Tamquam alter idem: formal similarities in a subset of reports on anti-inflammatory compounds in the years 2008–2019

Scientometrics - A literature search on the in vitro testing of anti-inflammatory compounds of natural origin revealed a considerable number of studies adopting a similar template for data...     

La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3-δ nanofiber cathode for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells by water-based sol-gel electrospinning: Synthesis and electrochemical behaviour

Water-based sol-gel electrospinning is employed to manufacture perovskite oxide La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ (LSCF) nanofiber cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells. LSCF fibrous scaffolds are synthesized through electrospinning of a sol-gel solution employing water as the only solvent. Morphological characterizations demonstrate that the LSCF fibers have highly crystalline structure with uniform elemental distribution. After heat treatment, the average fiber diameter is 250 nm and the porosity of the nanofiber tissue is 37.5 %. The heat treated LSCF nanofibers are applied directly onto a Ce_0.9Gd_0.1O_1.95 (CGO) electrolyte disk to form a symmetrical cell. Electrochemical characterization is carried out through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the temperature range 550?°C–950?°C, and reproducibility of the electrochemical performance for a series of cells is demonstrated. At 650?°C, the average measured polarization resistance R_p is 1.0 Ω cm². Measured performance decay is 1 % during the first 33?h of operation at 750?°C, followed by an additional 0.7 % over the subsequent 70?h.     

The impacts of a GTL plant on Brazil's oil products supply and refinery expansion

This paper assesses the impacts of a GTL plant on the expansion of Brazil's oil refining segment. The GTL plant (50,000 bpd) was sized to start up operations in 2015, producing diesel and naphtha through the indirect route (FT-synthesis). This plant will consume the non-associated natural gas production from the recent discoveries at the Santos Basin (around 419 Bm³), and the associated gas production from the Campos Basin. Both basins are located in the Southeast of Brazil, the most populated, rich and industrialized region of the country. Two different criteria for refinery expansion were simulated in order to meet oil product demand scenarios. Findings show that depending on the refinery expansion criteria considered GTL will play a fundamental hole to meet the oil product demand forecast to Brazil in the next 10 years.     

A fuzzy clustering algorithm enhancing local model interpretability

In this work, simple modifications on the cost index of particular local-model fuzzy clustering algorithms are proposed in order to improve the readability of the resulting models. The final goal is simultaneously providing local linear models (reasonably close to the plant’s Jacobian) and clustering in the input space so that desirable characteristics (regarding final model accuracy, and convexity and smoothness of the cluster membership functions) are improved with respect to other proposals in literature. Some examples illustrate the proposed approach.     

Relaxed stability and performance conditions for Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems with knowledge on membership function overlap.

This correspondence presents a relaxation of some earlier linear matrix inequality (LMI) conditions, which allow setting up less conservative stability or performance conditions for Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy models. Unlike the previous literature, this correspondence takes into account the knowledge of the membership functions' shape by considering bounds on them and their cross products (interpreted as an overlap measure), introducing auxiliary LMI variables. Numerical examples illustrate the achieved improvements.     

Curing of mixtures of epoxy resins and 4‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one with several initiators

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A or 3,4‐epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3,4‐epoxycyclohexane carboxylate were mixed with different proportions of 4‐methyl‐1,3‐dioxolan‐2‐one and cured using lanthanide triflates as initiators. In order to compare the materials obtained, conventional initiators such as boron trifluoride complexes and N,N‐dimethylaminopyridine were also tested. The curing process was followed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform IR in attenuated total reflectance mode. This technique proved that the carbonate accelerates the curing process because it helps to form the active initiating species, although it was not chemically incorporated into the network and remained entrapped in the material. The DSC kinetic study was also reported. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 2086–2093, 2006     

Micro-computed tomography scanning approaches to quantify,parameterize and visualize bioturbation activity in clogged streambeds: A proof of concept

Fine particle clogging and faunal bioturbation are two key processes co-occurring in the hyporheic zone that potentially affect hyporheic exchange through modifications in the sediment structure of streambeds. Clogging results from excessive fine sediment infiltration and deposition in rivers, and it is known to decrease matrix porosity and potentially reduce permeability. Faunal bioturbation activity may compensate for the negative effect of clogging by reworking the sediment, increasing porosity, and preventing further infiltration of fines. Although both processes of clogging and bioturbation have received significant attention in the literature separately, their combined effects on streambed sediment structure are not well understood, mostly due to the lack of a standard methodology for their assessment. Here, we illustrate a novel methodology using X-ray computed tomography (CT), as proof of concept, to investigate how, together, clogging and bioturbation affect streambed porosity in a controlled flow-through flume. By visualising gallery formations of an upward conveyor macroinvertebrate; Lumbriculus variegatus as a model species, we quantified bioturbation activity in a clogged streambed, focusing on orientation, depth, and volume at downwelling and upwelling areas of the flume. Gallery creation increased the porosity of the streambed sediment, suggesting a potential improvement in permeability and a possible offset of clogging effects. We illustrate the promising use of X-ray CT as a tool to assess bioturbation in clogged streambeds, and the potential role of bioturbation activity supporting hyporheic exchange processes in streambeds, warranting further studies to understand the extent of bioturbation impacts in natural systems.     

Non-intrusive Coupling: Recent Advances and Scalable Nonlinear Domain Decomposition

This paper provides a detailed review of the global/local non-intrusive coupling algorithm. Such method allows to alter a global finite element model, without actually modifying its corresponding numerical operator. We also look into improvements of the initial algorithm (Quasi-Newton and dynamic relaxation), and provide comparisons based on several relevant test cases. Innovative examples and advanced applications of the non-intrusive coupling algorithm are provided, granting a handy framework for both researchers and engineers willing to make use of such process. Finally, a novel nonlinear domain decomposition method is derived from the global/local non-intrusive coupling strategy, without the need to use a parallel code or software. Such method being intended to large scale analysis, we show its scalability. Jointly, an efficient high level Message Passing Interface coupling framework is also proposed, granting an universal and flexible way for easy software coupling. A sample code is also given.     

Penetrating aortic ulcer: clinical and angiographic characteristics

BACKGROUND: "Penetrating aortic ulcer", an atherosclerotic lesion with ulceration that penetrates the internal elastic lamina and allows haematoma formation within the aortic wall, is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with sudden onset of severe chest or back pain. It has been suggested that it is a pathologic process that involves elderly hypertensive patients with severe atherosclerosis and rarely has been observed in the ascending aorta. METHODS: To determine the characteristics of this process, 11 clinical, 2 hemodynamic, 3 angiographic and 4 surgical variables were compared between 10 consecutive patients with penetrating aortic ulcers and 20 matched patients with classic acute aortic dissection. RESULTS: Clinical and hemodynamic variables were similar in both compared groups. In the group of patients with penetrating ulcer mean age was 58 +/- 6 years, previous hypertension was observed in 6 patients and the penetrating ulcer was located in the ascending aorta in 6 cases. In comparison to patients with aortic dissection, more angiographic projections were necessary to obtain the diagnosis in the group of patients with penetrating ulcer (2.4 +/- 0.8 vs 1.7 +/- 0.6; p < 0.05). In addition, the presence of angiographic aortic valve regurgitation was only observed in the group of patients with acute dissection (60% vs 0%; p < 0.001). Severe atherosclerosis was not present angiographically in any patient with penetrating ulcer. CONCLUSIONS: Penetrating aortic ulcer can also affect middle age patients without severe atherosclerosis and is frequently observed in the ascending aorta. Its form of presentation and clinical characteristics are similar to classic aortic dissection. The lack of angiographic confirmatory evidence of dissection with suggestive clinical history, should raise the possibility of penetrating aortic ulcer.     

Screening for colorectal cancer in Catalonia. Results of a population survey

This CT study was designed to assess brain morphology in agoraphobia. 21 patients and 21 normal control subjects matched in age and sex were investigated. Frontal and parietooccipital cortex, temporal cortex, lateral ventricles and third ventricle were evaluated by qualitative assessment on a 3-point scale (normal, questionable, abnormal). Patients showed significant bilateral enlargement of prefrontal cortical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces (p < .05). The rating "abnormal" was given to none (0%) of the normal controls, but to 6 (28.6%) of the patients in the left hemisphere, and to 4 patients (19%) in the right hemisphere, respectively. No qualitative differences were seen in the temporal cortex, lateral ventricles and third ventricle. These findings support the hypothesis that alterations in brain morphology are involved in the etiology of agoraphobia. The lack of a correlation between CSF enlargement and duration of illness suggests that prefrontal CSF enlargement is a neurobiological vulnerability marker in agoraphobia.