Inferring kinetic dissolution of NaCl in aqueous glycol solution using a low-cost apparatus and population balance model

An experimental methodology for inferring brine dissolution rate in monoethylene glycol (MEG) solutions at different temperatures using a webcam combined with a mathematical model is presented. The measurement system is designed to track the RGB (red, green, and blue) colour variations during the dissolution process. A dynamic model augmented with the population balance equation is applied to describe the dissolution process. Moreover, the dissolution rate is consistently related to the temperature and MEG concentration through the driving force based on the Gibbs energy and chemical affinity. The applied low-cost measurement apparatus proved to be a useful resource for tracking the dissolution dynamics in a wide range of undersaturation.     

A note on the variance of rank-based selection strategies for genetic algorithms and genetic programming

This paper evaluates different forms of rank-based selection that are used with genetic algorithms and genetic programming. Many types of rank based selection have exactly the same expected value in terms of the sampling rate allocated to each member of the population. However, the variance associated with that sampling rate can vary depending on how selection is implemented. We examine two forms of tournament selection and compare these to linear rank-based selection using an explicit formula. Because selective pressure has a direct impact on population diversity, we also examine the interaction between selective pressure and different mutation strategies.     

HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies in pregnant women in the City of Maputo, Mozambique. A comparative study between 1982/1983 and 1990

The seroprevalence of HIV-1 and HIV-2 among pregnant women in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, was compared between the years 1982/83, 1988 and 1990. None of the 432 serum samples collected in 1982/83 was positive for HIV antibodies whereas in 1988 the HIV-1 and HIV-2 seroprevalence was 0.4% (2/500) and 0.6% (3/500), respectively, and in 1990 0.6% (12/2014) and 0.2% (4/2014), respectively. These results indicate that HIV infection has been introduced recently in Maputo and is spreading at a slow rate among women.     

Effect of vitamin A supplementation on diarrhoea and acute lower-respiratory-tract infections in young children in Brazil

A beneficial effect of periodic vitamin A supplementation on childhood mortality has been demonstrated, but the effect on morbidity is less clear. We investigated the effect of vitamin A supplementation on diarrhoea and acute lower-respiratory-tract infections (ALRI) in children from northeastern Brazil in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled community trial. 1240 children aged 6-48 months were assigned vitamin A or placebo every 4 months for 1 year. They were followed up at home three times a week, and data about the occurrence and severity of diarrhoea and ALRI were collected. Any child with cough and respiratory rate above 40 breaths per min was visited by a paediatrician. The overall incidence of diarrhoea episodes was significantly lower in the vitamin-A-supplemented group than in the placebo group (18.42 vs 19.58 x 10(-3) child-days; rate ratio 0.94 [95% Cl 0.90-0.98]). The benefit of supplementation was greater as regards severe episodes of diarrhoea; the incidence was 20% lower in the vitamin A group than in the placebo group (rate ratio 0.80 [0.65-0.98]). With the standard definition of diarrhoea (> or = 3 liquid or semi-liquid stools in 24 h) the effect of vitamin A on mean daily prevalence did not reach significance, but as the definition of diarrhoea was made more stringent (increasing number of stools per day), a significant benefit became apparent, reaching for diarrhoea with 6 or more liquid or semi-liquid stools in 24 h a 23% lower prevalence. We found no effect of vitamin A supplementation on the incidence of ALRI. The reduction in severity of diarrhoea may be the most important factor in the lowering of mortality by vitamin A supplementation.     

Rheological,thermal and morphological properties of polyethylene terephthalate/polyamide 6/rice husk ash composites

This work deals with the rheological, morphological, and thermal properties of composites having poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polyamide-6 (PA6), and their blends as matrices, and rice husk ash (RHA) as a filler. The study determines the effect of composition on the change in viscosity and rate of degradation during processing in a torque rheometer. Our data indicates that thermal stability and degradation during processing depend on matrix composition and filler concentration. SEM micrographs show both partial adhesion of the filler to the matrices and filler pullout. Optical microscopy shows particle agglomeration and that agglomerate size increased with filler content. FTIR investigates the shifting of absorption bands of PET/PA6 composite after the addition of RHA and attributes the selective dispersion of RHA to the formation of hydrogen bonds. Our data supports the idea that filler employed here is an option to develop polymer composites with improved properties.     

The influence of particle geometry and the intermediate stress ratio on the shear behavior of granular materials

The behavior of granular materials is very complex in nature and depends on particle shape, stress path, fabric, density, particle size distribution, amongst others. This paper presents a study of the effect of particle geometry (aspect ratio) on the mechanical behaviour of granular materials using the discrete element method (DEM). This study discusses 3D DEM simulations of conventional triaxial and true triaxial tests. The numerical experiments employ samples with different particle aspect ratios and a unique particle size distribution (PSD). Test results show that both particle aspect ratio (AR) and intermediate stress ratio \((b=({\upsigma }_{2}'-{\upsigma }_{3}')/({\upsigma }_{1}'-{\upsigma }_{3}'))\) affect the macro- and micro-scale responses. At the macro-scale, the shear strength decreases with an increase in both aspect ratio and intermediate stress ratio b values. At the micro-scale level, the fabric evolution is also affected by both AR and b. The results from DEM analyses qualitatively agree with available experimental data. The critical state behaviour and failure states are also discussed. It is observed that the position of the critical state loci in the compression \((e-p')\) space is only slightly affected by aspect ratio (AR) while the critical stress ratio is dependent on both AR and b. It is also demonstrated that the influence of the aspect ratio and the intermediate stress can be captured by micro-scale fabric evolutions that can be well understood within the framework of existing critical state theories. It is also found that for a given stress path, a unique critical state fabric norm is dependent on the particle shape but is independent of critical state void ratio.     

Regression models for grouped survival data: Estimation and sensitivity analysis

In this study, regression models are evaluated for grouped survival data when the effect of censoring time is considered in the model and the regression structure is modeled through four link functions. The methodology for grouped survival data is based on life tables, and the times are grouped in k intervals so that ties are eliminated. Thus, the data modeling is performed by considering the discrete models of lifetime regression. The model parameters are estimated by using the maximum likelihood and jackknife methods. To detect influential observations in the proposed models, diagnostic measures based on case deletion, which are denominated global influence, and influence measures based on small perturbations in the data or in the model, referred to as local influence, are used. In addition to those measures, the local influence and the total influential estimate are also employed. Various simulation studies are performed and compared to the performance of the four link functions of the regression models for grouped survival data for different parameter settings, sample sizes and numbers of intervals. Finally, a data set is analyzed by using the proposed regression models.     

Synthetic Modular Antibody Construction by Using the SpyTag/SpyCatcher Protein-Ligase System

Efforts to engineer recombinant antibodies for specific diagnostic and therapy applications are time consuming and expensive, as each new recombinant antibody needs to be optimized for expression, stability, bio-distribution, and pharmacokinetics. We have developed a new way to construct recombinant antibody-like “devices” by using a bottom-up approach to build them from well-behaved discrete recombinant antibody domains or “parts”. Studies on antibody structure and function have identified antibody constant and variable domains with specific functions that can be expressed in isolation. We used the SpyTag/SpyCatcher protein ligase to join these parts together, thereby creating devices with desired properties based on summed properties of parts and in configurations that cannot be obtained by using genetic engineering. This strategy will create optimized recombinant antibody devices at reduced costs and with shortened development times.     

Novel ferrofluids coated with a renewable material obtained from cashew nut shell liquid

In this work, we present the synthesis and characterization of a new surfactant molecule obtained from a byproduct of the cashew nut processing (diphosphorylated cardol, DPC). It is herein used to overcoat magnetic nanoparticles showing spinel structures in order to create new ferrofluids. The nanoparticle structure and magnetic properties have been deeply investigated. DPC-functionalized Fe₃O₄ and NiFe₂O₄ samples exhibit higher magnetic saturation than DPC–CoFe₂O₄. These new ferrofluids reveal appealing as possible nanoparticle stabilizing molecules, magnetic resonance imaging agents, storage systems or in any material science field that requires the employment of biocompatible magnetic stable fluids.