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The heat accumulation caused by the high power consumption of continuously upgrading electronic devices puts forward more requirements for the adaptability and durability of the flame retardant materials. Herein, inspired by the soil reinforcement effect of the shelter forest roots nearby the river and shoal, a superhydrophobic flame‐retardant ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA)/aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) composite with root‐soil interlocked micro/nanostructure (MEA/PGCC) is prepared by combining the micro‐extrusion compression molding and spray coating. The homogeneously dispersed ATH and the EVA with sufficient mechanical strength provide durability for the long‐term work of the MEA/PGCC composite. The root‐soil interlocked micro/nanostructure provides robust superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 156 ± 1.0° and a rolling angle of 4 ± 1.0° for the MEA/PGCC composite which is beneficial to improve acid and alkali tolerance, thermic resistance, and de‐icing performance. The synergism of interface and surface function prominently improves the flame retardancy of the MEA/PGCC composite, which presents a limit oxygen index of 42%, and remarkable reduction in peak heat release rate of 64%, total heat release of 23%, and peak smoke production rate of 47%. The proposed method is a promising candidate for the mass production and practical application of the superhydrophobic flame retardant composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Periódico Tchê Química is the property of Grupo Tche Quimica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A comparison between maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio (Rfd) for low and high temperature resistance was assessed in a seasonal study of the acclimation in Pterocephalus lasiospermus. Analyzing the regression adjustment of both parameters and the lethal temperatures (LT50), Rfd resulted in being a more sensitive indicator for low and high temperature treatments, since the thermic resistance estimated with Rfd parameter was never higher than those estimated with Fv/Fm. Furthermore, the use of Fv/Fm led to an overestimation of the acclimation phenomena, with 6ºC of a maximum difference between both parameters. Using Rfd as the indicator parameter, P. lasiospermus acclimated to low temperatures but it kept on being a sensitive species (the lowest LT50 values only achieved-9.9 ± 0.3ºC). bserved (LT50 around 43.5ºC). Thus, according to Rfd evaluation of the thermic threshold, this species could be in risk of damage at low temperatures in this alpine ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sand mining tailing (ST) is a byproduct of the sand extraction of submerged pits, a process which is carried out to obtain aggregates for civil construction. This tailing consists of fine particles from the pulp washing process, usually disposed of in decantation ponds. The present study proposes ST as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) for Portland cement concrete, thereby reintegrating this tailing into the production chain. In this sense, ST was characterized, and concretes containing 2% to 14% of cement replacement (%vol) by ST were produced and evaluated. STs showed natural fineness, particles with angular morphology, a significant amount of kaolinite, and 36% amorphous content. ST concretes exhibited a compressive strength of up to 57.9 MPa at 28 days under 7.0% of cement replacement, 38.8% higher than the reference. Consequently, only 5.6 kg/m3 of Portland cement was required to attain 1.0 MPa, representing a 33.6% reduction compared to the reference. The ultrasonic pulse velocities measured in ST concrete with 2.0%, 4.0%, 7.0%, and 14.0% cement replacement were 3.0%, 6.1%, 9.3%, and 6.6% higher than the reference, respectively. These results indicate enhanced mechanical properties, improved matrix uniformity, and superior environmental performance across all SCM levels compared to the reference, with optimal efficiency observed at 7.0% ST content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of polyesters and polyamides by enzyme-catalyzed processes in vitro was developed in the last decades as a green alternative to obtain biodegradable synthetic polymers with various applications, such as nanoparticle-sized carriers for drug delivery. Polyesteramides were much less studied in this respect, although having the presumable advantage of increased mechanical and thermic resistance brought by the amide moieties. In this work, polyesteramides were synthesized for the first time employing as raw materials ε-caprolactam and a hydroxy acid. L-malic, 3-hydroxybutyric, 12-hydroxystearic and 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, respectively, were investigated as co-monomers in solventless or organic medium, using the immobilized lipase Novozyme 435 as catalyst. The short chain hydroxy acids holding secondary hydroxyl groups yielded oligomers with average degree of polymerization no higher than 4, while in the case of the long-chain 12-hydroxystearic acid this value increased to 7. The best results were achieved by using 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid in 2:1 M excess at 80 °C, yielding a product with 75% copolymer content and average molecular weight higher than 3000 Da. The emulsion-solvent evaporation method allowed the efficient production of nanoparticles based on this copolymer, with sizes around 230 nm, used for the encapsulation of a model bioactive compound, the anticancer drug sorafenib. Production yields of >70% and encapsulation efficiencies of around 60% are very promising for further development of this approach. [Display omitted] • Four novel bio-based polyester amides were enzymatically synthesized. • The properties of the enzymatically synthesized PEA's can be fine-tuned. • Nanosized drug carrier formulations were obtained using the 16HHDA based PEAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) can be generated from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic items, the abrasion of synthetic textiles, and the fragmentation of plastic waste. These particles can become airborne and be transported by wind, potentially leading to their presence in the atmosphere. Due to their widespread applications, ZnO particles at the nanometer range have attractive proprieties that make them appropriate for being combined with polymers, especially PET (polyethylene terephthalate), the most commonly used polymer in the packaging sector. Nevertheless, ZnO NPs have a potential ecotoxicity that could be reflected in PET-ZnO composites reaching the environment in the form of micro(nano)plastics. To assess the potential release of PET-ZnO, as well as the ecotoxicity of ZnO NPs, PET-ZnO and weathered composites were analyzed. The ecotoxicity of PET-ZnO was tested in organisms representing different food-chain levels and compared to ZnO NPs' ecotoxicity. The composite form contained a stable dispersion of around 3.7% of NPs uniformly scattered in the polymeric matrix. ZnO NPs were toxic to Vibrio fischeri and Brachionus calyciflorus. PET-ZnO did not exhibited any toxicity to the organisms studied, while a moderate level of toxicity was observed for the weathered forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Increasing the thermal stability of immobilized proteins is a motivating goal for improving the performance of electrochemical biodevices. In this work, we propose the immobilization of crosslinked plastocyanin from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum by simultaneous incubation of a mixture of plastocyanin and the coupling reagents. The thermal stability of the so built covalently immobilized protein films has been assessed by cyclic voltammetry in the 0–90 °C temperature range and has been compared to that of physisorbed films. It is shown that the protein loss along a thermal cycle is significantly reduced in the case of the crosslinked films, whose redox properties remain unaltered along a cyclic heating-cooling thermal scan, and can withstand the contact with 70 °C solutions for four hours. Comparison of thermal unfolding curves obtained by circular dichroism spectroscopy of both free and crosslinked protein confirms the improved thermic resistance of the crosslinked plastocyanin. Notably, the electron transfer thermodynamics of physisorbed and crosslinked plastocyanin films are quite similar, suggesting that the formation of intra- and inter-protein amide bonds do not affect the integrity and functionality of the copper redox centers. UV–Vis absorption and circular dichroism measurements corroborate that protein crosslinking does not alter the coordination geometry of the metal center. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Simple one-step immobilization protocol produces crosslinked plastocyanin films. • Immbobilized crosslinked plastocyanin retains redox activity at high temperature. • Redox thermodynamics are identical for physisorbed and crosslinked plastocyanin. • Crosslinking does not affect the integrity of copper redox centers in plastocyanin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparison between maximum quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and chlorophyll fluorescence decrease ratio (Rfd) for low and high temperature resistance was assessed in a seasonal study of the acclimation in Pterocephalus lasiospermus. Analyzing the regression adjustment of both parameters and the lethal temperatures (LT50), Rfd resulted in being a more sensitive indicator for low and high temperature treatments, since the thermic resistance estimated with Rfd parameter was never higher than those estimated with Fv/Fm. Furthermore, the use of Fv/Fm led to an overestimation of the acclimation phenomena, with 6ºC of a maximum difference between both parameters. Using Rfd as the indicator parameter, P. lasiospermus acclimated to low temperatures but it kept on being a sensitive species (the lowest LT50 values only achieved-9.9 ± 0.3ºC). bserved (LT50 around 43.5ºC). Thus, according to Rfd evaluation of the thermic threshold, this species could be in risk of damage at low temperatures in this alpine ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archiv für Elektrotechnik is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Consumers are interested in products with functional properties that contribute to their well-being and health. An alternative source of functional ingredients would be the by-products of the citrus industry, which can be used as natural additives in baked products. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of temperature on the concentration of carotenoids and provitamin A when baking bread in a temperature range of 160-200 ºC. We studied the thermal degradation kinetics and thermodynamic parameters of the carotenoids β-carotene, α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, and provitamin A in bread dough samples made with mandarin epicarp lipid extract baked at three temperatures (160, 180, and 200 ºC). The results showed that carotenoid pigments and provitamin A are significatively reduced (p < 0.05) as baking time and temperature increase, and the degradation of bioactive compounds was set to a first-order kinetic R2 > 0.83. Thermic resistance values (z) and activation energy (Ea) during the baking process of bread showed that β-carotenes are an unstable thermal phytochemical, followed by provitamin A, α-carotenoid, lycopene, and β-cryptoxanthin. In this research, it can be concluded that the results would be important for the design and optimization of baked bread, as it will allow to maximize the levels of these micronutrients.

When designing microscale heat exchangers, the reduction of energy dissipation and improved system performance in terms of heat transfer and fluid flow should be considered. Some methods, such as the use of nanofluids and convergent walls in the microchannel heat sinks, can be helpful. In this study, the hydrothermal performance and entropy generation of alumina‐silica/water hybrid nanofluid in the double‐layer tapered microchannel are investigated using the three‐dimensional simulation. The flow Re number and the volumetric fraction of the nanoparticles vary in the ranges of 50 to 400 and 0% to 5%, respectively. Numerical results show that by using the convergent microchannel, in addition to decreasing the maximum base surface temperature, the temperature gradient also becomes more uniform. Boosting the volumetric fraction of nanoparticles and decreasing the tapered factor (TF) reduce the thermal resistance of the system but cause higher pumping powers. At Re = 400 and φ = 5%, when the convergence factor of the channel reduces from 1 to 0.4, pumping power will increase 149% but the thermal resistance reduction about 12%. At lower Re numbers, the effects of channel convergence on enhancing the mean Nu number are greater than the cases with higher Re numbers. In general, boosting the convergence of the channel increases the frictional entropy generation and diminishes the thermal entropy generation. At Re = 200 and φ = 5%, by decreasing the tapered ratio from TF = 1 to TF = 0.4, the frictional entropy generation will double and the thermal entropy generation will reduce by 7.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activity directly or indirectly causes climate change, promoting changes in the composition of the atmosphere. This change is beyond the variation of the natural climate. In this manner, climate change could create an environmental pressure which is enough to trigger new fungal diseases. In addition to climate alterations, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has also been associated with the emergence of fungal pathogens. Fungi showed that an inability to grow at high temperatures limits the capacity of fungi to infect mammals. However, fungi can develop thermotolerance, gradually adapting to rising temperatures due to climate change, and generating a greater number of disease-causing organisms. In the present study, we reported the detection and identification of Candida palmioleophila isolates recovered from raw sewage samples in Niteroi city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, during a monitoring program for measuring SARS-CoV-2 presence and concentration. Using polyphasic taxonomy to identify the species and evaluating some virulence aspects of this species, such as biofilm formation and extracellular enzyme production, our data highlight this species as a possible emerging pathogen in Brazil, especially in the pandemic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteolytic activity is pivotal in maintaining cell homeostasis and function. In pathological conditions such as cancer, it covers a key role in tumor cell viability, spreading to distant organs, and response to the treatment. Endosomes represent one of the major sites of cellular proteolytic activity and very often represent the final destination of internalized nanoformulations. However, little information about nanoparticle impact on the biology of these organelles is available even though they represent the major location of drug release. In this work, we generated albumin nanoparticles with a different resistance to proteolysis by finely tuning the amount of cross-linker used to stabilize the carriers. After careful characterization of the particles and measurement of their degradation in proteolytic conditions, we determined a relationship between their sensitivity to proteases and their drug delivery properties. These phenomena were characterized by an overall increase in the expression of cathepsin proteases regardless of the different sensitivity of the particles to proteolytic degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the acceptable performance of microchannel heat sinks in electronic components, their performance enhancement in repelling the high heat fluxes has received much attention. In this research, the effects of applying the hybrid nanofluid flows in a double-layer microchannel heat sink with superhydrophobic walls are investigated numerically. The finite volume method is used to perform numerical simulations of the 3D solid–liquid conjugate model. The conventional straight microchannel containing pure water is considered as the base case and the aim is to increase the thermohydraulic performance of these channels by using hybrid nanofluid, converging channels, and superhydrophobic surfaces. The results indicate that at low Re numbers, the thermal resistance of the hybrid nanofluid in the superhydrophobic microchannel (in all values of tapered factor) is lower than that of the conventional microchannel with pure water. However, at high Re numbers, the situation is reversed. This is due to the higher temperature jumps at the wall contact surfaces for high Re numbers. Also, the excessive pumping power caused by the nanoparticles for volume fractions less than 3% can be compensated with superhydrophobic surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries represent the most common leading causes of upper limb impairment. In recent years, rehabilitation robotics has progressed toward developing wearable technologies to promote the portability of assistive devices and to enable home rehabilitation of the upper extremities. However, current wearable technologies mainly rely on electric motors and rigid links or soft pneumatic actuators and are usually bulky and cumbersome. To overcome the limitations of existing technologies, in this paper, a first prototype of a lightweight, ungrounded, soft exoskeleton for wrist rehabilitation powered by soft and flexible carbon fibers-based twisted and coiled artificial muscles (TCAMs) is proposed. The device, which weighs only 0.135 kg, emulates the arrangement and working mechanism of skeletal muscles in the upper extremities and is able to perform wrist flexion/extension and ulnar/radial deviation. The range of motion and the force provided by the exoskeleton is designed through simple kinematic and dynamic theoretical models, while a thermal model is used to design a thermal insulation system for TCAMs during actuation. The device's ability to perform passive and active-resisted wrist rehabilitation exercises and EMG-based actuation is also demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a general dimensionless model for a three-phase trickle bed reactor in the light naphtha isomerization process. The simulations are accomplished to study its conduct. The model brings up a one-dimensional axial dispersed flow to characterize dispersity and liquid-solid mass transfer in the forms of dimensionless Peclet and mass Stanton numbers under adiabatic conditions. It considers the essential reactions extant in the isomerization process comprising isomerization, hydrogenation, and hydrocracking reactions applying a precise approach of dimensionless kinetic equations and rate constants. The Crank–Nicolson method and a nonstandard finite difference approach are utilized for large systems of time-spatial PDEs to resolve the dynamic reactor model with MATLAB software. The aim is to elucidate how these large systems of PDEs and nonlinear ODEs can be solved with a comprehensive computation in the form of physical dimensionless numbers. The isomers compositions estimated with the suggested model are in corroboration simulation results obtained by empirical information. The dynamics are evaluated to consider the system conduct with a variation in the hydrogen concentration of the feedstock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In greenhouse experiments changes in several metabolic parameters soybeans plants after inoculation by P. savastanoi pv. glycinea 9190, X. axonopodis pv. glycines 9192, BCMV, A. laidlawii on background pre-treatment by nanochelates (NHs) of V, Ge, Cu, Mo have been shown. The phenolic compounds content increased in leaves at inoculation by phytopathogens on background pre-treatment by NHs and without it. The content of H2O2 in leaves increased in variants: BCMV (+VNHs, GeNHs, CuNHs), 9192 (+VNHs, CuNHs), 9190 (+GeNHs, CuNHs), A. laidlawii+MoNHs. But it decreased in the variants: BCMV + MoNHs, A. laidlawii + VNHs, 9190 + VNHs, 9192 (+ GeNHs, CuNHs) compared to controls. The peroxidase activity increased in variants: A. laidlawii, 9190, GeNHs + 9190, GeNHs + 9192, CuNHs, CuNHs (+ phytoplasmas, 9192), MoNHs (+ BCMV, phytoplasmas, 9190, 9192) with decreased catalase activity. The content of ABA in the leaves increased in variants: 9190, 9192 (+ VNHs, CuNHs), GeNHs + 9190, but the IAA content reduced. However, on variants MoNHs (+9190, 9192), GeNHs + 9192, A. laidlawii, A. laidlawii (+ GeNHs, CuNHs, MoNHs) the content of both phytohormones was decreased. The content of IAA and ABA in BCMV-infected leaves without treatment was increased, but on background of NHs - it decreased significantly. The Fv/Fm-value increased in almost all variants, except for CuNHs + BCMV. The photosynthetic rate (RFd-value) at inoculation plants with viral, bacterial and phytoplasmas pathogens on background treatment of MoNHs; bacterial strain on background of pre-treatment of GeNHs; phytoplasmas on background of VNHs have been increased. Thus, pre-treatment by nanochelates had regulatory effect on soybean plant metabolism helping increase its resistance to phytopathogens was shown. Thus, pre-treatment by nanochelates had regulatory effect on soybean plant metabolism but the pre-treatment of MoNHs was more effectiveness thanks not only intensification resistance against pathogens but and the assimilation of CO2 increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In time of energy saving it is important to monitor humidity migration process through delimiting constructions. Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is considered to be one of the most efficient load bearing construction materials in aspect of thermo insulation. For AAC it is important to determine the distribution of humidity throughout the cross section of the construction because it influences the thermic resistance of the construction. Therefore, it is important to monitor the drying process of AAC masonry constructions. This aim can be reached by non-destructive testing methods, which are easily applicable on inhabited buildings as well as on buildings, which are in construction phase. One of such methods is electrical impedance spectrometry (EIS), which can be used for determining of humidity distribution throughout the cross section of the construction. For this non-destructive testing method, it is important to choose correct measurement frequency in order to obtain credible results of humidity distribution. In this paper, methods of choosing suitable measurement frequencies are described as well as impact of different factors on choosing of the most suitable measurement frequencies of AAC masonry constructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the various costly sensor techniques, sensing different targets by the spectroscopic method have considered due to some advantages, including high productivity, sensitivity, and selectivity. This review article presents an overview of the many works on the polyoxometalates (POMs) application as spectroscopic sensor in recent years. Generally, POMs have extended as a category of encouraging advanced material applicants not only numerous building blocks, but also suitable oxidoreduction abilities and distinguished proton-coupled electron transfer susceptibilities. Therefore, this review considers the hopeful anticipations of POMs in sensing applications. The three structures of classic-type, organic–inorganic hybrids, and composite-based POMs have been discussed in details. POMs-based sensors have been evaluated via spectroscopic (fluorescence and colorimetric) technique. The most critical challenge faced by classic POM sensors, along with some of the advantages of organic–inorganic hybrid and composite-based POMs, are also briefly explained in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection caused by Mucorales, with a high mortality rate. However, only a few virulence factors have been described in these organisms. This study showed that deletion of rfs, which encodes the enzyme for the biosynthesis of rhizoferrin, a siderophore, in Mucor lusitanicus, led to a lower virulence in diabetic mice and nematodes. Upregulation of rfs correlated with the increased toxicity of the cell-free supernatants of the culture broth (SS) obtained under growing conditions that favor oxidative metabolism, such as low glucose levels or the presence of H2O2 in the culture, suggesting that oxidative metabolism enhances virulence through rhizoferrin production. Meanwhile, growing M. lusitanicus in the presence of potassium cyanide, N-acetylcysteine, a higher concentration of glucose, or exogenous cAMP, or the deletion of the gene encoding the regulatory subunit of PKA (pkaR1), correlated with a decrease in the toxicity of SS, downregulation of rfs, and reduction in rhizoferrin production. These observations indicate the involvement of the cAMP-PKA pathway in the regulation of rhizoferrin production and virulence in M. lusitanicus. Moreover, rfs upregulation was observed upon macrophage interaction or during infection with spores in mice, suggesting a pivotal role of rfs in M. lusitanicus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production and use of eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors allows valuable compounds contained in plant waste to be identified and repurposed while reducing the use of polluting synthetic substances. Pectin extracted from Tahiti limes (Citrus latifolia) and King mandarin (Citrus nobilis L.) in addition to natural gums—xanthan gum and latex from the "lechero" plant (Euphorbia laurifolia)—were used to create an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor. The optimal extraction conditions for pectin were determined from different combinations of pH, temperature, and time in a 23 factorial design and evaluated according to the obtained pectin yield. The highest pectin extraction yields (38.10% and 41.20% from King mandarin and lime, respectively) were reached at pH = 1, 85 °C, and 2 h. Extraction of pectic compounds was confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry analyses. Subsequently, a simplex-centroid mixture design was applied to determine the formulation of extracted pectin and natural gums that achieved the highest corrosion inhibitor effect (linear polarization and weight loss methods in NACE 1D-196 saline media using API-5LX52 carbon steel). Impedance spectroscopy analysis showed that the addition of xanthan gum to pectin (formulation 50% pectin–50% xanthan gum) improved the corrosion inhibitor effect from 29.20 to 78.21% at 400 ppm due to higher adsorption of inhibitory molecules on the metal surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bumblebee Bombus terrestris is used worldwide for crop pollination. Despite its positive impact on crop yield, it has become a widespread threat to biodiversity due to its interactions with local bumblebee populations. Commercial subspecies introduced to the Iberian Peninsula since the 1990s without any regulation have colonized the environment, with evidence of naturalization and introgression with the endemic subspecies Bombus terrestris lusitanicus. We have used mitochondrial and nuclear genetic data to describe the current genetic diversity of the Iberian population and to estimate the expansion of commercial bumblebees. Samples from the natural distribution range of the commercial subspecies, the natural intergradation area between the two subspecies and from a period prior to the use of commercial colonies (i.e., before the 1990s) have been used for comparison. Our results show that the mitochondrial haplotype of the commercial breeds has spread throughout the territory, which, together with subtle changes observed in the nuclear genetic diversity of the populations, indicates that hybridization and consequent introgression are occurring in most of the peninsula. It is, therefore, necessary to improve the existing legislation concerning the management and exportation of commercial bumblebees to conserve locally adapted populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the development of a low-power electronic system powered by a thermoelectric generator, based on Peltier cells, which takes advantage of daily temperature variations in the environment using a tank with 6 liters of water as a thermal accumulator. The generator works both day and night, since it uses a dc-dc boost converter with bipolar input. The system avoids using batteries because it charges a 0.1 F supercapacitor module between 2.40 and 3.15 V, so the useful energy in each charging cycle is 208 mJ. This energy is sufficient so that the system can measure the ambient temperature, represent it on a display and record it along with the date and time on a memory card when there is enough stored energy. The PSpice model and the simulation of the generator is also presented and experimental results of its operation are presented for two days. It is derived that in that period, with a maximum temperature difference of 10 °C, the system is able to charge the supercapacitor thirteen times per day, which means a daily useful energy of 2.7 J. Finally, results of the autonomous system performance for four days are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Thermotolerance has often been linked to species distribution for a diverse range of organisms. In the context of climate change, assessing heat resistance ability is useful for understanding potential future range shifts and the physiological response of populations. As bumblebee (Bombus) populations have been declining for several decades with several documented range shifts, an assessment of the hyperthermic resistance of species is urgently needed. In this study, we measure in males the heat resistance of ten bumblebee species living in temperate regions (northwestern Europe) with a static temperature methodology to evaluate the time before heat stupor (THS) which corresponds to a chill coma. Our results on heat stress resistance show that not all species are affected in the same way to heat stress. The most widespread species, B. terrestris (median THS 395 min) and B. lucorum (median THS 257 min) are the least sensitive to hyperthermic stress. The resistance time of bumblebee males is up to 10 times longer than the THS for declining species such as B. jonellus (median THS 48 min) and B. magnus (median THS 58 min). We highlight the high interspecific variability of heat resistance in a morphologically homogeneous genus such as bumblebees. From a conservation point of view, our research highlights the urgency for assessing the heat resistance of different species since each one can display a species-specific thermal sensitivity that is likely linked to a risk of decline in the case of heat waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tomaximize the performances of heterogeneous catalytic reactors, it is necessary to consider many parameters. Catalytic particle morphology (dimension, shape, active phase distribution) is generally previously established and seldom considered in the optimization of the catalyst to be specific for a given process. In this work, the influence of active phase distribution within spherical catalytic particles (egg-shell, egg-yolk and egg-white), on the yield and selectivity of a product is shown for a consecutive reaction network; here, the intermediate component is the main product of interest. Intraparticle mass and energy balances under non-steady conditions were implemented. Sensitivity studies lead to the identification of the optimal conditions, thus maximizing the yield of the intermediate for each active phase distribution. It was demonstrated that the egg-shell catalyst can maximize the intermediate yield, with a lower active-phase usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents: Recent reports indicate that stimulation of liquid‐stored boar semen with red LED‐based light improves sperm quality and reproductive performance in sow herds. So far, in vitro data after LED stimulation of whole semen doses are lacking. In this study, the effect of LED light exposure on the in vitro quality of boar spermatozoa after storage and thermic incubation was examined. Boar semen doses were stored at 17°C (n = 10) or 5°C (n = 6) in Beltsville Thawing Solution extender and then exposed to red LED light using a commercial photo chamber. During a subsequent long‐term incubation at 38°C, neither sperm kinematic parameters nor mitochondria function or membrane integrity differed between control and treated samples (p > .05). It is concluded that stimulation of semen doses in the LED‐photo chamber does not improve quality of thermically stressed boar sperm in vitro. Other than the sperm traits tested here might be involved in the previously reported improvement of in vivo fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the optical properties ofN,N-bis(aminobenzyl)naphthalenediimides2a–2d(BzNDIs) and their interaction with fluoride were studied. The results demonstrated that the amino group position in the benzyl substituent exerts an effect in the absorption and emission properties. Particularly, theN,N-bis(2-aminobenzyl)NDI2bpresented non-typical absorption and emission bands which indicate an intramolecular charge transfer from the amino phenyl group to the NDI core. As the concentration of2bincreases, the solution turns from colourless to a pale orange colour. The interaction of BzNDIs2a–2dwith anions was selective towards fluoride and the affinity was in the orderpara > ortho > metawith respect to the position of the amino group in the aminophenyl ring. Interestingly, the colour change in the solution of2bupon addition of fluoride makes it a good candidate for a fluoride colorimetric detection. The voltammetry analysis indicates the ability of these molecules to accept two electrons, in consequence the interaction of two fluoride anions with the BzNDIs was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industria Textila is the property of Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile si Pielarie and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

TSM is escape pipe in case of collapse of terrain. The TSM is a passive security tool placed underground to connect the work area with secure area (mining gallery mainly). TSM is light and hand able pipe made with aramid (Kevlar), carbon fibre, or other kind of new material. The TSM will be placed as a pipe line network with many in/out entrances/exits to rich and connect problem work areas with another parts in a safe mode. Different levels of instrumentation could be added inside such as micro-led escape way suggested, temperature, humidity, level of oxygen, etc.). The open hardware and software like Arduino will be the heart of control and automation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosurfactants are of great interest due to the demand for natural products with low toxicity. Nevertheless, their production is not competitive when cost is a limiting factor. Strain AL 1.1, isolated on Deception Island (Antarctica), identified as Bacillus licheniformis, produced lipopeptides when grown using a variety of carbohydrates. Biosurfactant production, but not growth, was optimal at 30 °C. The culture conditions and medium composition dictated biosurfactant production. Basic optimization of culture and extraction parameters gave a production yiels of 860 mg/L purified extract in 24 h. The purified biosurfactant yielded a mixture of lipopeptide homologues, with molecular weights between 1006 and 1034. The peptide moiety consists of glutamine as the N-terminal amino acid, two leucines, valine, aspartic, leucine and isoleucine as the C-terminal amino acid. The lipid moiety contains a mixture of β-hydroxy fatty acids ranging in size from C to C. These results indicate a similarity with lichenysin groups A, D or G. The organic extract reduced surface tension to 28.5 mN/m and achieved a critical micelle concentration of 15 mg/L. This highly effective and efficient behavior characterized the product as a powerful surfactant. Its stability under a wide pH range, high temperatures and variable concentrations of salt, as well as its emulsifying properties, suggest potential application in cosmetic industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small regulatory RNAs (s RNAs) play a key role in many physiological and adaptive responses in bacteria. Faced with rapidly changing environments, it is more advantageous for bacteria to use s RNA-mediated responses than regulation by protein transcriptional factors, as s RNAs act at the post-transcriptional level and require less energy and time for their synthesis and turnover. The use of RNA deep sequencing has provided hundreds of s RNA candidates in different bacterial species that interact with plants. Here, we review the most recent results for the involvement of bacterial s RNAs in beneficial as well as deleterious plant-bacteria interactions. We describe the current view for the role of s RNAs, which are suggested to improve competition for both niches and resources in plant-interacting bacteria. These s RNAs also help plant-associated bacteria individually adapt to the rapidly changing conditions to which they are exposed, during different stages of this interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper proposed some solutions for the decrease of the unschedule stops of the 8000Kn shear with parallel gang assigned for cutting the metallurgical products. Analysis of data collected through observation of operation/failure of the shear allow construction of the so-called Pareto diagram, which is an analysis and assessment method that at the same time allow identification of several failures on which should be droved with priority. Based on the study which has been performed is proposed solutions meant to increase the availability of the 8000 kN shear, existent in exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation of six priority PCBs was investigated in continuous stirred tank reactors fed with naturally contaminated sewage sludge. Anaerobic and aerobic abiotic losses were higher for the lightly chlorinated PCBs but remained for all PCBs below 20%. Under strict methanogenic conditions, PCB removals were about 40% whatever PCB molecular weight or their degree of chlorination. However, considering abiotic losses, the heaviest PCBs were more efficiently anaerobically biodegraded probably because of higher dechlorination rates. The aerating sludge process enhanced removal of the lightest chlorinated PCBs from 40% up to 100%, while removal rates of the heaviest PCBs remained around 40%. Although the mesophilic aerobic process exhibits better removal efficiencies because of operating conditions, the results suggest that PCB biodegradation was strongly limited by their bioavailability in naturally contaminated sludge, under both redox conditions. indeed, since PCB removal was closely linked to the solid reduction rates, PCB bioavailability was likely the limiting factor for biodegradation. As a consequence, the raw PCB concentrations (in mg kgdryweight-1) which are concerned by legislative procedures did not decrease sufficiently in both processes to reach a limit value fulfilling the current French/European regulation about PCB contents in sewage sludge before spreading on agricultural land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan (CS) is a natural biopolymer that has gained great interest in many research fields due to its promising biocompatibility, biodegradability, and favorable mechanical properties. The versatility of this low-cost polymer allows for a variety of chemical modifications via covalent conjugation and non-covalent interactions, which are designed to further improve the properties of interest. This review aims at presenting the broad range of functionalization strategies reported over the last five years to reflect the state-of-the art of CS derivatization. We start by describing covalent modifications performed on the CS backbone, followed by non-covalent CS modifications involving small molecules, proteins, and metal adjuvants. An overview of CS-based systems involving both covalent and electrostatic modification patterns is then presented. Finally, a special focus will be given on the characterization techniques commonly used to qualify the composition and physical properties of CS derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reported the results of investigation on shiftwork and heat stress in an intensive care unit. The aim of this study was to analyse the physiological strain of nurses during the three shifts (Morning, Afternoon, Night) in relation to the specific microclimatic conditions and job activities. 8 professional nurses (6 female and 2 male), aged between 21 and 38 years (mean 29. 8±5.6 years), having from 3 to 18 years service, were monitored throughout a complete working cycle of 4 days. They worked on a three shift system at fast rotation. Their working environment was an independent unit for intensive care and expert surgical treatment which was entirely air conditioned. The observation indexes included: twenty-five blood parameters, ten urine parameters, net cardiac cost and relation cardiac cost, etc. The results of the investigation have not envidenced serious alterations of the psycho-physical conditions of the nurses, but do pointed out some problems pertaining both to the environmental and physiological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]