Nonlinear Interval Parameter Programming Combined with Cooperative Games: a Tool for Addressing Uncertainty in Water Allocation Using Water Diplomacy Framework

Water Resources Management - This paper shows the utility of a new interval cooperative game theory as an effective water diplomacy tool to resolve competing and conflicting needs of water users...     

Model for boiling explosion during rapid liquid heating

The process of rapid liquid heating with a linearly increasing boundary temperature condition has been simulated by applying the analytical solution of 1D semi-infinite heat conduction in association with the molecular theory of homogeneous nucleation boiling. A control volume having the size of a characteristic critical cluster at the liquid boundary is considered, and the corresponding energy balance equation is obtained by considering two parallel competing processes that take place inside the control volume, namely, transient external energy deposition and internal energy consumption due to bubble nucleation and subsequent growth. Depending on the instantaneous rate of external energy deposition and boiling heat consumption within the control volume, a particular state is defined as the boiling explosion condition in which bubble generation and growth cause the liquid sensible energy to decrease. The obtained results are presented in terms of the average liquid temperature rise within the control volume, maximum attainable liquid temperature before boiling explosion and the time required to achieve the condition of boiling explosion. The model is applied for the case of water heating at atmospheric pressure with initial and boundary conditions identical to those reported in the literature. Model predictions concerning boiling explosion are found to be in good agreement with the experimental observations. The boiling explosion condition as predicted by the present model is verified by comparing the heat flux across the liquid–vapor interface with the corresponding limit of maximum possible heat flux, q_max,max, at the time of boiling explosion. A comparative study between the actual heat flux and the limit of maximum heat flux, q_max,max, at the time of boiling explosion for different rates of boundary heating indicates that, with much higher boundary heating rates, it is possible to heat the liquid to a much higher temperature before theoretical instantaneous boiling explosion occurs.     

Multiobjective Calibration of Reservoir Water Quality Modeling Using Multiobjective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO)

Water resource management encounters large variety of multi objective problems that require powerful optimization tools in order to fully characterize the existing tradeoffs between various objectives that can be minimizing difference between forecasted physical, chemical, and biological behaviors of model and measured data. Calibration of complex water quality models for river and reservoir systems may include conflicting objectives addressed by various combinations of interacting calibration parameters. Calibration of the two dimensional CE-QUAL-W2 water quality and hydrodynamic model is an excellent example where the model must be calibrated for both hydrodynamic and water quality behavior. The aim of the present study is to show how multiobjective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) can be implemented for automatic calibration of water quality and hydrodynamic parameters of a 2-dimensional, hydrodynamic, and water quality models (CEQUAL-W2) to predict physical, chemical, and biological behaviors of a water body, and then focus on a relevant case study. So MOPSO is utilized to generate Pareto optimal solutions for two conflicting calibration objectives. A combined measure of thermal and reservoir water level is considered as the first calibration objective. The second objective is formulated to forecast the best physical, chemical, and biological behavior of the model. Realizing the strong interactions between water quality and hydrodynamic issues of water bodies and their dependencies on the same set of calibration parameters, the proposed multiobjective approach may provide a wide version of all possible calibration solutions for better decision making to select best solution from pareto front.     

Temperature-sensitive mutant of Schizosaccharomyces pombe exhibiting enhanced radiation sensitivity

A conditional lethal and radiation-sensitive mutant of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is described in which both characteristics result from a single gene mutation. Confirmation of the pleiotropic nature of this mutant was obtained by tetrad analysis and by testing the radiation sensitivity of a large number of revertants that grew normally at the restrictive temperature. The colony-forming ability of the mutant after ultraviolet radiation, gamma radiation, and ethyl methane sulfonate treatment is considerably altered by the post-treatment incubation temperature, showing higher survival at 25 than at 30degreesC. The radiosensitivity of the mutant is also influenced by the stage of growth. The difference in radiation sensitivity between the wild type and mutant is greater when log-phase cultures are compared. The characteristics of this mutant suggest that it is defective in a step common to both deoxyribonucleic acid replication and repair.     

A review of Znln2S4-based photocatalysts for producing hydrogen by water splitting under visible light: Fundamentals and recent advancements

Hydrogen (H₂) is a clean energy carrier widely used in oil refineries, fertilizers, chemicals, and steel manufacturing. Presently, the majority of H₂ is produced from either steam methane reforming of natural gas or coal gasification; however, these technologies result in a massive amount of CO₂ emission. Alternatively, the use of photocatalysts for producing H₂ via water splitting is an eco-friendly and sustainable approach, among which the selection of highly efficient, stable, and cheap photocatalysts is the key. In this review, Znln₂S₄-based photocatalysts are thoroughly described in terms of the fundamentals and thermodynamics of water splitting, fabrication methods, and different heterostructure photocatalytic systems. After this, recent developments in the large-scale implementation of photocatalytic reactors are discussed. Finally, a summary of future research directions and major conclusions is provided. With proper modification, such as heterojunction systems and the selection of proper fabrication methods, Znln₂S₄-based photocatalysts could be superior materials for water splitting. In short, this review article could offer meaningful and useful insights and guidance for the development of Znln₂S₄-based photocatalysts in water splitting for producing H₂ under visible light.     

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining--a prognostic factor in ovarian cancer?

The measurement of tumour cell proliferation is becoming increasingly recognised in defining prognostic groups. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunolocalisation can be used as an index of cell proliferation and may define the extent of departure from normal growth control. The monoclonal antibody PC10 stains PCNA in archival paraffin-embedded tissue. This study investigates its potential as a prognostic marker in early and advanced ovarian cancer. A three-stage immunoperoxidase technique was developed to detect the monoclonal antibody PC10. Archival paraffin-embedded tissue from 19 stage I ovarian tumours (13 malignant and six borderline) and 79 advanced (stage IIb-IV) ovarian tumours (patients entered into the Third North-West Thames Ovarian Cancer Trial) was immunostained with PC10. PC10 immunostaining was performed successfully in 91.8% of cases. The PC10 labelling index (PC10 LI) ranged from 1.5% to 88% with a mean value of 47.4%. Stage I borderline tumours had significantly lower PCNA labelling indexes than stage I malignant tumours (P < 0.048). In advanced disease there was an inverse correlation between PC10 and overall survival, and in those patients who underwent good debulking surgery (37 patients with disease < 2 cm diameter) a low PC10 value (< 36.5%) correlated with improved survival (log-rank trend test for survival, chi 2 = 5.75, P = 0.017). PCNA immunostaining defines a good prognostic subgroup in adequately debulked patients with ovarian cancer.     

Creep and Fatigue Failure in Single- and Double Hot Arm MEMS Thermal Actuators

Determination of the failure mechanisms of mechanical devices is the key to the design of reliable products. This paper reports an investigation on creep and fatigue failure of microelectromechanical (MEMS) thermal actuators. Finite element modeling is used to predict thermomechanical behavior of actuators under low to moderate voltage differences. The modeling results are compared with experimental results to evaluate the models. Two probable failure modes associated with thermal actuators, that is, fatigue and creep, are investigated, and it is found that creep is the dominant failure mechanism. The creep behaviors of several U-shape and double hot arm thermal MEMS actuators are examined, and their deformation-time curves are obtained numerically and experimentally. The curves follow a typical three-stage creep curve usually observed in metals. The creep life cycles of the devices are compared on the basis of their stress and temperature distributions. This study shows that actuators with the maximum temperature occurring at the location where the high stress is induced have shorter life spans than those experiencing the high stress away from the maximum temperature location. It is concluded that the double hot arm actuators with equal length have longer creep life than the U-shape (single hot arm) actuators.     

Novel NGR anchored pullulan micelles for controlled and targeted delivery of doxorubicin to HeLa cancerous cells

Doxorubicin (DOX) is used to treat different kinds of cancers, including cervix carcinoma. However, it has various side effects such as cardiotoxicity. Nano-sized controlled releasing carriers such as polymeric micelles are of interesting approaches to overcome these side effects of doxorubicin in cancer chemotherapy. Regarding the up-regulation of CD13/APN receptors on the cervix carcinoma cells, which can bind to peptide sequences specially NGR (asparagine–glycine–arginine) with high affinity, peptide sequence (NGR) targeted micelles would lead to effective treatment of this carcinoma. In this study, the NGR peptide sequence was synthesized using the solution-phase strategy from asparagine, glycine, and arginine residues. The pullulan–retinoic acid conjugate and pullulan–retinoic acid–NGR conjugate were prepared by the amide and ester bond formation between the hydroxyl groups of pullulan and carboxylic acid groups of retinoic acid and peptide sequence. Pullulan–retinoic acid–NGR micelles were prepared by the direct dissolution method. The optimized micelles, according to their particle size (124.5 nm), zeta potential (? 3.65 mV), entrapment efficiency (85%), and release of DOX (70%, within 72 h) were assessed for their cytotoxicity on HeLa cells using MTT assay. NGR-targeted pullulan/retinoic acid micelles had higher cytotoxicity than the free DOX in cell culture studies on the HeLa cell line, and this can be a promising result in the treatment of cervix carcinoma.