Coal Handling for the Utility Industry

The history of coal handling in power plants, the changes in design requirements, and the future of bulk handling equipment for the utility industry are reviewed. Examples of coal handling systems are presented that point towards the changing, design criteria required by the ever increasing size of today's power plants. The concluding section is devoted to the evaluation of the systems and equipment available to the power industry for the transporting and storage of coal.     

Partial Shape Matching Using Transformation Parameter Similarity

In this paper, we present a method for non‐rigid, partial shape matching in vector graphics. Given a user‐specified query region in a 2D shape, similar regions are found, even if they are non‐linearly distorted. Furthermore, a non‐linear mapping is established between the query regions and these matches, which allows the automatic transfer of editing operations such as texturing. This is achieved by a two‐step approach. First, pointwise correspondences between the query region and the whole shape are established. The transformation parameters of these correspondences are registered in an appropriate transformation space. For transformations between similar regions, these parameters form surfaces in transformation space, which are extracted in the second step of our method. The extracted regions may be related to the query region by a non‐rigid transform, enabling non‐rigid shape matching.     

Quality of experience for unified communications: A survey

This paper presents a quality of experience (QoE) conceptual model to the context of unified communications (UC) through summary, classification, and discussion of multiple influence factors (IFs) and dimensions affecting it. A deep and comprehensive understanding of the IFs and their impact on QoE for a given service is an essential precondition for successful QoE management with the overall goal of prominently optimizing end‐user QoE, while making efficient use of network resources and maintaining a satisfied user base. The proposed conceptual model was used to conduct a qualitative meta‐analytical review of selected papers. The results of the qualitative review include various IFs, QoE dimensions, and key findings in the form of research recommendations for QoE in the context of UC.     

L-Dopa-Decarboxylase (DDC) Is a Positive Prognosticator for Breast Cancer Patients and Epinephrine Regulates Breast Cancer Cell (MCF7 and T47D) Growth In Vitro According to Their Different Expression of Gi- Protein- Coupled Receptors

A coherence between thyroid dysfunction and breast cancer incidence exists. Thyroid hormone metabolites bind to TAAR1 (trace amine-associated receptor 1) and through that modulate the serotonergic and dopaminergic system. Catecholamines themselves are synthesized by the L-dopa decarboxylase (DDC). The aim of our study was to analyze the influence of catecholamines on the DDC expression in primary breast cancer patients and the role of DDC concerning overall survival (OS). DDC expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The effect of epinephrine on the expression of DDC and the Gi- protein was analyzed on the protein level via Western blot. A viability assay was performed to test the metabolic cell viability. The overexpression of DDC in the primary tumor was associated with longer OS (p = 0.03). Stimulation with epinephrine induced the downregulation of DDC (p = 0.038) and significantly increased viability in T47D cells (p = 0.028). In contrast, epinephrine induced an upregulation of DDC and decreased the proliferation of MCF7 cells (p = 0.028). Epinephrine led to an upregulation of Gi protein expression in MCF7 cells (p = 0.008). DDC is a positive prognostic factor for OS in breast cancer patients, and it is regulated through epinephrine differently in MCF7 and T47D. DDC may represent a novel target for the treatment of breast cancer, especially concerning its interaction with epinephrine.     

Applications of Judd–Ofelt theory to praseodymium and samarium ions in phosphate glass

The Judd–Ofelt (J–O) theory has had a remarkable success in the characterization of radiative transitions in lanthanide doped solids. The purpose of this paper is to review the applications of the J–O theory to the Pr³⁺ and Sm³⁺ ions and to use this system as an occasion to appraise its validity and to clarify its limits. In this paper we dwell at length on the absorption and luminescence measurements of two glass samples doped with Pr³⁺ and Sm³⁺, because they are basic for the J–O treatment. The results obtained for the J–O theory application to phosphate glasses doped with Pr³⁺ and Sm³⁺ present two undesirable outcomes: (1) a positive value of parameter Ω₂ and (2) large uncertainties with which the three Judd–Ofelt parameters were obtained. The validity of the J–O theory for intensity analysis was also tested for Sm³⁺ doped in phosphate glass. The resulting Ω₂ was much lower than Ω₄. The first set parameters were obtained using all the levels for which f_exp. was available. The second set parameter values were evaluated without the ⁶F_1/2 and ⁶H_15/2 levels. The Ω_2,4,6 values given in these two sets clearly suggest that particular care should be taken while evaluating the Judd–Ofelt parameters as well as when these parameters are compared to other systems due to their strong dependence on the nature of levels.     

Electro-mechanical moduli of three-phase fiber composites

Analytical expressions of effective properties for three-phase piezoelectric unidirectional composites are reported. Using Asymptotic Homogenization scheme for periodic media, very simple effective moduli are determined. The model includes one interphase separating the reinforcement inclusion phase from the host matrix. It can be used to have a better control of the composite properties and to improve sensor applications.     

MW-assisted synthesis of LiFePO4 for high power applications

LiFePO₄/C was prepared by solid-state reaction from Li₃PO₄, Fe₃(PO₄)₂·8H₂O, carbon and glucose in a few minutes in a scientific MW (microwave) oven with temperature and power control. The material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and by TGA analysis to evaluate carbon content. The electrochemical characterization as positive electrode in EC (ethylene carbonate)–DMC (dimethylcarbonate) 1 M LiPF₆ was performed by galvanostatic charge–discharge cycles at C/10 to evaluate specific capacity and by sequences of 10 s discharge–charge pulses, at different high C-rates (5–45C) to evaluate pulse-specific power in simulate operative conditions for full-HEV application. The maximum pulse-specific power and, particularly, pulse efficiency values are quite high and make MW synthesis a very promising route for mass production of LiFePO₄/C for full-HEV batteries at low energy costs.     

Uptake of grape anthocyanins into the rat kidney and the involvement of bilitranslocase

Anthocyanins are among the most common flavonoids in the human diet. In spite of their very low bioavailability, anthocyanins are indicated as active in preventing the progress of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, inflammation, and cancer. Any piece of knowledge concerning absorption, tissue distribution, metabolism, and excretion of dietary anthocyanins is expected to help understanding the apparent paradox between their low concentrations in cells and their bioactivity. The aim of this work was to investigate the renal uptake of dietary anthocyanins and the underlying molecular mechanism. A solution containing anthocyanins extracted from grape (Vitis vinifera) was introduced into the isolated stomach of anesthetized rats; after both 10 and 30 min, plasma, liver, and kidney were analyzed for their anthocyanin contents. While anthocyanins in the liver were at apparent equilibrium with plasma both after 10 and 30 min, kidney anthocyanins were 3- and 2.3-fold higher than in plasma, after 10 and 30 min, respectively. Since the transport activity of the bilitranslocase in kidney basolateral membrane vesicles was competitively inhibited by malvidin 3-glucoside (K(i) = 4.8 +/- 0.2 microM), the anthocyanin uptake from blood into kidney tubular cells is likely to be mediated by the kidney isoform of this organic anion membrane transporter.