Nutritional behavior of cyclists during a 24-hour team relay race: a field study report

Background  

Information about behavior of energy intake in ultra-endurance cyclists during a 24-hour team relay race is scarce. The nutritional strategy during such an event is an important factor which athletes should plan carefully before the race. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the nutritional intake of ultra-endurance cyclists during a 24-hour team relay race with the current nutritional guidelines for endurance events. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship among the nutritional and performance variables.     

Chemical Analysis with High Spatial Resolution by Rutherford Backscattering and Raman Confocal Spectroscopies: Surface Hierarchically Structured Glasses

Copper and iron in glasses constitute classical aims of study because of the optical effects that they produce. Structured materials are also interesting due to the incorporated functionalities derived from their spatial organization. Here, CuO and Fe₂O₃ were incorporated into a standard glass, from which glass coatings with different thicknesses were studied. Whereas iron cations dissolved in the glassy matrix, copper cations saturated it and crystallized at the surface, forming a hierarchical microstructure. The surface microstructure consisted of crystallizations of Tenorite (CuO) forming interconnected walls. The walls surrounding areas of glassy matrix gave rise to a cells microstructure. Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry provided the composition of the samples with high depth resolution, and Raman Confocal Microscopy determined the phases location and their distribution forming the microstructure. The joint information from both techniques allowed high chemical and spatial resolution of the main cations location for the hierarchical surface microstructure.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of antiferromagnetic nanoparticles of La1−xSrxCrO3 (0.000 ≤ x ≤ 0.020) synthesized by combustion reaction

Nanocrystalline particles of La_1−xSr_xCrO₃ (0.000 ≤ x ≤ 0.020) compounds were synthesized in order to investigate the antiferromagnetic (AFM) to paramagnetic (PM) phase transition temperature, g-factor, line width and intensity by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). All samples were synthesized by combustion reaction method using strontium nitrate, lanthanum nitrate, chromium nitrate and urea as fuel without subsequent heat treatment. X-ray diffraction patterns of all systems showed broad peaks consistent with orthorhombic structure of LaCrO₃. The absence of extra reflections in the diffraction patterns of as-prepared materials ensures the phase purity. The average crystallite sizes determined from the prominent (1 1 2) peak of the diffraction using Scherrer's equation was independent of the addition of Sr²⁺ ions; being ca. 31–29 nm for x = 0.000 and 0.020, respectively. The EPR line width and intensity were found to be dependent on Sr²⁺ addition and temperature. However, the AFM–PM transition temperature was found to be independent of strontium concentration, being ca. 296 K. In the PM phase, g-factor was nearly temperature independent with increasing of x. The EPR results indicated that the addition of Sr²⁺ ions may induce creation of Cr³⁺–Cr⁴⁺ clusters.     

云计算带给电信运营商的五大益处

<正>和其他运营商相比,电信运营商向5G的过渡要更具挑战性。而通过拥抱云技术,电信运营商能够更好地克服5G技术带来的挑战,包括解决复杂的网络编排,整合新技术、应用和运营模式,开发运行新网络技能组合等。电信运营商正面临着多重挑战：一方面,他们必须开发更多的智能网络（包括边缘计算功能）以应对物联网（IoT）设备数量的快速增长,并研究如何确保5G的投资回报;另一方面,他们还需要应对新冠肺炎疫情造成的财务影响,     

Steady-state analysis of a natural gas distribution network with hydrogen injection to absorb excess renewable electricity

Natural gas networks, thanks to their extensiveness and capillarity, could play a crucial role in the green transition of the energy sector. The decarbonization of a gas network can be achieved by injecting green hydrogen into the grid. This work aims to simulate a low-pressure natural gas distribution network serving industrial and residential users and subjected to one localized injection of hydrogen produced by renewable energy sources. The main quality indexes and fluid dynamics parameters of the gas mixture are analysed to understand the feasibility of injecting hydrogen into a natural gas network. Firstly, the network was examined under nominal steady conditions with a constant hydrogen injection. Then, the same grid was simulated considering a 24-h pattern of hydrogen injection, according to the power daily surplus. The results show that the grid can help to buffer the surplus of renewable power produced. The conclusions derived by the results underline that the effect of H2 injection is maximum during the highest excess of electricity and the importance of an accurate choice of the injection node: a wrong choice leads, at the peak of power production, leads to an amplification of the H2 injection impact and hence to a reduction of the Wobbe Index value that overcomes the safety lower limit.     

The effects of laser patterning 10CeTZP-Al2O3 nanocomposite disc surfaces: Osseous differentiation and cellular arrangement in vitro

Customized square grid arrangements of different groove depths (1.0, 1.5 and 3.0?µm) and separations (10 and 30?µm) were successfully laser patterned, using a nanosecond pulsed fibre laser, on the surface of 10?mol% ceria-stabilized zirconia and alumina (10CeTZP-Al₂O₃) nanocomposite discs (diameter: 10?mm; thickness: 1.5?mm). The patterned surfaces and the in vitro biological response of osteoblasts (SAOS-2) towards them were thoroughly analysed. In terms of composition, the laser treatment was found to cause superficial monoclinic-tetragonal zirconia phase transformation and alumina evaporation. In vitro, the most effective grid configuration for osseous differentiation was found to be 1.5?µm groove depth and 10?µm groove separation, and confocal microscopy revealed that the cells show a tendency to be sorted as groove depth increases. It is thought that custom-made patterns could be produced to guide cell attachment in vivo, which could favour implant integration and reduce healing time.     

Application of WASP model for assessment of water quality for eutrophication control for a reservoir in the Peruvian Andes

Water quality models are important tools for facilitating assessment of the main processes occurring in an aquatic system. To this end, a water quality analysis simulation programme (WASP8) was used to assess the eutrophication process in El Pañe Reservoir. The reservoir has a useful water volume of 99.6 hm³ and is connected to six other reservoirs located in the Chili Basin of the Arequipa Region. El Pañe Reservoir, which is the basin head, has exhibited eutrophication problems since 2014, causing water treatment problems for human consumption and a high probability of cyanotoxin releases from intensive algal blooms. Accordingly, the reservoir was divided into 11 segments, ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, total phosphate, dissolved oxygen, water temperature and chlorophyll‐a being the simulated water quality parameters. The simulations were set in a steady state condition for 3 years from October 2015 to October 2018, subsequently determining aquaculture activity and benthic flux as being meaningful nutrient sources impacting the phytoplankton community. The results of the present study provide necessary evidence of the need to exhaustively quantify both sources in future research, which will aid decision makers in identifying the best management option that can help guarantee the sustainable development of the involved human activities.     

Model-free reinforcement learning from expert demonstrations: a survey

Reinforcement learning from expert demonstrations (RLED) is the intersection of imitation learning with reinforcement learning that seeks to take advantage of these two learning approaches. RLED uses demonstration trajectories to improve sample efficiency in high-dimensional spaces. RLED is a new promising approach to behavioral learning through demonstrations from an expert teacher. RLED considers two possible knowledge sources to guide the reinforcement learning process: prior knowledge and online knowledge. This survey focuses on novel methods for model-free reinforcement learning guided through demonstrations, commonly but not necessarily provided by humans. The methods are analyzed and classified according to the impact of the demonstrations. Challenges, applications, and promising approaches to improve the discussed methods are also discussed.

     

Development and properties evaluation of bio‐based PLA/PLGA blend films reinforced with microcrystalline cellulose and organophilic silica

The preparation and properties of hybrid materials based on poly(lactic acid)/poly(lactic acid‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLA/PLGA) blends using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and organophilic silica (R972) as fillers have been investigated. Hybrid materials were manufactured by solution casting using chloroform as solvent to prepare films. R972 was incorporated in a ratio of 3 wt%, and MCC was added in ratios of 3, 5, or 7 wt% with respect to the weight of the polymeric matrix. Films were prepared with only MCC addition or with MCC and R972 combined. Properties of the films were evaluated by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical property measurements. The results show that each filler, when added individually or in combination, affects the structure and final properties of the films differently. MCC acts as a nucleating agent for the crystallization of the polymeric matrix. An increase in the MCC content increased the crystallinity of the films. This effect became more pronounced with silica addition. The domain distribution curves showed PLA/PLGA blends to be homogeneous, which was further confirmed by DSC. An improvement in the mechanical performance was observed with MCC addition, especially when silica was added together with cellulose. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:464–472, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers.