Second Order Fluid Glow Discharge Model Sustained by Different Source Terms

Behavior of charged particles in a DC low pressure glow discharge is studied. The electric properties of the glow discharge in argon, maintained by a constant s...     

Curcumin gum Arabic nanoparticles demonstrate potent antioxidant and cytotoxic properties in human cancer cells

The main purpose of the study was to enhance the stability and therapeutic effects of Curcumin (Cur) through nanoformulation with gum Arabic (GA) as a coating agent through an efficient synthetic approach. The antioxidant properties of the developed nanoparticles (Cur/GANPs) were assessed through several in vitro assays, such as β-carotene bleaching activity, DPPH, and nitric oxide scavenging activities in addition to evaluating its inhibitory activity on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The cytotoxicity of Cur/GANPs was evaluated in vitro using different types of human cancer cells including breast cancer (MCF7, MDA-MB231), liver cancer (HepG2), and colon cancer (HT29) cells. The prepared particles displayed an elliptical shape with a size ranging between 20–260 nm and a potential difference of –15 mV. The Cur/GANPs exhibited significant antioxidant activity compared to free curcumin when using concentrations between 31.5 and 500 µg/mL. The Cur/GANPs also had inhibited the growth of all cancer cell lines in a proportional trend with concentrations used. Hence, the encapsulation with gum Arabic has augmented the antioxidant and anti-neoplastic effects of Curcumin. Therefore, Cur/GANPs may have effective therapeutic properties in diseases attributed to oxidative stress like cancer and hypertension.     

Aptamer based detection and separation platforms for ochratoxin A: A systematic review

Ochratoxin A (OTA), one of the most dangerous mycotoxins for human health, has been subjected to numerous studies for separation and detection in minimal amounts. Aptamers as novel recognition elements have been employed to fabricate ultrasensitive biosensors for the detection of OTA and designing delicate analytical tools. This review attempted to comprehensively examine all reported aptamer-based detection and separation platforms for ochratoxin. The most relevant databases were considered to discover all specific aptamers for dealing with OTA. Aptamer-based detection and separation devices specified for OTA were searched for, analyzed, discussed, and classified based on their specifications. The optical aptasensors have gathered a higher interest than electrochemical aptasensors, which can achieve a lower limit of detections. Moreover, some extraction platforms based on these aptamers were also found. However, aptamer-based devices seem to have some challenges in their application.     

Modeling and Management of Urban Stormwater Runoff Quality: A Review

Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution from urban runoff has been established as a major cause of receiving water degradation. In an effort to control this problem, new regulations have been passed in the U.S.A. and federal, state, and local agencies are devising urban runoff management programs. This paper reviews recent regulations and studies related to urban stormwater runoff control and planning in the U.S.A.; discusses fundamentals of urban NPS pollution including transport processes and types and sources of pollutants; reviews current hydrologic and water quality mathematical models used in the U.S.A.; presents case studies in both modeling and management; and describes fundamentals of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in urban runoff control. Finally, it summarizes future research needs.     

Efficient three‐phase reconstruction of heterogeneous material from 2D cross‐sections via phase‐recovery algorithm

Digital reconstruction of a complex heterogeneous media from the limited statistical information, mostly provided by different imaging techniques, is the key to the successful computational analysis of this important class of materials. In this study, a novel approach is presented for three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction of a three‐phase microstructure from its statistical information provided by two‐dimensional (2D) cross‐sections. In this three‐step method, first two‐point correlation functions (TPCFs) are extracted from the cross‐section(s) using a spectral method suitable for the three‐phase media. In the next step, 3D TPCFs are approximated for all vectors in a representative volume element (RVE). Finally, the 3D microstructure is realized from the full‐set TPCFs obtained in the previous step, using a modified phase‐recovery algorithm. The method is generally applicable to any complex three‐phase media, here illustrated for an SOFC anode microstructure. The capabilities and shortcomings of the method are then investigated by performing a qualitative comparison between example cross‐sections obtained computationally and their experimental equivalents. Finally, it is shown that the method almost conserves key microstructural properties of the media including tortuosity, percolation and three‐phase boundary length (TPBL).     

Resonant length of the active loop dipole antenna

A modification is introduced to the previous circuitry of Maclean for an active loop monopole antenna in order to obtain resonance for a significantly lower wire length. For the fed-emitter collector loop (FECL), it is proposed to connect the collector to either the base or the emitter through a resistor.     

The decoupling of product and process life cycles

When should a plant, if ever, adopt more flexible forms of production technology? The factors supporting the decision for a dedicated system are often based on the dedicated technology's lower fixed and variable costs with respect to production volumes. In. many industries, it is clear that such cost-reduction techniques are essential to a firm's success. On the other hand, flexible manufacturing systems, though initially more expensive, eliminate the requirement for an immediate investment in a new process once the life span of a particular part or product has ended. Given these fundamental differences, it is clear that the question of whether a firm within an industry should select a manufacturing technology which is highly flexible or dedicated can be key to its long-term success. To gain a reasonable understanding of which decision is best, it is imperative that the relationships between innovation, market, and production costs be understood and quantified. The aim of this report is to analyse these vital connections in an attempt to shed further light on these questions. In this context, we introduce the notion of ‘fast response process capability’ as an alternative to the dynamic model of product and process innovation cycles introduced by Utterback and Abernathy (1975). We argue that this new framework will have a large strategic implication across the industry.