Solar radiation models—A review

Solar radiation models for predicting the average daily and hourly global radiation, beam radiation and diffuse radiation on horizontal surface are reviewed in this article. Estimations of monthly average hourly global radiation from daily summations are discussed. It was observed that Collares‐Pereira and Rabl model as modified by Gueymard (CPRG) yielded the best performance for estimating mean hourly global radiation incident on a horizontal surface for Indian regions. Estimations of monthly average hourly beam and diffuse radiation are discussed. It was observed that Singh‐Tiwari and Jamil‐Tiwari both models generally give better results for climatic conditions of Indian regions. Therefore, their use is recommended for composite climate of Indian regions. Empirical correlations developed to establish a relationship between the hourly diffuse fraction and the hourly clearness index using hourly global and diffuse irradiation measurements on a horizontal surface are discussed. Fifty models using the Angstrom–Prescott equation to predict the average daily global radiation with hours of sunshine are considered. It was reported that Ertekin and Yaldiz model showed the best performance against measured data of Konya, Turkey. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genetic effects on dairy calf growth

Objectives were to establish growth patterns for weight and height in dairy calves from birth to 90 d and to estimate appropriate genetic parameters. Measurements were 7943 body weights and 7005 wither heights of 752 calves. Represented over 12 yr were three breeds, 348 dams, and 115 sires; data resulted from designed calf nutrition experiments. Sources of variation considered in various least squares analyses of variance were breed, sire in breed, calf in sire in breed, sex of calf, treatment-year category, and several interactions. Repeatabilities of weights and heights between birth and 90 d were .64 and .88; heritabilities were .22 and .30; genetic and phenotypic correlations were .53 and .73. A regression equation was estimated for each calf. From these 752 equations, heritabilities of initial weight, initial height, and rates of growth in weight and height were .53, .50, .44, and .19. Genetic correlations were .81; -.07; -.05; .26; .14; .84. Selection schemes for these traits in dairy cattle should consider that although weights and heights at birth and thereafter are highly and positively correlated genetically, as are gains, birth measurements and gains to 90 d may be uncorrelated.     

Forced migration of soluble and suspended materials by freezing front in aqueous systems

Migration of soluble and suspended materials by directional freezing of aqueous systems has been studied qualitatively. Slow freezing was employed vertically as well as horizontally through solutions and suspensions. In all cases, the impurities (soluble salts as well as suspended materials) were appreciably forced out by dynamic freezing front. The phenomenon worked for concentrating/separating inorganic ions, soluble organic compounds and dyes in synthetic solutions as well as in natural streams. Various analytical techniques were employed to monitor the migrating species through the freezing media. It was found that separation efficiency depends on different factors like rate of cooling, pH and concentration. Model experiments were designed and exercised successfully to employ the technique for treatment of dye-polluted water.     

A Modified Technique for Computing Network Reliability

Ahmad (1982) has published a technique to compute the reliability of a network without resorting to paths or cutsets. However, the technique uses a random choice of next node connected to the previous node in the construction of a tree. This approach can lead to a large number of terms in the reliability expression. Our modified version of the Ahmad technique always produces a reliability expression with the same or fewer terms as the original technique.     

Maleated high oleic sunflower oil‐treated cellulose fiber‐based styrene butadiene rubber composites

Surface treatment of cellulose fibers was performed with maleated high oleic sunflower oil (MSOHO). The MSOHO‐treated cellulose fibers and unmodified cellulose fibers were dispersed in styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) using a two roll mill. Vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCNF) were also incorporated at only one parts per hundred rubber (phr) in unmodified cellulose fibers/SBR composites. The curing characteristics, mechanical properties, and water absorption of the resulting composites were determined. MSOHO‐treated fibers completed curing at much slower rate and also decreased the cure density of composites, compared to unmodified fibers. In contrast, the combination of VGCNF and unmodified cellulose fibers accelerated the SBR curing process, but reduced the cure density. MSOHO treatment improved the dispersion of the fibers in the SBR, which resulted in improved mechanical properties of composites. The composite incorporating 1 phr VGCNF and 15 phr unmodified cellulose fibers showed the greatest increase in tensile strength as compared with neat SBR. POLYM. COMPOS. 37:1113–1121, 2016. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Xylitol: A Review on Bioproduction,Application, Health Benefits,and Related Safety Issues

Xylitol is a pentahydroxy sugar-alcohol which exists in a very low quantity in fruits and vegetables (plums, strawberries, cauliflower, and pumpkin). On commercial scale, xylitol can be produced by chemical and biotechnological processes. Chemical production is costly and extensive in purification steps. However, biotechnological method utilizes agricultural and forestry wastes which offer the possibilities of economic production of xylitol by reducing required energy. The precursor xylose is produced from agricultural biomass by chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis and can be converted to xylitol primarily by yeast strain. Hydrolysis under acidic condition is the more commonly used practice influenced by various process parameters. Various fermentation process inhibitors are produced during chemical hydrolysis that reduce xylitol production, a detoxification step is, therefore, necessary. Biotechnological xylitol production is an integral process of microbial species belonging to Candida genus which is influenced by various process parameters such as pH, temperature, time, nitrogen source, and yeast extract level. Xylitol has application and potential for food and pharmaceutical industries. It is a functional sweetener as it has prebiotic effects which can reduce blood glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol level. This review describes recent research developments related to bioproduction of xylitol from agricultural wastes, application, health, and safety issues.     

Pollen morphology and its taxonomic potential in some selected taxa of Caesalpiniaceae observed under light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy

Pollen micromorphology is not only used to check the functional and structural evolution in plants but also to solve the taxonomic problem related to the classification of plants. Therefore, keeping in view the significance of pollen traits, selected taxa of the subfamily Caesalpiniaceae was collected from different geographical regions of Pakistan. The species were then analyzed under both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy techniques to investigate the importance of micromorphological characters of pollen in the identification and classification of species. Great variation was recorded in equatorial shape, surface ornamentation, tectum, polar diameter, equatorial diameter, and exine thickness. However, little variation was observed in pollen type, polar shape, and fertility of pollen. The equatorial shape of five types was observed: prolate, prolate-spheroidal, spheroidal-subprolate, subspheroidal-prolate, and subspheroidal. Four types of surface ornamentation, psilate, granulate, clavate, and perforate, were recorded. Tectum of five types, intactate, reticulate regulate, medium reticulate, tactate, and striate, was observed. Sexine was thicker than nexine in all studied species. The largest polar diameter was observed in Caesalpinia pulcherrima 64.1 μm while the smallest in Parkinsonia aculeata 26.1 μm. The largest equatorial diameter was found in C. pulcherrima of 70.25 μm whereas the smallest in P. aculeata 27.57 μm. All the pollens analyzed were tricolporate. All studied species have a fertility ratio of more than 90%. A taxonomic key was developed to show the variation in pollen features and delimit species for the correct identification. In conclusion, the pollen traits were found useful to define species boundaries at various taxonomic ranks and will strengthen the taxonomy of this subfamily. Besides, this study also explored the palynological traits and their implication in the taxonomy of the subfamily Caesalpiniaceae.     

Suppression of TRPV1/TRPM8/P2Y Nociceptors by Withametelin via Downregulating MAPK Signaling in Mouse Model of Vincristine-Induced Neuropathic Pain

Vincristine (VCR) is a widely used chemotherapy drug that induced peripheral painful neuropathy. Yet, it still lacks an ideal therapeutic strategy. The transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, purinergic receptor (P2Y), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Withametelin (WMT), a potential Phytosteroid isolated from datura innoxa, exhibits remarkable neuroprotective properties. The present investigation was designed to explore the effect of withametelin on VCR-induced neuropathic pain and its underlying molecular mechanism. Initially, the neuroprotective potential of WMT was confirmed against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced PC12 cells. To develop potential candidates for neuropathic pain treatment, a VCR-induced neuropathic pain model was established. Vincristine (75 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 10 consecutive days (day 1–10) for the induction of neuropathic pain. Gabapentin (GBP) (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and withametelin (0.1 and 1 mg/kg i.p.) treatments were given after the completion of VCR injection on the 11th day up to 21 days. The results revealed that WMT significantly reduced VCR-induced pain hypersensitivity, including mechanical allodynia, cold allodynia, and thermal hyperalgesia. It reversed the VCR-induced histopathological changes in the brain, spinal cord, and sciatic nerve. It inhibited VCR-induced changes in the biochemical composition of the myelin sheath of the sciatic nerve. It markedly downregulated the expression levels of TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1); TRPM8 (Transient receptor potential melastatin 8); and P2Y nociceptors and MAPKs signaling, including ERK (Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase), JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), and p-38 in the spinal cord. It suppressed apoptosis by regulating Bax (Bcl2-associated X-protein), Bcl-2 (B-cell-lymphoma-2), and Caspase-3 expression. It considerably attenuated inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and genotoxicity. This study suggests that WMT treatment suppressed vincristine-induced neuropathic pain by targeting the TRPV1/TRPM8/P2Y nociceptors and MAPK signaling.     

Mind-body skills groups for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms in Palestinian children and adolescents in Gaza.

A mind-body skills group program was evaluated to determine its effects on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and on hopelessness in children and adolescents in Gaza. The 10-session mind-body skills groups included meditation, guided imagery, breathing techniques, autogenic training, biofeedback, genograms, and self-expression through words, drawings, and movement. Data were analyzed from 129 children and adolescents meeting criteria for PTSD. Significant improvements in PTSD and depression symptoms and a significant decrease in a sense of hopelessness were observed immediately following participation in the program. At 7-month follow-up, the improvements in the total PTSD and depression scores were largely maintained and the decreased sense of hopelessness was fully maintained despite ongoing violent conflict and economic hardship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)