关键词： Biodiesel   Economic performance   Technical performance   Sensitivity analysis  

摘要： In this study the techno-economic performances of three possible technologies have been assessed to identify the better one. The studied technologies include: Glycerol enriched CaO catalyzed, Supercritical ethanol, and Solid acid catalyzed processes. The overall study is based on complete process simulations using two commercially known software - Aspen Plus and Super Pro. The complete process layout for each option has been designed based on reasonable assumptions and optimum reaction conditions taken from relevant literatures. The amount and quality of biodiesel and glycerol as well as the amount of biodiesel per amount of feedstock used have been used to assess the relative technical performances among the process alternatives. For economic performance evaluation, the total cost of investment, unit cost of production, internal rate of return, net present value and project payback time have been used. The economic feasibility of each process towards change in production capacity has also been assessed. In addition, the sensitivity of each process scenario for the possible global market fluctuations of inputs and outputs has been evaluated. The glycerol enriched CaO catalyzed option is found to be the most economically feasible option under the given market scenario. All the three options are proved to be good in their technical performances, even though the solid acid catalyzed, and supercritical options are not economically efficient.

关键词： Bone marrow-derived macrophages   Microarray   M2   Micro-RNA   PP2C  

摘要： Background: Timely differentiation of monocytes into M2-like macrophages is important in the cardiac healing process after myocardial infarction (MI), but molecular mechanisms governing M2-like macrophage differentiation at the transcriptional level after MI have not been fully understood. Methods and Results: A time-series microarray analysis of mRNAs and microRNAs in macrophages isolated from the infarcted myocardium was performed to identify the microRNAs involved in regulating the process of differentiation to M2-like macrophages. Correlation analysis revealed 7 microRNAs showing negative correlations with the progression of polarity changes towards M2-like subsets. Next, correlation coefficients for the changes in expression of mRNAs and miRNAs over time were calculated for all combinations. As a result, miR-27a-5p was extracted as a possible regulator of the largest number of genes in the pathway for the M2-like polarization. By selecting mouse mRNAs and human mRNAs possessing target sequences of miR-27a-5p and showing expression patterns inversely correlated with that of miR-27a-5p, 8 potential targets of miR-27a-5p were identified, including Ppm1l. Using the mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages undergoing differentiation into M2-like subsets by interleukin 4 stimulation, we confirmed that miR-27a-5p suppressed M2-related genes by negatively regulating Ppm1l expression. Conclusions: Ppm1l and miR-27a-5p may be the key molecules regulating M2-like polarization, with miR-27a-5p inhibiting the M2-like polarization through downregulation of Ppm1l expression.

关键词： 4   4   4-trifluoro-3   3-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxyimino)butan-1-ones   polyfluoroalkyl-2-hydroxyimino-1   3-diketones   1-methyl-4-nitrosopyrazoles   mycostatic activity  

摘要： We studied different approaches to the synthesis of polyfluoroalkyl-containing 1-methyl-4-nitrosopyrazoles, which are based on the cyclization of 4,4,4-trifluoro-3,3-dihydroxy-2-hydroxyimino-1-R-butan-1-ones or 2-hydroxyimino-1,3-diketones with methylhydrazine and on a one-pot sequential treatment of 1,3-diketones with sodium nitrite and methylhydrazine. It was found that the regioselectivity of the formation of 1-methyl-4-nitrosopyrazoles is affected by the steric factors of 1,3-dicarbonyl reagents. The study of the mycostatic effect of 4-nitrosopyrazoles showed that the introduction of a bulky polyfluoroalkyl or tert-butyl substituent leads to a decrease in their activity.

摘要： Women remain underrepresented within academic medicine despite past and present efforts to promote gender equity. The authors discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic could stymie progress toward gender parity within the biomedical workforce and limit the retention and advancement of women in science and medicine. Women faculty face distinct challenges as they navigate the impact of shelter-in-place and social distancing on work and home life. An unequal division of household labor and family care between men and women means women faculty are vulnerable to inequities that may develop in the workplace as they strive to maintain academic productivity and professional development without adequate assistance with domestic tasks and family care. Emerging data suggest that gender differences in academic productivity may be forthcoming as a direct result of the pandemic. Existing gender inequities in professional visibility, networking, and collaboration may be exacerbated as activities transition from in-person to virtual environments and create new barriers to advancement. Meanwhile, initiatives designed to promote gender equity within academic medicine may lose key funding due to the economic impact of COVID-19 on higher education. To ensure that the gender gap within academic medicine does not widen, the authors call upon academic leaders and the broader biomedical community to support women faculty through deliberate actions that promote gender equity, diversity, and inclusion. The authors provide several recommendations, including faculty needs assessments;review of gender bias within tenure-clock-extension offers;more opportunities for mentorship, sponsorship, and professional recognition;and financial commitments to support equity initiatives. Leadership for these efforts should be at the institutional and departmental levels, and leaders should ensure a gender balance on task forces and committees to avoid overburdening women faculty with additional service work. Togethe

关键词： Gas exchange   Mentha arvensis   Mentha viridis   Micropropagation   Secondary metabolism  

摘要： The aims of the present study were to evaluate the effects of different ventilation systems and sucrose concentrations on the growth, photosynthetic pigment content, and chemical composition of Mentha arvensis L. and M. viridis L. Photon flux (PPF) and growth were also evaluated based on M. arvensis heterotrophic, photomixotrophic, and photoautotrophic culture systems. Nodal segment explants were cultured on medium with 0, 15, and 30 g L-1 sucrose and four alternative membrane systems (AMS) in culture medium, namely no membrane (NMS), one (AMS1), two (AMS2), and four (AMS4) membranes. Mentha arvensis cultivation on medium containing 15 g L-1 of sucrose and four membrane (AMS4) led to the highest dry weight accumulation. Mentha viridis reached the same result with medium containing 30 g L-1 sucrose and AMS2 and AMS4. Mentha arvensis produced higher chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll, as well as carotenoids when cultured on medium with 30 g L-1 of sucrose and AMS4 and M. viridis when cultured on medium with 15 g L-1 of sucrose and AMS4. The NMS without sucrose favored higher pulegone and AMS4 induced higher menthol, menthone, and limonene from M. arvensis cultured in vitro. Furthermore, AMS2 induced menthol production and AMS1 increased trans-sabinene, linalol, and limonene content in M. viridis. Mentha arvensis plantlets cultivated under photoautotrophic system with 130 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) showed improved growth and the highest leaf area. Thus, the recommendation to increase upper biomass and plantlet quality in mint species lies on employing an alternative membrane system under higher PPF.

关键词： Depressants   Froth flotation   DCMT depressant   Organic depressant   Chalcopyrite   Molybdenite  

摘要： The use of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) in most of the operations in by-product molybdenum flotation comes with safety concerns and, in some instances, a high reagent cost. Engineered solutions at the various operations where NaHS is used have reduced the possibility of H2S gas evolution immensely. However, the threat of exposure remains, and this, coupled with the high dosages of NaHS consumed, supports the continued search for alternative depressants. This paper focuses on efforts to study the applicability of disodium carboxymethyl trithiocarbonate (DCMT), an organic depressant, as an alternative to NaHS. Bench-scale rougher flotation results for samples from the Sierrita Cu-Mo plant showed the best DCMT performance at 8 kg/t of DCMT and pH=10.5 with 30 min of shear conditioning and 10 min of flotation conditioning time. The Aminpro plant model simulation confirmed that DCMT with 4-8 kg/t under certain shearing and conditioning times achieved superior or equivalent Mo-Cu separation efficiencies when compared to NaHS.

关键词： Cholesterol   Mitochondria   Bile acids   Hepatocellular carcinoma   Oxysterols   STARD1  

摘要： Background & Aims: Besides their physiological role in bile formation and fat digestion, bile acids (BAs) synthesised from cholesterol in hepatocytes act as signalling molecules that modulate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Trafficking of cholesterol to mitochondria through steroidogenic acute regulatory protein 1 (STARD1) is the rate-limiting step in the alternative pathway of BA generation, the physiological relevance of which is not well understood. Moreover, the specific contribution of the STARD1-dependent BA synthesis pathway to HCC has not been previously explored. Methods: STARD1 expression was analyzed in a cohort of human non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-derived HCC specimens. Experimental NASH-driven HCC models included MUP-uPA mice fed a high-fat high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet and diethylnitrosamine (DEN) treatment in wild-type (WT) mice fed a HFHC diet. Molecular species of BAs and oxysterols were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Effects of NASH-derived BA profiles were investigated in tumour-initiated stem-like cells (TICs) and primary mouse hepatocytes (PMHs). Results: Patients with NASH-associated HCC exhibited increased hepatic expression of STARD1 and an enhanced BA pool. Using NASH-driven HCC models, STARD1 overexpression in WT mice increased liver tumour multiplicity, whereas hepatocyte-specific STARD1 deletion (Stard1(Delta Hep)) in WT or MUP-uPA mice reduced tumour burden. These findings mirrored the levels of unconjugated primary BAs, beta-muricholic acid and cholic acid, and their tauroconjugates in STARD1-overexpressing and Stard1(Delta Hep) mice. Incubation of TICs or PMHs with a mix of BAs mimicking this profile stimulated expression of genes involved in pluripotency, stemness and inflammation. Conclusions: The study reveals a previously unrecognised role of STARD1 in HCC pathogenesis, wherein it promotes the synthesis of primary BAs through the mitochondrial pathway, the products of which act in TICs to stimulate self-renewal, stemness an

摘要： BACKGROUND Fluid overload in ICU patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Although studies report on optimisation of resuscitation fluids given to ICU patients, increasing evidence suggests that maintenance fluids and fluids used to administer drugs are important sources of fluid overload. OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate the volume of maintenance fluids and electrolytes on overall fluid balance and their relation to mortality in stabilised ICU patients. DESIGN Multicentre retrospective observational study. SETTING Six mixed surgical and medical ICUs in Sweden. PATIENTS A total of 241 adult patients who spent at least 7 days in the ICU during 2018. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary endpoint was the volume of maintenance, resuscitation and drug diluent fluids administered on days 3 to 7 in the ICU. Secondary endpoints were to compare dispensed amounts of maintenance fluids and electrolytes with predicted requirements. We also investigated the effects of administered fluids and electrolytes on patient outcomes. RESULTS During ICU days 3 to 7, 56.4% of the total fluids given were maintenance fluids, nutritional fluids or both, 25.4% were drug fluids and 18.1% were resuscitation fluids. Patients received fluids 1.29 (95% confidence interval 1.07 to 1.56) times their estimated fluid needs. Despite this, 93% of the cohort was treated with diuretics or renal replacement therapy. Patients were given 2.17 (1.57 to 2.96) times their theoretical sodium needs and 1.22 (0.75 to 1.77) times their potassium needs. The median [IQR] volume of fluid loss during the 5-day study period was 3742 [3156 to 4479] ml day(-1), with urine output the main source of fluid loss. Death at 90 days was not associated with fluid or electrolyte balance in this cohort. CONCLUSION Maintenance and drug fluids far exceeded resuscitative fluids in ICU patients beyond the resuscitative phase. This excess fluid intake, in conjunction with high urinary output and treatment for fluid offl

摘要： BACKGROUND It is largely unknown how often physicians in emergency helicopter medical services (HEMS) encounter various critical care events and if HEMS exposure is associated with particular practice patterns or outcomes. OBJECTIVES This study aimed: to describe the frequency and distribution of critical care events;to investigate whether HEMS exposure is associated with differences in practice patterns and determine if HEMS exposure factors are associated with mortality. DESIGN A retrospective registry-based study. SETTING Physician-staffed HEMS in Finland between January 2012 and August 2019. PARTICIPANTS Ninety-four physicians who worked at least 6 months in the HEMS during the study period. Physicians with undeterminable HEMS exposure were excluded from practice pattern comparisons and mortality analysis, leaving 80 physicians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome measure was a physician's average annual frequencies for operational events and clinical interventions. Our secondary outcomes were the proportion of missions cancelled or denied, time onsite (OST) and proportion of unconscious patients intubated. Our tertiary outcome was adjusted 30-day mortality of patients. RESULTS The physicians encountered 62 [33 to 98], escorted 31 [17 to 41] and transported by helicopter 2.1 [1.3 to 3.5] patients annually, given as median [interquartile range;IQR]. Rapid sequence intubation was performed 11 [6.2 to 16] times per year. Physicians were involved in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) 10 [5.9 to 14] and postresuscitation care 5.5 [3.1 to 8.1] times per year. Physicians with longer patient intervals had shorter times onsite. Proportionally, they cancelled more missions and intubated fewer unconscious patients. A short patient interval [odds ratio (OR);95% confidence interval (CI)] was associated with decreased mortality (0.87;95% CI, 0.76 to1.00), whereas no association was observed between mortality and HEMS career length. CONCLUSION Prehospital exposure is

关键词： Kalman filters   Frequency estimation   Phase locked loops   Synchronization   Informatics   Frequency locked loops   Discrete Fourier transforms   DC offset   frequency estimation   grid synchronization   linear Kalman filter (LKF)   phase estimation  

摘要： Grid synchronization techniques play a significant role in integrating renewable energy sources to the electric power grid. In this context, estimating the phase and frequency of the grid voltage signal is an interesting problem. Out of various techniques available in the literature, linear Kalman filter (LKF) is one of the most popular one. In this article, we propose an alternative implementation of the LKF for grid synchronization application. The proposed implementation uses a linear parametric model of the grid voltage signal including dc offset. It does not involve any quadrature signal generation, rather it works by estimating the phase angle. This helps to estimate the unknown grid frequency directly from the phase angle. This clearly differentiates the proposed alternative implementation with respect to the existing implementations. Performance improvement by the proposed technique is verified extensively through comparative numerical simulation and experimental studies. Comparative results demonstrate the suitability of the proposed technique with respect to other state-of-the-art techniques namely second-order generalized integrator phase-locked loop and enhanced phase-locked loop.