Risk-Based Design of Flood Control Systems Considering Multiple Dependent Uncertainties

Due to random behavior of flood events and inaccuracies in measurements, design, analysis, and operation of flood control systems are subjected to several uncertainties. An important aspect in developing stochastic models for evaluating and analyzing more than one uncertainty is the dependence or independence of them. In flood control projects, hydrologic, hydraulic, geotechnical, and economic uncertainties are important considerations. In this paper, a stochastic Monte-Carlo simulation – optimization modeling approach is described for risk-based design of flood control levees (as a common structural flood control measure): considering multiple dependent uncertainties. It has been applied to the Leaf River reach in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for testing and evaluation of modeling results. Unlike a deterministic model that yields just one set of values for system dimensions, the stochastic model solution gives a range of values for each of them. One of the major reasons for limited field application of uncertainty analysis is difficulties in performing the modeling results in real world contexts. For closing the gap between theory and reality, design charts are developed in this study. This helps decision makers in identifying design values with desired and accepted risks.     

Dynamic task scheduling modeling in unstructured heterogeneous multiprocessor systems

An algorithm is proposed for scheduling dependent tasks in time-varying heterogeneous multiprocessor systems, in which computational power and links between processors are allowed to change over time. Link contention is considered in the multiprocessor scheduling problem. A linear switching-state space-modeling paradigm is introduced to enable theoretical analysis from a system engineering perspective. Theoretical analysis of this model shows its robustness against changes in processing power and link failure. The proposed algorithm uses a fuzzy decision-making procedure to handle changes in the multiprocessor system. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm is illustrated by several random experiments and comparison against a recent benchmark approach. The results show up to 18% average improvement in makespan, especially for larger scale systems.     

Effect of different drying methods on chemical and molecular structure of heteropolysaccharide–protein gum from durian seed

The functional properties and biological aspects of a natural biodegradable biopolymer depend on its chemical and molecular structure. In this study, the effect of different drying processes on the chemical and molecular structure of the natural biodegradable biopolymer from durian seed was investigated. The chemical structure was analyzed by assessing the carbohydrate profile, protein, amino acid composition, moisture, and ash. Molecular weight (M_w), number average molecular weight (M_n), M_w/M_n ratio and mass recovery were assessed by using a size-exclusion chromatography coupled to multi angle laser light-scattering (SEC-MALS). The present study revealed that main monosaccharides in the chemical structure of differently dried durian seed gums were galactose (50.1–64.9%), glucose (29.4–45.7%%), arabinose (0.11–0.89%), and xylose (0.019–0.86%). The protein analysis indicated the presence of a low amount of the protein fraction (3.2–3.9%) in the chemical structure of the biopolymer from durian seed. The most abundant amino acids in the chemical structure of durian seed gum were leucine (31.78–43.02%), lysine (6.23–7.78%), aspartic acid (6.45–8.58%), glycine (6.17–7.27%), glutamic acid (5.43–6.55%), alanine (4.60–6.23%), and valine (4.49–5.52). The current study exhibited that the biodegradable biopolymer from durian seed was a heteropolysaccharideprotein complex with medium M_w ranging from 1.06 × 10⁵ to 1.15 × 10⁵ (g/mol).     

Two Tartrate-Pillared Coordination Polymers: Hydrothermal Preparation, Crystal Structures, Spectroscopic and Thermal Analyses of {[M2(μ-C4H4O6)2(H2O)] · 3H2O}∞ (M = Mn, Cd)

Two novel three-dimensional coordination polymers, formulated as {[M₂(μ-C₄H₄O₆)₂(H₂O)] · 3H₂O}_∞ (M = Mn for 1 and Cd for 2), have been synthesized under hydrothermal reaction condition. Both complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. Their molecular and crystal structures were determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis and their thermal stability by TGA-DTA methods. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group, P2₁, while compound 2 crystallizes the orthorhombic space group, P2₁2₁2₁. The structures are self-assembled from bifunctional tartrate and water molecules. Tartrate ligands in 1 and 2 contribute to both covalent and hydrogen bonds. Polymeric chains of 1 and 2 are composed of M(II) ions bridged by tartrate ions in O,O′ fashion. The asymmetric units of coordination polymers contain two metal centers having different coordination environments.     

PEG‐Citrate dendrimer second generation: is this a good carrier for imaging agents In Vitro and In Vivo ?

While cancer is the leading cause of human''s deaths worldwide, finding an imaging agent which can detect cancer tumours is needed for cancer diagnosis. In the present study, PEG‐citrate dendrimer‐G₂ was used as a nano‐carrier of FITC dye and Iohexol to help passive targeting and uptake of both imaging agents in cancer cells/tumour in vitro and in vivo. Dendrimer was synthesisedand the product characterised using LC‐MS, FT‐IR, DLS, ELS, AFM, and ¹ HNMR. After FITC loading into dendrimer, MTT was performed to determine the cytotoxicity of formulation on HEK‐293 and MCF‐7 cells. In vitro imaging using dendrimer‐FITC was done via fluorescent microscope thereafter. Moreover, CT imaging using Iohexol was employed to show the targeting nature and ability of the complex to use as imaging agent in vivo. Data yielded in this study corroborate the notion that the promised dendrimer was synthesised properly and had no toxicity along with FITC on normal cell. Furthermore, CT and fluorescent images showed the targeting nature and imaging ability of Iohexol/FITC loaded dendrimer in vitro and in vivo. Overall, results showed promising characteristics of the novel complexes using dendrimer‐G₂ both in vitro and in vivo.Inspec keywords: drug delivery systems, cellular biophysics, molecular biophysics, fluorescence, cancer, tumours, drugs, nanomedicine, biomedical materials, dyes, toxicologyOther keywords: imaging agent, cancer tumours, cancer diagnosis, PEG‐citrate dendrimer‐G, FITC dye, cancer cells, FITC loading, vitro imaging, dendrimer‐FITC, CT imaging, targeting nature, promised dendrimer, fluorescent images, imaging ability, Iohexol/FITC     

Effect of egg consumption on inflammatory markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials

There is little evidence about whether eggs affect inflammation. The aim of this meta-analysis was to explore the effects of egg consumption on inflammation. A systematic search of online databases (Institute for Scientific Information (ISI), Scopus, Ovid, PubMed, Cochrane) was used to gather clinical trials that assessed the effect of egg consumption on circulating inflammatory biomarkers. Using a random-effects model, pooled weighted mean differences (WMD) and corresponding standard deviations (SD) were calculated. Of the 21 eligible studies found, nine trials were eligible for analysis. Eight trials assessed high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), four trials assessed interleukin-6 (IL-6), and five trials assessed tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Egg consumption did not affect hs-CRP (WMD 0.24 mg/L; 95% CI: -0.43, 0.90; I² = 53.8; P = 0.48), IL-6 (WMD 0.20 pg/mL; 95% CI: -0.71, 1.11; I² = 69.3; P = 0.50), and TNF-α (WMD: -0.38 pg/mL; 95% CI: -0.87, 0.10; I² = 0.00; P = 0.12) relative to controls. Overall, this meta-analysis revealed that egg consumption had no significant effect on serum biomarkers of inflammation in adults. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inhibitory Effect of Vibrio neocaledinocus sp. and Pseudoalteromonas piscicida Dual-Species Biofilms on the Corrosion of Carbon Steel

Multi-species biofilms are found in various bacterial habitats and have industrial relevance. These complex bacterial communities have synergetic effects, unlike a single species. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate these complex communities as a whole. Here, the inhibitory effect of single- and dual-species biofilms of Vibrio neocaledinocus sp. and Pseudoalteromonas piscicida for A36 carbon steel corrosion was investigated. The results demonstrated that the synergistic interactions of the monoculture increased the overall biomass production of the dual-species biofilm, but the growth rate was reduced in the presence of the dual-species culture due to a lack of nutrients. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images also confirmed the development of biofilms—they became more homogenized via exposure time in both the mono- and dual-species cultures. The corrosion resistance of A36 carbon steel positively increased because of the dual-species interactions. This reached the highest value after four weeks of exposure. The highest corrosion inhibition efficiency of 99.8% was achieved in the dual-species cultures. Microbial community analysis revealed the high relative abundance of Pseudoalteromonas piscicida during the initial days of exposure, demonstrating the dominant role of this bacterium in the biofilm structure.     

Rheological Properties and Emulsifying Activity of Gum Karaya (Sterculia Urens) in Aqueous System and Oil in Water Emulsion: Heat Treatment and Microwave Modification

Gum karaya is a polysaccharide gum from Sterculia urens tree. It is used as an emulsifier and thickening agent in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. However, it has very strong swelling properties, high viscosity, and low solubility, providing the restricted applications in the food industry. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different heat treatment and microwave variables (i.e., time: 8, 10, and 12 min; power: 700 and 1000 W) on the functional properties of gum karaya in the aqueous system and oil-in-water emulsion. In this regard, the rheological properties, emulsifying activity, average droplet size, and surface morphology of the native- and microwave-treated gums were analyzed and compared. Dynamic oscillatory test indicated that the microwave-treated gum karaya had more gel-like behavior than viscous-like behavior (G′ > G″) at a relatively high concentration (20% or 20 g/100 g). When gum karaya was treated by microwave for 8–12 min, both elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) moduli were declined. The native- and microwave-treated gum karaya exhibited a shear-thinning (pseudoplastic) behavior in the aqueous system and oil-in-water emulsion. The results showed that the microwave-treated gum karaya had smaller particles than the native gum in the aqueous system. On the other hand, the emulsion containing the microwave-treated gum karaya had finer emulsion droplets than the control containing the native gum karaya. This confirmed that the application of microwave treatment led to significantly (p < 0.05) improve the emulsifying activity of gum karaya.