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Two-dimensional model of nanoparticle deposition in the alveolar ducts of the human lung
Get PDFIn this paper a mathematical model for nanoparticle deposition in the alveolar ducts of the human lung airways is proposed. There were huge inconsistencies in deposition between ducts of a particular generation and inside every alveolated duct, signifying that limited particle concentrations can be much bigger than the mean acinar concentration. A large number of particles are unsuccessful to way out the structure during expiration. Finite difference method has been used to solve the unsteady nonlinear Navier–Stokes equations in cylindrical coordinate system governing flow assuming axial symmetry under laminar flow condition so that the problem efficiently turns into two-dimensional. An extensive quantitative study is performed through numerical computations of the preferred quantities having physiological importance through their graphical demonstration so as to authenticate the applicability of the current model
A Novel Approach for Solving Volterra Integral Equations Involving Local Fractional Operator
Get PDFThe paper presents an approximation method called local fractional variational iteration method (LFVIM) for solving the linear and nonlinear Volterra integral equations of the second kind with local fractional derivative operators. Some illustrative examples are discussed to demonstrate the efficiency and the accuracy of the proposed method. Furthermore, this method does not require spatial discretization or restrictive assumptions and therefore reduces the numerical computation significantly. The results reveal that the local fractional variational iteration method is very effective and convenient to solve linear and nonlinear integral equations within local fractional derivative operators
On Strong Domination Number of Graphs
Get PDFA subset S of a vertex set V is called a dominating set of graph G if every vertex of V -S is dominated by some element of set S. If e is an edge with end vertices u and v and degree of u is greater than or equal to degree of v then we say u strongly dominates v. If every vertex of V - S is strongly dominated by some vertex of S then S is called strong dominating set. The minimum cardinality of a strong dominating set is called the strong domination number of graph. We investigate strong domination numbers of some graphs and study related parameter
The FMX/FM/1 Queue with Multiple Working Vacation
Get PDFThis study investigates the batch arrival FMX/FM/1 queue with multiple working vacation. For this fuzzy queuing model, this research obtains some performance measure of interest such as mean system length, mean system sojourn time, mean busy period for the server and working vacation period. Finally, numerical results are presented to show the effects of system parameters
Modeling the risk of salmonellosis from consumption of pistachios produced and consumed in the United States
No full textThe risk of salmonellosis from consumption of pistachios produced and consumed in the U.S. was assessed through quantitative microbial risk assessment. Data on Salmonella prevalence and concentration on pistachios, nut crop volume, storage times and temperatures during processing and handling, and reductions during storage or from roasting were derived from laboratory experiments, published literature, and industry expert opinion. Uncertainty was analyzed via what-if scenarios for Salmonella prevalence, concentration, storage reduction, treatment variability, portion of crop treated, and increased consumption. The estimated U.S. incidence of salmonellosis when 100% of pistachios were exposed to a 4 ± 0 log reduction treatment averaged 1.4 cases per billion servings, or \u3c1 case/year, without considering Salmonella decline during storage. Including Salmonella decline during storage reduced the salmonellosis estimates approximately 10-fold. The predicted arithmetic mean number of cases associated with individual 500,000-kg storage silos, contaminated at the highest observed levels, ranged from 5 to 530 when the product was consumed untreated, but was reduced to below 1 case per silo when a 4 ± 0 log reduction treatment was applied. Assuming a uniform 4-log reduction treatment is applied to 100% of the crop and there is no decline of Salmonella during storage, the assessment indicates the following: 10-fold increases in either Salmonella prevalence or concentration, 2-fold increases in both prevalence and concentration, or consumption of \u3e0.05% of untreated product volume yield an arithmetic mean risk of \u3e1 case/year
Dynamics of gene expression during development and expansion of vegetative stem internodes of bioenergy sorghum
No full textBackground: Bioenergy sorghum accumulates 75% of shoot biomass in stem internodes. Grass stem internodes are formed during vegetative growth and elongate in response to developmental and environmental signals. To identify genes and molecular mechanisms that modulate the extent of internode growth, we conducted microscopic and transcriptomic analyses of four successive sub-apical vegetative internodes representing different stages of internode development of the bioenergy sorghum genotype R.07020. Results: Stem internodes of sorghum genotype R.07020 are formed during the vegetative phase and their length is enhanced by environmental signals such as shade and floral induction in short days. During vegetative growth, the first visible and youngest sub-apical internode was ~0.7 cm in length, whereas the fourth fully expanded internode was ~5 cm in length. Microscopic analyses revealed that all internode tissue types including pith parenchyma and vascular bundles are present in the four successive internodes. Growth in the first two sub-apical internodes occurred primarily through an increase in cell number consistent with expression of genes involved in the cell cycle and DNA replication. Growth of the 3rd internode was associated with an increase in cell length and growth cessation in the 4th internode was associated with up-regulation of genes involved in secondary cell wall deposition. The expression of genes involved in hormone metabolism and signaling indicates that GA, BR, and CK activity decreased while ethylene, ABA, and JA increased in the 3rd/4th internodes. While the level of auxin appears to be increasing as indicated by the up-regulation of ARFs, down-regulation of TIR during development indicates that auxin signaling is also modified. The expression patterns of transcription factors are closely associated with their role during the development of the vegetative internodes. Conclusions: Microscopic and transcriptome analyses of four successive sub-apical internodes characterized the developmental progression of vegetative stem internodes from initiation through full elongation in the sorghum genotype R.07020. Transcriptome profiling indicates that dynamic variation in the levels and action of GA, CK, IAA, BR, ethylene, ABA, and JA modulate gene expression and growth during internode growth and development. This study provides detailed microscopic and transcriptomic data useful for identifying genes and molecular pathways regulating internode elongation in response to various developmental and environmental signals
Applications of Metabolomics in Reproductive Biology
No full textMetabolomics can be performed associated with other omics approaches such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. For example, a recent study showed interesting results using an Integrative Personal Omics Profile (iPOP) to identify markers for possible diseases affecting an individual. This chapter suggests that such a method leads to an early diagnosis and facilitates prevention of certain diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, aplastic anemia, human rhinovirus infection, and respiratory syncytial virus infection. For assisted reproductive technologies (ART), metabolomics methods have been chosen as noninvasive approaches to improve the assessment of embryo quality. Metabolic profiling analysis of follicular fluids (FF) from lactating cows and heifers by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified the presence of greater concentrations of saturated fatty acids in follicles from cows than those from heifers. Large animals have been used as models for research of human disease and physiology due to their specific physiological characteristics, sometimes similar to the human
Overview of computational methods in nanotechnology
No full textIf one considers which research areas in physics, chemistry, and engineering experienced the strongest growth in the last 10 years, then it is likely that material sciences and nanotechnology stand out as front runners. While it is fair to say that material sciences have always been important, it is also true to state that until very recently they were somehow limited in scope. Before the nanotechnology revolution, all material sciences research was basically dominated by physics and engineering. The major driving force behind such research were attempts in computer and information technologies to miniaturize transistors and electronic processors. Essentially, all was a top-down strategy: start with a macroscopic device and then try to make it smaller and smaller
Insomnia and suicidal ideation and behaviors in former and current U.S. service members: Does depression mediate the relations?
No full textInsomnia is a risk factor for Suicidal Ideation (SI) and Behavior (SB), yet the nature of the relations is unclear, including the potential mediating role of cognitive and affective/somatic symptoms of depression. It was hypothesized that the impact of insomnia on SI would be mediated through depressive symptoms and that insomnia would directly impact SB. Current and former military service members (N =405; M age =31.6 years, SD =7.3; 90.4% male, 76.5% White) who endorsed recent suicidal ideation and/or a history of suicide attempt completed measures of insomnia, depression, SI, and SB at baseline and at month 12 follow-up. Mediation models were conducted using structural equation modeling. Significant mediation from insomnia to baseline SI and month 12 SI was found through cognitive/affective depression. Insomnia was directly related to SB occurring between baseline and month 12 follow-up. These findings suggest that cognitive/affective depression mediates the association with SI but not SB. Results build on research showing the importance of depressive symptoms in SI in particular. The direct and indirect pathways from insomnia to SI/SB suggest that clinicians should be aware of these relations when treating patients reporting insomnia
Comparison between allantochorion membrane and amniotic sac detection by per rectal palpation for pregnancy diagnosis on pregnancy loss, calving rates, and abnormalities in newborn calves
No full textThe objectives of the present investigation were to evaluate the pregnancy diagnosis by detection of either the allantochorion membrane (FMS) or amniotic sac (ASP) by per rectum palpation (PRP) during late embryonic or early fetal period on pregnancy loss (PRL) at reexamination, calving rates, and abnormalities in newborn calves. A controlled randomized blind design with 800 lactating dairy pregnant cows diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) between Days 35 and 57 of gestation from one dairy farm were included. The cows were randomly divided according to detection of allantochorion membrane (FMS group; n = 264), detection of amniotic sac (ASP group; n = 266), and TRUS (control [CON] group; n = 270). TRUS was considered as the criterion standard method of comparison. The entire PRP was performed by one experienced veterinarian. Then, all the cows were reexamined only by TRUS between 2 and 4 weeks later by two independent veterinarians to assess PRL. The calving rate one (number of cows calved divided by the number of cows initially pregnant) and calving rate two (number of cows calved divided by the number of cows pregnant at reexamination) for each group was calculated. All abortions and stillborns were necropsied, and calves alive were followed for 5 days. The overall initial PRL (between initial pregnant cows and reexamination) for FMS, ASP, and CON groups was 7.4% (19/258), 8.8% (23/262), and 9.2% (24/260), respectively (P = 0.75). The overall late PRL (between reexamination and calving) for FMS, ASP, and CON groups was 4.2% (9/213), 5.7% (12/209), and 4.2% (9/216), respectively (P = 0.71). The calving rate one for FMS, ASP, and TRUS groups was 79.1% (204/258), 75.2% (197/262), and 79.6% (207/260), respectively (P = 0.63). The calving rate two for the same groups was 85.4% (204/239), 82.4% (197/239), and 87.7% (207/236), respectively (P = 0.27). The number of fetuses aborted late, premature, and mature dead from FMS, ASP, and CON groups was 6, 4, and 5, respectively (P = 0.85), and no abnormalities at necropsy were detected. One stillborn male calf with atresia coli after 281 days of gestation from a cow examined by ASP at Day 51 was diagnosed. It was concluded that the use of either FMS or ASP for pregnancy diagnosis during late embryonic or early fetal period did not increase the PRL, affect calving rates, or produce calves with congenital abnormalities