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Due to the correlation between water qualitative indices, their spatial variations are commonly estimated using semivariogram expressed methods, such as Kriging and cokriging. Some studies have tried applying multivariate statistics to identify the effect of various parameters on groundwater spatial variations; however, their estimations are eventually determined by Kriging family of methods. In this study, two multilevel Gaussian factor models (GF1 and GF2) are introduced to jointly model the multivariate data. Such an approach avoids the difficulties of maximum likelihood estimation, incorporating imperfect information to reach an effective decision. Thirty-five agricultural well samples were analyzed for EC and SAR, and other correlated variables over an area of about 1837 Km2 to prepare thematic maps of the groundwater quality classes, based on which administrative crops are suggested for the regional agriculture after selecting the best model for zoning groundwater quality. The GF2 model outperformed the ordinary Kriging in joint modelling of EC and Mg + Ca + Na. Moreover, the best fitting was obtained under Gaussian and Matern covariance functions. EC estimated values by Kriging and the multilevel Gaussian factor model were 2.18–5.17 ds/m and 2.53–4.54 ds/m, respectively. A notable resemblance was found between the spatial variation patterns obtained by the two methods in both EC and SAR variables. Despite relatively larger domains obtained from the Kriging model, such extreme values of EC and SAR covered small and insignificant zones of the study area. The areas estimated by the GF2 model and Kriging for the EC range 3–4.5 ds/m were relatively close (98.4% and 85.6% of the total area, respectively), while the values exceeding this range, covered very small, negligible fractions of total area (1.1% and 7.9%, respectively). Similar results were obtained for SAR estimates. The cultivable area signified by the two models were not significantly different, as shown by the allowable cultivation area maps generated. When GF2 model is applied, the whole study area is cultivable for all recommended crops in 90% and less yield potentials, while the limitations were insignificant, considering Kriging method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to evaluate the effect of spirulina sauce on glycemic indices, lipid profile, oxidative stress markers, and anthropometric measurement in type 2 diabetic patients. Forty patients were randomly assigned to receive 20 g/day spirulina sauce (containing 2 g of spirulina) or placebo for 2 months. Anthropometric and biochemical indices were measured at the beginning and end of the intervention. Fasting blood glucose (mean difference (MD): −15.3 mg/dL, 95% confidence (CI): −44.2 to 13.60, p =.26), HbA1c (MD: 0.13%, 95% CI: −0.83 to 0.57, p =.75), insulin (MD: −1.46 μIU/mL, 95% CI: −4.0 to 1.09, p =.28), and HOMA‐IR (MD: −0.35, 95% CI: −2.0 to 1.32, p =.68) did not change significantly between groups. QUICKI increased significantly (MD: 0.025, 95% CI: 0.006 to 0.045, p =.03). Among the lipid profile, triglyceride (TG) (MD: −68.6 mg/dL, 95% CI: −107.21 to −29.98, p <.001), total cholesterol (MD: −29.55 mg/dL, 95% CI: −55.28 to −3.81, p =.02), and LDL (MD: −17.7 mg/dL, 95% CI: −33.24 to −2.15, p =.01) were significantly decreased in the spirulina group compared to the control; whereas, the change in HDL was non‐significant. No significant change was observed in body composition and anthropometric measurements, except waist circumference, which was reduced (MD: −2.65 cm, 95% CI: −3.91 to −1.38, p =.001). Hunger index significantly decreased and fullness increased marginally significantly. Although malondialdehyde was significantly reduced, no change was observed in total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Spirulina sauce was not effective for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes; however, could be useful for controlling appetite and ameliorating lipid profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction of response values is a primary goal in many applications. The standard approach to this problem is kriging which is essentially a linear prediction using optimal least squares interpolation of the random field. However, the optimal predictor is not necessarily a linear one unless the geostatistical data support the Gaussian model. As data often exhibit non-normality, some of the most effective spatial processes are reviewed in the current study. The usefulness of the presented models is demonstrated based on the prediction of rainfall levels in Fars Province, Iran. The measurements were taken from 100 stations. To assess the predictive performance of the evaluated models, 15 stations were randomly withheld. Subsequently, the predicted values at these locations were evaluated against the measured ones. The results of the study indicated that, comparing to some well-known models, the skew Gaussian model introduced in this article demonstrated a better performance in the prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) is a member of the JAK family of tyrosine kinase proteins involved in cytokine receptor-mediated intracellular signal transduction through the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. JAK3 was previously shown as differentially expressed in granulosa cells (GC) of bovine pre-ovulatory follicles suggesting that JAK3 could modulate GC function and activation/inhibition of downstream targets. We used JANEX-1, a JAK3 inhibitor, and FSH treatments and analyzed proliferation markers, steroidogenic enzymes and phosphorylation of target proteins including STAT3, CDKN1B/p27Kip1 and MAPK8IP3/JIP3. Cultured GC were treated with or without FSH in the presence or not of JANEX-1. Expression of steroidogenic enzyme CYP11A1, but not CYP19A1, was upregulated in GC treated with FSH and both were significantly decreased when JAK3 was inhibited. Proliferation markers CCND2 and PCNA were reduced in JANEX-1-treated GC and upregulated by FSH. Western blots analyses showed that JANEX-1 treatment reduced pSTAT3 amounts while JAK3 overexpression increased pSTAT3. Similarly, FSH treatment increased pSTAT3 even in JANEX-1-treated GC. UHPLC-MS/MS analyses revealed phosphorylation of specific amino acid residues within JAK3 as well as CDKN1B and MAPK8IP3 suggesting possible activation or inhibition post-FSH or JANEX-1 treatments. We show that FSH activates JAK3 in GC, which could phosphorylate target proteins and likely modulate other signaling pathways involving CDKN1B and MAPK8IP3, therefore controlling GC proliferation and steroidogenic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fertility preservation is one of the most important issues in assisted reproductive technology. Previous studies have shown that cytokines and growth factors can improve follicle growth. The endometrial stromal cells secrete various factors that are involved in maintaining the integrity of uterine and epithelial secretory function. The platelet-rich plasma contains a large assembly of platelets suspended in plasma that successfully improves the viability and growth of various cell lines. This work aimed to investigate the influences of conditioned medium (CM) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the development of ovarian follicles in infertile mice due to cyclophosphamide (CYC) exposure. In this study, 65 healthy BALB/c female mice (∼28–30 g and 6-8 weeks old) in five groups were studied. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9)-positive cells. The mRNA expression levels of SMAD1, SMAD2, and BMP15 was assessed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. The expression levels of SMAD1, GDF9, BMP15, and SMAD2 in the CM+PRP group was significantly more than in the CM and PRP groups. In addition, live birth occurred in the CM+PRP group. Treatment with CM+PRP in infertile mice due to Cy exposure increased fertility and live-birth rate. In general, our study suggested that the CM and PRP combination could improve the growth of mice ovarian follicles in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statement of the Problem: The administration of both platelet rich plasma (PRP) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) to the bone defects accelerates bone repair and regeneration. Application of both of them may show synergistic regenerative effects. Purpose: Our objective was to evaluate the possible synergistic osteogenic effects of PRP and SiO2 by injecting them using an ad hoc device. Materials and Method: In this experimental study, PRP/SiO2 scaffolds were fabricated by in situ casting method with the help of CaCl2 as the gelation factor and alginate as the stroma; and then, the biodegradability and spatial arrangement were assessed. The injectable scaffold was introduced into the 40 rabbit mandibular defects by an ad hoc two-channel injecting device. Five defects received PRP/SiO2/alginate as the treatment; the other sets of defects were treated by PRP/alginate, SiO2/alginate, and the last five defects served as the control groups by getting only alginate injections. The osteogenicity of the scaffolds was evaluated by radiological and histological procedures; they were then compared with each other. Analysis of variance and least significant difference tests were used to analyze the data. Results: The SiO2-treated group showed a significant higher bone area compared to PRP/ SiO2-treated groups on day 40 (p= 0.013). The number of osteocytes was higher in SiO2- treated than the control groups on both 20 and 40 days (p= 0.032 and 0.022, respectively). The number of osteoclast was also higher in SiO2-treated than PRP-treated group (p= 0.028). In addition, the cells of this group had just started to create Haversian systems in newly formed bone tissues. Conclusion: Silica demonstrated a superior osteogenic activity over PRP in both short and long term periods. Evidently, they showed no synergistic regenerative effects. Our ad hoc device was efficiently capable of inserting the scaffolds into the injured sites with no difficulties or complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In definition of the ground response curve for a tunnel, convergences of side wall, roof and floor may be different, because of the weight of the failed or plastic rock mass. In this paper, an analytical-numerical solution of the ground response curve for a tunnel excavated in an elastoplastic strain-softening rock mass considering the gravitational loading. In the proposed method, Hoek–Brown yield criterion and Mohr-Coulomb plastic potential function are used for the ground medium. The gravity loading is considered as a radial body force being applied to the ground medium. Two flexible and inflexible lining theories are introduced for the analysis of concrete lining. The derived differential equations cannot be integrated analytically; thus, they are solved by invoking finite difference approximations. Several illustrative examples are given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method and to examine the effects of the gravity loading. The results obtained by the proposed method show that the gravity loads may affect the tunnel convergence, especially when the plastic region is wide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic arterial hypertension is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and chronic kidney diseases. Spirulina is microalgae with nutritious ingredients and has potential attenuating effects on chronic diseases including hypertension. Spirulina can be added to food products in order to develop functional foods. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 8‐week consumption of a salad dressing containing 2 g of spirulina platensis powder versus a placebo dressing on patients with hypertension. In this triple‐blind randomized clinical trial, 48 patients with hypertension were enrolled to receive daily either spirulina‐fortified dressing or placebo for 2 months. A total of 41 patients completed this study. We observed that the consumption of spirulina dressing significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (p =.02), diastolic blood pressure (p =.03), serum triglyceride (p =.01), total cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, compared to nonsignificant changes in the placebo group. Significant changes in TAC and hs‐CRP levels were observed in none of the groups. According to our findings, spirulina‐fortified dressing as a functional food can be used a supportive treatment for patients with hypertension along with standard antihypertensive drugs. However, further investigations are required for a more comprehensive conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of metadiscourse is very important in investigating texts and discourses. Metadiscourse is a kind of discourse which reveals the relationships between the writer (speaker) with the text (discourse) and also the audience. There are many kinds of metadiscourse; the interactional metadiscourse is one vital kind. This research aims at investigating interactional metadiscourse in Nahjolbalaghe based on Hyland (2005). First the text analysed carefully and all kinds of interactional metadiscourse categorized based on forms and functions. Then these categories analyzed quantitatively. The results of this research reveal that Imam Ali used all kinds of interactional metadiscourse skillfully. He used engagement markers for connecting to the audience manipulating different functions such as warning, blaming and encouraging. Self- mentions have been used to deny his negative traits and prove his transcendent qualities. Hedges have been used rarely. He has applied boosters for emphasizing his stability. Attitude markers with almost negative connotations have also manipulated to represent the attitude of Imam Ali towards his audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major challenges in modern day statistics is to formulate models and develop inferential procedures to understand the complex multivariate relationships present in high-dimensional datasets. In this paper, we address the issue of model determination for DAGs, with respect to a given ordering of the variables, together with the corresponding parameter estimation. For this, we use a hierarchical mixture prior and develop a Gibbs sampling algorithm to carry out the posterior computations. We first focus on the Gaussian DAG models and calculate the posterior probability of being the edge between two nodes. We then extend our idea to construct a DAG for discrete data under the assumption that the data generated by discretization of the marginal distributions of a latent multivariate Gaussian distribution via a set of predetermined threshold values. Results show that the proposed method has high accuracy. The source code is available at [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The drill and blast method is one of the most widely used techniques for excavation of tunnels in rock masses. The most worrying issue in this method is unfavorable damage induced by blast impact into the surrounding rock mass. The blast-induced damaged zone has a possible influence on the tunnel stability. Therefore, the damage in the rock mass should be minimized as much as possible, or if it is inevitable, the design of the tunnel should be performed based on an accurate analysis considering the damaged zone. In this paper, a theoretical and practical method is presented for the ground reaction curve of a circular tunnel excavated in an elastic strain-softening Mohr–Coulomb rock mass considering the blast-induced damaged zone. A cylindrical damaged zone with decreased strength and deformability parameters is taken into account. The results for a typical tunnel obtained using the proposed solution are compared with other well-known analytical methods. It is observed that the proposed approximate solution converges to the exact solution if the stress increments are sufficiently small. The influence of the strain-softening behavior on the results is examined through the establishment of stresses and displacement distributions and ground reaction curves and the discussion for the extent of the plastic zone. The results show that the influence of the damaged zone with reduced properties on the tunnel convergence is significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In tunnels, convergences of sidewalls, roof and floor may be different, because of weight of the failed or plastic rock mass. In this paper, a closed-form analytical solution for a deep tunnel excavated in an elastoplastic rock mass is proposed. Using the proposed solution, the effects of the weight of the plastic or failed region developed around the tunnel are investigated. In the proposed method, brittle–plastic or elastic–perfectly plastic behavior and Mohr–Coulomb yield criterion and plastic potential function are used for the ground medium. The gravitational loading is considered as a radial body force being applied to the ground medium. Illustrative examples are given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method and to examine the effects of the gravity loads. The results obtained by the proposed method show that the gravity loading may affect the tunnel convergence, considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into germ cells, little is known about the influence of culture media on this process. We investigated the effect of two culture media on the capacity of ES cells to differentiate into germ cells using embryoid body (EB) and monolayer culture protocols. Germ cell differentiation was induced in mouse ES cells under four experimental conditions: EB/Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (EB/DMEM), EB/knockout Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (EB/KO-DMEM), monolayer/Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (monolayer/DMEM), and monolayer/knockout Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (monolayer/KO-DMEM). After incubation for 6 days, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to assess expression of the germ cell markers, Mvh, Oct4, Rec8, Scp1, Scp3 and Stra8. Also, Oct4 and Mvh expressions at the protein level were assessed using immunocytochemistry; we evaluated alkaline phosphatase activity in addition to cell number and viability. Germ cell-specific marker expression was increased significantly in cells differentiated in KO-DMEM for both EB and monolayer protocols; the highest level was in cultures using the EB protocol. The highest cell proliferation rate was observed using the monolayer/KO-DMEM protocol and the lowest using the EB/DMEM protocol. Generally, KO-DMEM exhibited the greatest impact on germ cell differentiation and cell proliferation. Optimization of germ cell differentiation of ES cells requires careful selection of culture medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study sets out to investigate an important aspect of gendered performance, namely, the presence of interactional metadiscourse in conference presentations delivered in Persian. The study pursues two primary objectives: firstly, to compare the quantity and quality of interactional metadiscourse markers as expressed by male and female academics; secondly, to investigate some other factors influencing the phenomenon under investigation. The data include twenty-four conference presentations by twelve males and twelve females. The quantitative analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the use of interactional metadiscourse by male and female presenters. However, the qualitative analysis helped the authors to identify more similarities than differences. In point of fact, such factors as academic status and nativeness had caused the speakers to use different metadiscourse strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hypothetically well‐founded approach for learning a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) is to utilize the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques. In the MCMC, the uniform noninformative priors on all of the possible graphs are considered. This brings about computational costs, making them impractical for learning the structure of DAGs with numerous variables. In this paper, we focus on the discrete variables and use the data information to restrict the space of possible graphs. This approach can be interpreted as an empirical Bayes paradigm. This means that we use an empirical Bayes approach to make zero prior probability of some possible graphs. For this purpose, we first estimate the potential neighbors using L1‐Regularized Markov Blanket and then determine the candidate causes for each variable by introducing a new criterion. This perspective makes it possible to reduce the search space in the process of the MCMC simulation. The results on the well‐known DAGs show that our method has higher accuracy. The source code is available at http://bs.ipm.ac.ir/softwares/mcmccode.rar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is learning directed acyclic graph (DAG) by determination of candidate causes for each discrete variable. Based on the fact that the candidate causes of a variable must be a subset of its potential neighbours, we first estimate the potential neighbours for each variable using -regularized Markov blanket. We then introduce a novel scoring function which infers the candidate causes for each variable through its Markov blanket. The lasso regression between each variable (as response variable) and its candidate causes (as predictors) is used to obtain a directed graph. We finally remove the cycles using the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm for achieving a DAG. Experimental results over well-known DAGs indicate that proposed method has higher accuracy and better degree of data matching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some statistical issues, several continuous spatial outcomes are simultaneously measured at each sampling location. In such circumstances, it is common to model the data through a multivariate Gaussian model. As the normality assumption is often untenable, this paper proposes a multivariate skewed spatial model which, by virtue of its capacity for capturing skewness, is potentially more flexible than symmetric ones. Specifically, a multivariate version of the Gaussian-log Gaussian convolution process is developed. The resulting covariance for the multivariate process is in general nonseparable. We also discuss the other properties of the induced covariance function. Furthermore, Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are used to make Bayesian inferences. The performance of the method is investigated through simulation experiments and by analyzing a real soil pollution dataset obtained from Golestan province, North of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alginate, a non-toxic polysaccharide isolated from brown algae, is a widely used 3-dimensional (3D) porous scaffold for the granulosa cell and follicle encapsulation. However, impurities in commercial alginate can lead to alginate biocompatibility reduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro behavior of the granulosa cells seeded on the purified alginate in varying concentrations compared with matched non-purified ones. We produced a purified alginate using a simple and efficient method. Then, the granulosa cells from mice were isolated and seeded in various concentrations of (0.5%, 1% weight/volume) purified and non-purified alginate. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used on the 3rd, 5th and the 8th days of culture as an index of cell viability and proliferation. Furthermore, the secreted estradiol, progesterone and alkaline phosphatase enzyme (ALP) were measured in the granulosa cells culture media using radioimmunoassay kits. The cells cultured on purified and low concentration alginate showed a higher proliferation rate, sex hormone production and ALP activity. The results confirmed the impact of the alginate hydrogel properties on proliferative rate and function of granulosa cells in a 3D culture system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spatial statistics, it is usual to consider a Gaussian process for spatial latent variables. As the data often exhibit non-normality, we introduce a novel skew process, named hereafter Gaussian-log Gaussian convolution (GLGC) to construct latent spatial models which provide great flexibility in capturing skewness. Some properties including closed-form expressions for the moments and the skewness of the GLGC process are derived. Particularly, we show that the mean square continuity and differentiability of the GLGC process are established by those of the Gaussian and log-Gaussian processes considered in its structure. Moreover, the usefulness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through the analysis of spatial data, including mixed ordinal and continuous outcomes that are jointly modeled through a common latent process. A fully Bayesian analysis is adopted to make inference. Our methodology is illustrated with simulation experiments as well as an environmental data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes of conjunctival bacterial flora 1 year after successful dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). METHODS: Seventy-two consecutive adult patients with successful DCR were enrolled in this study. We obtained conjunctival cultures from the operated eyes, fellow eyes, and nasal mucosa of the operated side 1 year after the operation. After the period of incubation, further evaluation was performed using standard laboratory techniques. RESULTS: In the conventional media, positive bacterial growth was detected in 48 (66.7%) of the 72 operated eyes and in 31 of the 72 normal fellow eyes (43.1%). Nasal specimens were positive for bacterial growth in 65 (90.3%) patients. Isolation rate was significantly different between the operated and the fellow (nonoperated) eyes (P = 0.0074). Colony count, type, and frequencies of bacterial isolation from the operated eyes were similar to nonoperated eyes. CONCLUSION: One year after DCR, conjunctival bacterial isolation rate increased compared with the normal fellow eyes. Remote DCR may be considered as a local risk factor for developing postoperative endophthalmitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shredded cabbage (50% v/v) and Daikon radish cubes (57% v/v) were mixed with different salt solutions (0.15, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 1.85%), poured into a Teflon-coated static Ohmic cell and heated from 30 to 70°C at different alternating current voltages (65, 80, 100, 120 or 135 V) and frequencies (60, 2,070, 5,030, 7,990 or 10,000 Hz). Voltage, current, time and temperature were measured to calculate electrical conductivities at different temperatures. For the modeling part, 750 g of a blended crude puree (particle size < 0.5 mm) was used to fill the Ohmic cell. Daikon radish gave the highest value for electrical conductivity of 1.07 S/m at 30°C and 1.85%, 100 V and 5,030 Hz while cabbage gave a value of 0.81 S/m under the same conditions. For cabbage, the electrical conductivity values increased with increasing frequency at higher voltage, but decreased at low voltage levels. An opposite trend was observed for Daikon radish. Modeling indicated that electrical conductivity increased quadratically with temperature, salt concentration and electrical voltage. Response surface models revealed that linear, cross products, as well as quadratic effects were significant with R2 > 0.98. The Maxwell-Eucken model, which describes solid particles dispersed in continuous liquid, showed good fit for the electrical conductivity data. Practical Applications Ohmic heating can be an alternative to conventional heat processing of food, reducing treatment time and improving quality. Ohmic heating has been generally recognized to provide uniform and rapid heating conditions. The electrical conductivity (EC) of food components is the key property in the Ohmic heating process and is dependent on many product and system-dependent properties, especially the salt content. It is also the primary property needed for modeling the Ohmic heating effects of a system or product. This manuscript details the gathered data on electrical conductivity of cabbage and radish, and an appropriate modeling approach to describe their dependence on product and system properties. The study generates new data EC for the vegetables and how the EC is influenced by the two vegetables that differ significantly in structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an analytical method, for calculating seepage induced stresses and displacements in underwater lined circular pressure tunnels, is developed on the basis of a generalized effective stress law. The problem is considered as axisymmetric, and the lining and rock mass are assumed to be elastic, homogeneous and isotropic. The solution accounts for the seepage forces with the steady-state flow and hydro-mechanical pressures between adjacent zones. The proposed method can be applied for the analysis and design of pressure tunnels with concrete lining, prestressed concrete lining, grouted rock mass, as well as for the analysis of pressure tunnels considering the effects of the surrounding fractured or damaged zone. Illustrative examples are given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method, and also to examine the effect of seepage forces on stability of pressure tunnels. It is concluded that, the classic solutions (Lame's solution), that is based on considering the internal pressure as a mechanical load applied to the tunnel surface, is not applicable to pervious media and results in unsafe designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shredded cabbage (50 % v/ v) and Daikon radish cubes (57 % v/ v) with different salt concentrations (0.15, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 1.85 %) were heated from 30 to 70 °C in a static ohmic heating cell at different voltages (65, 80, 100, 120, and 135 V) and frequencies (60, 2070, 5030, 7990, and 10,000 Hz) to evaluate their ohmic heating behaviour. Radish heated under 1.5 % salt, 120 V and 7990 Hz or 1 % salt, 135 V and 5030 Hz conditions gave the shortest heating time of 6 min from 30 to 70 °C, and cabbage gave the longest time of 128 min at 0.15 % salt, 100 V, and 5030 Hz. Regression models of heating rate as a quadratic function of the sample temperature gave R >0.98. The general trend observed was that the magnitude of the heating rate increased with frequency at high voltage but decreased at low voltage for cabbage, while the opposite trend was observed for radish. Heating was more efficient at higher salt concentration and applied voltage. Radish heated more rapidly than cabbage. A slight slope change was observed in all cases between 50 and 60 °C. The response surface models revealed linear, cross products and quadratic effects to be significant with R over 0.98. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a drained underwater cavity, seepage forces and pore-water pressure that develop around the cavity may affect the response of the rock mass. In this paper, a fully analytical solution is proposed for analysis of underwater cavities excavated in elastic-brittle-plastic and Mohr- Coulomb rock material, considering the induced seepage forces under steady-state flow. The initial stress state is assumed to be hydrostatic, and the seepage flow is assumed to be radial; thus, the problem is considered axisymmetric. In the proposed solution, in contrast to the failure processes that are represented as a function of Terzaghi's effective stresses, the induced deformations are considered as a function of Biot's effective stresses. The proposed solution is used to explain the behavior of cavities under different hydromechanical conditions. The results show that, in the case of drained cavities, seepage flow causes the induced radial displacements to increase and the stability of the cavity to decrease. From a practical point of view, the simplified analytical solution presented in this study can be used to approximate the design of circular cavities, such as a tunnel excavated below a water table, under seepage forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hurdle technology combining mild acidification (4.6 < pH < 5.0) and reduced thermal treatment could be a potential preservation technique for the production of high-quality processed canned vegetables once it has been microbiologically validated. Freshly harvested green beans were acidified in pre-prepared brine using one of three acidulants (lactic acid [LA], glucono-delta-lactone [GDL], or fermented dextrose containing organic acids), hermetically sealed in cans, and thermally processed in a pilot-scale water-immersion retort. Eight levels of acidulant concentration (0.01–19.5 g/kg) and five levels of desired lethality (0.01–2.74 min) were applied through uniform shell experimental design (Doehlert network method). The color and texture properties of blanched green beans (control samples) and thermally processed green beans with and without prior acidification were evaluated. Statistical analysis showed that acid concentration had a significant effect on color characteristics, and that lethality had a significant effect on texture indices (p< 0.001). Regression models were developed for the prediction of both color and texture properties of thermally processed acidified green beans with two independent parameters: acidulant concentration and lethality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical–numerical solution is proposed in this paper for calculating the mechanical and hydraulic characteristics of underwater tunnels, excavated in an elasto-plastic strain-softening and Hoek–Brown rock material considering strain-dependent permeability. The problem is considered with axial-symmetry condition and thus, the initial stress state is assumed to be hydrostatic. Hydraulic and mechanical differential equations governing the plastic and the elastic rock mass around the tunnel are derived. As the derived equations do not have closed-form solutions, a computer program has been prepared, in order to solve the corresponding equations numerically and to examine the analysis. The results obtained are compared with the results obtained using a commercial finite difference code for investigating the effects of utilised simplifying assumptions. The proposed approach is also used to analyse the response of tunnels under different hydro-mechanical conditions. The results show that the proposed solution can be used for the actual design of underwater tunnels, hydraulically and mechanically. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

SUMMARY In this study, a simplified analytical closed-form solution, considering plane strain and axial symmetry conditions, for analysis of a circular pressure tunnel excavated underwater table, is developed. The method accounts for the seepage forces with the steady-state flow and is based on the generalized effective stress law. To examine the effect of pore pressure variations and also the boundary conditions at the ground surface, the formulations are derived for different directions around the tunnel. The proposed method can be applied for analysis and design of pressure tunnels. Illustrative examples are given to demonstrate the performance of the proposed solution and also to examine the effect of seepage forces on the stability of tunnels. The simplified analytical solution derived in this study is compared with numerical analyses. It is concluded that the classic solutions (Lame's thick-walled solution), considering the internal pressure as a mechanical load applied to the tunnel surface, are not applicable to pervious media and can result in an unsafe design. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, utilizing a scale mixture of skew-normal distribution in which mixing random variable is assumed to follow a mixture model with varying weights for each observation, we introduce a generalization of skew-normal linear regression model with the aim to provide resistant results. This model, which also includes the skew-slash distribution in a particular case, allows us to accommodate and detect outlying observations under the skew-normal linear regression model. Inferences about the model are carried out through the empirical Bayes approach. The conditions for propriety of the posterior and for existence of posterior moments are given under the standard noninformative priors for regression and scale parameters as well as proper prior for skewness parameter. Then, for Bayesian inference, a Markov chain Monte Carlo method is described. Since posterior results depend on the prior hyperparameters, we estimate them adopting the empirical Bayes method as well as using a Monte Carlo EM algorithm. Furthermore, to identify possible outliers, we also apply the Bayes factor obtained through the generalized Savage-Dickey density ratio. Examining the proposed approach on simulated instance and real data, it is found to provide not only satisfactory parameter estimates rather allow identifying outliers favorably. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Concentrated lime juice with 20% total soluble solids was dried using three levels of maltodextrin (40%, 50%, and 60% solid base) and a BÜCHI B-190 spray dryer. The drying air temperature and flow rate were 140 °C, 155 °C, and 170 °C and 47.1, 53.5, and 57.8 m/h, respectively. A total of 27 experiments were conducted (in triplicate) with the feed rate, temperature, and compressed air flow for the atomizer kept constant. Analysis of the data revealed that product recovery increased when the maltodextrin in the feed and drying air flow rate were increased, but the inlet air temperature had no significant ( P < 0.05) effect on powder recovery. The moisture content of the powder varied with the maltodextrin level, inlet air temperature, and air flow rate. Using scanning electron microscope images, larger particle size was observed with the increase of maltodextrin concentration. Powder bulk density also increased from 0.41 to 0.68 g/cm, depending on the level of maltodextrin, whereas the drying air temperature and flow rate were not as effective. The results of this study are beneficial for scaling up the spray drying of lime juice to the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blueberries and cranberries were dried using a hybrid technology consisting of pretreatment, osmotic dehydration, and convective drying. The performance of this hybrid technology was evaluated in terms of quality attributes such as color, taste, rehydration ratio, water activity, as well as sugar and anthocyanins content. Of thirteen different pretreatment methods tested for cranberries, cutting the berries in halves was the simplest and the best one. No pretreatment was needed for blueberries. Osmotic dehydration was performed in batch and continuous modes using sugar solution of 67.5–70°Brix. Convective drying was then carried out in a fluidized bed, a pulsed fluidized bed, or a vibrated fluidized bed. Quality profiles for both berries were determined after each step of such a hybrid technology and compared with quality of berries dried in the vibrated fluidized bed and freeze dryer. Recommendations for full-scale processing are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the osmotic drying kinetics of cylindrical slices of apples as influenced by particle size at different concentrations of sucrose solutions and different temperatures. Osmotic drying was carried out, with cut apple cylinders of three different sizes (12, 17 and 20mm diameter), all with a length to diameter ratio of 1:1, in a well agitated large tank containing the osmotic solution at the desired temperature. The solution to fruit volume ratio was kept greater than 60. A central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used with dive levels of sucrose concentrations (34–63°Brix) and five temperatures (34–66°C). Kinetic parameters included weight loss, moisture loss, solids gain, rates of moisture loss and solids gain generally increased with increasing treatment time, temperature and concentration of osmotic solution, and decreased with an increase in sample size. The parameter “osmotic drying time to achieve a given moisture loss” obviously showed the opposite. Composite models were developed to describe the effect of process variables and particle size on the drying behavior of apple slices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extracellular vesicles (ECV) and bone extracellular matrix (ECM) have beneficial effects on the treatment of some pathological conditions. The purpose of this study was to find the synergic effects of decellularized bone (DB) ECM and ECVs on the repair of rabbit.Methods: The quality of decellularized sheep bones was confirmed by H&E, Hoechst, DNA quantification, immunohistochemistry, histochemical staining, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Osteoblast-derived ECVs were evaluated by internalization test, Transmission electron microscopy, Dynamic light scattering, and flow cytometry for CD9, CD63, CD81 markers. The hydrogel containing DB and hydroxyapatite (HA) with or without ECVs was evaluated for osteoblast functions and bone repair both in vitro and in vivo.Results: The data indicated ECM preservation after decellularization as well as cell depletion. In vitro assessments revealed that mineralization and alkaline phosphatase activity did not improve after treatment of MG63 cells by ECVs, while in vivo morphomatrical estimations showed synergic effects of ECVs and DB + HA hydrogels on increasing the number of bone-specific cells and vessel and bone area compared to the control, DB + HA and ECV-treated groups.Conclusions: The DB enriched with ECVs can be an ideal scaffold for bone tissue engineering and may provide a suitable niche for bone cell migration and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]