Correlation Between Insulation Resistance and Temperature Measurement Error in Type K and Type N Mineral Insulated, Metal Sheathed Thermocouples

Mineral insulated, metal sheathed (MI) Type K and Type N thermocouples are widely used in industry for process monitoring and control. One factor that limits their accuracy is the dramatic decrease in the insulation resistance at temperatures above about 600 °C which results in temperature measurement errors due to electrical shunting. In this work the insulation resistance of a cohort of representative MI thermocouples was characterised at temperatures up to 1160 °C, with simultaneous measurements of the error in indicated temperature by in situ comparison with a reference Type R thermocouple. Intriguingly, there appears to be a systematic relationship between the insulation resistance and the error in the indicated temperature. At a given temperature, as the insulation resistance decreases, there is a corresponding increasingly negative error in the temperature measurement. Although the measurements have a relatively large uncertainty (up to about 1 °C in temperature error and up to about 10 % in insulation resistance measurement), the trend is apparent at all temperatures above 600 °C, which suggests that it is real. Furthermore, the correlation disappears at temperatures below about 600 °C, which is consistent with the well-established diminution of insulation resistance breakdown effects below that temperature. This raises the intriguing possibility of using the as-new MI thermocouple calibration as an indicator of insulation resistance breakdown: large deviations of the electromotive force (emf) in the negative direction could indicate a correspondingly low insulation resistance.

Functional and genetic diversity of native rhizobial isolates nodulating cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) in Mozambican soils

Identification and symbiotic characterization of indigenous rhizobial isolates are the basis for inoculant formulations needed for sustainable grain legume production. This study screened for morpho-genetic diversity of indigenous cowpea nodulating rhizobia in farmers’ fields across two contrasting agroecological zones of Northern Mozambique. The photosynthetic function induced by the isolates in their homologous cowpea was assessed. The results showed high genetic variability among the isolates based on morphology and ERIC-PCR fingerprinting. The trap cowpea genotype did not influence the diversity of isolates collected from the two different agroecologies, suggesting that the cowpea-rhizobia compatibility may be conserved at species level. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene assigned representative rhizobial isolates to species in the Bradyrhizobium and Rhizobium genera, with some isolates showing high divergence from the known reference type strains. The isolates from both agroecologies highly varied in the number and biomass of nodules induced in the homologous cowpea, resulting in variable plant growth and photosynthetic activities. A total of 72% and 83% of the isolates collected from the agroecological zones 7 and 8 were respectively classified as highly effective candidates with > 80% relative effectiveness compared to plants fertilized with nitrate, indicating that elite native strains populated the studied soils. Moreover, the top 25% of high N2-fixing isolates from the two agroecologies recorded relative effectiveness ranging from 115 to 154%, values higher than the effectiveness induced by the commercial Bradyrhizobium sp. strain CB756. These strains are considered as having potential for use in inoculant formulations. However, future studies should be done to assess the ecologically adaptive traits and symbiotic performance under field conditions.

P679 The keystone bacterium Christensenella minuta improves colitis in in vivo preclinical Inflammatory Bowel Disease models

Background There is increasing evidence that microbiome-based therapies can correct dysbiosis and reduce inflammation associated with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD). In particular, the human commensal family of Christensenellaceae bacteria has been reported as missing in several cohorts of Crohn’s disease patients, indicating that it may have a role in maintaining microbial symbiosis in this population. To assess its potential for IBD management, we used the reference type species Christensenella minuta DSM 22607 to examine its anti-inflammatory properties. Methods We first performed two distinct independent preclinical colitis models: i) a moderate DNBS-induced colitis model in mice and ii) a severe TNBS-induced colitis model in rats. To decipher the mechanisms of action of C. minuta underlying the observed effects, we determined its ability to produce short chain fatty acids (SCFA) at different growth phases and we assessed its capacity to modulate the inflammatory response of human colonic cells. Results Our results showed that in both rodent models, C. minuta prevented intestinal damages by decreasing macroscopic scores, reduced colonic inflammation by limiting neutrophils infiltration in the colon and stimulated mucosal healing. We also confirmed that C. minuta is a high acetate and moderate butyrate producer. Finally, we showed that C. minuta displayed potent anti-inflammatory properties by decreasing the secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 through NF-kB inhibition in HT-29 cells. Conclusion Together, these results revealed for the first time the strong anti-inflammatory properties of C. minuta and confirm its high potential as an innovative microbiome-based biotherapy for IBD.

Calibration procedures for torque measuring devices by using a reference type torque calibration machine at NMIJ

NMIJ / AIST has been disseminating the national torque standard to Japanese industry by using deadweight type torque standard machines (DWTSMs). In general, DWTSMs can generate more precise torque than other types of TSMs. On the other hand, the calibration takes much longer time than others. One possible solution is to use a reference type torque calibration machine (RTCM). RTCMs have been developed in some national metrology institutes (NMIs). We have started the development of the first RTCM in the range of 100 mN · m to 10 N · m. In this study, we developed the automatic calibration system of the RTCM and investigated the calibration procedures for a low nominal capacity torque measuring device (TMD). It was found that the calibration could be realised by the RTCM, compared with the reliable DWTSM of rated capacity of 10 N · m at NMIJ.

Discourse-semantics Analysis of References in two Selected Excerpts from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah

This article seeks to explore the discourse-semantics of two selected excerpts from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah with a focus on reference chains study. The choice to focus on studying reference chains in the selected excerpts aims at first appraising the way Adichie has used them to realize texture within her studied texts. It second aims at finding the extent to which references have contributed to the encoding of underlying meanings therein. To arrive at this, the research has appealed to the mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology. Through the quantitative methodology, the data obtained after analyses have been summarized organized and presented statistically in an informative way. The qualitative methodology ensued has allowed to give sense to the most interpretable data collected. Indeed, the research has interestingly arrived at impressive results. Among several others, the research has revealed that the studied texts are highly cohesive with endophoric references largely predominating over the other reference types. Using such cohesive ties as Adichie has done, has allowed her texts not only to stick together but also to be highly readable and flow logically. Moreover, the extensive use of endophoric references, as witnessed in the studied texts, is revelatory of their mode which is archetypal of a monologic written text. In other respects, the considerable number of exophoric references in the first excerpt reveals its tenor dimension. Such a linguistic feature indicates that it was produced in a context of immediate face-to-face feedbacks with language accompanying action. On the other hand, the fewer number of the same reference type in the second excerpt reveals its field and unveils that it is a written reflective text reconstructing an experience. Drawing upon the theoretically founded analysis of the selected excerpts and the interpretation of the collected data arrived at, the research opens up to such further investigation areas of the systemic functional linguistics as the interpersonal meaning, the experiential meaning, and the textual meaning.

Development of the Chinese Space-Based Radiometric Benchmark Mission LIBRA

Climate observations and their applications require measurements with high stability and low uncertainty in order to detect and assess climate variability and trends. The difficulty with space-based observations is that it is generally not possible to trace them to standard calibration references when in orbit. In order to overcome this problem, it has been proposed to deploy space-based radiometric reference systems which intercalibrate measurements from multiple satellite platforms. Such reference systems have been strongly recommended by international expert teams. This paper describes the Chinese Space-based Radiometric Benchmark (CSRB) project which has been under development since 2014. The goal of CSRB is to launch a reference-type satellite named LIBRA in around 2025. We present the roadmap for CSRB as well as requirements and specifications for LIBRA. Key technologies of the system include miniature phase-change cells providing fixed-temperature points, a cryogenic absolute radiometer, and a spontaneous parametric down-conversion detector. LIBRA will offer measurements with SI traceability for the outgoing radiation from the Earth and the incoming radiation from the Sun with high spectral resolution. The system will be realized with four payloads, i.e., the Infrared Spectrometer (IRS), the Earth-Moon Imaging Spectrometer (EMIS), the Total Solar Irradiance (TSI), and the Solar spectral Irradiance Traceable to Quantum benchmark (SITQ). An on-orbit mode for radiometric calibration traceability and a balloon-based demonstration system for LIBRA are introduced as well in the last part of this paper. As a complementary project to the Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory (CLARREO) and the Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio- Studies (TRUTHS), LIBRA is expected to join the Earth observation satellite constellation and intends to contribute to space-based climate studies via publicly available data.

Complete genome of the barotolerant Listeria monocytogenes RO15 strain and comparison with other strains isolated from food and food processing environments

Background: High pressure processing (HPP; i.e. 100 - 600 MPa pressure depending on product) is a non-thermal preservation technique adopted by the food industry to decrease significantly foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, from food. However, susceptibility towards pressure differs among diverse strains of L. monocytogenes and it is unclear if this is related to their genomic content. Here, we tested the barotolerance of 10 different L. monocytogenes strains, from food and food processing environments and widely used reference type strains, to pressure treatments with 400 and 600 MPa. Genome sequencing and genome comparison of the tested L. monocytogenes strains were performed to investigate the relation between genomic profile and pressure tolerance.Results: None of the tested strains were tolerant to 600 MPa. A reduction of more than 5 log10 was observed for all strains after 1 minute 600 MPa pressure treatment. L. monocytogenes strain RO15 showed no significant reduction in viable cell counts after 400 MPa for 1 minute and was therefore defined as barotolerant. Genome analysis of so far unsequenced L. monocytogenes strain RO15, 2HF33, MB5, AB199, AB120, C7, and RO4 allowed us to compare the gene content of all strains tested. This revealed that the three most pressure tolerant strains had more than one CRISPR system with self-targeting spacers. Furthermore, several anti-CRISPR genes were detected in these strains. Pan-genome analysis showed that 10 prophage genes were significantly associated with the three most barotolerant strains.Conclusions: L. monocytogenes strain RO15 was the most pressure tolerant among the selected strains. Genome comparison suggests that there might be a relationship between prophages and pressure tolerance in L. monocytogenes.

The influence of genetic and immunologic factors on indicators of innate immunity daughters

The aim of the research is to study the influence of genetic and immunological factors of bulls on the immunological parameters of daughters at razdoe (from the first lactation to the second). The object of research was cows-daughters of bulls, previously evaluated by genetic and immunological indicators. It was revealed based on the survey findings that in the cows in group II in the period of the second lactation, the lymphocyte and basophil concentrations decreased by 9.23% (р0.05) and 1.54% (р0.05), respectivley, while the monocyte concentration increased by 6.23% (р0.001). It may be related with an increase in the animal body compensatory responses at the reference-type parameter of the neutrophils phagocytic activity reduced by 10.7% (р0.05) and 14.6% (р0.05) for the animals in group I and group II, respectively. With respect to the animals in group II, the negative relationships between the lymphcyte and monocyte counts in the first lactation and the neutrophil and eosinophil counts in the second lactation, comprising -0.501 (р0.05) and -0.567 (р0.05), respectively, were ascertained. The less quantity of the significant relationships in group I can indicate the less intense state of the immune system in the daughters of the bull sires, which are characterized with the steady-state genetic and immunological parameters, in the period of increasing the milking frequency early in lactation (from the first to second lactations), what can serve as an additional criterion, given the consolidation in the offspring of sires stable indicators of animal health.