Extended filters in bounded commutative Rl-monoids

The notion of extended filter of a filter associated to a subset of Rl-monoids is defined and related properties are investigated. Rachunek and Salounova proved that positive implicative filters and Boolean filters in Rl-monoids coincide with a condition in Rachunek and Salounova (Acta Univ Palacki Olomuc Fac rer nat Math 48(1):93–107, 2009). In this paper, we prove that positive implicative filters and Boolean filters coincide without any condition and get some results on various types of filters.     

Lack of associative filters in lattice implication algebras

Jun et al. (Bull Korean Math Soc 35(1):53–61, 1998) introduced the notion of associative filters in lattice implication algebra and studied some of its properties. In this paper, we show that there is no associative filter in lattice implication algebra.     

Oxygen-Generating Cryogels Restore T Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity in Hypoxic Tumors

Solid tumors are protected from antitumor immune responses due to their hypoxic microenvironments. Weakening hypoxia-driven immunosuppression by hyperoxic breathing of 60% oxygen has shown to be effective in unleashing antitumor immune cells against solid tumors. However, efficacy of systemic oxygenation is limited against solid tumors outside of lungs and has been associated with unwanted side effects. As a result, it is essential to develop targeted oxygenation alternatives to weaken tumor hypoxia as novel approaches to restore immune responses against cancer. Herein, injectable oxygen-generating cryogels (O₂-cryogels) to reverse tumor-induced hypoxia are reported. These macroporous biomaterials are designed to locally deliver oxygen, inhibit the expression of hypoxia-inducible genes in hypoxic melanoma cells, and reduce the accumulation of immunosuppressive extracellular adenosine. The data show that O₂-cryogels enhance T cell-mediated secretion of cytotoxic proteins, restoring the killing ability of tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, O₂-cryogels provide a unique and safe platform to supply oxygen as a coadjuvant in hypoxic tumors and have the potential to improve cancer immunotherapies.     

Nonlinear transient heat transfer and thermoelastic analysis of thick-walled FGM cylinder with temperature-dependent material properties using Hermitian transfinite element

Nonlinear transient heat transfer and thermoelastic stress analyses of a thick-walled FGM cylinder with temperature-dependent materials are performed by using the Hermitian transfinite element method. Temperature-dependency of the material properties has not been taken into account in transient thermoelastic analysis, so far. Due to the mentioned dependency, the resulting governing FEM equations of transient heat transfer are highly nonlinear. Furthermore, in all finite element analysis performed so far in the field, Lagrangian elements have been used. To avoid an artificial local heat source at the mutual boundaries of the elements, Hermitian elements are used instead in the present research. Another novelty of the present paper is simultaneous use of the transfinite element method and updating technique. Time variations of the temperature, displacements, and stresses are obtained through a numerical Laplace inversion. Finally, results obtained considering the temperature-dependency of the material properties are compared with those derived based on temperature independency assumption. Furthermore, the temperature distribution and the radial and circumferential stresses are investigated versus time, geometrical parameters and index of power law. Results reveal that the temperature-dependency effect is significant.     

Degradability Enhancement of Poly(Lactic Acid) by Stearate-Zn(3)Al LDH Nanolayers

Recent environmental problems and societal concerns associated with the disposal of petroleum based plastics throughout the world have triggered renewed efforts to develop new biodegradable products compatible with our environment. This article describes the preparation, characterization and biodegradation study of poly(lactic acid)/layered double hydroxide (PLA/LDH) nanocomposites from PLA and stearate-Zn₃Al LDH. A solution casting method was used to prepare PLA/stearate-Zn₃Al LDH nanocomposites. The anionic clay Zn₃Al LDH was firstly prepared by co-precipitation method from a nitrate salt solution at pH 7.0 and then modified by stearate anions through an ion exchange reaction. This modification increased the basal spacing of the synthetic clay from 8.83 Å to 40.10 Å. The morphology and properties of the prepared PLA/stearate-Zn₃Al LDH nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile tests as well as biodegradation studies. From the XRD analysis and TEM observation, the stearate-Zn₃Al LDH lost its ordered stacking-structure and was greatly exfoliated in the PLA matrix. Tensile test results of PLA/stearate-Zn₃Al LDH nanocomposites showed that the presence of around 1.0–3.0 wt % of the stearate-Zn₃Al LDH in the PLA drastically improved its elongation at break. The biodegradation studies demonstrated a significant biodegradation rate improvement of PLA in the presence of stearate-Zn₃Al LDH nanolayers. This effect can be caused by the catalytic role of the stearate groups in the biodegradation mechanism leading to much faster disintegration of nanocomposites than pure PLA.     

Antioxidant and Antihemolytic Activities of Ethanolic Extract of Flowers,Leaves, and Stems of Hyssopus officinalis L. Var. angustifolius

In this study, antioxidant and antihemolytic activities of ethanolic extract of flowers, leaves, and stems of Hyssopus officinalis L. Var. angustifolius were investigated employing different in vitro assay systems. Extracts showed good antioxidant activity. IC₅₀ for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical-scavenging activity were 148.8 ± 4.31 μg mL^?1 for flowers, 79.9 ± 2.63 μg mL^?1 for stems, and 208.2 ± 6.45 μg mL^?1 for leaves. All extracts showed moderate iron (II) chelating ability. Extracts exhibited good antioxidant activity in the hemoglobin-induced linoleic acid model and also they were capable of scavenging hydrogen peroxide in a concentration dependent manner. Extracts showed good antihemolytic activity againts hydrogen peroxide-induced hemolysis (IC₅₀ were 48.51 ± 2.27 μg mL^?1 for flowers, 19.47 ± 0.73 μg mL^?1 for leaves, and 63.1 ± 2.65 μg mL^?1 for stems). The total amount of phenolic compounds in the extracts was determined as gallic acid equivalents and total flavonoid content was calculated as quercetin equivalents from a calibration curve.     

Individual-based modelling of hydropeaking effects on brown trout and Atlantic salmon in a regulated river

We developed an individual-based model (IBM) to understand the effects of hydropeaking on growth, survival and distribution of age 0+ to 1+ juveniles for high-conservation value populations of native brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Atlantic salmon (S. salar) in river Gullspång, Sweden. We parameterized and applied inSTREAM (7.2-SD) and calibrated the model by comparing predicted versus observed growth under the current hydropeaking regime (n=>1,200 model fish for 365 days). Our objective was to model growth, survival and distribution under flow scenarios with and without hydropeaking. We observed that hydropeaking generally resulted in modest (~10%) negative effects on growth and survival of both species. Survival was more affected than was growth, smaller fish more affected than larger fish. On-peak (high) hydropeaking flows resulted in less profitable feeding conditions (less growth) and higher predation (lower survival). Thus, inSTREAM 7.2-SD appears to capture ecologically-relevant behavioral patterns under hydropeaking, for example, habitat selection, in response to rapid flow changes. Understanding such patterns for large rivers via manipulative field studies, even if possible, would be time-consuming and costly. Our study demonstrates the potential of IBMs as powerful tools for testing research questions and assessing and prioritizing alternative management strategies in regulated rivers.     

Photocatalytic degradation of reactive black 5 azo dye by zinc sulfide quantum dots prepared by a sonochemical method

Zinc sulfide (ZnS) nanoparticles (NPs) with an average particle size of 2 nm were successfully synthesized under ultrasonic irradiation without any surfactant and high temperature treatment. Prepared NPs were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering analysis, and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The energy band gap of ZnS NPs was measured by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of semiconducting sulfide quantum dots for degradation of an azo dye called reactive black 5 (RB5) was investigated. Results showed that the dye can be photocatalytically degraded with high rate by ZnS NPs under UV light irradiation. The kinetics of removal of RB5 in aqueous solutions was studied in a series of experiments which were varied in the amount of ZnS NPs, contact time, pH, dye concentration, and temperature. The experimental data were fitted very well in the pseudo-second order kinetic model. 95% of dye was successfully removed in 10 min using 0.2 g ZnS NPs in a neutral pH. A possible molecular mechanism for photocatalytic degradation of dye by ZnS NPs was also given.     

Improved antifouling of anion-exchange membrane by polydopamine coating in electrodialysis process

The fouling, in particular the organic fouling of anion exchange membranes (AEMs), is a serious problem in electrodialysis (ED). In this paper, we attempted to improve the antifouling potential of AEM by surface modification with polydopamine (PDA). The antifouling potential was evaluated by the transition time, i.e. the time elapsed before fouling took place, using sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) as a model foulant. The negative surface charge density, hydrophilicity and roughness of the membrane surface were increased with increasing dopamine concentration in the modification solution. The increases in negative surface charge density and hydrophilicity increased the antifouling potential, while the increase in surface roughness decreased the antifouling potential. Consequently, the optimum modification condition was the immersion into a 0.1 kg/m³ dopamine aqueous solution at pH 8.8 for 24 h. Under this condition, the antifouling potential of AEM was sufficiently improved. It was shown by theoretical analysis of the fouling data that the surface modification with PDA prevented the adsorption of SDBS micelles and improved the antifouling potential. Furthermore, it was experimentally confirmed that the modified membrane was highly stable.