Showing papers on "Energy source published in 1979"

Anaerobic bacterium that degrades fatty acids in syntrophic association with methanogens

Abstract: A new species of anaerobic bacterium that degrades the even-numbered carbon fatty acids, butyrate, caproate and caprylate, to acetate and H2 and the odd-numbered carbon fatty acids, valerate and heptanoate, to acetate, propionate and H2 was obtained in coculture with either an H2-utilizing methanogen or H2-utilizing desulfovibrio. The organism could be grown only in syntrophic association with the H2-utilizer and no other energy sources or combination of electron donor and acceptors were utilized. It was a Gram-negative helical rod with 2 to 8 flagella, about 20 nm in diameter, inserted in a linear fashion about 130 nm or more apart along the concave side of the cell. It grew with a generation time of 84 h in co-culture with Methanospirillum hungatii and was present in numbers of at least 4.5×10-6 per g of anaerobic digestor sludge.

Transport in Plants

Abstract: 1 The Starting Point.- 1.1 The Flow of Matter and Energy Through a Higher Plant.- 1.2 Summarizing Comparison.- I Biophysical Background and the Substances Subject to Transport: Chapters 2 and 3.- 2 Biophysical Relations.- 2.1 Chemical Potentials.- 2.2 Electrical and Electrochemical Potentials.- 2.3 Irreversible Thermodynamics and Onsager Coefficients.- 2.4 Osmoregulation.- 2.5 Criteria for Active Transport.- 2.6 Symbols and Constants.- 2.7 Problems and Answers.- 3 The Materials of Transport.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Minerals.- 3.3 Organic Materials.- II Complications of Models by Cellular Structures: Chapters 4 to 7.- 4 The Cell Wall as a Phase for Transport.- 4.1 The Structural Basis for Transport in the Cell Wall Phase.- 4.2 Special Cases of Cell Wall Incrustation and Adcrustation.- 4.3 Apoplastic Transport.- 5 The Membranes.- 5.1 The Historical Development of Membrane Research.- 5.2 Modern Membrane Research.- 5.3 Molecular Characterization of Carriers.- 6 The Simplified Cell Models of Transport Physiology.- 6.1 The Model With Two Compartments, Outer and Inner.- 6.2 The Model With Three Compartments: Outside-Cytoplasm-Vacuole.- 6.3 Survey of Models With Active Transport at the Plasma-lemma Only and at Both Plasmalemma and Tonoplast.- 6.4 Models With Two Cytoplasmic Compartments.- 6.5 Conclusions and Outlook.- 7 Correlations Between the Fine Structure of the Cytoplasm and Transport Functions: Futher Complications of the Model.- 7.1 Observations of Transport of Matter in Membrane Bound Vesicles.- 7.2 Transport Functions of Cell Organelles.- 7.3 Gland Cells as Particular Examples.- 7.4 Transfer Cells.- III Regulation and Control of Transport Processes by Cell Metabolism: Chapters 8 to 10.- 8 Sources of Metabolic Energy for Membrane Transport Mechanisms.- 8.1 Respiration as the Energy Source for Active Transport.- 8.2 Photosynthesis as an Energy Source for Active Transport.- 9 Phytochrome and Phytohormones Affecting Membrane Transport Mechanisms.- 9.1 Phytochrome.- 9.2 Indole Acetic Acid (IAA).- 9.3 Fusicoccin (FC).- 9.4 Abscisic Acid (ABA).- 9.5 Other Phytohormones and Membrane Active Agents.- 9.6 "Aging".- 9.7 A General Problem: Membrane Effects as Primary Actions of Phytochrome and Phytohormones?.- 10 Coupling Between Energy-Transfer Processes in Mitochondria and Chloroplasts and Transport Mechanisms at Spatially Separated Membranes.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Biochemical Modes of Coupling.- 10.3 Biophysical Modes of Coupling.- 10.4 Kinetic Correlation of Transient Phenomena and Regulation in the Steady State.- 10.5 Correlations of Electrical Fields and Growth.- IV Inter-Cellular and Inter-Organ Transport: Chapters 11 to 13.- 11 Medium-Distance Transport and Long-Distance Transport.- 11.1 The Importance of Particular Pathways for Medium-Distance and Long-Distance Transport.- 11.2 Apoplastic Transport Pathways.- 11.3 Symplastic Transport.- 11.4 Transport in Sieve Tubes.- 11.5 Concluding Remarks.- 12 Coupling of Short-Distance, Medium-Distance and Long-Distance Transport in Special Plant Organs and Interconnections Between Different Pathways of Transport.- 12.1 General Models of Roots and Leaves.- 12.2 The Model of the Root: Various Hypotheses on the Mechanism of Ion Transport From an External Medium Across the Root Into the Xylem Vessels.- 12.3 The Model of the Leaf.- 13 Transport Regulation in the Plant as a Whole.- 13.1 Comparison of Isolated Organs With Organs in the Intact Plant.- 13.2 Signals in Feedback Systems of Whole Plants.- 13.3 Particular Systems.- 13.4 Concluding Remarks.- References.

Generation of oil-like pyrolyzates from organic-rich shales.

Abstract: Pyrolyzates similar to natural crude oils were generated from organic-rich shales by hydrous pyrolysis. With this type of pyrolysis it is possible to make more sophisticated correlations between crude oils and their source rocks, evaluate the hydrocarbon potential of a source rock, and elucidate the variables involved in the natural oil-generating process.

Phytoplankton exudate release as an energy source for the growth of pelagic bacteria

Abstract: The release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from phytolankton during photosynthesis, and the utilization of this carbon by planktonic bacteria, was studied using 14CO2 and selective filtration. Natural sea water samples from a coastal area of the Northern Baltic Sea were incubated in the laboratory for detailed studies, and in situ for estimation of annual dynamics. In a laboratory incubation (at +1°C) the concentration of 14C-labelled dissolved organic carbon increased for about 2 h and then reached a steady state, representing about 0. 1% of the total DOC. Labelled organic carbon in the phytoplankton and bacterial fractions continued to increase almost linearly. The continuous increase in the bacterial fraction is thought to represent almost instantaneous utilization of the DOC released from the phytoplankton during photosynthesis. As an annual average, in 4 h in situ incubations, about 65% of the labelled organic carbon was found in the phytoplankton fraction (>3 μm), about 27% in the bacterial fraction (0.2 to 3 μm) and the remaining 8% as DOC (<0.2 μm). Large variations in these percentages were recorded. The measured annual primary production was 93 g C m-2 (March to December), and the estimated bacterial production due to phytoplankton exudates 29 g C m-2. This represents a release of DOC of about 45% of the corrected annual primary production of 110 g C m-2 (assuming a bacterial growth efficiency of 0.6).

Thermal evolution of the Earth's core

Abstract: Summary. The persistence of the magnetic field of the Earth demands a constant energy source for the last three thousand million years, and this provides a constraint on the thermal evolution of the core. The equations of global energy and entropy balance are used to estimate the power source required for a specific magnetic field. The amount of power required depends on the exact nature of the source. Three possibilities are considered here: radioactive heating in the core itself, loss of internal energy due to cooling and freezing of the outer core to form the inner core, and cooling of the whole core with consequent differentiation to form the inner core with release of gravitational energy. The last of these includes all the sources except for radioactive heating, but the introduction of some radioactivity into this calculation would be a simple matter. For radioactive heating alone, 1013W is required for the dynamo. This is just within the limits set by the observed surface heat flux (4 x lOI3 W) and what some geochemists believe to be the heating due to K40. Cooling itself cannot release enough heat to power the dynamo because the required cooling rate is so high that the inner core would be a very recent feature of the Earth. The release of gravitational energy can produce a magnetic field of 100-200 gauss, with the inner core growing slowly to its present size over 4Ga, and a heat release of 2.5 x lO'*W. A lower heat flux is required because of the greater efficiency of conversion of gravitational energy into magnetic fields than heat. When pursuing the calculations backwards in time, the rate of energy release is found to be proportional to the mass of the inner core. A surprising feature of this model, which assumes a constant rate of cooling at the top of the core, is that the useful power available for the dynamo increases with time, so that the field should be stronger now than it was in the past, although only by about 30 per cent.

A catalog of risks

Abstract: Information on risks is collected from various sources and converted into loss of life expectancy throughout life and in various age ranges. Risks included are radiation, accidents of various types, various diseases, overweight, tobacco use, alcohol and drugs, coffee, saccharin, and The Pill, occupational risks, socioeconomic factors, marital status, geography, serving in U.S. armed forces in Vietnam, catastrophic events, energy production, and technology in general. Information is also included on methods for reducing risks, risks in individual actions, “very-hazardous” activities, and priorities and perspective. Risks of natural and occupational radiation and exposure to radioactivity from the nuclear industry are compared with risks of similar or competing activities.

Process and Catalyst Needs for Hydrodenitrogenation

Abstract: During the last decade there has been increased interest in the production of synthetic fuels and chemicals feedstocks from coal and oil shale due to declining petroleum reserves. Table 1 gives the projected gasoline to mid-distillate ratio through the year 2000 and beyond; the shift is away from high-octane fuels requiring a relatively high aromatics content and a relatively low hydrogen content to highly paraffin-based fuels having a high hydrogen content. Figure 1 shows the projected United States energy supply and demand through the year 1990 [2], Current petroleum production in the contiguous United States is about 9 million bbl/day and has declined at a rate of about 0.5 million bbl/day per year for a number of years. Alaskan oil will arrest this decline in production briefly but will not make up for even the loss in the rate of petroleum production incurred in the contiguous 48 states during the last 5 years. In all probability, declining production from current oil fields will not be offs...

Growth of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas capsulata chemoautotrophically in darkness with H2 as the energy source.

Abstract: The phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas capsulata was found to be capable of growing chemoautotrophically under aerobic conditions in darkness. Growth was strictly dependent on the presence of H2 as the source of energy and reducing power, O2 as the terminal electron acceptor for energy transduction, and CO2 as the sole carbon source; under optimal conditions the generation time was about 6 h. Chemoautotrophically grown cells showed a relatively high content of bacteriochlorophyll a and intracytoplasmic membranes (chromatophores). Experiments with various mutants of R. capsulata, affected in electron transport, indicate that either of the two terminal oxidases of this bacterium can participate in the energy-yielding oxidation of H2. The ability of R. capsulata to multiply in at least five different physiological growth modes suggests that it is one of the most metabolically versatile procaryotes known.

Neutron-capture prompt .gamma.-ray activation analysis for multielement determination in complex samples

Abstract: Gamma-ray spectra were taken up to 11 MeV from a wide range of samples and elemental standards while under neutron irradiation to determine the elements whose prompt ..gamma.. rays are observable and can be used for analytical measurement. Up to 17 elements from among the set H, B, C, N, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Cd, Nd, Sm, and Gd are measurable in samples of coal, fly ash, orchard leaves, and bovine liver by neutron-capture prompt ..gamma..-ray activation analysis (PGAA). The combination of PGAA and instrumental neutron activation analysis (which uses the same equipment) can be used to measure concentrations of 40 to 50 elements in individual samples of many types of material. Concentrations are reported for the elements measurable by PGAA in National Bureau of Standards Standard Reference Materials: coals (SRMs 1632, 1632a, 1635), fly ashes (1633, 1633a), orchard leaves (1571), and bovine liver (1577). 9 figures, 6 tables.

Development of a chemically defined liquid medium for growth of Legionella pneumophila.

Abstract: A chemically defined liquid medium has been developed for the study of the physiology and antigen production of the Legionnaires disease bacterium. The medium contains basal salts, vitamins, alpha-ketoglutaric acid, pyruvate, 0.05% l-cysteine, 0.05% glutathione, and a mixture of 20 additional amino acids, each of 0.01% final concentration, except serine, which was at 0.1%. The medium in shake culture at 37 degrees C with increased CO2 at pH 6.5, supports the maximum rate of growth, the highest cell yields, and the maximum cell surface antigen as distinguished by specific fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated antibody. Studies during the development of this medium showed that CO2, pyruvate, and alpha-ketoglutarate strongly stimulated growth; that cysteine and methionine were required for growth; and that serine, threonine, histidine, tyrosine, and tryptophane were energy sources. Glutathione substituted for cysteine, but cystine did not. The organisms did not use glucose and polysaccharides, as judged by cell yields when these carbohydrates were present or absent. The chelators malate, citrate, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid totally inhibited growth. Beta-mercaptoethanol, thioglycolate, dithiothreitol, and Tween 80 (0.05%) inhibited growth strongly or completely. Catalase activity was extremely weak or absent. Morphology varied, depending upon conditions and phases of growth. In general, filamentous forms became chains of cigar-shaped bacilli fragmenting to pairs and becoming coccoidal in the late stationary pha-e of growth. The organism grew at 25, 30, and 37 degrees C. Although they varied in their growth characteristics, 10 isolates were passed for five transfers in the chemically defined broth, giving maximum rates of growth, cell yields, and antigen production.

The Viking mission and the search for life on Mars

Abstract: Modern scientific hypotheses concerning the origin of life generally have as their central theme the idea that living systems arise through "chemical evolution," a process in which simple compounds are generally transformed under the influence of various energy sources into more and more complex molecules, ultimately resulting in a system of replicating molecules [Buvet and Ponnamperuma, 1971; Miller and Orgel, 1974]. Based upon comparisons between the chemical composition of terrestrial living systems and cosmic abundances [Frieden, 1972] as well as upon theoretical considerations [Wald, 1962], it is further assumed that the key substances in this evolution are all carbon-based compounds. Given a planet with a "hospitable" environment, these processes continue until the stage is set for biological infestation of the planet and further biological evolution follows. As it became clear that direct experimentation on other planets was technically feasible with the advent of spacecraft technology, attention turned to Mars as the most promising extraterrestrial object upon which to search for evidence of chemical evolution [Pittendrigh et al., 1966]. This view was reached despite significant gaps in our knowledge of that planet, most notably about the properties and composition of its surface. Even after the encounters by Mariners 4, 6, and 7 and the more encompassing Mariner 9 mission, virtually nothing was known about the chemistry of the Martian surface. Under these circumstances, the status of evolution of carbon compounds and particularly the question of the existence of life on Mars were entirely speculative.

Effect of Oil and Bitumen Saturation on Source-Rock Pyrolysis

Abstract: Mass production of pyrolysis instrumentation such as the "Rock-Eval" has led to general application of whole-rock pyrolysis as a means of identifying and characterizing petroleum source beds. One of the problems inherent in the whole-rock technique is the effect of petroleum or bitumen on the measured amount of thermally extracted hydrocarbons from the kerogen. Under pyrolysis, migrated oil or bitumen in the rock gives a major response near 250 to 350°C on the program (S1). However, solid bitumen and the "heavy-end" fraction of petroleum produce a measurable response (S2) in the 350 to 450°C range as well as in the same region where kerogen conversion to hydrocarbons occurs. Thus, large quantities of bitumen or migrated petroleum in rocks can affect the size and the maximum temperature of the S2 peak and can cause nonsource rocks to be misidentified as source rocks. These problems can be overcome by rinsing the sample in a chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent prior to analysis.

Autotrophic growth of H2-uptake-positive strains of Rhizobium japonicum in an atmosphere supplied with hydrogen gas.

Abstract: Previous research from this laboratory has demonstrated CO2-fixing and H2-uptake capacities of certain strains of Rhizobium japonicum. In this report we have shown that SR, a H2-uptake-positive (Hup+) strain of R. japonicum, is capable of autotrophic growth with H2 as the energy source. Growth occurred on mineral salts/vitamins/Noble agar, mineral salts/vitamins liquid medium (0.27 μg of C as vitamins per ml), and in mineral salts liquid medium with no added vitamins when cultures were provided with NH4Cl and incubated in an atmosphere containing H2, CO2, O2, and N2. Little or no growth occurred when either H2 or CO2 was omitted from the atmosphere or when the culture was inoculated with SR3, a Hup- mutant of SR. Growth was measured by protein synthesis, fixed organic carbon, and increase in cell number in liquid cultures. The organism that grew autotrophically was verified as R. japonicum by (i) apparent purity on streak plates; (ii) retention of the double antibiotic resistance markers; and (iii) its capability to nodulate soybeans. H2- and CO2-supported growth was demonstrated for three additional Hup+ wild-type R. japonicum strains (USDA 136, 3I1b 6, and 3I1b 143), while three Hup- wild-type strains (USDA 120, 3I1b 144, and USDA 117) were incapable of growth on the Noble agar medium containing mineral salts/vitamins in the H2/CO2/O2/N2 atmosphere. This demonstrated capability of Hup+R. japonicum strains to grow autotrophically requires revision of current concepts regarding conditions for survival and competition of these bacteria in the soil and their relationships to other microorganisms.

The role of volatilization in removing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from aquatic environments.

Abstract: The movement of organic contaminants from water to the atmosphere can be important in reducing concentrations of foreign substances in aquatic ecosystems (HILL et al. 1976, DILLING 1977, MACKAY and LEINONEN 1975). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), a class of chemical produced in the combustion and pyrolysis of organic fuels, possess properties which suggest that their volatility in solution may be significant (MACKAY and WOLKOFF 1973). Since many PAH are potent carcinogens, a knowledge of their persistence, transport, and fate in aquatic environments is critical. The objective of this paper is to determine the relative volatility of two to five ring PAH structures in water, and estimate the importance of the volatilization process in removing PAH from aquatic environments. The theoretical basis for describing the transfer of vola: tile substances across an air-water interface has been succinctc}y detailed (LISS 1973, LISS and SLATER 1974). The rate of the process under a given set of conditions is described as a simple first order exponential decay with rate constant KL/depth. K L, the overall mass transfer coefficient, has units of distance time (such as cm/hr) and three components: kg, k I and H, related by the expression

Carbon isotope fractionation by Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

Abstract: The fractionation of carbon isotopes by Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum was studied during growth of the bacterium on H2 plus CO2 as sole carbon and energy sources. A 80% H2/20% CO2 gas mixture was continuously bubbled through the culture. At high gassing rates, in the absence of a “closed system effect”, cells and methane were found to be depleted in 13C relative to CO2 in the gas mixture by 2.4% and 3.4%, respectively. At low gassing rates, when more than 90% of the CO2 was converted to methane, the cells were enriched in 13C by 1.3% and methane was depleted in 13C by 0.5%; residual CO2 was enriched in 13C by 3.4%. The magnitude of isotope fractionation suggests that CO2 rather than bicarbonate is the active species of CO2 mainly utilized in both CO2 assimilation and CO2 reduction to methane. The apparent positive 13C-discrimination in cell carbon synthesis, which was observed at low gassing rates, indicates that most of the CO2 assimilated into cell material is not incorporated via reactions involved in CO2 reduction to methane.

Progress in biomass conversion

Abstract: This book reviews the long-range potential of biomass. It also discusses how biomass could replace petroleum and natural gas through different processes and under different circumstances, and at what price and to what extent. It provides a comparison with alternative resources, including coal and petroleum, and taking into consideration such problems as corrosion and erosion....These papers provide a demonstration of how technical feasibility can be distinct from economic viability and how changes in one can affect the other. The contents discussed are: Hydroprocessing of Biomass Tars for Liquid Engine Fuels; Fuel Characteristics of Wood and Nonwood Biomass Fuels; Factors Influencing Dilute Sulfuric Acid Prehydrolysis of Southern Red Oak Wood; The Energy Costs of Increased Organics Recovery for Chemical By-Products in Kraft Pulp Mills; Microeconomic Approaches to Biomass Fuel Pricing; Fuel Characteristics of Selected Species of Beached Logs in Southeastern Alaska; An assessment of the Costs and Benefits of Recovering Logging Residue for Energy Use; Review of Biomass Gasification Technology; and Index.

A Numerical Simulation Model for Thermal Recovery Processes

Abstract: This study describes a model for numerically simulating thermal recovery processes. The primary focus is on the simulation of in situ combustion, but the formulation also represents fire-and-water flooding, steam flooding, hot water flooding, steam stimulation, and spontaneous ignition as well. The simulator describes the flow of water, oil and gas and includes gravity and capillary effects. Heat transfer via conduction, convection, and vaporization- condensation of both water and hydrocarbons is included. The rigorous but general nature of the simulator is obtained by employing conservation balance equations for oxygen, inert gases, a light hydrocarbon pseudo-component, a heavy hydrocarbon pseudo-component, water, coke, and energy. Vaporization-condensation is governed by vapor- liquid equilibrium using temperature- and pressure-dependent equilibrium coefficients. Four chemical reactions are accounted for: formation of coke from the heavy hydrocarbon component and the oxidation of coke and both heavy and light hydrocarbon components. Formulation details, numerical solution procedures, and computational results are presented. (39 refs.)

Ground-Water Pollution by Transfer of Oil Hydrocarbons

Abstract: An important aspect of the pollution of a phreatic aquifer by hydrocarbons is the oil-water contact and transfer of soluble substances from the oil into the ground water. A systematic study of this transfer of matter in a saturated porous medium (initial condition of contact when the impregnation body is submitted to fluctuations of the piezometric level) is performed with an experimental device made up of a porous matrix containing the oil phase, steady and crossed by a unidirectional flow of water. The transfer is very efficient; for all compounds which have been studied, the maximum possible concentration is reached after a distance of the order of 10 cm with specific flow rates greater than those generally encountered in a gravel-sand aquifer. The selective impoverishment of the oil product with time, due to differences in the solubility of various hydrocarbons, modifies the dissolved phase composition. Downstream of an in-situ impregnation body, this phenomenon only appears after a constant concentration has been reached for a long time. A source model is thus obtained, where the pollutant massic flow rate is proportional to the flow rate of the water which crosses the impregnation body. Such an initial condition has a fundamental effect on the determination of the contaminated aquifer domain, with the help of the dispersion scheme, with hydrocarbon concentrations evolving according to a general diffusion-convection law.

Energy future: Report of the energy project at the Harvard Business School

Abstract: This, the third edition of the Harvard Business School project report continues the theme of a balanced energy system to replace dependence on imported oil. The revision incorporates new material in response to shifts in energy relationships and changes in energy assumptions. The chapters cover the shift from easy oil production to a future of uncertainty and hostility; the status of natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy sources; the key energy source available from conservation; the importance of giving solar energy an economic chance; the need to remove the adversarial approach to energy policy; and a challenge for a balanced policy to guide an economically sound and politically acceptable transition. An appendix examines the limits to econometric modeling. 490 references, 4 figures, 21 tables. (DCK)

Petroleum Plantations for Fuel and Materials

Abstract: The possibility for the development of an economically useful solar energy and materials system is an outgrowth of, and in a sense, a return to, an older system. The best existing solar energy-capturing device known, the green plant can be used by selecting and modifying it to produce the materials wanted, namely, hydrocarbons of suitable molecular weight and structure. The choice of plant(s) will depend on growth rates and habits, hydrocarbon productivity and harvest adaptability, as well as process development. Experiments have indicated the economic feasibility of the production of oil from hydrocarbon-producing plants, particularly species of Euphorbia and Asclepias. With the continued increase in cost of petroleum from fossilized photosynthetic residues and the continued decrease of its availability, the development of this alternate energy source becomes absolutely necessary. 11 figures, 2 tables.

Nutrient requirements of rat embryos undergoing organogenesis in vitro

Abstract: Rat embryos at the head-fold stage were cultured in rotating bottles for 2 days in rat serum extensively dialysed against glucose-free BSS, and to which various energy sources and nutrients were added. Optimum growth and differentiation, virtually indentical with that obtained in while serum and to that seen during the corresponding period in vivo, were obtained with the addition of glucose and certain vitamins: pantothenic acid and riboflavin had a general beneficial effect on development, i-inositol suppressed neural tube defects, and folic acid significantly improved growth of the embryos.

Climate and the Ocean

Abstract: Of the components of the terrestrial climate system, the oceans are clearly one of the most important. Because the specific heat per unit mass of water is about 4 times that of air, the thermal capacity of the oceans is over 1,000 times that of the atmosphere. In this paper I will stress the role of the oceans in regulating temperature and transporting energy in the climate system. In particular, since the temperature of the ocean surface is the variable most closely connected to the atmosphere, I will focus on the seasonal and nonseasonal variations in the top 100 m layer of water.

Energy economics and policy

Abstract: Most of the recent discussion on the energy crisis centered around questions of social and political policy, with little systematic attention given to the economic analysis of the policy problems presented by the changing role of energy in modern economies. To fill a gap in the literature, the established techniques of microeconomics are applied to the analysis of energy resources as scarce inputs to production processes. Intended as an undergraduate course, the text emphasizes oil and gas as the primary fuel sources and is biased in favor of competition and against monopoly. The major chapter headings are: (1) The dimensions of the energy problem; (2) Static criteria for efficient energy resource allocation; (3) Criteria for efficient dynamic resource allocation; (4) The role of the organization of petroleum exporting countries in precipitating the world energy crisis; (5) Environmental issues in energy development; (6) The national security dilemma; (7) Conservation; (8) Price controls of oil and natural gas; (9) The optimum structure and regulation of energy industries: some alternative approaches; (10) Future energy technologies and the role for energy research and development; and (11) Suggested policy directions. 38 references, 42 figures, 24 tables.

Computer system with power control circuit

Abstract: A digital computer system is described as comprising an input data circuit, a processor for executing a program stored in a memory to process the inputted data, a depletable energy source (e.g., a battery) for energizing the elements of the computer system, and a power control circuit for selectively controlling the drain imposed upon the energy source in accordance with the data input into the system and the program executed by the processor. In an illustrative embodiment of this invention, the power control circuit is operative in at least three modes of operation, namely off/rest, power down, and operating. In the off/rest mode, the power control circuit imposes a minimum power drain upon the depletable energy source. An operator may manipulate a switch or actuation means to apply a transition signal to the power control, whereby the computer system is disposed from its off/rest mode to its power down mode. In the power down mode, the control circuit applies power at an intermediate level to the data input means. In an illustrative embodiment of this invention, the data input means includes a keyboard and a decoder for providing a signal indicative that one of the keys has been depressed. Upon actuation of the key, a data available signal DA is transmitted to the power control circuit, whereby the computer system is disposed in its operating mode, wherein all of the elements of the computer system are energized at a high power level. In its operating mode, the processor and its memory are fully energized to execute the stored program.

Limits to Wind Power Utilization.

Abstract: As wind energy receives increasing attention it is important to understand the noneconomic factors limiting the total power that can be extracted from the wind. These factors are examined here with a macroscopic approach. An upper global limit of 1.3 x 10(14) watts is arrived at with a sublimit of 2 x 10(12) watts for the continental United States. Some general conclusions are also reached regarding the sites that would have to be utilized to achieve these levels. Even within these limits, wind energy is seen to offer a potential far larger than many other self-renewing energy sources.

Uses and potential uses of leguminous trees for minimal energy input agriculture

Abstract: Leguminous tree orchards are proposed as an agricultural system requiring minimal input of fossil fuel, machinery, and capital. Legume orchards fix nitrogen, require neither tillage nor irrigation, and, potentially, provide large yields of nutritious pods. Further, our analytical data show seed protein contents ranging from 16 to 69 percent, with one species having an amino acid profile superior to that of casein.

Mesospheric winds and waves over Jicamarca on May 23–24, 1974

Abstract: The VHF radar at Jicamarca (12.0°S, 76.9°W) was used to probe the mesosphere for 24 hours on May 23–24, 1974. The inferred zonal wind shows a strong eastward prevailing component below 75 km for these winter conditions, as would be expected from the annual and semiannual oscillations. The zonal winds are in good agreement in their region of overlap with rocket observations made at Ascension Island (8.0°S, 14.4°W) for the same period. This is the first direct confirmation that Jicamarca VHF observations are measuring mesospheric winds. Substantial wind oscillations are present, but the lack of nighttime echoes precludes a decomposition into tidal components. The dominant periodicity in the short-period oscillations changes with altitude, with the short-period cutoff decreasing from around 10 min at 70 km to 4 min at 80 km. This suggests both a local energy source for the oscillations and the importance of the background temperature structure in determining the wave characteristics. The variation of echo power with height in the two antennas that were used shows that 2–10 times more power was received on the average in the nearly vertical antenna than in the antenna offset from the vertical by 3.45° at heights below 75 km, suggesting the possibility that a ‘partial reflection’ mechanism is important in the 55- to 75-km region at a 50-MHz operating frequency. The powers in the two antennas become nearly equal above 75 km, with the possibility that slightly more power is received in the off-vertical antenna. The continuous scattered power becomes very small above 80 km; however, meteor echoes are frequently observed. Equatorial electrojet echoes dominate the echo returns above 85 km.