Hyperbolic model of thermal interactions in a system biological tissue—protective clothing subjected to an external heat source

Abstract

The numerical modeling of thermal processes in domain of biological tissue (the male thigh) secured by multilayered protective clothing being in the thermal contact with the environment is discussed. The thigh is treated as the nonhomogeneous domain in which the sub-domains of skin tissue, fat, muscle, bone and blood vessels are distinguished. Between the protective clothing and skin tissue the air gap is taken into account. The heat transfer is described by the system of hyperbolic Cattaneo–Vernotte equations (for the tissue sub-domains) and parabolic Fourier equations (for the remaining sub-domains). The process of external heating is determined by the appropriate boundary condition and the internal heat source (in the fabric sub-domain) related to the absorption of incident thermal radiation. The mathematical model is solved numerically using the control volume method, while the considered sub-domains (the 2?D problem) are covered by the Voronoi meshes. In the final part of the article, the example of computations is presented.     

Influence of modified starches on properties of gluten-free dough and bread. Part II: Quality and staling of gluten-free bread

The aim of the study was to check the quality of gluten-free bread produced basing on the recipes, in which part of native starch was replaced with high amylose corn starch (HACS), acetylated distarch adipate (ADA), and hydroxypropyl distarch phosphate (HDP). The application 10 or 15% of chemically modified starches (HDP, ADA) caused the increase in volume of the obtained gluten-free loaves. The changes were accompanied by a decrease of average cell size, and an increase in their number. Due to the addition of modified starch crumb structure became more elastic, which was revealed in the results of stress relaxation. A slight decrease in hardness and chewiness of the crumb was also observed on the day of baking, and its extent depended on the level of modified starch, and was a little more pronounced in case of starch adipate. In comparison to the chemically modified starches, HACS deteriorated structural and mechanical properties of the crumb, which is probably related to their resistance to pasting and divergence in retrogradation pattern, where amylose component is more important than amylopectin.     

Comparative Analysis of Energetic Properties of Ti6Al4V Titanium and EN-AW-2017A(PA6) Aluminum Alloy Surface Layers for an Adhesive Bonding Application

The purpose of this article is to present energetic properties of surface Ti6Al4V titanium as well as surface EN-AW-2017A(PA6) aluminum alloy layers. Values of surface free energy after selected mechanical operations and ozonation were compared. In addition, the influence of different values of ozone concentration on surface layer energetic activation was analyzed. Dispersive and polar components of surface free energy were of particular concern. Comparative evaluation of shearing strength of Ti6Al4V titanium and EN-AW-2017A(PA6) aluminum alloy single-lap adhesive bonded joints were presented. Results can be used as pro-ecological methods of titanium and aluminum alloys preparing for applications where adhesive phenomenon is important.     

Studies on the energy demand of two-stage fermentative hydrogen production from biomass in a factory equipped with fuel-cell based power plant

A conceptual factory to produce hydrogen from starchy biomass is considered. The production plant comprises a pretreatment unit for starchy raw material, a bioreactor for dark fermentation, a photobioreactor for photofermentation and gas upgrading & compression units, and is supplied with the necessary heat and power from the power plant. In the power plant, a part of the stream of raw gas produced in bioreactors is burned in a steam boiler and in addition some product gas from the upgrading unit is directed to fuel cells from which waste gas flows to a catalytic oxidizer. The demand for process heat is covered by steam generation in the boiler and oxidizer, and the power demand is covered by electricity generation in the fuel cells.     

Identification of proteomic biomarkers in M. Longissimus dorsi as potential predictors of pork quality

Meat quality traits have low heritability and large environmental influences. To predict, improve and manage meat quality, proteomic biomarkers are superior to genetic markers. The objectives of this research were (1) to find associations between proteome profiles of longissimus muscle at slaughter and meat quality accuracies of prediction of traits ranged from 20 up to 80%. Differentially expressed proteins related to drip loss and ultimate pH were identified by NanoLC-FTMSMS. The proteins highlight biological mechanisms that may explain how these traits develop biologically and how they are related to each other.     

Molecular Characterisation of Uterine Endometrial Proteins during Early Stages of Pregnancy in Pigs by MALDI TOF/TOF

The molecular mechanism underlying embryonic implantation is vital to understand the correct communications between endometrium and developing conceptus during early stages of pregnancy. This study’s objective was to determine molecular changes in the uterine endometrial proteome during the preimplantation and peri-implantation between 9 days (9D), 12 days (12D), and 16 days (16D) of pregnant Polish Large White (PLW) gilts. 2DE-MALDI-TOF/TOF and ClueGO^TM approaches were employed to analyse the biological networks and molecular changes in porcine endometrial proteome during maternal recognition of pregnancy. A total of sixteen differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified using 2-DE gels and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Comparison between 9D and 12D of pregnancy identified APOA1, CAPZB, LDHB, CCT5, ANXA4, CFB, TTR upregulated DEPs, and ANXA5, SMS downregulated DEPs. Comparison between 9D and 16D of pregnancy identified HP, APOA1, ACTB, CCT5, ANXA4, CFB upregulated DEPs and ANXA5, SMS, LDHB, ACTR3, HP, ENO3, OAT downregulated DEPs. However, a comparison between 12D and 16D of pregnancy identified HP, ACTB upregulated DEPs, and CRYM, ANXA4, ANXA5, CAPZB, LDHB, ACTR3, CCT5, ENO3, OAT, TTR down-regulated DEPs. Outcomes of this study revealed key proteins and their interactions with metabolic pathways involved in the recognition and establishment of early pregnancy in PLW gilts.     

Production of hydrogen via methane reforming using atmospheric pressure microwave plasma

In this paper, results of hydrogen production via methane reforming in the atmospheric pressure microwave plasma are presented. A waveguide-based nozzleless cylinder-type microwave plasma source (MPS) was used to convert methane into hydrogen. Important advantages of the presented waveguide-based nozzleless cylinder-type MPS are: stable operation in various gases (including air) at high flow rates, no need for a cooling system, and impedance matching. The plasma generation was stabilized by an additional swirled nitrogen flow (50 or 100 l min⁻¹). The methane flow rate was up to 175 l min⁻¹. The absorbed microwave power could be changed from 3000 to 5000 W. The hydrogen production rate and the corresponding energy efficiency in the presented methane reforming by the waveguide-based nozzleless cylinder-type MPS were up to 255 g[H₂] h⁻¹ and 85 g[H₂] kWh⁻¹, respectively. These parameters are better than those typical of the conventional methods of hydrogen production (steam reforming of methane and water electrolysis).     

Constrained motion planning of nonholonomic systems

This paper addresses the constrained motion planning problem for nonholonomic systems represented by driftless control systems with output. The problem consists in defining a control function driving the system output to a desirable point at a given time instant, whereas state and control variables remain over the control horizon within prescribed bounds. The state and control constraints are handled by extending the control system with a pair of state equations driven by the violation of constraints, and adding regularizing perturbations. For the regularized system a Jacobian motion planning algorithm is designed, called imbalanced. Solutions of example constrained motion planning problems for the rolling ball illustrate the theoretical concepts.     

Single‐lumen tunneled catheter: An old but useful option

We report a case of long‐term uneventful catheter use in a patient with previous recurrent vascular access dysfunction and infection. A single‐lumen tunneled catheter was inserted into the left internal jugular vein after a failed attempt of dual‐lumen permanent catheter placement. The follow‐up since device implantation has exceeded 5 years without any complications related to vascular access.