Alpha‐Lipoic Acid Supplementation Reduces mTORC1 Signaling in Skeletal Muscle from High Fat Fed,Obese Zucker Rats

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is hyperactive in liver, adipose and skeletal muscle tissues of obese rodents. Alpha‐lipoic acid (αLA) has been well accepted as a weight‐loss treatment, though there are limited studies on its effect on mTOR signaling in high‐fat fed, obese rodents. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine mTOR signaling and oxidative protein alterations in skeletal muscle of high‐fat fed, obese rats after αLA supplementation. Phosphorylation of the mTOR substrate, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E‐binding protein 1 (4E‐BP1) and eIF4B were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in muscle from αLA supplemented rats. Activation of AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), an mTOR inhibitory kinase, was higher (p < 0.05) in the αLA group. Protein expression of markers of oxidative metabolism, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), cytochrome c oxidase IV (COX IV), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR), and PPAR gamma coactivator 1‐alpha (PGC‐1α) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) after αLA supplementation compared to non‐supplemented group. Our findings show that αLA supplementation limits the negative ramifications of consuming a high fat diet on skeletal muscle markers of oxidative metabolism and mTORC1 signaling.     

The effects of the thaumasite form of sulfate attack on skin friction at the concrete/clay interface

The paper presents the effects of thaumasite sulfate attack (TSA) on skin friction at the concrete/clay interface. Using clay-restrained conditions thaumasite formed attached to the concrete culminating in thaumasite layers of up to 24 mm depending on interface pH and applied pressure. Thaumasite at the interface did not decrease the shear strength including skin friction and cohesion. Therefore it was concluded that TSA occurring at piles or foundation bases does not affect the stability of the superstructure regarding loss of friction and settlements.     

Development of an improved heating system for industrial tunnel baking ovens

This objective of this work was to develop, test and optimise the design of a novel gas-fired radiant burner suitable for incorporation into industrial tunnel ovens. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations have been used to model the burner and baking chamber environment, and in particular to predict radiation heat fluxes incident on the top surface of the food, both across the width of the baking chamber and along its length. Data from thermocouple sensors attached to a full-scale 40 kW prototype burner have been used to validate the CFD model. Initial results presented here show that CFD model predictions agree with experimental data to within 10%. CFD simulations have indicated that the new burner is capable of delivering irradiation to a travelling conveyor more uniformly than existing radiant burner designs. The effects of oven chamber humidity and surface emissivity on radiation heat transfer have been quantified.     

Carbon capture and storage: Fundamental thermodynamics and current technology

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered a leading technology for reducing CO₂ emissions from fossil-fuelled electricity generation plants and could permit the continued use of coal and gas whilst meeting greenhouse gas targets. However considerable energy is required for the capture, compression, transport and storage steps involved. In this paper, energy penalty information in the literature is reviewed, and thermodynamically ideal and “real world” energy penalty values are calculated. For a sub-critical pulverized coal (PC) plant, the energy penalty values for 100% capture are 48.6% and 43.5% for liquefied CO₂, and for CO₂ compressed to 11 MPa, respectively. When assumptions for supercritical plants were incorporated, results were in broad agreement with published values arising from process modelling. However, we show that energy use in existing capture operations is considerably greater than indicated by most projections. Full CCS demonstration plants are now required to verify modelled energy penalty values. However, it appears unlikely that CCS will deliver significant CO₂ reductions in a timely fashion. In addition, many uncertainties remain over the permanence of CO₂ storage, either in geological formations, or beneath the ocean. We conclude that further investment in CCS should be seriously questioned by policy makers.     

An Investigation of the Influence of Deep-Bar Effect on the Resistance of Cage Rotor End-Rings

A method by which the influence that skin effect in the bars of a cage rotor has on the resistance of the end-rings can be determined numerically is outlined. The method is based on the use of a finite-element model of a portion of the end-ring comprising one rotor slot-pitch and centered on a rotor bar. Numerical results are presented for two particular cage geometries using the data of two commercially manufactured machines. The results indicate that, in machines in which deep-bar effect is important, the consequential changes in rotor end-ring resistance for the fundamental field may be significant. For the harmonics, however, the relatively low magnitude of the end-ring resistance renders deep-bar corrections unnecessary.     

A knowledge-based system for the recycling of non-hazardous industrial residuals in civil engineering applications

Abstract: It is estimated that 4.6 billion tons of non‐hazardous solid waste materials are produced annually in the USA. The potential reuse for a portion of the materials in the construction of highways and roads suggests that valuable benefits in terms of economic and environmental gains are possible. This paper describes the development of a prototype computer‐assisted tool or expert system to help manufacturers assess and analyze their industrial residuals as potential road construction material. This represents an expansion in the application of intelligent systems to domains where a few, hard‐to‐find technical reports have represented the main source of expertise available to practitioners for years. The system, developed through the use of an object‐oriented software shell, Level5 Object, was designed in a user‐friendly Windows environment which allows users with little or no computer training to effectively evaluate material residuals.     

New support vector algorithms

We propose a new class of support vector algorithms for regression and classification. In these algorithms, a parameter nu lets one effectively control the number of support vectors. While this can be useful in its own right, the parameterization has the additional benefit of enabling us to eliminate one of the other free parameters of the algorithm: the accuracy parameter epsilon in the regression case, and the regularization constant C in the classification case. We describe the algorithms, give some theoretical results concerning the meaning and the choice of nu, and report experimental results.     

Antenatal sonographic diagnosis of club foot with particular attention to the implications and outcomes of isolated club foot

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the clinical performance of dentin-bonded crowns, in which ceramic crowns are bonded to underlying dentin with a resin composite-based luting material and a dentin bonding agent. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Twenty-five patients who had received such restorations more than 1 year previously were recalled for evaluation of their crowns. RESULTS: Sixty dentin-bonded complete-coverage restorations were assessed. Forty-one of the crowns had been placed on incisor teeth. The mean time since placement of the restorations was 2.43 years. Fifty-seven of the 60 restorations were intact. The three failures had resulted from cracks in the restorations, which had not clinically debonded. No secondary caries was detected at the crown margins, and anatomic form was assessed as excellent for 56 crowns. Root canal treatment had been required in one case. Color match was rated very good for 47 crowns. All 25 patients were satisfied with their restorations. CONCLUSION: Dentin-bonded crowns may be found to have a low rate of failure and to provide a high level of patient satisfaction.