10 research outputs found
Life cycle analysis of Enhanced Landfill Mining: Case study for the Remo Landfill
No full textstatus: Publishe
Thermal load forecasting in district heating networks using deep learning and advanced feature selection methods
No full textRecent research has seen several forecasting methods being applied for heat load forecasting of district heating networks. This paper presents two methods that gain significant improvements compared to the previous works. First, an automated way of handling non-linear dependencies in linear models is presented. In this context, the paper implements a new method for feature selection based on [1], resulting in computationally efficient models with higher accuracies. The three main models used here are linear, ridge, and lasso regression. In the second approach, a deep learning method is presented. Although computationally more intensive, the deep learning model provides higher accuracy than the linear models with automated feature selection. Finally, we compare and contrast the proposed methods with earlier work for day-ahead forecasting of heat load in two different district heating networks.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Team Bart De Schutte
Companion Animal Cruelty and Neglect in Queensland: Penalties, Sentencing and "Community Expectations"
No full textFull Tex
From end-of-pipe to industrial ecology: What is the role of enhanced landfill mining?
No full textIndustrial ecology aims at optimising resource flows throughout society. Landfills and industrial ecology are each other's opposites. The next logical step is that resources dumped into landfills are re-introduced into the material cycles. This article critically reviews whether this recovery of resources out of landfills can currently be realised in a sustainable way and what its role is within an industrial ecology context. The focus is on the evolution in waste management towards Enhanced Landfill Mining, and the impact the different aspects of integrated waste management and Enhanced Landfill Mining have on sustainability. This impact can be assessed by LCC (Life Cycle Costing) and LCA (Life Cycle Analysis). The current economic feasibility of Enhanced Landfill Mining is unfortunately not very sensitive to the recycling possibility of materials, as it is mainly depending on prices of recovered land and on the existing incentives for energy recovery. Most LCA studies on integrated waste management, however, show that recycling is environmentally more beneficial than energy recovery. Although Enhanced Landfill Mining is clearly beneficial from an industrial ecology perspective, the way it can be realised and the choices to be made between Waste to Energy and Waste to Material routes have to be further explored by sound data and improved LCC and LCA models
Modelling metabolic influences on human risky choice
No full textProcessing risk and probabilities is central to various decision scenarios. These functions may be influenced by potential interactions of homeostatic hormones with the dopaminergic system and its central structures. However, previous results reported both increased and decreased risk-taking after homeostatic modulations. Here, we will investigate the effects of homeostatic systems on risky choice in a probability discounting paradigm with fMRI in healthy male volunteers
Beyond focal lesions
No full textWhite matter (WM) tracts shape the brain's dynamical activity and their damage (e.g., white matter hyperintensities, WMH) yields relevant functional alterations, ultimately leading to cognitive symptoms. The mechanisms linking the structural damage caused by WMH to the arising alterations of brain dynamics is currently unknown. To estimate the impact of WMH on brain dynamics, we combine neural-mass whole-brain modeling with a virtual-lesioning (disconnectome) approach informed by empirical data. We account for the heterogeneous effects of WMH either on inter-regional communication (i.e., edges) or on dynamics (i.e., nodes) and create models of their local versus global, and edge versus nodal effects using a large fMRI dataset comprising 188 non-demented individuals (120 cognitively normal, 68 with mild cognitive impairment) with varying degrees of WMH. We show that, although WMH mainly determine local damage to specific WM tracts, these lesions yield relevant global dynamical effects by reducing the overall synchronization of the brain through a reduction of global coupling. Alterations of local nodal dynamics through disconnections are less relevant and present only at later stages of WMH damage. Exploratory analyses suggest that education might play a beneficial role in counteracting the reduction in global coupling associated with WMH. This study provides generative models linking the structural damage caused by WMH to alterations in brain dynamics. These models might be used to evaluate the detrimental effects of WMH on brain dynamics in a subject-specific manner. Furthermore, it validates the use of whole-brain modeling for hypothesis-testing of structure–function relationships in diseased states characterized by empirical disconnections
Functional characterization of three G protein-coupled receptors for pigment dispersing factors in Caenorhabditis elegans
No full textHere, we report the identification, cloning, and functional characterization of three Caenorhabditis elegans G protein-coupled pigment dispersing factor (PDF) receptors, which we designated as Ce_PDFR-1a, -b, and -c. They represent three splice isoforms of the same gene (C13B9.4), which share a high degree of similarity with the Drosophila PDF receptor and are distantly related to the mammalian vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors (VPAC2) and calcitonin receptors. In a reverse pharmacological screen, three bioactive C. elegans neuropeptides, which were recently identified as the Drosophila PDF orthologues, were able to activate these receptors in a dose-dependent manner with nanomolar potency (isoforms a and b). Integrated green fluorescent protein reporter constructs reveal the expression of these PDF receptors in all body wall muscle cells and many head and tail neurons involved in the integration of environmental stimuli and the control of locomotion. Using a custom data analysis system, we demonstrate the involvement of this newly discovered neuropeptide signaling system in the regulation of locomotor behavior. Overexpression of PDF-2 phenocopies the locomotor defects of a PDF-1 null mutant, suggesting that they elicit opposite effects on locomotion through the identified PDF receptors. Our findings strengthen the hypothesis that the PDF signaling system, which imposes the circadian clock rhythm on behavior in Drosophila, has been functionally conserved throughout the protostomian evolutionary lineage.status: Publishe
Enhanced landfill mining in view of multiple resource recovery: a critical review
No full textIn a circular economy material loops are closed by recycling of pre-consumer manufacturing scrap/residues, urban mining of End-of-Life products and landfill mining of historic (and future) urban waste streams. However, in the past landfill mining was not performed with a focus on resource recovery. This paper addresses this gap by introducing the concept of Enhanced Landfill Mining, defined as the safe conditioning, excavation and integrated valorization of landfilled waste streams as both materials and energy, using innovative transformation technologies and respecting the most stringent social and ecological criteria. The feasibility of ELFM is studied by synthesizing the research on the Closing the Circle project, the first ELFM project targeting the 18 million metric ton landfill in Houthalen-Helchteren in the East of Belgium. It is argued that Environmental Impact Assessments of ELFM projects should be wide in scope and time. Embedded in a broad resource management perspective, the worldwide potential of ELFM is highlighted, in terms of climate gains, materials and energy utilization, job creation and land reclamation. The potential is quantified for the EU-27 with its 150,000-500,000 landfills. However, for ELFM to reach its full potential, strategic policy decisions and tailored support systems, including combined incentives for material recycling, energy utilization and nature restoration, are required.sponsorship: The authors acknowledge the European and Flemish authorities for the funding of, respectively, the EFRO project 'Closing the Circle, a demonstration of Enhanced Landfill Mining (ELFM)' and the IWT O&O Project 100517. The authors acknowledge the ELFM Consortium Members, including Karel Van Acker, Tom Van Gerven, Marc Craps, Alain De Vocht, Johan Eyckmans, Maarten Dubois, Koen Sips, Luk Umans, Maurice Ballard, Lieve Helsen and Anouk Bosmans. The authors acknowledge the members of the EU ELMIRE Consortium, in particular Hans Groot, Raffaello Cossu, William Hogland and Rainer Stegmann. Finally, the authors thank the reviewers for their critical comments and suggested improvements. (EFRO, IWT|100517)status: Publishe
neurolib-dev/neurolib: v0.7.0
No full text<p>This new release introduces a new optimal control framework by @lenasal, new AAL2 lead-field matrices by @orabe and @Wirkungstreffer, and many small fixes by @1b15.</p>
<h2>What's Changed</h2>
<ul>
<li>fixed bug in fhn, hopf, wc, ww models: copy params by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/232</li>
<li>removed Dmat_ndt as param set in timeIntegration file by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/234</li>
<li>moved computedelaymatrix function to /utils/model_utils by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/235</li>
<li>Fix numpy new version errors by @jajcayn in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/238</li>
<li>corrected index of rates_exc in computation of IA_rhs by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/237</li>
<li>Kuramoto dev by @bramantyois in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/239</li>
<li>aln: fix index of input from i to i-1 by @caglorithm in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/240</li>
<li>Simplify kuramoto time integration by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/244</li>
<li>aln input_vars by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/243</li>
<li>Differentiale static and time-dependent inputs in WC and WW model by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/241</li>
<li>Minor Docs Fixes by @1b15 in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/251</li>
<li>Optimal Control extension by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/247</li>
<li>Bug Fix: Setting value of tau_inh in timeIntegration by @Andrew-Clappison in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/260</li>
<li>Revise control tests by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/258</li>
<li>Added control interval by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/256</li>
<li>Fix bug in fhn and hopf OC by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/255</li>
<li>Directional sparsity cost functional by @lenasal in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/259</li>
<li>Lead field matrix by @Wirkungstreffer in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/249</li>
<li>feat: Adding Lead-Field Matrix for AAL2 Atlas by @orabe in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/248</li>
<li>spring cleaning: removing bugs and code smells by @1b15 in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/261</li>
</ul>
<h2>New Contributors</h2>
<ul>
<li>@bramantyois made their first contribution in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/239</li>
<li>@1b15 made their first contribution in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/251</li>
<li>@Andrew-Clappison made their first contribution in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/260</li>
<li>@Wirkungstreffer made their first contribution in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/249</li>
<li>@orabe made their first contribution in https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/pull/248</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Full Changelog</strong>: https://github.com/neurolib-dev/neurolib/compare/v0.6.2...v0.7.0</p>
Influence of chondroitin 6-sulfate oligosaccharide unit addition on the immunopathogenicity of human thyroglobulin in cba/j(h-2k) mice. Multiple effects on antigen processing and t cell responses
No full textThe site of type D (chondroitin 6-sulfate) oligosaccharide unit addition to human thyroglobulin (hTg) was localized. Furthermore, hTg and its fractions endowed with chondroitin 6-sulfate oligosaccaride units (hTg-CS) and devoid of it (hTg-CS-), were compared, with respect to their ability to induce experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in CBA/J(H-2k) mice, by subcutaneous administration, in the presence of complete adjuvant.
HTg was chromatographically separated into hTg-CS and hTg-CS- molecules, on the base of their uronic acid content. In an ample number of hTg preparations, the fraction of hTg-CS in total hTg ranged from 32.0 to 71.6 percent. By exploiting the electrophoretic mobility shift and metachromasia conferred by chondrotin-6-sulfate upon the products of limited proteolysis of hTg, chondroitin 6-sulfate was first restricted to a carboxy-terminal region, starting at residue 2513. A single chondroitin 6-sulfate-containing nonapeptide was isolated in pure form from the products of digestion of hTg with endoproteinase Glu-C, and its sequence was determined as being LTAGXGLRE (residues 2725-2733, X being Ser2729 linked to the oligosaccharide chain). In an in vitro assay of enzymatic iodination, hTg-CS produced higher yields of 3,5,5’-triiodothyronine (T3) (171%) and 3,5,3’,5’-tetraiodothyronine (T4) (134%), than hTg-CS-. Unfractionated hTg behaved as hTg-CS. Thus, chondroitin 6-sulfate addition to a subset of hTg molecules enhanced the overall level of T4 and, particularly, T3 formation. Furthermore, the chondroitin 6-sulfate oligosaccharide unit of hTg-CS protected peptide bond Gly2713-Lys2714 from proteolysis, during the limited digestion of hTg-CS with trypsin.
Although immunization with all forms of hTg was accompanied by thyroid cell damage, as judged from the increase of T4 in blood, a higher degree of mononuclear infiltration of the thyroid was associated with unfractionated hTg, in comparison both with hTg-CS and with hTg-CS-. Thus, it appears that both hTg subfractions contributed to the immunopathogenic potency of unfractionated hTg, as neither one reproduced fully the histological picture associated with the latter. Significant differences were observed also upon restimulation in vitro of splenic lymphocytes obtained from mice immunized in vivo with the different forms of hTg. Restimulation in vitro with hTg-CS of splenocytes from mice immunized with the same antigen was followed by low-level, dose-dependent proliferation and IFN-γ production, whereas cross-stimulation with hTg-CS- of the same cells was followed by proliferative and secretory responses of even lower degree. On the other hand, restimulation in vitro with hTg-CS- of splenocytes primed in vivo with the same antigen was followed by higher-level, dose-dependent increases of IFN-γ production, accompanied by proliferative responses of low degree and inversely related with the antigen dose, while cross-stimulation with hTg-CS of the same cells was followed by dose-dependent increases, both of proliferation and IFN-γ production, of the highest level observed in this study. Similar results were obtained when splenocytes, primed in vivo with hTg-CS-, were restimulated with purified glycopeptide hTg-CSgp, containing the chondroitin 6-sulfate unit, but not with its non-glycosylated, synthetic homologue. These data indicate that hTg-CS- was more effective than hTg-CS in priming autoreactive T lymphocytes, recognizing thyroiditogenic epitopes shared between murine and human Tg, whereas hTg-CS was a stronger inducer of proliferation of antigen-sensitized T cells. Moreover, different molecular signals, including structural determinant(s) associated with the chondroitin 6-sulfate chain, were required, in addition to epitope recognition, for the activation of T cell proliferation, together with IFN-γ production.
These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanism of regulation of the hormonogenic efficiency and of the T4/T3 ratio in hTg, and may bear important implications in the processing and presentation of hTg as an autoantigen, and in the mechanisms of activation of Th-1-mediated and cytotoxic lymphocyte responses involved in EAT
