47,335 research outputs found
Settling of finite-size particles in isotropically forced, homogeneous turbulence: interface-resolved simulations
No full textWe have simulated the gravity-induced settling of finite-size particles in a turbulent background flow which is forced in a statistically-stationary fashion. The simulations are accurately resolving the solid-fluid interface with the aid of an immersed boundary technique [1]. The parameters of the simulation are (apart from background turbulence) identical to those of reference [2], where particle clustering was observed at a Galileo number of 178 and a solid volume fraction of 0.005. In the present case, it is found that a relative turbulence intensity of 0.24 leads to the disappearance of the clusters; as a consequence, the increase in average particle settling velocity found in [2] also vanishes. [1] M. Uhlmann. An immersed boundary method with direct forcing for the simulation of particulate flows. J. Comput. Phys., 209(2):448–476, 2005. [2] M. Uhlmann and T. Doychev. Sedimentation of a dilute suspension of rigid spheres at intermediate Galileo numbers: the effect of clustering upon the particle motion. J. Fluid Mech., 752:310–348, 2014
Mesophilic-hydrothermal-thermophilic (M-H-T) digestion of green corn straw
No full textMesophilic-hydrothermal (80-160 degrees C, 30 min)-thermophilic (M-H-T) digestion and control tests of mesophilic (M), thermophilic (T), hydrothermal-mesophilic (H-M), and mesophilic-thermophilic digestion (M-T) of green corn straw were conducted for a 20-day fermentation period. The results indicate that M-H-T is an efficient method to improve methane production. A maximum methane yield of 371.74 mL/g volatile solid was obtained by the M (3 days)-H (140 degrees C)-T (17 days) process, which was 20.44%, 16.55%, 31.44%, and 14.31% higher than the yields of the M, T, 140-M, and M-T processes. The enhanced methane production was attributed to (1) the improved hemicellulose degradation and lignin disorganization; (2) prevention of the degradation of soluble sugar, easily hydrolyzed hemicellulose and cellulose into furfural and methylfurfural; and (3) lack of formation of Maillard reaction products during initial hydrothermal treatment. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
Dr. Glendon Swarthout
No full textHosted by Roger M. Busfield, MSU Assistant Professor of Speech and Theater, Meet the Author is designed to introduce a general audience to a contemporary author and their work through in-depth interviews. This episode features a conversation between Dr. Glendon Swarthout, prolific author and English professor at MSU, and assistant professors Sam S. Baskett and Theodore B. Strandness
Contribuição ao estudo do óleo de babaçú.
No full textSZPIZ, R. R.; MONTEIRO NETTO, H. C. Contribuição ao estudo do óleo de babaçú. p. 7-15. CAVALCANTI, G. R. P.; COSTA, M. H. L. M. da; JABLONKA, F. H.; CARVALHO, M. P. M. de; CORREA, T. B. S. Envelhecimento de aguardente de cana. p. 16-39. CAMPOS, J. E.; EL-DASH, A. A. Farinha de tremoço doce (Lupinus albus) como suplemento protéico em panificação. I. Efeito nas propriedades físicas da massa, qualidade do pão e composição em aminoácidos. p. 40-55
The maternal immune system during pregnancy and its influence on fetal development
No full textThe maternal immune system plays a critical role in the establishment, maintenance, and completion of a healthy pregnancy. However, the specific mechanisms utilized to achieve these goals are not well understood. Various cells and molecules of the immune system are key players in the development and function of the placenta and the fetus. Effector cells of the immune system act to promote and yet limit placental development. The T helper 1 (Th1)/T helper 2 (Th2) immune shift during pregnancy is well established. A fine balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory influences is required. We herein review the evidence regarding maternal tolerance of fetal tissues and the underlying cell-mediated immune and humoral (hormones and cytokines) mechanisms. We also note the many unanswered questions in our understanding of these mechanisms. In addition, we summarize the clinical manifestations of an altered maternal immune system during pregnancy related to susceptibility to common viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections, as well as to autoimmune diseases.Peer reviewe
Erosie door open taludbekledingen. Samenvattend verslag + Bijlage A t/m D
No full textOpen taludbekledingen die bestaan uit in verband geplaatste betonblokken met gaten, bieden de mogelijkheid vegetatie te doen groeien, waardoor mogelijk een milieuvriendelijke oever kan worden verkregen. In het pioniersstadium van de vegetatie is het evenwel ongewenst dat de gatvulling uitspoelt. Teneinde de relatie tussen waterbeweging en erosie van de gatvulling vast te stellen, is door de Dienst Weg- en Waterbouwkunde van Rijkswaterstaat per brief d.d. 16 maart 1987 (kenmerk WB 570), opdracht verleend aan het Waterloopkundig Laboratorium tot het uitvoeren van onderzoek naar de erosie door open taludbekledingen. Het doel van het onderzoek is het ontwikkelen van ontwerprichtlijnen voor taludbekledingen met gaten die groter zijn dan de zand- of filterkorrels eronder. Hiertoe dient de kritieke waterbeweging bij een oever- of dijkbekleding te worden vastgesteld, waarbij nog toelaatbare erosie is te verwachten. De toelaatbare erosie mag daarbij maximaal gelijk zijn aan de hoeveelheid sediment in de gaten. Filter- of basismateriaal gelegen onder de elementen mag dus niet uitspoelen. Bij oeverbekledingen waar vegetatie een rol moet gaan spelen, is de toelaatbare erosie kleiner, dat wil zeggen in de gaten dient sediment achter te blijven.Steenzettingen - TAW/EN
Model Based Building Chilled Water Loop Delta-T Fault Diagnosis
No full textImproving chilled water delta-T, which is the temperature difference of chilled water supply and return temperature, in campus buildings that are connected to a central distribution loop will not only improve the power consumption of the building through reduced tertiary (building) pumping power but the impact on the central distribution system and chiller efficiencies will be even greater. A degraded delta-T is almost inevitable and it can be expected to fall to about one-half to two-thirds of design at low loads (Taylor, 2002) due to various causes, such as air entering and leaving temperatures, chilled water supply temperature, type and effectiveness of flow control valves, tertiary connection configuration types and operation, coil cooling loads, air economizers, etc. However, in most variable-flow chilled water with 2-way control valve systems, the root cause of low delta-T is at coil side (Zhang, 2012), for example the geometric configuration of coil. This paper firstly discusses chilled water coil heat exchanger model results to help define methods for detecting opportunities for improved delta-T when analyzing campus building systems for performance optimization measures. Meanwhile, the author developed an effectiveness-NTU cooling coil models for a case study building containing chilled water coils with a range of design configurations to study cooling coil delta-T characteristics under various conditions in order to diagnose the low delta-T imposed on the chilled water distribution loop by the building's chilled water system under various loading conditions. The results show model-based building chilled water Loop delta-T fault diagnosis is an effective way to evaluate existing building chilled water loop delta-T performance and identify avoidable or resoluble causes for improving chilled water loop delta-T
C3H7NO2S effect on concrete steel-rebar corrosion in 0.5 M H2SO4 simulating industrial/microbial environment
No full textThis paper investigates C3H7NO2S (Cysteine) effect on the inhibition of reinforcing steel corrosion in concrete immersed in 0.5 M H2SO4, for simulating industrial/microbial environment. Different C3H7NO2S concentrations were admixed, in duplicates, in steel-reinforced concrete samples that were partially immersed in the acidic sulphate environment. Electrochemical monitoring techniques of open circuit potential, as per ASTM C876-91 R99, and corrosion rate, by linear polarization resistance, were then employed for studying anticorrosion effect in steel-reinforced concrete samples by the organic hydrocarbon admixture. Analyses of electrochemical test-data followed ASTM G16-95 R04 prescriptions including probability distribution modeling with significant testing by Kolmogorov-Smirnov and student's t-tests statistics. Results established that all datasets of corrosion potential distributed like the Normal, the Gumbel and the Weibull distributions but that only the Weibull model described all the corrosion rate datasets in the study, as per the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test-statistics. Results of the student's t-test showed that differences of corrosion test-data between duplicated samples with the same C3H7NO2S concentrations were not statistically significant. These results indicated that 0.06878 M C3H7NO2S exhibited optimal inhibition efficiency η = 90.52±1.29% on reinforcing steel corrosion in the concrete samples immersed in 0.5 M H2SO4, simulating industrial/microbial service-environment
Phallobrycon adenacanthus Menezes, Ferreira & Netto-Ferreira, 2009, new species
No full textPhallobrycon adenacanthus, new species Figs. 1 and 2 Holotype. MZUSP 98892, 37 mm SL, mature male, Brazil, Mato Grosso: Campinápolis, rapids in rio Culuene, rio Xingu basin, 13 º 49 ’S, 53 º 15 ’W, F.C.T. Lima, F.A. Machado, C.A. Figueiredo & J.L. Birindelli, May 2007. Paratypes. MZUSP 98893, 1, 34 mm SL, taken with holotype; MZUSP 98905, 1, 37 mm SL, Brazil, Pará: Altamira, vila Castelo dos Sonhos, rio Curuá, tributary of rio Iriri, rio Xingu basin, 08º 19 ’07”S, 55 º05’ 23 ”W, J.L. Birindelli, L.M. Sousa, A.L. Netto-Ferreira, M.H. Sabaj-Perez & N.K. Lujan, 20 October 2007. Following lots collected in the rio Xingu basin, Mato Grosso. MZUSP 91367, 2, 38.5 mm SL: Canarana, rio Coronel Vanick, tributary of rio 7 de Setembro, about 58 kilometers from Canarana, road MT- 120, 13º 33 ’ 32 ”S, 52 º 33 ’ 51 ”W, O.T. Oyakawa et al., 18 October 2004; MZUSP 91952, 8, 30–37 mm SL, Paranatinga, rio Culuene, 13 º 49 ’S, 53 º 15 ’W, J.L. Birindelli, L.M. Sousa, & A. Akama, 21 August 2006; MZUSP 98899, 2, 26 and 39 mm SL, Paranatinga, rio Sucuri, tributary of rio Culuene, 13 º 55 ’ 40 ”S, 53 º 17 ’ 10 ”W, J.L. Birindelli & A.Akama, January 2006; MZUSP 98900, 2, 32 and 35 mm SL, Paranatinga, waterfalls of rio Corgão, tributary of rio Culuene, 13 º 48 ’ 18 ”S, 53 º 16 ’04”W, J.L. Birindelli & A. Akama, January 2006; MZUSP 98902, 7, 30–40 mm SL, Paranatinga, rio Culuene, 13 º 49 ’S, 53 º 15 ’W, L.M. Sousa, A.L. Netto-Ferreira, C.A. Figueiredo & F.A. Machado, 2 July 2007; MZUSP 98903, 13, 28.5–35 mm SL, Campinápolis, rio Couto de Magalhães near vila de São José do rio Couto, 13 º 50 ’ 17 ”S, 53 º03’ 53 ”W, F.C.T. Lima, C.R. Moreira, F.A. Machado & A.C. Ribeiro, 6 October 2007; MZUSP 98904, 5, 29.5-35.6 mm SL, (2 cleared and stained), Paranatinga, rio Culuene, 13 º 49 ’S, 53 º 15 ’W, J.L. Birindelli, L.M. Sousa & A. Akama, 21 August 2006; MZUSP 97031, 24, 13-28.6 mm SL, Campinápolis, rio Couto de Magalhães, mouth of córrego Água Clara, Fazenda Meu Ranchinho, 13 º 48 ’02”S, 53 º03’ 43 ”W, F.C.T. Lima, A.C. Ribeiro, C.M.C. Leite & T. Moraes, 10 October 2007. Diagnosis. The same as that for Phallobrycon. Description. Morphometrics of holotype and paratypes are presented in table 1. Meristic and morphometric data based on all the samples available since no differences were found among the material collected from different localities. Body small (SL 13–41 mm), elongate and laterally compressed; greatest body depth at vertical crossing slightly ahead pelvic-fin origin. Dorsal body profile nearly straight to only slightly inclined at anterior part of snout, gently convex from upper part of snout to dorsal-fin origin, slightly depressed at occipital region, straight and posteroventrally inclined from this point to caudal peduncle. Dorsal profile of caudal peduncle slightly concave. Ventral body profile gently convex from tip of lower jaw to analfin origin, nearly straight and dorsally inclined along anal-fin base and slightly concave along ventral margin of caudal peduncle. Lower jaw included in upper jaw when mouth is closed. Posterior tip of maxilla extending slightly beyond vertical crossing anterior border of orbit. Dorsal-fin rays ii, 8 in all specimens. Posteriormost ray branched. Anal fin unbranched rays iv, branched rays 18–23 (21), 20.1, posteriormost ray branched. Strongly developed anterior anal-fin lobe including anterior unbranched rays and first 6–7 branched rays in both sexes. Anal fin of sexually mature males with bilateral bony hooks on largest unbranched ray and first two branched rays. In a clear and stained male specimen (35.4 mm SL) there are 5 hooks on largest unbranched ray, 5 on posterior branch of first branched ray and 1 on posterior branch of second branched ray and two developed spines on unbranched portions of fifth, sixth, and seventh branched rays located slightly below the middle of each ray (Fig. 3). Pectoral-fin rays i, 11–13 (i, 11) 11.8. Distal tip of longest pectoral-fin ray falling short of pelvic-fin origin even in mature females, but extending slightly beyond origin of that fin in mature males, however no significant statistical differences found in relative lengths of pectoral fins in males and females. Pectoral-fin rays without hooks. Pelvic-fin rays i, 7. No hooks on pelvic fin of sexually mature males. Distal tip of longest pelvic-fin rays extending slightly beyond anal-fin origin. No significant statistical difference in relative lengths of pelvic fins between males and females. Principal caudal-fin ray count 10 / 9 in all specimens. Scales cycloid. Lateral line complete, perforated scales 38–40 (40), 39. Predorsal scales 12–14 (13), 12.8. Scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and anal-fin origin 9–10 (9), 9.01. Scale rows around caudal peduncle 14–15 (14), 14.3. Premaxillary teeth in two rows (Fig. 9); outer row 4 in all specimens. Outer row teeth somewhat cylindrical and elongate, distally conical, with 2 small cusps on each side, slightly shorter than inner row teeth. Inner row teeth 4 in all specimens, compressed, slightly convex on external surface; symphyseal and following 3 teeth pentacuspid in larger specimens, one or two teeth in this series sometimes with 3 or 4 cuspids in smaller specimens; pentacuspid teeth with cusps graduated in size from smallest located laterally with third more medially located usually largest. Maxillary teeth 2 in all specimens (Fig. 9), compressed, with 5 or 6 cusps, middle cusp usually largest. Dentary with 4 anterior large pentacuspid teeth, followed by 2–5 (4), 3.9 smaller tetra or tricuspid teeth. Four large anterior teeth with inner surface concave and external surface convex (Fig. 9). Vertebrae 37–39 (38), 38. Dorsal limb gill rakers 4–6 (5) 5; ventral limb gill rakers 8–10 (9), 8.5. Branchiostegal rays 4 in two cleared and stained specimens, 3 rays originating on anterior and l on posterior ceratohyal. Color in alcohol. Body pale to light yellow. Longitudinal dark stripe on dorsum covering median scale row, extending from occiput to dorsal part of caudal peduncle, separated by one and a half scale rows from lateral body stripe. Dark lateral body stripe extending from upper part of opercle to caudal base where it becomes wider. Stripe anteriorly diffuse, more conspicuous and darker from below dorsal-fin origin to caudal base, its posterior margin covering bases of 3–15 principal caudal-fin rays; medially on caudal fin stripe continues to distal tips of caudal-fin rays 5–9. Vertically elongate dark spot at humeral region. Scattered dark chromatophores on upper sides of head and above and below midlateral dark body stripe. Dorsal part of head dark. Fins hyaline with scattered dark chromatophores. Sexual dimorphism. The most remarkable sexual difference in Phallobrycon adenacanthus is the presence of a urogenital papilla anterior to the anal fin in the males, already developed in specimens with 18 mm SL (Fig. 4). Another exclusive feature of the males is the presence of spines on the branched rays that are part of the anal-fin anterior lobe where the glandular tissue is confined (Fig. 3). When expressed as percentages of standard length body depth, caudal peduncle depth and pelvic fin length revealed significant statistical differences between males and females (Table 1) but no differences were found when these morphometric data were considered through linear regression analysis. Etymology. The name adenacanthus is from the Greek adenos meaning gland and akanthos for spine, with reference to the restriction of the glandular tissue to the area where the anal-fin spines are located. Distribution. This species was collected from tributaries of the upper rio Xingu in the states of Pará and Mato Grosso, Brazil (Fig. 10). One specimen was found in sympatry with Bryconadenos weitzmani Menezes, Netto-Ferreira & Ferreira in rio Curuá, tributary of rio Iriri, rio Xingu basin (Menezes, Netto-Ferreira & Ferreira, 2009). Such disjunct distribution is possibly due to the lack of knowledge of the fishes of the rio Xingu basin, and it is most likely that Phallobrycon is a group widely distributed along that drainage. Ecological notes. All specimens of Phallobrycon adenacanthus were collected in the main channel of rivers with fast flowing and rather shallow clear waters, with abundance of rocks and thick sand, an environment similar to that where members of its relative Bryconadenos inhabit. The population on its type locality is severely threatened due to the recent impoundment of the rio Culuene in the exact stretch where the specimens were collected, and other known populations should be preserved. Phylogenetic relationships of Phallobrycon. Morphological and especially histological studies involving primary and secondary sexual characters intended to analyze the phylogenetic relationships among members of Clade A characids (K.M. Ferreira & N.A. Menezes, in preparation) will provide further information on the relationships of Phyllobrycon. Preliminary results indicate that other than the presence of four inner row premaxillary teeth and ii, 8 dorsal-fin rays no other obvious feature is exclusively shared by Phallobrycon and the other genera belonging to Clade A characids. The peculiar arrangement of the anal-fin spines associated with the glandular tissue (two on some individual branched anal-fin rays) seems to represent a unique feature within the clade. The new genus shares with Bryconadenos the absence of hooks on pelvicfin rays and the presence of intumescent glandular tissue on the anterior portion of the anal fin, and this might suggest some kind of relationship between them. Except for the fusion of distal and medial radials of the anterior five pterygiophores (Fig. 3), none of the distinguishing characters (3 to 7) common to Bryconadenos and Attonitus listed by Weitzman et al (2005: 335) are found in Phallobrycon. Phallobrycon lacks the derived nature of the characters associated with the caudal organs and modified scales of the Glandulocaudinae and Stevardiinae (see Weitzman et al. 2005: 344), and although having a urogenital papilla, also found in some species of Monotocheirodon, lacks the morphological characters defining this genus, as discussed above. At this point, we can only suggest that Phallobrycon might be related to the inseminating species of Knodus, but understand that this is just an oversimplification of a very complex problem, as discussed by Weitzman et al. (2005).Published as part of Menezes, Naércio A., Ferreira, Katiane M. & Netto-Ferreira, André Luiz, 2009, A new genus and species of inseminating characid fish from the rio Xingu basin (Characiformes: Characidae), pp. 47-58 in Zootaxa 2167 on pages 54-57, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27506
Heterogeneous and tissue-specific regulation of effector T cell responses by IFN-gamma during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection.
No full textIFN-γ and T cells are both required for the development of experimental cerebral malaria during Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection. Surprisingly, however, the role of IFN-γ in shaping the effector CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell response during this infection has not been examined in detail. To address this, we have compared the effector T cell responses in wild-type and IFN-γ(-/-) mice during P. berghei ANKA infection. The expansion of splenic CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells during P. berghei ANKA infection was unaffected by the absence of IFN-γ, but the contraction phase of the T cell response was significantly attenuated. Splenic T cell activation and effector function were essentially normal in IFN-γ(-/-) mice; however, the migration to, and accumulation of, effector CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the lung, liver, and brain was altered in IFN-γ(-/-) mice. Interestingly, activation and accumulation of T cells in various nonlymphoid organs was differently affected by lack of IFN-γ, suggesting that IFN-γ influences T cell effector function to varying levels in different anatomical locations. Importantly, control of splenic T cell numbers during P. berghei ANKA infection depended on active IFN-γ-dependent environmental signals--leading to T cell apoptosis--rather than upon intrinsic alterations in T cell programming. To our knowledge, this is the first study to fully investigate the role of IFN-γ in modulating T cell function during P. berghei ANKA infection and reveals that IFN-γ is required for efficient contraction of the pool of activated T cells
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