year old 'Huang-guan' pear trees from the same orchard: conventional fertilization (CK), low levels of N, P2O5 and high level of S (T1), medium levels of N, P2O5 and S (T2), high levels of N, P2O5 and low level of S (T3). The results showed that different treatments had little effect on the growth and development of current-year branch and leaves in the first year. However, in the se-cond year, T1 treatment promoted the length and diameter of current-year branch by 16.2% and 11.4%, respectively. Continuous fertilization could increase the leaf mineral contents in different degrees. The contents of Cu, Fe, and Zn in leaves under T1 treatment, Mg and B in leaves under T2 treatment, and P and Mn in leaves under T3 treatment were highest. Different fertilization levels had no significant effect on yield but on fruit quality. The contents of soluble sugars and vitamin C (Vc) were significantly increased by T2 treatment, which was 4.2% and 7.1% higher than those in CK. However, T1 significantly decreased contents of total soluble solid, soluble sugars and Vc, while highest organic acid content presented in T3. Fruit Fe content was positively correlated with soluble sugar content and fruit shape index, but was negatively correlated with single fruit mass, organic acids and Vc. Fruit P content was positively correlated with fruit shape index and firmness, but was negatively correlated with contents of soluble sugars, organic acids and Vc. Accordingly, T2 could improve fruit quality and maintain the productivity, and thus should be the suitable fertilization strategy for the 'Huang-guan' pear management in desert area.

Differential regulation of muscle protein turnover in response to emphysema and acute pulmonary inflammation

BackgroundExacerbations in COPD are often accompanied by pulmonary and systemic inflammation, and associated with increased susceptibility to and prevalence of weight loss and muscle wasting. Muscle mass loss during disease exacerbations may contribute to emphysema-associated muscle atrophy. However, whether pulmonary inflammation in presence of emphysema differentially affects skeletal muscle, including protein synthesis and degradation signaling pathways has not previously been addressed. The aims of this study were to 1) develop a mouse model of disease exacerbation-associated muscle wasting, 2) evaluate whether emphysema and muscle wasting can be monitored non-invasively and 3) assess alterations in muscle protein turnover regulation.MethodsEmphysema was induced by three, weekly intra-tracheal (IT) elastase (E) or vehicle control (vc) instillations, followed by one single IT-LPS bolus (L) or vc instillation to mimic pulmonary inflammation-driven disease exacerbation. Consequently, four experimental groups were defined: vc/vc (‘C’), E/vc (‘E’), vc/LPS (‘L’), E/LPS (‘E + L’). Using micro cone-beam CT-scans, emphysema development and muscle mass changes were monitored, and correlated to muscle weight 48 h after LPS instillation. Protein turnover signaling was assessed in muscle tissue collected 24 h post LPS instillation.ResultsMicro-CT imaging correlated strongly with established invasive measurements of emphysema and muscle atrophy. Pulmonary inflammation following LPS instillation developed irrespective of emphysema and body and muscle weight were similarly reduced in the ‘L’ and ‘E + L’ groups. Accordingly, mRNA and protein expression levels of genes of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPS) and the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP) were upregulated in skeletal muscle following IT-LPS (‘L’ and ‘E + L’). In contrast, mTOR signaling, which controls ALP and protein synthesis, was reduced by pulmonary inflammation (‘L’ and ‘E + L’) as well as emphysema as a single insult (‘E’) compared to control.ConclusionChanges in lung tissue density and muscle mass can be monitored non-invasively to evaluate emphysema and muscle atrophy longitudinally. Acute loss of muscle mass evoked by pulmonary inflammation is similar in control and emphysematous mice. Although muscle atrophy cues in response to pulmonary inflammation are not altered by emphysema, emphysema itself affects protein synthesis and ALP signaling, which may interfere with muscle mass recovery and impair maintenance of muscle mass in emphysema.

(625) - A Patient-Specific Risk Model for Predicting Major Bleeding, Thromboembolic Events and Mortality After a Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device (CF-LVAD)

s S233 (PS) is a risk factor for VAD patients. Our large study aims to compare outcomes between PS and virgin chest patients (VC) following LVAD implant. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients implanted with VADs from August 2008 to May 2014 at a single center (n = 228). Patients were divided into PS (n = 52) and VC (n = 176) cohorts. A sub-group analysis of patients who had multiple PS was also conducted. The primary endpoint was survival at 30 days and 1 year after VAD implant. Secondary endpoints included length of stay and post-operative complications. Results: Pre-operative demographics and comorbidities were similar between the PS and VC groups. The PS group was older (60.9 vs. 53.5 years, p = 0.005) and had a higher incidence of ischemic cardiomyopathy (84.6% vs 39.8%, p = 0.0001). There was no statistical difference in post-operative outcomes between the PS and VC groups, including ICU (9 vs 8 days, p = 0.396) and hospital (24 vs 23 days, p = 0.390) lengths of stay, stroke, and infection. History of multiple PS did not appear to increase risk as compared to single PS or VC. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates at 30 day (PS 73.8%, VC 83.3%, p = 0.107) and 1 year (PS 62.0%, VC 70.5%, p = 0.238) after VAD implantation were similar between PS and VC groups. (Table 1) Conclusion: Prior sternotomy does not appear to be a risk factor for VAD implant or subsequent short and long term outcomes. Patients with previous cardiac surgery can have similar benefits from VAD implant as patients without prior sternotomy.

Effect of VC, TaC and NbC Additions on Microstructure and Properties of Ultrafine WC-10%Co Cemented Carbides

The ultrafine WC-10%Co cemented carbides were prepared by vacuum sintering processing. To inhibit the growth of WC grains during sintering, single VC, TaC and NbC were used as inhibitors. Effects of VC, TaC and NbC as grain growth inhibitor on the microstructure and properties of ultrafine WC-10%Co cemented carbides were investigated with different kinds of testing methods. With the transformation of doped inhibitors content, the results show that VC, TaC and NbC additions can refine the WC grains, and increase the mechanical properties of the WC-10%Co cemented carbides, respectively. And the efficiency of these three kinds of inhibitors to limit gain size has been compared after sintering for 1.5h at 1 400 °C.

Spread and population structure of Cryphonectria parasitica in a young chestnut orchard in Slovakia

Abstract The chestnut blight pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica was studied in a chestnut collection composed of both seedlings and grafts derived from selected Castanea sativa and C. sativa × C. crenata trees located in south-east Slovakia, near village Príbelce on an area of approximately 3.5 ha. The study was conducted during eight years (2003–2010). During this period 133 trees were infected, which represents 59.82% of chestnut trees of all chestnut accessions. Based on the phenotype of the fungus culture and the type of cankers in the field, all isolates were determined to be virulent. No hypovirulent strains were found. No vegetative compatibility (vc) type diversity was observed. More than 130 isolates were analyzed for vc and all were in single vc type, which was identical with EU 12. All isolates assayed for mating type were MAT-1. No perithecia were observed. No significant differences were found between the proportion of cankered and dead cankered trees in seedlings and grafts of hybrid origin (C. sativa × C. crenata) and of C. sativa origin. However, particular seedlings and grafts of hybrid origin seemed to exhibit certain resistance to chestnut blight.

Characteristics of the Cryphonectria parasitica isolated from Quercus in Slovakia

SummaryThe occurrence of chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) on oaks in mixed chestnut‐oak forests was studied in 2003–2008 in Slovakia. Infections on living Quercus trees were found at four of seven localities. The disease incidence on oaks ranged from 1.3% to 15.8%. The symptoms on infected oaks were similar to those on chestnut, but less conspicuous. Cankers of C. parasitica were found only on Quercus robur and Q. petraea. A total of 22 isolates of C. parasitica, all virulent, were isolated. Each site yielded only a single vc type (EU12 or EU13). Field inoculation experiments on chestnuts with seven strains of C. parasitica from oaks and an isolate from Castanea sativa showed no differences in virulence. On Quercus robur stems, the cankered area was significantly smaller than on C. sativa and the cankers developed very slowly.

Comparative studies of methanol decomposition on carbide-modified V(1 1 0) and Ti(0 0 0 1)

The reaction pathways of methanol on V(1 1 0), carbide-modified V(1 1 0), Ti(0 0 0 1), and carbide-modified Ti(0 0 0 1) have been studied using high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). On V(1 1 0) and C/V(1 1 0), methanol undergoes complete dissociative adsorption producing a methoxy intermediate for exposures less than 2 L at 100 K. On Ti(0 0 0 1) and C/Ti(0 0 0 1), methanol dissociates to produce methoxy at exposures of 3 L at 100 K. The combination of TPD and AES reveals that the number of methoxy per surface metal atom is 0.13 on C/V(1 1 0) and 0.41 on C/Ti(0 0 0 1) at 100 K. All methoxy species undergo further decomposition on C/V(1 1 0) at higher temperatures. However, a significant fraction (∼39%) of methoxy species undergo recombinatory reaction to produce gas-phase methanol on C/Ti(0 0 0 1). The reaction pathways on the C/V(1 1 0) and C/Ti(0 0 0 1) surfaces are compared with previous studies of methanol on other carbide-modified surfaces, as well as on single crystal VC and TiC surfaces.

Low diversity of vegetative compatibility types and mating type of Cryphonectria parasitica in the southern Balkans

The diversity of vegetative compatibility (vc) types and mating type was estimated in populations of the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica, throughout Macedonia and from selected areas in Greece. Nearly all of the 786 isolates (94%) from Macedonia were in a single vc type, EU‐12; all 379 isolates from Greece were EU‐12. Only six of 20 populations in Macedonia had more than one vc type. The diversity of vc types in the most diverse populations of Macedonia was comparable with the least diverse populations found previously in Italy. All but six of the 313 isolates assayed had the same mating type, MAT‐1, and no perithecia of Cryphonectria parasitica were observed in any population. These results lead to the conclusion that sexual reproduction does not occur in these populations. The lack of vc type diversity may indicate a high potential for the spread of hypoviruses and successful biological control with transmissible hypovirulence. However, if sexual reproduction should occur in Macedonian populations, up to 32 vc types would be possible by recombination among vegetative incompatibility loci.

Duplication of primate and rodent B7-H3 immunoglobulin V- and C-like domains: divergent history of functional redundancy and exon loss

B7-H3 is a novel protein structurally related to the B7 family of ligands by the presence of a single set of immunoglobulin-V-like and immunoglobulin-C-like (VC) domains. By multiplex PCR, the dominantly expressed form of human B7-H3 was found to be a splice variant containing tandemly duplicated VC domains (VCVC). In contrast, mouse B7-H3 cDNA contained only one single VC form due to an exon structure corresponding to V–(pseudoexon C)–(pseudoexon V)–C. Comparisons of human, monkey, mouse, and hamster genomic B7-H3 reveal that primates, but not rodents, exhibited a higher degree of intramolecular sequence similarity between VC duplications than between molecules. Both VC and VCVC forms of human B7-H3 inhibited CD4 + T cell proliferation and downregulated cytokine production upon TCR activation. These results suggest independent, but convergent, paths of B7-H3 active domain duplication followed by divergent histories of exon degeneration in rodents and exon maintenance by humans.

Effect of body position on measurements of diffusion capacity after exercise

Background—Pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (Dlco), alveolar capillary membrane diffusing capacity (Dm), and pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) are all significantly reduced after exercise. Objective—To investigate whether measurement position...

Influence of Electrostatic Interactions on Complexes with Short O···O Hydrogen Bonds in Basic Salts of Pyridine Betaines and Acid Salts of ω‐Phenyloalkanocarboxylic Acids

AbstractThe isostructural complexes [C5H5N+(CH2)nCOO]2HX and [C6H5(CH2)nCOO]2HK (n = 1–4), which differ in their counterions and charge on the ring, were synthesized, and their powder FT‐IR spectra analyzed. All complexes containing a charged pyridine ring are of Hadži type iii, characterized by an intense broad (continuum) absorption below 1600 cm−1 typical of a short‐strong hydrogen bond (SSHB) with a delocalized proton and a single vC=O band. The positively charged nitrogen atoms interact electrostatically with the X− ion and, additionally, with one of the oxygen atoms of the carboxylic group, producing a more or less symmetric environment of the H‐bonded proton, and stabilizing the SSHB. The broad absorption of [C6H5CH2COO]2HK is very similar to that of other pyridine complexes. Upon addition of methylene groups the broad absorption moves to higher wavenumbers, the O···O distance is elongated, and the H‐bonded proton becomes more localized. In the spectrum of [C6H5(CH2)4COO]2HK the vC=O and vasCOO bands were found at 1704 and 1641 cm−1, respectively, which shows that the H‐bonded proton is asymmetrically located. The observed variation of absorption with the number of CH2 groups reflects changes of contacts between the K+ ion and COO− groups.

Does parallel conductance vary during systole in the human right ventricle?

Right ventricular (RV) contractile performance remains poorly characterised, particularly in humans. Conductance catheter techniques have the potential to overcome the geometric difficulties in RV volume measurement that have hindered systematic studies of RV pressure volume relations. The present study examines changes in parallel conductance (Vc) that may occur during the cardiac cycle in the human right ventricle. Using signals obtained from custom-built conductance catheters, six isochronal systolic values of Vc (Vc(t)) were measured during hypertonic saline wash-in. Studies were performed in nine patients undergoing right heart catheterisation. Their ages ranged from 7 to 39 years (median = 16) and their weights ranged from 20.3 to 84.7 kg (median = 50.0 kg). Measurements of mean Vc and isochronal Vc(t) and its variability during systole were assessed. Mean Vc was measured using the Baan technique (Vc(Baan)), Vc(t) was measured from six systolic isochrones obtained during the same period of hypertonic saline wash-in. The temporal changes in Vc(t) were small (mean 5.8%, median = 4.4%, range = 0.6-17.9%) of total corrected end-diastolic volume (mean maximal variation of 7.7 ml). The value of Vc(t) obtained at dp/dtmax (mean = 99.1 ml; median = 104.75 ml; range 20.15-196.7 ml) was not significantly different to that obtained at dp/dtmin (mean = 100.0 ml; median = 110.87 ml; range = 20.0-204.2 ml) (P > 0.05), but both were higher than the single Vc measurement (Vc(Baan)) obtained using the standard approach (P = 0.02). The correlation between Vc(Baan) and Vc(t) for group data; (Vc(Baan) = 89.69 ml, s.d. = 43.73 ml; Vc(t) = 98.16 ml, s.d. = 50.16 ml) produces a regression slope of 0.99 for all studies (P = 0.02). We conclude that parallel conductance does vary during systole in the human right ventricle of adults and older children after repair of congenital abnormalities but there is no significant difference in Vc(t) at dp/dtmin and dp/dtmax. However, there was a significant difference when the isochronal Vc(t) measurement is compared with the standard single value technique (Vc(Baan)) obtained using the hypertonic saline wash-in method. The excellent correlation between Vc(t) and Vc(Baan) suggests that the correction of Vc for the phase of the cardiac cycle is unnecessary for most purposes when studying the human right ventricle.

Distribution and diversity of vegetative compatibility types in subpopulations of Cryphonectria parasitica in Italy

Using a medium that discriminated with high resolution, 20 vegetative compatibility (vc) types were detected among a sample of 716 isolates of Cryphonectria parasitica from 11 widely separated subpopulations throughout Italy. Each isolate was assigned unambiguously to a single vc type; no isolates were compatible with more than one vc type. Most isolates (85%) were in four common vc types; the other 16 vc types were represented by only a few isolates each. Vegetative compatibility type frequencies were markedly different between northern and southern Italy. Three of the most common vc types (I-1, I-2 and I-5) were found mostly in the North, where diversity was greatest, while two others (I-10 and I-12) were primarily found in the South.

Contrasting structure of European and North American populations of Ophiostoma ulmi

The structures of European and North American populations of Ophiostoma ulmi , responsible for the first pandemic of Dutch elm disease, were compared by assessing the diversity of vegetative compatibility (vc) types and sexual mating types. All six European samples examined were highly diverse for vc-types whether the samples were continental, regional, or very local in origin. Overall, the A and B sexual mating types occurred in roughly equal frequency in Europe. In contrast, a single vc-type predominated in both a part-continental and a regional sample from North America ( ca 74 and 94% respectively). This was termed the O. ulmi North American vc supergroup. In this vc-type the A sexual compatibility type was dominant ( ca 65 and 82% respectively). The small remainder of North American isolates mainly comprised diverse vc-types, most of which were B-types. The North American vc supergroup was also the largest single vc group found locally in Europe. Circumstantial evidence suggests that the O. ulmi vc supergroup may have been present in North America since at least the 1940s. Its existence may provide a clue to the time and place of the first appearance on the North American continent of O. novoulmi , responsible for the current second pandemic of the disease. Possible reasons for the differences between present day North American and European O. ulmi populations are discussed. It is suggested that the O. ulmi North American vc supergroup may once have been the dominant vc-type in Europe as well as in North America, and that the European O. ulmi population may have become diversified in vc-types when the first epidemic in Europe declined during the 1940s.

A novel 2500 GPD 5-effects wiped-film rotating-disk vapor-compression module; preliminary results

A laboratory model wiped-film rotating-disk (WFRD) vapor-compression compression evaporator with a capacity of 300 liters/day (80 gpd) was conceived, designed, and built in the late sixties at the Sea Water Conversion Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley. Preliminary data obtained from this model showed exceptionally high overall heat transfer coefficient, U, in excess of 28 kW/m 2C (5000 Btu/hft 2F). Results from later data with precise instrumentation confirmed the earlier results and showed even higher values for U. Thermoeconomic analysis of multieffect vapor-compression systems to reclaim 95 percent of agricultural drainage water at the San Joaquin Valley in California showed that the use of multieffect VC systems instead of convention single effect VC systems reduces energy consumption. It also showed that the ratio of U in the evaporator to its cost per unit area of heat transfer has very strong influence on distilled water cost; the higher the ratio, the lower the distilled water cost. The analysis also showed that because of the exceptionally high value of U in the WFRD evaporator and based on data obtained from the laboratory model at Los Banos, California uisng agricultural drainage water, its use in a 5-effect VC system will reduce product water cost by a factor of 2 and energy consumption by a factor of 3 as compared to off-the-shelf single effect conventional VC systems. A semicommercial 2500 gal/day five-effect vapor-compression WFRD evaporator module was designed, built and tested with tap water. Preliminary data were obtained. The results from these data show an average value of U to be about 20 kW/m 2C (3500 Btu/hft 2F) and energy consumption by the compressor between 3.6 and 5.1 kWh/m 3 (13.6 and 19.3 kWh/1000 gal) of product water.