Energy-ecological efficiency of the fuel cell electric vehicle powered by different biofuels

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - This paper examines the net environmental impact for the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle, in special the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (SOFCEV), by...     

Protein profile and antioxidant capacity of processed seeds from two common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds are an economical protein source rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity. In this work, we evaluated processed seeds from two common bean cultivars regarding protein profile and antioxidant capacity before and after enzymatic digestion in vitro. We provided protein maps by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) of seeds germinated during 36 h and 72 h. The principal component analysis (PCA) showed that protein abundance had more variation on germination times than the cultivar ones. Seeds germinated for 36 h showed greater antioxidant capacity compared to germination for 72 h and cooking, before and after enzymatic digestion. In protein isolates, cooking associated with digestion provided better antioxidant capacity. Germination time influences protein expression as well as the antioxidant capacity of common beans. Furthermore, in vitro digestion increases the antioxidant capacity of cooked bean protein isolates.     

Risk assessment of cyber-attacks on telemetry-enabled cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED)

International Journal of Information Security - Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) are vulnerable to radio frequency (RF) cyber-attacks. Besides, CIED communicate with medical equipment...     

Effect of anionic substitution on the high temperature stability of polymer-derived SiOC glasses

In this study the high temperature stability (crystallization and decomposition) of two silicon oxycarbide glasses with a similar amount of free carbon (8.3 vs 9.6 wt%) but different content of Si-C bonds (SiC_0.22O_1.57 vs SiC_0.07O_1.86) is presented. The two SiOC glasses are obtained from the same precursor (2 µm methyl-silsesquioxane spheres) via pyrolysis at 1100°C in inert (Ar) or reactive (CO₂) atmospheres. Further annealing in Ar flow at temperatures above 1100°C and up to 1500°C is performed and the samples are characterized by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). For comparison purposes the same precursor was annealed in air flow to obtain SiO₂ and its high temperature evolution is also studied. Results suggest that the onset for the carbothermal reduction is not dependent on the amount of Si-C bonds. Moreover, contrary to what is usually reported in the scientific literature, silica phase present in the SiOC glasses does not show, in the same experimental conditions, superior crystallization resistance compared to pure silica glass.     

Molecular Classification and Pharmacogenetics of Primary Plasma Cell Leukemia: An Initial Approach toward Precision Medicine

Primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL) is a rare and aggressive variant of multiple myeloma (MM) which may represent a valid model for high-risk MM. This disease is associated with a very poor prognosis, and unfortunately, it has not significantly improved during the last three decades. New high-throughput technologies have allowed a better understanding of the molecular basis of this disease and moved toward risk stratification, providing insights for targeted therapy studies. This knowledge, added to the pharmacogenetic profile of new and old agents in the analysis of efficacy and safety, could contribute to help clinical decisions move toward a precision medicine and a better clinical outcome for these patients. In this review, we describe the available literature concerning the genomic characterization and pharmacogenetics of plasma cell leukemia (PCL).     

Poly(vinyl alcohol)‐Based Film Potentially Suitable for Antimicrobial Packaging Applications

This work aimed at developing a thin and water‐resistant food‐grade poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH)‐based matrix able to swell when in contact with high moisture content food products without rupturing to release antimicrobial agents onto the food surface. This film was prepared by blending PVOH and 7.20% (wt/wt of PVOH) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with citric acid as crosslinking agent. The film‐forming solution was then casted onto a flat surface and the obtained film was 60 μm in thickness and showed a good transparency (close to T = 100%) in the visible region (400 to 700 nm). After immersion in water for 72 h at room temperature, the crosslinked matrix loses only 19.2% of its original weight (the percentage includes the amount of unreacted crosslinking agent, antimicrobial in itself). Water content, degree of swelling, and crosslinking density of the film prove that the presence of PEG diminishes the hydrophilic behavior of the material. Also the mechanical properties of the wet and dry film were assessed. Alongside this, 2.5% (wt/wt of dry film) of grapefruit seed extract (GSE), an antimicrobial agent, was added to the film‐forming solution just before casting and the ability of the plastic matrix to release the additive was then evaluated in vitro against 2 GSE‐susceptible microorganisms, Salmonella enteritidis and Listeria innocua. The results indicate that the developed matrix may be a promising food‐grade material for the incorporation of active substances.     

Influence of plasma surface treatments on kink band formation in PBO fibers during compression

The effect of nitrogen and oxygen plasma surface treatments on the compressive strength of PBO fibers has been studied. To this end, the nucleation and propagation of compression‐induced kink bands was carefully monitored by means of in situ bending tests inside a scanning electron microscope. The micromechanisms of deformation were identical irrespective of fiber surface condition (either as‐received or modified by plasma) but the critical stress necessary to induce irreversible damage in compression in the nitrogen‐plasma treated fibers was 40% higher than in the as‐received fibers. This improvement occurred without any reduction in the fiber tensile properties. The source of this behavior is discussed in the light of the morphological and chemical changes induced by the plasma treatments on the fiber surface, as studied by AFM and XPS. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Harnessing Multiple Folding Mechanisms in Soft Periodic Structures for Tunable Control of Elastic Waves

Mechanical instabilities in periodic porous elastic structures may lead to the formation of homogeneous patterns, opening avenues for a wide range of applications that are related to the geometry of the system. This study focuses on an elastomeric porous structure comprising a triangular array of circular holes, and shows that by controlling the loading direction, multiple pattern transformations can be induced by buckling. Interestingly, these different pattern transformations can be exploited to design materials with highly tunable properties. In particular, these results indicate that they can be effectively used to tune the propagation of elastic waves in phononic crystals, enhancing the tunability of the dynamic response of the system. Using a combination of finite element simulations and experiments, a proof‐of‐concept of the novel material is demonstrated. Since the proposed mechanism is induced by elastic instability, it is reversible, repeatable, and scale‐independent, opening avenues for the design of highly tunable materials and devices over a wide range of length scales.     

Combination of X-ray and digital image correlation for the analysis of moisture-induced strain in wood: opportunities and challenges

In this present study, the moisture-induced deformation behaviour of a spruce sample was analysed one- and two-dimensionally with high resolution on the radial-tangential surface. For this purpose, an artificial speckle pattern was applied to the surface which was then recorded by a CCD camera during the deformation. The generated TIF images were analysed with a strain mapping software (VIC 2D) that computed the two-dimensional strain field from the surface deformation. Selected options to evaluate two-dimensional data generated with X-ray imaging and digital image correlation are presented. Combining and correlating these techniques enables detailed analysis of structure-function relationships during swelling (and shrinkage) processes in wood. However, several issues still have to be solved to enhance effectiveness and user-friendliness of such investigations, as elucidated in detail in this paper.