Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “reversible process”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,477 records · Page 82
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Coal as Value-Added for Lithium Battery Anodes (Final Report)

Graphite is a basic material used for energy storage in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. More than 70% of worldwide graphite production and nearly 50% of the annual graphite supply for the United States comes from China. Potential economic and national security concerns exist because Li-ion batteries are used not only for the fast-growing electrical vehicle market (15.6% compound annual growth rate [CAGR] from 2018 to 2028 in North America), but also for defense applications including unmanned aerial and ground vehicles. Development of an alternative formulation for Li-ion batteries is key. Building upon previous research confirming the ability of silicon alloys to improve the energy density of anodes, Semplastics developed a novel material based on our X-MAT® polymer-derived ceramic (PDC) technology. The X-MAT anode material is a composite of chemically tailored silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) and domestically sourced coal powder, designed to be a drop-in replacement for graphite within Li-ion battery anodes. Preliminary tests of this material showed more than twice the reversible capacity of graphite anodes (1,000 mAh/g vs. 372 mAh/g), with excellent stability and capacity retention, almost 100% coulombic efficiency, low voltage potential, and low thermal expansion. At full adoption in 2024, we expect the coal utilization to reach 27,300 tons. Through this project, Semplastics proposed to complete development and begin commercialization of this material. The objective was to determine the best formulation for technical performance and economic viability. At the end of the project, the X-MAT anode material is ready for implementation into existing battery manufacturing processes and can have a significant impact on the utilization of coal, with positive effects for the mining sector and the mitigation of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
NASA NTRS1973

Wind tunnel studies of Martian aeolian processes

Preliminary results are reported of an investigation which involves wind tunnel simulations, geologic field studies, theoretical model studies, and analyses of Mariner 9 imagery. Threshold speed experiments were conducted for particles ranging in specific gravity from 1.3 to 11.35 and diameter from 10.2 micron to 1290 micron to verify and better define Bagnold's (1941) expressions for grain movement, particularly for low particle Reynolds numbers and to study the effects of aerodynamic lift and surface roughness. Wind tunnel simulations were conducted to determine the flow field over raised rim craters and associated zones of deposition and erosion. A horseshoe vortex forms around the crater, resulting in two axial velocity maxima in the lee of the crater which cause a zone of preferential erosion in the wake of the crater. Reverse flow direction occurs on the floor of the crater. The result is a distinct pattern of erosion and deposition which is similar to some martian craters and which indicates that some dark zones around Martian craters are erosional and some light zones are depositional.

Greeley, R.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Techno-economic assessment of distributed wellhead RO water treatment for nitrate removal and salinity reduction: A field study in small disadvantaged communities

Techno-economic analysis of distributed wellhead water treatment and desalination (DWTD) systems was carried out based on a three-year field study in three small, disadvantaged communities (DACs) to evaluate the reliability and affordability of upgrading their impaired well water. The local water supplies of the three study DACs, located in Salinas Valley, California, were contaminated with nitrate at levels (~ 12–87 mg/L NO$^{-}_{3}$ - N) ) above the California maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 10 mg/L NO$^{-}_{3}$ - N , and had elevated water salinity (~600–1,600 mg/L total dissolved solids(TDS)) above its secondary MCL (SMCL) of 500 mg/L TDS. Well water nitrate removal and salinity reduction were accomplished via reverse osmosis (RO) based DWTD systems that operated autonomously, supported by remote monitoring and supervisory cyberinfrastructure. Reliable DWTD operation provided treated water quality, with respect to nitrate and salinity, in the range of 0.5–6.3 mg/L NO$^{-}_{3}$ - N and 57–161 mg/L TDS, respectively, which were well below the respective MCL and SMCL. The levelized cost of water treatment was in the range of ~$$2/m 3 - $$2.9/m 3 which aligns with typical residential water costs in California and in the study region, and monthly residential water costs (39 dollars-74 dollars/residential unit/month) were also within the range in California. The study showcased the DWTD approach as a viable and potentially scalable solution for upgrading impaired local potable water supply of communities lacking centralized water delivery infrastructure. However, streamlined permitting processes and standardized regulatory frameworks are critical to promoting wider adoption and maximizing the socio-economic benefits of the DWT approach. Moreover, DACs are likely to require government subsidies in order to cover the CapEx of DWTD systems in addition to upgrade of site infrastructure.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Exploring the Influence of Linker Substitution and Ratios on Cooperative Framework Flexibility through the Mixed-Linker Approach

Cooperatively flexible metal–organic frameworks that exhibit step-shaped, or Type V-like, adsorption–desorption profiles can lower requisite pressure–temperature swings and thus energy input, necessary for an array of gas storage, delivery, and separations applications. However, such benefits are lost if the pressure threshold of the adsorption and desorption steps at a given temperature does not match the conditions dictated by the application, such as H 2 storage and delivery or olefin–paraffin separations. Unfortunately, the discovery of cooperatively flexible frameworks remains wholly serendipitous and de novo design remains impossible. Accordingly, there is a great need to further our understanding of flexibility such that we can intuitively derivatize known frameworks and, ultimately, design entirely new ones to meet the requisite conditions of energy-consumptive processes. In this work, we demonstrate that the mixed-linker, or multivariate, approach is a powerful tool for the derivation of a known flexible framework, with variances in linker substitution and ratio giving rise to a family wherein significant changes to the step-shaped adsorption–desorption profiles for multiple adsorbates are observed. Specifically, we report 12 isostructural mixed-linker derivatives of CdIF-13 (sod–Cd(benzimidazolate) 2 ) with six point-modified benzimidazole linkers spontaneously synthesized through prototypical solvothermal conditions. Furthermore, each is shown by PXRD to exhibit similar reversible flexibility to CdIF-13 and by TGA and DSC to be similarly thermally stable. Isothermal gas adsorption measurements with N 2 at 77 K, CO 2 at 195 K, and propane at 298 K demonstrate the wide-ranging, adsorbate-dependent effects of linker substitution and ratio, including dramatic reductions in the adsorption threshold pressure, evolution of multiple steps, and complete absence of observable adsorption. Aided by prior crystallographic characterization of CdIF-13, the observed trends were analyzed in an attempt to resolve the influence of linker substitution and ratios on structural behavior. In total, this work illustrates how the mixed-linker approach enables the synthesis and study of a large catalog of functionally modified frameworks, which can help identify the variables that influence flexibility and sorption behavior.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Elucidating Trivalent Ion Adsorption at Floating Carboxylic Acid Monolayers: Charge Reversal or Water Reorganization?

Here we study the adsorption of trivalent neodymium on floating arachidic acid films at the air–water interface by two complementary surface specific probes, sum frequency generation spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence near total reflection. In the absence of background ions, neodymium ions compensate for the surface charge of the arachidic acid film at a bulk concentration of 50 μM without any charge reversal. Increasing the bulk concentration to 1 mM does not change the neodymium surface coverage but affects the interfacial water structure significantly. In the presence of a high concentration of NaCl, there is overcharging at 1 mM Nd 3+ , i.e., 30% more Nd 3+ than needed to compensate for the surface charge. These results show that the total coverage of neodymium ions is not enough to describe the complete picture at the interface, and interfacial water and ion coverage needs to be considered together to understand more complex ion adsorption and transport processes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Electrolytic gold plating, stripping, and ion transport dynamics through a solid-state iodide perovskite

The pronounced electrochemical reactivity between halide perovskites and metal electrodes can introduce mobile extrinsic metal ions which can cause device instability or enable novel functionalities. Here we systematically investigate the kinetics of gold cation (Au + ) migration in indium tin oxide (ITO)/methylammonium lead triiodide (MAPbI 3 )/Au model devices under long-term potentiostatic biasing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT) analyses reveal that Au + ions, electrochemically generated at the Au anode, traverse the perovskite layer with diffusion coefficients on the order of 10 −11 to 10 −10 cm 2 s −1 and are subsequently reduced at the cathode as Au 0 clusters, resembling metal plating behavior in electrolytic cells and solid-state batteries during charging. Furthermore, reversing the applied bias strips the plated Au 0 , revealing reversibility suitable for bipolar resistive switching devices and providing direct evidence of the electrochemical and ionic nature of Au transport within the perovskite matrix. Quantitatively determining diffusion coefficients and ion concentrations provides foundational inputs for future drift-diffusion modelling opportunities and allows us to relate our findings to implications on long term operation of devices like photovoltaic modules. These results clearly demonstrate the solid-state electrochemical nature of perovskite devices, highlight methods to be more quantitative about ion transport properties, provide and emphasize the importance of disentangling electro-, photo-, photoelectrochemical processes for understanding device performance and unlocking new functionalities.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2003

Vergence-dependent adaptation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex

The gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) normally depends on the distance between the subject and the visual target, but it remains uncertain whether vergence angle can be linked to changes in VOR gain through a process of context-dependent adaptation. In this study, we examined this question with an adaptation paradigm that modified the normal relationship between vergence angle and retinal image motion. Subjects were rotated sinusoidally while they viewed an optokinetic (OKN) stimulus through either diverging or converging prisms. In three subjects the diverging prisms were worn while the OKN stimulus moved out of phase with the head, and the converging prisms were worn when the OKN stimulus moved in-phase with the head. The relationship between the vergence angle and OKN stimulus was reversed in the fourth subject. After 2 h of training, the VOR gain at the two vergence angles changed significantly in all of the subjects, evidenced by the two different VOR gains that could be immediately accessed by switching between the diverged and converged conditions. The results demonstrate that subjects can learn to use vergence angle as the contextual cue that retrieves adaptive changes in the angular VOR.

NASA Discipline Developmental Biology↗
DOE OSTI2020

A thermodynamic analysis of hypervelocity impacts on metals

Hypervelocity impacts on solid surfaces generate and propagate shock waves and create extreme density, pressure, and temperature conditions. Understanding hypervelocity impacts requires a multi-physics approach at the intersection of fluid dynamics, solid mechanics, and quantum theory, which has the capability of spanning multiple different dominating physics regimes. These strong shock conditions found in hypervelocity impacts are studied in the context of high-speed collisions between spacecraft and meteoroids and debris. We study the problem of hypervelocity impacts on metals with the lens of understanding the processes that lead to the creation of an impact generated plasma. In order to characterize the impacting particle as well as its threat to spacecraft from the subsequent radiating plasma an analysis was performed that highlights how the kinetic energy of the impactor is deposited into a target, how the shock wave and shocked material in the target evolve, and how these effects can lead towards the creation of an impact plasma through heating. The analysis suggests that at low velocities the majority of the energy from a hypervelocity impact is stored in reversible elastic energy and does not contribute to strong heating. At higher impact velocities, nucleus and electron thermal components dominate, increasing the energy available for ionization. Overall, this work provides the complete set of state variable initial conditions for any study of hypervelocity impact plasma expansion and its effects.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Investigation of CO2 Sorption Characteristics of Imidazolium Ionic Liquid Crystals

This work is focused on advancing of the understanding the carbon dioxide (CO2) sorption characteristics of imidazolium ionic liquid crystals based on the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium (Cnmim) ionic liquid family. Specifically, the mechanism of sorption across the melting, liquid crystal, and isotropic liquid transitions is investigated for 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BF4-) and hexafluorophosphate (PF6-). A unique reversible CO2 occlusion was observed in 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C14mim BF4) under rapid temperature quench from the liquid phases to the solid phase, while complete desorption occurred upon heating above the melting point (40 degrees C). In situ wide-angle x-ray scattering revealed that the lamellar structure of C14mim BF4 liquid crystal phases provides a high concentration of dynamically accessible anion and cation interaction sites for CO2, facilitating CO2 occlusion upon rapid solidification. The selective occlusion of CO2 in C14mim BF4 suggests a new mechanism for CO2 sorption processes.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2026

Isolated and H 2 -reduced Anderson clusters catalyse low-temperature hydrogenation of CO 2 to methanol

CO 2 hydrogenation, especially to methanol, is crucial to establishing sustainable closed-loop systems for carbon utilization. However, the difficulties of CO 2 activation at low temperatures and the ambiguity of structure–activity correlations are obstacles to reducing the energy consumption of the hydrogenation process. Here we report that molecularly defined Anderson PtMo 6 O 24 clusters, sited within a robust metal–organic framework, are catalytic for low-temperature CO 2 hydrogenation. The performance of the cluster showed no signs of decay in either its activity or methanol selectivity over 3,600 h at 180 °C. It also achieves a per-pass yield exceeding that of state-of-the-art heterogeneous catalysts under similar conditions. Combined in situ spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations demonstrated that CH 3 OH formation is dominated by the reverse water–gas shift and subsequent CO* hydrogenation pathway, while the HCOO* pathway may serve as a supplementary route. The well-defined cluster structure offers an ideal model for elucidating structure–activity correlations and opens exciting avenues for the rational design of high-activity, low-temperature catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation.

heterogeneous catalysis↗
DOE OSTI2021

Bulk Photovoltaic Effect Driven by Collective Excitations in a Correlated Insulator

We investigate the bulk photovoltaic effect, which rectifies light into electric current, in a collective quantum state with correlation driven electronic ferroelectricity. We show via explicit real-time dynamical calculations that the effect of the applied electric field on the electronic order parameter leads to a strong enhancement of the bulk photovoltaic effect relative to the values obtained in a conventional insulator. The enhancements include both resonant enhancements at sub-band-gap frequencies, arising from excitation of optically active collective modes, and broadband enhancements arising from nonresonant deformations of the electronic order. The deformable electronic order parameter produces an injection current contribution to the bulk photovoltaic effect that is entirely absent in a rigid-band approximation to a time-reversal symmetric material. Furthermore, our findings establish that correlation effects can lead to the bulk photovoltaic effect and demonstrate that the collective behavior of ordered states can yield large nonlinear optical responses.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2013

Advanced Colloids Experiment (ACE) Science Overview

The Advanced Colloids Experiment is being conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) using the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) in the Fluids Integrated Rack (FIR). Work to date will be discussed and future plans and opportunities will be highlighted. The LMM is a microscope facility designed to allow scientists to process, manipulate, and characterize colloidal samples in micro-gravity where the absence of gravitational settling and particle jamming enables scientists to study such things as:a.The role that disordered and ordered-packing of spheres play in the phase diagram and equation of state of hard sphere systems,b.crystal nucleation and growth, growth instabilities, and the glass transition, c.gelation and phase separation of colloid polymer mixtures,d.crystallization of colloidal binary alloys,e.competition between crystallization and phase separation,f.effects of anisotropy and specific interactions on packing, aggregation, frustration and crystallization,g.effects of specific reversible and irreversible interactions mediated in the first case by hybridization of complementary DNA strands attached to separate colloidal particles,h.Lock and key interactions between colloids with dimples and spheres which match the size and shape of the dimples,i.finding the phase diagrams of isotropic and interacting particles,j.new techniques for complex self-assembly including scenarios for self-replication, k.critical Casimir forces,l.biology (real and model systems) in microgravity,m.etc. By adding additional microscopy capabilities to the existing LMM, NASA will increase the tools available for scientists that fly experiments on the ISS enabling scientists to observe directly what is happening at the particle level. Presently, theories are needed to bridge the gap between what is being observed (at a macroscopic level when photographing samples) with what is happening at a particle (or microscopic) level. What is happening at a microscopic level will be directly accessible with the availability of the Light Microscopy Module (LMM) on ISS. To meet these goals, the ACE experiment is being built-up in stages, with the availability of confocal microscopy being the ultimate objective. Supported by NASAs Physical Sciences Research Program, ESAESTEC, and the authors respective governments.

Microgravity Biology Research↗
DOE OSTI2020

Scalable synthesis of nanoporous silicon microparticles for highly cyclable lithium-ion batteries

Nanoporous silicon is a promising anode material for high energy density batteries due to its high cycling stability and high tap density compared to other nanostructured anode materials. However, the high cost of synthesis and low yield of nanoporous silicon limit its practical application. Here, we develop a scalable, low-cost top-down process of controlled oxidation of Mg 2 Si in the air, followed by HCl removal of MgO to generate nanoporous silicon without the use of HF. By controlling the synthesis conditions, the oxygen content, grain size and yield of the porous silicon are simultaneously optimized from commercial standpoints. In situ environmental transmission electron microscopy reveals the reaction mechanism; the Mg 2 Si microparticle reacts with O 2 to form MgO and Si, while preventing SiO 2 formation. Owing to the low oxygen content and microscale secondary structure, the nanoporous silicon delivers a higher initial reversible capacity and initial Coulombic efficiency compared to commercial Si nanoparticles (3,033 mAh/g vs. 2,418 mAh/g, 84.3% vs. 73.1%). Synthesis is highly scalable, and a yield of 90.4% is achieved for the porous Si nanostructure with the capability to make an excess of 10 g per batch. Our synthetic nanoporous silicon is promising for practical applications in next generation lithium-ion batteries.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Investigation of hardening mechanisms and size effects in proton-irradiated HT-9 steels

Ferritic/martensitic steels, such as HT-9, are known for their complex microstructural features and mechanical properties. Here in this paper, in-situ micro-tensile tests and traditional fractography methods were utilized to study the fracture behavior of proton-irradiated HT-9 steels. First, to evaluate the viability of micro-tensile tests for nuclear material qualification process, meso-tensile tests on as-received HT-9 steels were performed. Fracture mechanisms of unirradiated HT-9 steels at both length scales were compared and underlying mechanisms discussed. The direct comparison of micro- and meso-scale data shows a distinctive size effect demonstrated by the increase in yield stress (YS). Upon completion of initial assessment, specimens were irradiated with 4 MeV + protons to three fluences, all of which were lower than 0.01 displacements per atom (dpa). As expected, the YS increases with irradiation. However, at 7 × 10 -3 dpa, the reversal of the trend was observed, and the YS exhibited sharp decline. We demonstrate that at lower length scales, grain structure has a more profound impact on the mechanical properties of irradiated materials, which provides information needed to fill in the gap in current understanding of the HT-9 fracture at different length scales.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Reactive Separations of CO/CO 2 mixtures over Ru–Co Single Atom Alloys

Reactive separations of CO/CO 2 mixtures are a promising pathway to lower the energy requirement of CO 2 hydrogenation to chemicals and fuels, with applications in the U.S. Navy’s seawater-to-fuel process. With the CO/CO 2 feedstock, a challenge is activating CO to produce heavier hydrocarbons while preventing CO 2 methanation, requiring low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalysts. In this work, we demonstrate that a Ru–Co single atom alloy (SAA) catalyst produces C 5+ hydrocarbons at a rate of 11.7 μmol/s/g-cobalt (hexane basis) in a 50/50 CO/CO 2 stream with ≤1% CO 2 conversion. The reaction operates at a relatively low temperature (200 °C) and high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV: 84,000 mL/g/h) that is compatible with the upstream reverse water-gas shift reaction. Detailed experiments, catalyst characterizations, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been conducted to understand the active phase, the role of the Ru dopant, and catalyst restructuring that occurs at elevated temperatures (>200 °C). Ru dopants are found to promote the reduction of Co species, enabling catalytic activity for CO hydrogenation without pre-reduction, but may not enhance the FTS activity or desired C 5+ hydrocarbon selectivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Capacitive Deionization for the Extraction and Recovery of Butyrate

Separation processes underpin chemical manufacturing, energy and fuel production, resource recovery, and water purification. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an electrochemical separation technique based on electrosorption of charged species from an aqueous solution. This work reports the development and application of CDI for the extraction and recovery of butyrate, a carboxylate anion that is key to bioenergy production, among other applications. Electrosorption of sodium butyrate was evaluated using a bench-scale CDI system with activated carbon cloth electrodes. Applying an external potential (1.2 V) enhanced the adsorption capacity of activated carbon for butyrate by 250%. Reversible electrosorption was also demonstrated by extracting and recovering butyrate at 1.2 and 0 V, respectively. Performance metrics including butyrate adsorption and desorption capacities, adsorption and desorption rates, charge efficiency, energy consumption, and recovery are reported. Furthermore, this study also investigates the long-term operational stability of the system by cycling the cell more than 1000 times using 1.2 and 0 V for charging and discharging, respectively. Subsequent physicochemical characterization indicates increased oxygen content (from similar to 2% to >8%), decreased specific surface area (by similar to 20%), and decreased pore volume (by similar to 20%), attributed to carbon oxidation. Overall, this work informs the design of CDI for organic anion separation and recovery.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Operando Unveiling of Hydrogen Spillover Mechanisms on Tungsten Oxide Surfaces

Hydrogen spillover is an important process in catalytic hydrogenation reactions, facilitating H 2 activation and modulating surface chemistry of reducible oxide catalysts. This study focuses on the operando unveiling of platinum-induced hydrogen spillover on monoclinic tungsten trioxide (γ-WO 3 ), employing ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations and microkinetic modeling to investigate the dynamic evolution of surface states at varied temperatures. At room temperature, hydrogen spillover results in the formation of W 5+ and hydrogen intermediates (hydroxyl species and adsorbed water), facilitated by Pt metal clusters. With increasing temperature, water desorption, reverse hydrogen spillover and surface-to-bulk diffusion of hydrogen atoms compete with each other, leading initially to reoxidation and then further reduction of W atoms in the near-surface. The combined experimental results and simulations provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying hydrogen interaction with reducible metal oxides, lending insights of relevance to the design of enhanced hydrogenation catalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

The Interaction between the DOCK7 Protein and the E2 Protein of Classical Swine Fever Virus Is Not Involved with Viral Replication or Pathogenicity

The classical swine fever virus (CSFV) particle consists of three glycoproteins, all of which have been shown to be important proteins involved in many virus functions, including interaction with several host proteins. One of these proteins, E2, has been shown to be directly involved with adsorption to the host cell and important for virus virulence. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have previously shown that CSFV E2 specifically interacts with the (DOCK7) dedicator of cytokinesis, a scaffolding protein. In this report, the interaction between E2 and DOCK7 was evaluated. To confirm the yeast two-hybrid results and to determine that DOCK7 interacts in swine cells with E2, we performed co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay (PLA). After demonstrating the protein interaction in swine cells, E2 amino acid residues Y65, V283, and T149 were determined to be critical for interaction with Dock7 by using a random mutated library of E2 and a reverse yeast two-hybrid approach. That disruption of these three residues with mutations Y65F, V283D, and T149A abrogated the Dock7-E2 protein interaction. These mutations were then introduced into a recombinant CSFV, E2DOCK7v, by a reverse genomics approach using the highly virulent CSFV Brescia isolate as a backbone. E2DOCKv was shown to have similar growth kinetics in swine primary macrophages and SK6 cell cultures to the parental Brescia strain. Similarly, E2DOCK7v demonstrated a similar level of virulence to the parental Brescia when inoculated in domestic pigs. Animals intranasally inoculated with 10 5 TCID 50 developed a lethal form of clinical disease with virological and hematological kinetics changes indistinguishable from that produced by the parental strain. Therefore, interaction between CSFV E2 and host DOCK7 is not critically involved in the process of virus replication and disease production.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗