Three-dimensional accuracy with two-dimensional computation speed: using the Kiva™ numerical framework to improve foundation heat transfer calculations

Calculation of heat transfer from building foundations is a computationally intensive three-dimensional problem that can require several weeks to solve using current computing hardware. The Kiva numerical framework was developed to compare foundation heat transfer calculation methods and determine approaches that reduce computation time without sacrificing a balance of capability, ease-of-use, and accuracy. This paper demonstrates the application of the Kiva framework to determine an accurate method of approximating three-dimensional heat transfer effects using two-dimensional coordinate systems. In two-dimensions, problems that would otherwise take days or weeks to solve can be solved in less than a minute. Three existing two-dimensional approximation methods along with a new boundary layer adjustment method are tested across a range of foundation types, shapes, and insulation configurations. The boundary layer adjustment method is shown to provide results within 3% mean absolute deviation from the three-dimensional solution.     

Effect of protein hydrolysates from sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) on the oxidative status and blood lipid profile of cholesterol-fed rats

This study was designed to test the hypolipidemic properties and antioxidative activities of sardinelle (Sardinella aurita) protein hydrolysates (SPHs) obtained by treatment with crude enzyme preparations from Bacillus pumilus A1(SPHA1), Bacillus mojavensis A21(SPHA21) and crude enzyme extract from sardinelle viscera (SPHEE).Wistar rats were fed during 7 weeks a standard laboratory diet, a cholesterol-enriched diet (1%) or a cholesterol SPH-enriched diet. The hypercholesterolemic diet induced the elevation of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Supplementing cholesterol-enriched diet with SPHs or whole sardinelle protein (WSP) at a concentration of 5% (w/w) increased the serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and HDL-C/TC ratio and decreased the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio significantly.The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level, as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) were examined. The hepatic antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly decreased and the malondialdehyde (MDA) level was increased in rats fed a cholesterol-enriched diet compared to those fed a standard diet. The treatment of hypercholesterolemic (HCD) diet rats with SPHs reduced the MDA concentration and increased the antioxidant enzyme activities.These results suggested that the hypolipidemic effect of SPHs might be due to their abilities to lower serum TC, TG, and LDL-C levels as well as to their antioxidant activities preventing the lipid peroxidation process.     

Impact of electricity rate structures on energy cost savings of pre-cooling controls for office buildings

This paper summarizes the results of a series of parametric analyses performed to evaluate the impact of key design and operating conditions on the effectiveness of pre-cooling control strategies for reducing peak demand and overall energy costs for office buildings. The analyses were carried out using EnergyPlus, a whole building energy simulation program. The effects of various parameters were considered in the analysis including building location, mass level, pre-cooling control strategy, and time-of-use utility rate.     

Trypsin from zebra blenny (Salaria basilisca) viscera: Purification,characterisation and potential application as a detergent additive

An alkaline trypsin was purified from the viscera of zebra blenny (Salaria basilisca) by ammonium sulphate (40?80% saturation) precipitation, Sephadex G-100, Mono Q-Sepharose and ultrafiltration. A yield of 12% with a purification-fold of 4.2 was obtained. The trypsin had an apparent molecular weight of 27 kDa. Soybean trypsin inhibitor and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride showed a strong inhibitory effect on the purified trypsin. Trypsin had maximal activity at pH 9.5 and 60 °C for the hydrolysis of Nα-benzoyl-dl-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA). It was stable at low temperatures and in the pH range of 7.0?12.0. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the first 12 amino acids of the purified protease was IVGGRECTEPSQ. S. basilisca trypsin, which showed high homology with other fish trypsins, had a charged Arg residue at position 5, where Tyr is common in marine vertebrates and mammalian trypsins. The trypsin kinetic constants, K_m and k_cat for BAPNA, were 0.6 mM and 1.38 s^?1, respectively.     

Evidence of in vivo satietogen effect and control of food intake of smooth hound (Mustelus mustelus) muscle protein hydrolysate in rats

Protein hydrolysates are of a significant interest, due to their potential application as a source of bioactive peptides in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical domains. The present study was focused on the effect of protein hydrolysate from smooth hound (Mustelus mustelus) (SHPH) in the regulation of components of the food intake control such as satiety. SHPH was produced by intestinal digestive proteases from the same species. The amino acid analysis by GC/MS showed that the hydrolysate was rich in leucine, alanine, glycine, threonine, serine, lysine and glutamate. The molecular weights of peptides in SHPH were estimated by ESI-MS to be between 200 and 2500 Da. Biological in vivo capacities of SHPH in rats were evaluated by determination of the CCK-like peptides and insulin content using a clinical human radioimmunoassay. The food intake and the body weight of rats were measured during the period of treatment. Rats treated with SHPH showed a significant decrease in body weight at the end of treatment, as well as a decrease of food intake. Our findings revealed a possible mechanism of the beneficial effects of SHPH in appetite regulation, and this might be important to prevent the risk of a number of medical conditions including type II diabetes.     

Bismuth oxide photocatalytic nanostructures produced by magnetron sputtering deposition

Nanowires of bismuth oxide were grown on Si substrates by unbalanced magnetron sputtering. Deposition time for the seed layer and oxygen partial pressure were varied to optimize the morphology of the resulting array of wires. A two step process involving variable oxygen flow rates was found to create the highest density of Bi₂O₃ nanowires in the array. Top-view and cross-sectional SEM micrographs suggested that the resulting Bi₂O₃ nanowires were approximately 300 nm in length with diameters of 100 nm at the base and 30 nm at the top. Investigation into the growth method suggests a self-catalytic process similar to vapor-liquid-solid growth. Band gap was determined by two different methods, using transmission spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry which gave values of 2.53 eV and 2.61 eV respectively. Degradation experiments using rhodamine 6G display a direct relationship between nanowire density and photocatalytic results.     

Geochemistry of episodic sedimentation in Bizerte Lagoon,northern Tunisia

The decrease of the contents of TOC in sediment cores in the Bizerte Lagoon is synchronous with that of carbonates. This is attributed to a dilution phenomenon of the organic fraction by the carbonate component of the sediment in the lagoon. This phenomenon also can be explained by the effect of early diagenesis, resulting in the existence of more condensed products, or by removal of more labile organic fraction and/or by reorganization mechanisms leading to the solubilization of organic matter towards deep levels. It appears that the mechanisms controlling the geochemical sedimentation in the lagoon are similar to those observed today, with some occasional characteristics reflecting the impact of episodic phenomenon related to other factors and processes, especially a continental influence on the sediments, rather than marine influences.     

Induction machine fault detection using stray flux EMF measurement and neural network-based decision

The aim of this paper is to present the performances of voltage unbalance and rotor fault detections using an external stray flux sensor in a working three-phase induction machine. The automatic classification and fault severity degree evaluation are realized by using a neural network approach based on a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) structure. In this paper, it is proved that a simple external stray flux sensor is more efficient than the classical stator current sensor to detect rotor broken bar and voltage unbalance, using data processing at low-frequency resolution.     

Efficacy of Sardinelle Protein Hydrolysate to Alleviate Ethanol-Induced Oxidative Stress in the Heart of Adult Rats

The present study was undertaken to examine the protective effects of sardinelle proteins hydrolysate (SPH) obtained from heads and viscera against ethanol toxicity in the heart of adult rats. Twenty-four male rats of Wistar strain, weighing at the beginning of the experiment 250 to 300 g, were used in this study. They were divided into 4 groups: group (C) served as controls, group (Eth) received 30% ethanol solution at 3 g/kg body weight, group (SPH) received only 7.27 mg of SPH/kg body weight, and group (Eth-SPH) received ethanol and sardinelle proteins hydrolysate simultaneously. All treatments were made by gavage during 15 d. Treatment with ethanol revealed a significant elevation of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels in the heart and of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase activities in plasma. Nitric oxide levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase decreased. Nonenzymatic antioxidant such as reduced glutathione did not significantly change and ascorbic acid was decreased. SPH intake concomitantly with ethanol restored these parameters to near control values. These modifications confirmed histopathological aspects of the heart. The results revealed that SPH could provide protection of the myocardium against ethanol-induced oxidative damages in rats. This may be due to the high antioxidant potential of SPH.     

Improvement of functional properties and antioxidant activities of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) muscle proteins hydrolyzed by Bacillus mojavensis A21 proteases

Functional properties and antioxidant activities of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) muscle protein hydrolysates, with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH from 7.3% to 18.8%), obtained by treatment with Bacillus mojavensis A21 alkaline proteases were investigated. Protein contents for all freeze-dried cuttlefish muscle protein hydrolysates (CMPHs) ranged from 80% to 86%. For the functional properties, hydrolysis by A21 proteases increased (p < 0.05) protein solubility to above 78% over a wide pH range (2.0–11.0). However, the interfacial activities (emulsion activity index, emulsion stability index, foaming capacity and foaming stability) decreased with the increase of the DH. All CMPHs exhibited significant metal chelating activity and DPPH free radical-scavenging activity, and inhibited linoleic acid peroxidation. Antioxidant properties of protein hydrolysates increased with protein hydrolysis and the highest activities were obtained at DH of 16%. The IC₅₀ values for DPPH radical-scavenging and metal chelating activities were found to be 0.52 ± 0.01 mg/ml and 0.67 ± 0.13 mg/ml. The obtained results suggested that functional properties and antioxidant activities of cuttlefish muscle protein hydrolysates were influenced by the degree of hydrolysis.The composition of amino acids of undigested and hydrolyzed proteins was determined. CMPHs have a high percentage of essential amino acids such as arginine, lysine, histidine and leucine. They have a high nutritional value and could be used as supplement to poorly balanced dietary proteins.