An Approach for Estimating Monthly Curve Number Based on Remotely-Sensed MODIS Leaf Area Index Products

Water Resources Management - Curve number (CN) is a principal factor which is widely used in hydrology, specifically in the rainfall-runoff modelling. Its value varies based on soil moisture...     

On enhancing the deadlock-preventing object migration automaton using the pursuit paradigm

Pattern Analysis and Applications - Probably, the most reputed solution for partitioning, which has applications in databases, attribute partitioning, processor-based assignment and many other...     

Evaluating the relationship between the academic and social impact of open access books based on citation behaviors and social media attention

Scientometrics - Open access academic achievements include not only papers and journals, but also books, which have become an important achievement for scholars and can be regarded as scholarly...     

CFD simulation of gas-solid bubbling fluidized bed containing FCC particles

The hydrodynamics of a bubbling gas-solid fluidized bed of 57.4 μm FCC particles was simulated by using a state-of-the-art two-fluid model integrating the kinetic theory of granular flow for particulate phase stresses. The overestimation of the bed expansion was resolved by using a suitable scale factor in the drag model as suggested by McKeen and Pugsley (T.R. McKeen, T.S. Pugsley, Powder Technol., 129, 139 (2003)). This study showed that the method was appropriate in simulation of a gas-solid fluidized bed of Geldart A particles at high gas velocities (0.3 to 0.61 m/s). The reduction of computational time especially for simulation of large-scale systems was achieved. The time-averaged local voidage was compared with the experimental data and the trend of varying several parameters on the hydrodynamic of the bed was investigated. The simulation results showed both qualitative and quantitative agreement with the literature.     

Surface coating of silver nanoparticles on polyethylene for fabrication of antimicrobial milk packaging films

In this study, antimicrobial packaging films were prepared by coating silver (Ag) nanoparticles onto the surface of low density polyethylene (LDPE) films modified by corona air plasma. The possibility of these films for use in the packaging of milk was studied. The influence of input power of the corona discharge treatment on the surface modification and performance of the fabricated Ag/LDPE nanocomposite films was also investigated. The prepared antimicrobial packaging films showed promising antimicrobial efficiency against micro‐organisms that are present in milk and were able to increase the microbial shelf life of the milk. Packages fabricated at corona input powers of 210, 500 and 800 W reached the maximum limit after 5, 8 and 14 days (respectively).     

Immunobiological Properties and Clinical Applications of Interleukin-38 for Immune-Mediated Disorders: A Systematic Review Study

Exponential growth in the usage of “cytokines” (as seroimmunobiomarkers) has facilitated more accurate prognosis, early diagnosis, novel, and efficient immunotherapeutics. Numerous studies have reported immunopathophysiological and immunopathological processes of interleukin-38 (IL-38). Therefore, in this systematic review article, the authors aimed to present an updated comprehensive overview on the immunobiological mechanisms, diagnostic, and immune gene-based therapeutic potentials of IL-38. According to our inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 216 articles were collected from several search engines and databases from the January 2012 to July 2021 time interval by using six main keywords. Physiologic or pathologic microenvironments, optimal dosage, and involved receptors affect the functionalities of IL-38. Alterations in serum levels of IL-38 play a major role in the immunopathogenesis of a wide array of immune-mediated disorders. IL-38 shows anti-inflammatory activities by reduction or inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines, supporting the therapeutic aspects of IL-38 in inflammatory autoimmune diseases. According to the importance of pre-clinical studies, it seems that manipulation of the immune system by immunomodulatory properties of IL-38 can increase the accuracy of diagnosis, and decipher optimal clinical outcomes. To promote our knowledge, more collaboration is highly recommended among laboratory scientists, internal/infectious diseases specialists, oncologists, immunologists, diseases-specific biomarkers scientists, and basic medical researchers.     

Design and analysis of a millimeter‐wave injection locked frequency divider with transconductance boosting technique

This paper presents a degenerated injector (mixer) with transconductance boosted by biasing the mixer transistor in the knee region of its I‐V curve, without increasing the transistor size and its parasitics. This mixer can enhance the locking range of millimeter‐wave injection‐locked frequency dividers. To compensate the degradation of mixer transconductance (conversion‐gain) due to the degeneration effect, a neutralization technique is employed. Analyses are given for locking‐range and induced phase‐noise of the proposed divider for arbitrary injection strength. It is shown that the locking‐range, as a function of injection strength, is improved by increasing the fundamental component of transconductance. Using 180‐nm CMOS technology, a 1.78‐mW divider‐by‐two is designed with free‐running frequency of 27.92 GHz, locking‐range of 51 to 59.6 GHz, and figure‐of‐merit of 4.83 (GHz/mW). EM simulation results of the proposed and conventional structure are compared, which illustrates 56% improvement in locking‐range.     

Disinfection of dairy wastewater effluent through solar photocatalysis processes

Due to the strict regulations and reuse policies that govern wastewater's use as an irrigation water resource for agricultural purposes, especially in dry climates, optimization of the disinfection process is of the utmost importance. The effects of solar radiation along with Titanium dioxide(TiO_2) nanoparticles applied to optimization of the photolysis and photocatalysis processes for inactivating heterotrophic bacteria were investigated. Temperature, p H, and dissolved oxygen fluctuations in the dairy wastewater effluent treated by activated sludge were examined. In addition,different dosages of TiO_2 were tested in the solar photocatalysis(ph-C S) and concentrated solar photocatalysis(ph-C CS) processes. The results show that the disinfection efficiencies of the solar photolysis(ph-L S) and concentrated solar photolysis(ph-L CS) processes after 30 min were about 10.5% and 68.9%, respectively, and that the ph-C S and ph-C CS processes inactivated 41% and 97% of the heterotrophic bacteria after 30 min, respectively. The p H variation in these processes was negligible. Using the ph-L CS and ph-C CS processes, the synergistic effect between the optical and thermal inactivation caused complete disinfection after three hours. However, disinfection was faster in the ph-C CS process than in the ph-L CS process. Significant correlations were found between the disinfection efficiency and the variation of the dissolved oxygen concentration in the ph-C S and ph-C CS processes, while the correlations between the disinfection efficiency and temperature variation were not significant in the ph-L S and ph-C S processes. Moreover, the oxygen consumption rate was greatest(3.2 mg··L~(-1)) in the ph-C CS process. Hence,it could be concluded that the ph-C CS process is an efficient photocatalysis process for disinfection of dairy wastewater effluent.     

Influence of solvent type on the ability and properties of the boehmite nanoparticles embedded emulsion polyvinyl chloride nanocomposite ultrafiltration membranes

Iranian Polymer Journal - The effects of two different solvents of dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) were investigated on the properties and performance of the neat and...     

Ultrasound- and microwave-assisted intermittent drying of red beetroot

Abstract

A drying technique using a combination of high power airborne ultrasound, microwaves and hot air was applied to investigate the effect of intermittent drying on the process kinetics and several quality indicators of red beetroot. An innovative hybrid dryer was used in drying experiments. Six sets of drying programs were carried out. Ultrasound and microwaves were applied in convective drying continuously (hybrid processes) or periodically (hybrid intermittent processes). The drying processes were assessed in terms of drying time, drying rate, and energy consumption. Moreover, the total color change, retention of natural dye (betanin), water activity, texture, and microstructure of dry product were examined. The drying kinetics was well-fitted with the use of the Midilli-Kucuk model. It was found that hybrid intermittent drying reduces the total drying time and energy consumption, enhances both the drying rate and product quality. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the hybrid intermittent drying can serve as an alternative to traditional hot air drying that could produce a more porous, nice color, and crispy vegetable product.