Chemical and nutritional evaluation of two amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus)-based infant formulas

The objective of this study was to calculate, prepare and evaluate the Protein Efficiency Ratio (P.E.R.) and Net Protein Utilization (N.P.U.) of two infant formulas made with amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus). Both formulas were formulated to match a previously developed and tested soy-oats infant formula. No significant differences were found between the three formulas with respect to corrected Protein Efficiency Ratio (P.E.R.) and Net Protein Utilization (N.P.U.) values. Only the product made with the 1-R fraction of amaranth was found to have a significantly lower P.E.R. than casein.     

Microfluidic liquid actuation through ground-directed electric discharge

In this article, we present a new technique to actuate liquids in microchannels using ground-directed electric discharge generated by a portable corona device. When an electric discharge is applied, the air in the microchannel is ionized causing a change in the surface energy. The resulting change in the contact angle induces rapid liquid transport through the channel by capillary action. In contrast to established plasma treatment this method employs a ground electrode that guides the electric field. This approach enables rapid treatment of select microchannels and thus provides a means of real-time fluid actuation as opposed to simply a pretreatment process. Instantaneous fluid velocities show power-law dependence with time and fit theoretical models at a contact angle of 65°. Average fluid velocities are on the order of 5 cm/s, and thus channels on the order of 1-cm long are filled in ~0.2 s. To demonstrate the potential of this technique for integrated lab-on-a-chip applications, the method was employed in serpentine channel, for on-demand fluid routing, to initiate a mixing process, and through an on-chip integrated microelectrode.     

Influence of texture and test velocity on the dynamic,high-strain,tensile behavior of zirconium

Experiments were conducted to characterize the influence of texture and impact velocity on the dynamic, high-strain, tensile extrusion of zirconium. Bullet-shaped samples were machined from a clock-rolled, highly textured Zr plate. Specimens in two orthogonal directions were tested: the extrusion direction aligned with either the in-plane (IP) rolling or the through-thickness (TT) direction of the plate. The post-extrusion microstructure and texture evolution were examined using electron backscatter diffraction microscopy and modeled using the viscoplastic self-consistent model. It was found that extrusion deformation was accomplished through a combination of twinning and slip with their relative activity greatly depending on the initial texture. In this regard, higher elongations in the IP samples as compared to the TT samples were observed at similar test velocities. This difference in ductility is discussed in terms of the material’s ability to accommodate plastic deformation. Due to the availability of a larger number of slip systems with relatively high Schmid factors in the IP samples under this configuration, plastic deformation by prismatic slip can be easily achieved, resulting in larger elongations. On the contrary, for TT samples, twinning preceded deformation by slip. This sequential deformation process, driven by the need to reorient the microstructure favorably to slip, led to diminished elongations to failure.     

Influence of Temperature on the Dynamic Tensile Behavior of Zirconium

The influence of temperature on the dynamic tensile behavior of Zr has been investigated. Bullet-shaped Zr samples with two different textures were dynamically extruded at room temperature and 523 K (250 °C). A higher ductility was measured for samples deformed at elevated temperature as compared to those extruded at room temperature. This difference in ductility is discussed in terms of zirconium’s ability to accommodate plastic deformation via thermally enhanced slip activity, as evidenced by examination of the deformed microstructures.     

Theophylline: Old Drug in a New Light,Application in COVID-19 through Computational Studies

Theophylline (3-methyxanthine) is a historically prominent drug used to treat respiratory diseases, alone or in combination with other drugs. The rapid onset of the COVID-19 pandemic urged the development of effective pharmacological treatments to directly attack the development of new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and possess a therapeutical battery of compounds that could improve the current management of the disease worldwide. In this context, theophylline, through bronchodilatory, immunomodulatory, and potentially antiviral mechanisms, is an interesting proposal as an adjuvant in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Nevertheless, it is essential to understand how this compound could behave against such a disease, not only at a pharmacodynamic but also at a pharmacokinetic level. In this sense, the quickest approach in drug discovery is through different computational methods, either from network pharmacology or from quantitative systems pharmacology approaches. In the present review, we explore the possibility of using theophylline in the treatment of COVID-19 patients since it seems to be a relevant candidate by aiming at several immunological targets involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. Theophylline down-regulates the inflammatory processes activated by SARS-CoV-2 through various mechanisms, and herein, they are discussed by reviewing computational simulation studies and their different applications and effects.     

Effect of air in the thermal decomposition of 50 mass% hydroxylamine/water

This paper presents experimental measurements of 50 mass% hydroxylamine (HA)/water thermal decomposition in air and vacuum environments using an automatic pressure tracking adiabatic calorimeter (APTAC). Overall kinetics, onset temperatures, non-condensable pressures, times to maximum rate, heat and pressure rates versus temperature, and mixture vapor pressures for the experiments in vacuum were similar when compared to the corresponding data for HA decomposition in air. Determined was an overall activation energy of 119+/-8 kJ/mol (29+/-2 kcal/mol), which is low compared to 257 kJ/mol (61.3 kcal/mol) required to break the H(2)N-OH bond reported in the literature. The availability of oxygen from air did not affect detected runaway decomposition products, which were H(2), N(2), N(2)O, NO, and NH(3), for samples run in vacuum or with air above the sample. A delta H(rxn) of -117 kJ/mol (28 kcal/mol) was estimated for the HA decomposition reaction under runaway conditions.     

STUDY OF SOLID-LIQUID EXTRACTIONS IN A BATCH EQUIPMENT

A batch pilot-scale apparatus is described for the study of processes for obtaining phyto-extracts using solvents. The distinctive feature of the equipment is that it provides the efficiency of a multi-stage counter-current extraction, yet uses only a single batch extractor (as opposed to a battery of extractors). This is achieved by using an auxiliary tank in which intermediate extracts are saved and recirculated in a pre-established order. Careful design of the mechanisms for the circulation of liquid from such tanks has resulted in an apparatus that is compact and has simple, flexible operation. A prototype of this apparatus was constructed for the study of the direct extraction of oil from sunflower seeds using hexane A simple model that describes the operation of the equipment is presented and applied to our experimental work with oilseeds.     

The influence of safety belt laws on self- reported safety belt use in the United States

We assessed rates and trends in safety belt use by presence and type of safety belt law using data from states participating in the 1984–1989 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. State(s) with a safety belt law allowing law enforcement officers to stop vehicles for occupants' failure to use safety belts (primary enforcement law) had greater and more rapid increases in safety belt use rates than did states with laws requiring that vehicles must first be stopped for some other violation before a citation or fine for occupants' failure to use safety belts could be imposed (secondary enforcement law). Larger and sustained increases in safety belt use occurred when safety belt laws became effective or when fines were imposed for violations than when laws were first enacted. These data suggest that primary enforcement laws result in greater and more rapid increases in safety belt use than do secondary enforcement laws, and that initial increases in safety belt use following implementation of laws are sustained.     

Toxic effects of aliphatic chlorinated by-products from vinyl chloride production on marine animals

The acute toxic effects of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, formed as by-products from one Swedish and one Norwegian plastic production factory, were examined by experiments with cod (Gadus morhua), shrimp (Crangon crangon) and a polychaete (Ophyryotrocha labronica). The toxicity of 1,2-dichloroethane—a dominating compound of the by-products—and a distillate with heavier compounds were also estimated. The toxicity (48 h, LC50) ratio between the concentrations of a Swedish by-product, a Norwegian by-product, and dichloroethane was 1:9:34. The effects of 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethane and 1,1,2-trichloroethene on the reproductivity, and on the survival of adults of Ophryotrocha were studied. The reproductivity was affected by these components in far lower concentrations than those having acute toxic effects on adult specimens. In one experiment series Ophryotrocha was exposed suddenly to the test solutions and in a second series the first presentation was made by a successive increase of the concentration during one hour. The estimated 96-h LC50-values for the test with successive increase were 1·8–3·1 times higher than those found for the test with sudden exposure. It is suggested that a physiological shock in the start of bioassay experiments might have reduced the LC50-values in many previous tests.     

Excitation of hypersound in n-GaN films

The aim of this paper is the analysis of hypersound excitation in GaN films. Simulation of process is presented for a case of a thin film geometry on a non-piezoelectric substrate. The frequency range considered is from 50 GHz up to 200 GHz. The excitation is due to coupling with space charge waves (SCWs) in GaN film. The amplification of SCWs is related with negative differential conductivity in GaN films. Possible spatial increments are obtained. The amplified SCWs can excite hypersonic waves at the same frequency due to piezoeffect and deformation potential mechanisms. The first effect is stronger and causes an effective resonant excitation of hypersonic waves in the case of full mechanic contact of GaN film and non-piezoelectric substrate.