AIM: To evaluate safety and feasibility of autologous bone marrow-enriched CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell Tx through the hepatic artery in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.METHODS: Four patients with decompensated...AIM: To evaluate safety and feasibility of autologous bone marrow-enriched CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell Tx through the hepatic artery in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.METHODS: Four patients with decompensated cirrhosis were included. Approximately 200 mL of the bone marrow of the patients was aspirated, and CD34+ stem cells were selected. Between 3 to 10 million CD34+ cells were isolated. The cells were slowly infused through the hepatic artery of the patients.RESULTS: Patient 1 showed marginal improvement in serum albumin and no significant changes in other test results. In patient 2 prothrombin time was decreased; however, her total bilirubin, serum creatinine, and Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score worsened at the end of follow up. In patient 3 there was improvement in serum albumin, porthrombin time (PT), and MELD score. Patient 4 developed radiocontrast nephropathy after the procedure, and progressed to type 1 hepatorenal syndrome and died of liver failure a few days later. Because of the major side effects seen in the last patient, the trial was prematurely stopped.CONCLUSION: Infusion of CD34+ stem cells through the hepatic artery is not safe in decompensated cirrhosis. Radiocontrast nephropathy and hepatorenal syndrome could be major side effects. However, this study doesnot preclude infusion of CD34+ stem cells through other routes.展开更多
Nowadays,utilities aim to find methods for improving the reliability of distribution systems and satisfying the customers by providing the continuity of power supply.Different methodologies exist for utilities to impr...Nowadays,utilities aim to find methods for improving the reliability of distribution systems and satisfying the customers by providing the continuity of power supply.Different methodologies exist for utilities to improve the reliability of network.In this paper,demand response(DR)programs and smart charging/discharging of plug-in electric vehicles(PEVs)are investigated for improving the reliability of radial distribution systems adopting particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm.Such analysis is accomplished due to the positive effects of both DR and PEVs for dealing with emerging challenges of the world such as fossil fuel reserves reduction,urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.Additionally,the prioritization of DR and PEVs is presented for improving the reliability and analyzing the characteristics of distribution networks.The reliability analysis is performed in terms of loss of load expectation(LOLE)and expected energy not served(EENS)indexes,where the characteristics contain load profile,load peak,voltage profile and energy loss.Numerical simulations are accomplished to assess the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed scheme.展开更多
Most of the water quality models previously developed and used in dissolved oxygen （DO） prediction are complex. Moreover, reliable data available to develop/calibrate new DO models is scarce. Therefore, there is a n...Most of the water quality models previously developed and used in dissolved oxygen （DO） prediction are complex. Moreover, reliable data available to develop/calibrate new DO models is scarce. Therefore, there is a need to study and develop models that can handle easily measurable parameters of a particular site, even with short length. In recent decades, computational intelligence techniques, as effective approaches for predicting complicated and significant indicator of the state of aquatic ecosystems such as DO, have created a great change in predictions. In this study, three different AI methods comprising： （1） two types of artificial neural networks （ANN） namely multi linear perceptron （MLP） and radial based function （RBF）; （2） an advancement of genetic programming namely linear genetic programming （LGP）; and （3） a support vector machine （SVM） technique were used for DO prediction in Delaware River located at Trenton, USA. For evaluating the performance of the proposed models, root mean square error （RMSE）, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient （NS）, mean absolute relative error （MARE） and, correlation coeffi- cient statistics （R） were used to choose the best predictive model. The comparison of estimation accu- racies of various intelligence models illustrated that the SVM was able to develop the most accurate model in DO estimation in comparison to other models. Also, it was found that the LGP model performs better than the both ANNs models. For example, the determination coefficient was 0.99 for the best SVM model, while it was 0.96, 0.91 and 0.81 for the best LGP, MLP and RBF models, respectively. In general, the results indicated that an SVM model could be employed satisfactorily in DO estimation.展开更多
Over the past years,many efforts have been accomplished to achieve fast and accurate meta-heuristic algorithms to optimize a variety of real-world problems.This study presents a new optimization method based on an unu...Over the past years,many efforts have been accomplished to achieve fast and accurate meta-heuristic algorithms to optimize a variety of real-world problems.This study presents a new optimization method based on an unusual geological phenomenon in nature,named Geyser inspired Algorithm(GEA).The mathematical modeling of this geological phenomenon is carried out to have a better understanding of the optimization process.The efficiency and accuracy of GEA are verified using statistical examination and convergence rate comparison on numerous CEC 2005,CEC 2014,CEC 2017,and real-parameter benchmark functions.Moreover,GEA has been applied to several real-parameter engineering optimization problems to evaluate its effectiveness.In addition,to demonstrate the applicability and robustness of GEA,a comprehensive investigation is performed for a fair comparison with other standard optimization methods.The results demonstrate that GEA is noticeably prosperous in reaching the optimal solutions with a high convergence rate in comparison with other well-known nature-inspired algorithms,including ABC,BBO,PSO,and RCGA.Note that the source code of the GEA is publicly available at https://www.optim-app.com/projects/gea.展开更多
The use of insect meal in aquafeed formulations has recently gained attention.Detailed knowledge about the inclusion levels for pikeperch(Sander lucioperca),a promising candidate for intensive aquaculture in Europe re...The use of insect meal in aquafeed formulations has recently gained attention.Detailed knowledge about the inclusion levels for pikeperch(Sander lucioperca),a promising candidate for intensive aquaculture in Europe remains,however,fragmented.In the present study,4 isoproteic(45%dry matter)and isoenergetic(21 MJ/kg)diets were formulated,including a control diet(H0)containing 30%fishmeal(FM)on an as-fed basis and the other 3 diets in which FM protein was replaced by defatted black soldier fly(Hemetia illucens)meal(HIM)at 25%,50%,and 100%(diet abbreviation H9,H18 and H36,corresponding to an inclusion level of 9%,18%and 36%,respectively).The feeding trial was performed in triplicate groups of 50 juvenile pikeperch(mean weight,68.7 g)fed with experimental diets for 84 d during which the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,fillet quality and economic and environmental sustainability of rearing pikeperch were evaluated.Our findings indicated that pikeperch in H0,H9,and H18 groups displayed better results regarding growth performance indices,except for survival rate where no significant difference among groups was recorded(P?0.642).A significantly lower organ-somatic index,including hepatosomatic,viscerosomatic and perivisceral fat index,was found in fish in H18 groups than other groups(P<0.05).Inclusion of HIM affected the digestibility of the nutrients and resulted in an almost linear reduction in the apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter and protein.Concerning the fillet quality,dietary HIM negatively affected the protein and ash contents of the fish fillets,while the crude fat remained unchanged.Dietary HIM did not significantly modify total saturated,monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the fillets of fed pikeperch(P>0.05)but did reduce total n-3 fatty acids(P?0.001)and increased total n-6(P<0.001).Increasing inclusion levels of HIM reduced the environmental impacts associated with fish in-to-fish out ratio but entailed heavy burdens on energy use and eutrophication.Low and moderate in展开更多
AIM: To determine the prevalence and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a healthy general population in relation to demographic,lifestyle and health-seeking behaviors in Shiraz,southern Iran. METHOD...AIM: To determine the prevalence and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a healthy general population in relation to demographic,lifestyle and health-seeking behaviors in Shiraz,southern Iran. METHODS: A total of 1978 subjects aged > 35 years who referred to Gastroenterohepatology Research Center and who completed a questionnaire consisting of 27 questions for GERD in relation to demographic,lifestyle and health-seeking behaviors were included in this study for a period of five months. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were determined. RESULTS: The prevalence of GERD was 15.4%,which was higher in females (17.3%),in rural areas (19.8%),and in illiterate subjects (21.5%) and those with a mean age of 50.25 years. The prevalence was significantly lower in subjects having fried food (14.8%),and fruit and vegetables (14.6%). More symptoms were noticed in subjects consuming pickles (22.1%),taking aspirin (21%) and in subjects with psychological distresses (27.2%) and headaches (22%). The correlation was statistically significant between GERD and halitosis (18.3%),dyspepsia (30.6%),anxiety (19.5%),nightmares (23.9%) and restlessness (18.5%). Their health seeking behavior showed that there was a significant restriction of diet (20%),consumption of herbal medicine (19%),using over-the-counter drugs (29.9%) and consulting with physicians (24.8%). Presence of GERD symptoms was also significantly related to a previous family history of the disease (22.3%).CONCLUSION: GERD is more common in females,rural and illiterate subjects and correlated with consumption of pickles,occurrence of headache,psychological distress,dyspepsia,halitosis,anxiety,nightmare and restlessness,and a family history of GERD and aspirin intake,but the correlation was negative with consumption of fat and fiber intake.展开更多
The Firefly Algorithm(FA)is a highly efficient population-based optimization technique developed by mimicking the flashing behavior of fireflies when mating.This article proposes a method based on Differential Evoluti...The Firefly Algorithm(FA)is a highly efficient population-based optimization technique developed by mimicking the flashing behavior of fireflies when mating.This article proposes a method based on Differential Evolution(DE)/current-to-best/1 for enhancing the FA's movement process.The proposed modification increases the global search ability and the convergence rates while maintaining a balance between exploration and exploitation by deploying the global best solution.However,employing the best solution can lead to premature algorithm convergence,but this study handles this issue using a loop adjacent to the algorithm's main loop.Additionally,the suggested algorithm’s sensitivity to the alpha parameter is reduced compared to the original FA.The GbFA surpasses both the original and five-version of enhanced FAs in finding the optimal solution to 30 CEC2014 real parameter benchmark problems with all selected alpha values.Additionally,the CEC 2017 benchmark functions and the eight engineering optimization challenges are also utilized to evaluate GbFA’s efficacy and robustness on real-world problems against several enhanced algorithms.In all cases,GbFA provides the optimal result compared to other methods.Note that the source code of the GbFA algorithm is publicly available at https://www.optim-app.com/projects/gbfa.展开更多
Skin wound healing is an important aspect of regenerative medicine.Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)have attracted considerable attention as promising nanomaterials for skin wound healing due to their remarkable versatil...Skin wound healing is an important aspect of regenerative medicine.Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)have attracted considerable attention as promising nanomaterials for skin wound healing due to their remarkable versatility,tunable pore size,surface area,targeted delivery of various therapeutic agents,and controlled release properties.The combination of these materials with biocompatible and synthetic polymers can help improve their performance in wound regeneration.This review examines the potential of MOF-polymer composites in skin wound healing.Physical and biological chemical properties and methods of making MOFs and their composites have been investigated.In the final section of this review,challenges and future prospects for the development of MOF-polymer composites are stated.展开更多
This research aimed to enhance the column bioleaching recovery of uranium ore by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.Seven factors were examined for their significance on bioleaching using a Plackett-Burman factorial desig...This research aimed to enhance the column bioleaching recovery of uranium ore by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.Seven factors were examined for their significance on bioleaching using a Plackett-Burman factorial design.Four significant variables([Fe2+]initial,pH,aeration rate and inoculation percent)were selected for the optimization studies.The effect of these variables on uranium bioleaching was studied using a central composite design(CCD).The optimal values of the variables for the maximum uranium bioleaching recovery(90.27±0.98)%were as follows:[Fe2+]initial=2.89g/L,aeration rate420mL/min,pH1.45and inoculation6%(v/v).[Fe2+]initial was found to be the most effective parameter.The maximum uranium recovery from the predicted models was92.01%.This value was in agreement with the actual experimental value.The analysis of bioleaching residue of uranium ore under optimum conditions confirmed the formation of K-jarosite on the surface of minerals.By using optimal conditions,uranium bioleaching recovery is increased at column and jarosite precipitation is minimized.The kinetic model showed that uranium recovery has a direct relation with ferric ion concentration.展开更多
Intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD)is a leading cause of low back pain.The strategy of using functional materials to deliver nucleic acids provides a powerful tool for ameliorating IVDD.However,the immunogenicity o...Intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD)is a leading cause of low back pain.The strategy of using functional materials to deliver nucleic acids provides a powerful tool for ameliorating IVDD.However,the immunogenicity of nucleic acid vectors and the poor mechanical properties of functional materials greatly limit their effects.Herein,antagomir-204-3p(AM)shows low immunogenicity and effectively inhibits the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells.Moreover,a high-strength biohydrogel based on zinc-oxidized sodium alginate-gelatin(ZOG)is designed as a multifunctional nucleic acid delivery platform.ZOG loaded with AM(ZOGA)exhibits great hygroscopicity,antibacterial activity,biocompatibility,and biodegradability.Moreover,ZOGA can be cross-linked with nucleus pulposus tissue to form a high-strength collagen network that improves the mechanical properties of the intervertebral disc(IVD).In addition,ZOGA provides an advantageous microenvironment for genetic expression in which AM can play an efficient role in maintaining the metabolic balance of the extracellular matrix.The results of the radiological and histological analyses demonstrate that ZOGA restores the height of the IVD,retains moisture in the IVD,and maintains the tissue structure.The ZOGA platform shows the sustained release of nucleic acids and has the potential for application to ameliorate IVDD,opening a path for future studies related to IVD.展开更多
This study demonstrated a solvothermal method of growth of three different morphologies of zinc oxide nanoparticles （ZnO NPs）： i） flower-like nanorod and nanoflakes, ii） assembled hierarchical structure, and iii...This study demonstrated a solvothermal method of growth of three different morphologies of zinc oxide nanoparticles （ZnO NPs）： i） flower-like nanorod and nanoflakes, ii） assembled hierarchical structure, and iii） nano granule. Oleic acid （C18H3402）, gluconic acid （C6H1207） and tween 80 （C64H124026） were used as surfactant/capping/reducing agent for the formation of different morphologies of nanoparticles. The as-synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by different physicochemical techniques such as UV-vis （UV-vis） spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FFIR）, field emission scanning electron microscopy （FE-SEM）, energy dispersive X-ray （EDX） analysis and dynamic light scattering （DLS） studies. Further, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of these nanostructures was evaluated. The antioxidant activity of these nanostructures was assessed via 2,2-diphenyl,1-1 picrylhydrazyl （DPPH）, 2,2＇-azino-bis （3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid） （ABTS） and H202 free radical scavenging activity. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the obtained nanostructures was demonstrated against both gram negative （Escherichia coil） and gram positive （Staphylococcus aureus） bacterial genera. This study revealed antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of different structures ofZnO NPs suggesting their biomedical and industrial applications.展开更多
Development and expansion of cities in one hand and increasing transport needs on the other hand have been causing underground constructions. So understanding the behavior of these structures is essential. Ground disp...Development and expansion of cities in one hand and increasing transport needs on the other hand have been causing underground constructions. So understanding the behavior of these structures is essential. Ground displacement around the tunneling area is one of the most important issues which have been studied by many researchers, while the effects of the slope behavior of the ground on the tunnel is paid less attention. This study will have analyzed the effects of frequency and surface slope on the surface subsidence caused by tunneling under dynamic loads (without structure). The results show that the frequency and surface slope have significant effects on the land displacements and the area surrounded by a tunnel.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the protective effects of probiotic microorganisms on the reproductive and nervous systems of male rats treated with acrylamide.Methods:Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and rec...Objective:To evaluate the protective effects of probiotic microorganisms on the reproductive and nervous systems of male rats treated with acrylamide.Methods:Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and received normal saline through gavage(control),acrylamide 20 mg/kg body weight,acrylamide plus probiotic microorganisms(Lactobacillus acidophilus,Lactobacillus casei,Lactobacillus bulgaricus,Lactobacillus rhamnosus,Bifidobacterium breve,Bifidobacterium infantis,Streptococcus thermophilus and fructooligosaccharides,all mixed in sachets)20 or 200 mg/kg body weight,respectively.After 30 days,the testis,prostate,seminal vesicle and cerebellum were removed,fixed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin(H&E).The Johnsen score was used to classify spermatogenesis.Cavalieri's principle method was used to evaluate the total volume(in mm3)of the testes.The number of each intratubular cell type as well as intertubular Leydig cells in whole samples was measured using the physical dissector counting techniques.Stereological analysis and the grids were used to determine the volume of cerebellar layers as well as the Purkinje cell number.Results:The testis weight decreased significantly in the acrylamide-treated group compared to the other groups(P<0.001).The number of spermatogonia,spermatocytes,spermatids and Leydig cells in the acrylamide-treated group were significantly less compared to the control group(P<0.05),while they were increased significantly in the acrylamide+200 mg/kg probiotic group(P<0.05;P<0.01).The mean Johnsen score in the acrylamide-treated group was lower than in the control group(P<0.001).Acrylamide-induced changes including congestion,vacuolization in the secretory epithelial cells,and epithelial rupture were observed in the prostate and seminal vesicle.The volumes of cerebellar layers were decreased in the acrylamide group compared to the control group while recovered in both probiotic treated groups.Conclusions:Probiotic microorganisms alleviate acrylamide-induced toxicities against the reproductiv展开更多
The light curve analyses and orbital period variations for two contact binary stars,LS Del and V997 Cyg,are presented in this work which was conducted in the frame of the Binary Systems of South and North project Grou...The light curve analyses and orbital period variations for two contact binary stars,LS Del and V997 Cyg,are presented in this work which was conducted in the frame of the Binary Systems of South and North project Ground-based photometric observations were performed at two observatories in France.We used the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite(TESS)data for extracting times of minima and light curve analysis of the targe systems.The O-C diagram for both systems displays a parabolic trend.LS Del and V997 Cyg’s orbital periods are increasing at rates of dP/dt=7.20×10^(-08)days yr^(-1)and dP/dt=2.54×10^(-08)days yr^(-1),respectively Therefore,it can be concluded that mass is being transferred from the less massive star to the more massive component with a rate of dM/dt=-1.96×10^(-7)M_(⊙)yr^(-1)for the LS Del system,and dM/dt=-3.83×10^(-7)M_(⊙)yr-1for V997 Cyg.The parameters of a third possible object in the system are also considered.The PHysics Of Eclipsing BinariEs Python code was used to analyze the light curves.The light curve solutions needed a cold starspot due to the asymmetry in the LS Del system’s light curve maxima.The mass ratio fill-out factor,and star temperature all indicate that both systems are contact binary types in this investigation.Two methods were applied to estimate the absolute parameters of the systems:one method relied on the parallax of Gaia DR3,and the other used a P-M relationship.The positions of the systems are also depicted on the M-L,M-R q-L_(ratio),and logM_(tot)-logJ_(0)diagrams.We recommend that further observations and investigations be done on the existence of a fourth body in this system.展开更多
Root crown phenotyping measures the top portion of crop root systems and can be used for marker-assisted breeding,genetic mapping,and understanding how roots influence soil resource acquisition.Several imaging protoco...Root crown phenotyping measures the top portion of crop root systems and can be used for marker-assisted breeding,genetic mapping,and understanding how roots influence soil resource acquisition.Several imaging protocols and image analysis programs exist,but they are not optimized for high-throughput,repeatable,and robust root crown phenotyping.The RhizoVision Crown platform integrates an imaging unit,image capture software,and image analysis software that are optimized for reliable extraction of measurements from large numbers of root crowns.The hardware platform utilizes a backlight and a monochrome machine vision camera to capture root crown silhouettes.The RhizoVision Imager and RhizoVision Analyzer are free,open-source software that streamline image capture and image analysis with intuitive graphical user interfaces.The RhizoVision Analyzer was physically validated using copper wire,and features were extensively validated using 10,464 groundtruth simulated images of dicot and monocot root systems.This platform was then used to phenotype soybean and wheat root crowns.A total of 2,799 soybean(Glycine max)root crowns of 187 lines and 1,753 wheat(Triticum aestivum)root crowns of 186 lines were phenotyped.Principal component analysis indicated similar correlations among features in both species.The maximum heritability was 0.74 in soybean and 0.22 in wheat,indicating that differences in species and populations need to be considered.The integrated RhizoVision Crown platform facilitates high-throughput phenotyping of crop root crowns and sets a standard by which open plant phenotyping platforms can be benchmarked.展开更多
In this study,the performances of fixed and fluidized bed reactors in the production of single-walled carbon nanotubes（SWNTs）have been investigated.In both reactors,single-walled carbon nanotubes were grown by catal...In this study,the performances of fixed and fluidized bed reactors in the production of single-walled carbon nanotubes（SWNTs）have been investigated.In both reactors,single-walled carbon nanotubes were grown by catalytic chemical vapor decomposition（CCVD）of methane over Co-Mo/MgO nanocatalyst under two different operating conditions.The synthesized samples were characterized by TEM,TGA and Raman spectroscopy.It is found that the performance of a fluidized bed in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes is much better than that of a fixed bed.The quality of carbon nanotubes obtained from the fluidized bed was significantly higher than that from the fixed bed and the former one with the ID/IG ratio of 0.11 while the latter one with the ID/IG ratio of 0.71.Also,the yield of SWNTs in the fluidized bed was 92 wt%,while it was 78 wt%in the fixed bed.These advantages of fluidized bed reactors for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes can be attributed to more available space for the growth of carbon nanotubes and more uniform temperature and concentration profiles.展开更多
In the new competitive electricity market, the accurate operation management of Micro-Grid (MG) with various types of renewable power sources (RES) can be an effective approach to supply the electrical consumers more ...In the new competitive electricity market, the accurate operation management of Micro-Grid (MG) with various types of renewable power sources (RES) can be an effective approach to supply the electrical consumers more reliably and economically. In this regard, this paper proposes a novel solution methodology based on bat algorithm to solve the op- timal energy management of MG including several RESs with the back-up of Fuel Cell (FC), Wind Turbine (WT), Photovoltaics (PV), Micro Turbine (MT) as well as storage devices to meet the energy mismatch. The problem is formulated as a nonlinear constraint optimization problem to minimize the total cost of the grid and RESs, simultaneously. In addition, the problem considers the interactive effects of MG and utility in a 24 hour time interval which would in- crease the complexity of the problem from the optimization point of view more severely. The proposed optimization technique is consisted of a self adaptive modification method compromised of two modification methods based on bat algorithm to explore the total search space globally. The superiority of the proposed method over the other well-known algorithms is demonstrated through a typical renewable MG as the test system.展开更多
This review explores glucose monitoring and management strategies,emphasizing the need for reliable and userfriendly wearable sensors that are the next generation of sensors for continuous glucose detection.In additio...This review explores glucose monitoring and management strategies,emphasizing the need for reliable and userfriendly wearable sensors that are the next generation of sensors for continuous glucose detection.In addition,examines key strategies for designing glucose sensors that are multi-functional,reliable,and cost-effective in a variety of contexts.The unique features of effective diabetes management technology are highlighted,with a focus on using nano/biosensor devices that can quickly and accurately detect glucose levels in the blood,improving patient treatment and control of potential diabetes-related infections.The potential of next-generation wearable and touch-sensitive nano biomedical sensor engineering designs for providing full control in assessing implantable,continuous glucose monitoring is also explored.The challenges of standardizing drug or insulin delivery doses,low-cost,real-time detection of increased blood sugar levels in diabetics,and early digital health awareness controls for the adverse effects of injectable medication are identified as unmet needs.Also,the market for biosensors is expected to expand significantly due to the rising need for portable diagnostic equipment and an ever-increasing diabetic population.The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for further research and development of glucose biosensors to meet the stringent requirements for sensitivity and specificity imposed by clinical diagnostics while being cost-effective,stable,and durable.展开更多
Energy is a basic requirement for development in the world.The continuously rising demand for energy resources and the fast depletion of fossil fuel is raises researcher's concern to focus on alternative sources o...Energy is a basic requirement for development in the world.The continuously rising demand for energy resources and the fast depletion of fossil fuel is raises researcher's concern to focus on alternative sources of energy that can replace the shortage of fossil fuels soon.Biodiesel is recognized as one of the potential alternative renewable energy fuels that can be easily available in a wide range in every part of the world.This paper reviews biodiesel's prospect and focuses on the different fuel properties(physicochemical)of 100 biodiesels from first-,second-and third-generation followed by the evaluation of CI engine characteristics.It has been observed that the fuel properties of first-,second-and third-generation biodiesel are compatible with the ASTM standards.The present paper discussed the potential of various generations of biodiesel feedstocks from production perspectives.This paper also examined many aspects of these feedstocks which include different biodiesel feedstock sources,biodiesel conversion technology,and second-generation biodiesel performance and emission characteristics.Most of the studies showed that biodiesel derived from plant feedstock is costly than diesel.Thus,more influence is to be given to non-edible sources.However,the engine characteristics are shown promising behavior with biodiesel and a slight increase in NOX is also reported on using various biodiesel.展开更多
Heparin is a negatively charged polysaccharide with various chain lengths and a hydrophilic backbone.Due to its fascinating chemical and physical properties,nontoxicity,biocompatibility,and biodegradability,heparin ha...Heparin is a negatively charged polysaccharide with various chain lengths and a hydrophilic backbone.Due to its fascinating chemical and physical properties,nontoxicity,biocompatibility,and biodegradability,heparin has been extensively used in different fields of medicine,such as cardiovascular and hematology.This review highlights recent and future advancements in designing materials based on heparin for various biomedical applications.The physicochemical and mechanical properties,biocompatibility,toxicity,and biodegradability of heparin are discussed.In addition,the applications of heparin-based materials in various biomedical fields,such as drug/gene delivery,tissue engineering,cancer therapy,and biosensors,are reviewed.Finally,challenges,opportunities,and future perspectives in preparing heparin-based materials are summarized.展开更多
文摘AIM: To evaluate safety and feasibility of autologous bone marrow-enriched CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell Tx through the hepatic artery in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.METHODS: Four patients with decompensated cirrhosis were included. Approximately 200 mL of the bone marrow of the patients was aspirated, and CD34+ stem cells were selected. Between 3 to 10 million CD34+ cells were isolated. The cells were slowly infused through the hepatic artery of the patients.RESULTS: Patient 1 showed marginal improvement in serum albumin and no significant changes in other test results. In patient 2 prothrombin time was decreased; however, her total bilirubin, serum creatinine, and Model of End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score worsened at the end of follow up. In patient 3 there was improvement in serum albumin, porthrombin time (PT), and MELD score. Patient 4 developed radiocontrast nephropathy after the procedure, and progressed to type 1 hepatorenal syndrome and died of liver failure a few days later. Because of the major side effects seen in the last patient, the trial was prematurely stopped.CONCLUSION: Infusion of CD34+ stem cells through the hepatic artery is not safe in decompensated cirrhosis. Radiocontrast nephropathy and hepatorenal syndrome could be major side effects. However, this study doesnot preclude infusion of CD34+ stem cells through other routes.
文摘Nowadays,utilities aim to find methods for improving the reliability of distribution systems and satisfying the customers by providing the continuity of power supply.Different methodologies exist for utilities to improve the reliability of network.In this paper,demand response(DR)programs and smart charging/discharging of plug-in electric vehicles(PEVs)are investigated for improving the reliability of radial distribution systems adopting particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm.Such analysis is accomplished due to the positive effects of both DR and PEVs for dealing with emerging challenges of the world such as fossil fuel reserves reduction,urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.Additionally,the prioritization of DR and PEVs is presented for improving the reliability and analyzing the characteristics of distribution networks.The reliability analysis is performed in terms of loss of load expectation(LOLE)and expected energy not served(EENS)indexes,where the characteristics contain load profile,load peak,voltage profile and energy loss.Numerical simulations are accomplished to assess the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed scheme.
文摘Most of the water quality models previously developed and used in dissolved oxygen （DO） prediction are complex. Moreover, reliable data available to develop/calibrate new DO models is scarce. Therefore, there is a need to study and develop models that can handle easily measurable parameters of a particular site, even with short length. In recent decades, computational intelligence techniques, as effective approaches for predicting complicated and significant indicator of the state of aquatic ecosystems such as DO, have created a great change in predictions. In this study, three different AI methods comprising： （1） two types of artificial neural networks （ANN） namely multi linear perceptron （MLP） and radial based function （RBF）; （2） an advancement of genetic programming namely linear genetic programming （LGP）; and （3） a support vector machine （SVM） technique were used for DO prediction in Delaware River located at Trenton, USA. For evaluating the performance of the proposed models, root mean square error （RMSE）, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient （NS）, mean absolute relative error （MARE） and, correlation coeffi- cient statistics （R） were used to choose the best predictive model. The comparison of estimation accu- racies of various intelligence models illustrated that the SVM was able to develop the most accurate model in DO estimation in comparison to other models. Also, it was found that the LGP model performs better than the both ANNs models. For example, the determination coefficient was 0.99 for the best SVM model, while it was 0.96, 0.91 and 0.81 for the best LGP, MLP and RBF models, respectively. In general, the results indicated that an SVM model could be employed satisfactorily in DO estimation.
文摘Over the past years,many efforts have been accomplished to achieve fast and accurate meta-heuristic algorithms to optimize a variety of real-world problems.This study presents a new optimization method based on an unusual geological phenomenon in nature,named Geyser inspired Algorithm(GEA).The mathematical modeling of this geological phenomenon is carried out to have a better understanding of the optimization process.The efficiency and accuracy of GEA are verified using statistical examination and convergence rate comparison on numerous CEC 2005,CEC 2014,CEC 2017,and real-parameter benchmark functions.Moreover,GEA has been applied to several real-parameter engineering optimization problems to evaluate its effectiveness.In addition,to demonstrate the applicability and robustness of GEA,a comprehensive investigation is performed for a fair comparison with other standard optimization methods.The results demonstrate that GEA is noticeably prosperous in reaching the optimal solutions with a high convergence rate in comparison with other well-known nature-inspired algorithms,including ABC,BBO,PSO,and RCGA.Note that the source code of the GEA is publicly available at https://www.optim-app.com/projects/gea.
基金This study was supported financially by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic by the NAZV project(grant number QK1810296)This JU-IAPW research paper is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme(grant agreement No 652831[AQUAEXCEL2020])the TNA project ID number:AE070026.
文摘The use of insect meal in aquafeed formulations has recently gained attention.Detailed knowledge about the inclusion levels for pikeperch(Sander lucioperca),a promising candidate for intensive aquaculture in Europe remains,however,fragmented.In the present study,4 isoproteic(45%dry matter)and isoenergetic(21 MJ/kg)diets were formulated,including a control diet(H0)containing 30%fishmeal(FM)on an as-fed basis and the other 3 diets in which FM protein was replaced by defatted black soldier fly(Hemetia illucens)meal(HIM)at 25%,50%,and 100%(diet abbreviation H9,H18 and H36,corresponding to an inclusion level of 9%,18%and 36%,respectively).The feeding trial was performed in triplicate groups of 50 juvenile pikeperch(mean weight,68.7 g)fed with experimental diets for 84 d during which the growth performance,nutrient digestibility,fillet quality and economic and environmental sustainability of rearing pikeperch were evaluated.Our findings indicated that pikeperch in H0,H9,and H18 groups displayed better results regarding growth performance indices,except for survival rate where no significant difference among groups was recorded(P?0.642).A significantly lower organ-somatic index,including hepatosomatic,viscerosomatic and perivisceral fat index,was found in fish in H18 groups than other groups(P<0.05).Inclusion of HIM affected the digestibility of the nutrients and resulted in an almost linear reduction in the apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter and protein.Concerning the fillet quality,dietary HIM negatively affected the protein and ash contents of the fish fillets,while the crude fat remained unchanged.Dietary HIM did not significantly modify total saturated,monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the fillets of fed pikeperch(P>0.05)but did reduce total n-3 fatty acids(P?0.001)and increased total n-6(P<0.001).Increasing inclusion levels of HIM reduced the environmental impacts associated with fish in-to-fish out ratio but entailed heavy burdens on energy use and eutrophication.Low and moderate in
文摘AIM: To determine the prevalence and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a healthy general population in relation to demographic,lifestyle and health-seeking behaviors in Shiraz,southern Iran. METHODS: A total of 1978 subjects aged > 35 years who referred to Gastroenterohepatology Research Center and who completed a questionnaire consisting of 27 questions for GERD in relation to demographic,lifestyle and health-seeking behaviors were included in this study for a period of five months. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were determined. RESULTS: The prevalence of GERD was 15.4%,which was higher in females (17.3%),in rural areas (19.8%),and in illiterate subjects (21.5%) and those with a mean age of 50.25 years. The prevalence was significantly lower in subjects having fried food (14.8%),and fruit and vegetables (14.6%). More symptoms were noticed in subjects consuming pickles (22.1%),taking aspirin (21%) and in subjects with psychological distresses (27.2%) and headaches (22%). The correlation was statistically significant between GERD and halitosis (18.3%),dyspepsia (30.6%),anxiety (19.5%),nightmares (23.9%) and restlessness (18.5%). Their health seeking behavior showed that there was a significant restriction of diet (20%),consumption of herbal medicine (19%),using over-the-counter drugs (29.9%) and consulting with physicians (24.8%). Presence of GERD symptoms was also significantly related to a previous family history of the disease (22.3%).CONCLUSION: GERD is more common in females,rural and illiterate subjects and correlated with consumption of pickles,occurrence of headache,psychological distress,dyspepsia,halitosis,anxiety,nightmare and restlessness,and a family history of GERD and aspirin intake,but the correlation was negative with consumption of fat and fiber intake.
文摘The Firefly Algorithm(FA)is a highly efficient population-based optimization technique developed by mimicking the flashing behavior of fireflies when mating.This article proposes a method based on Differential Evolution(DE)/current-to-best/1 for enhancing the FA's movement process.The proposed modification increases the global search ability and the convergence rates while maintaining a balance between exploration and exploitation by deploying the global best solution.However,employing the best solution can lead to premature algorithm convergence,but this study handles this issue using a loop adjacent to the algorithm's main loop.Additionally,the suggested algorithm’s sensitivity to the alpha parameter is reduced compared to the original FA.The GbFA surpasses both the original and five-version of enhanced FAs in finding the optimal solution to 30 CEC2014 real parameter benchmark problems with all selected alpha values.Additionally,the CEC 2017 benchmark functions and the eight engineering optimization challenges are also utilized to evaluate GbFA’s efficacy and robustness on real-world problems against several enhanced algorithms.In all cases,GbFA provides the optimal result compared to other methods.Note that the source code of the GbFA algorithm is publicly available at https://www.optim-app.com/projects/gbfa.
基金A.Hasan acknowledges the partial financial support from the Grant(No.NPRP12S-0310-190276)。
文摘Skin wound healing is an important aspect of regenerative medicine.Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)have attracted considerable attention as promising nanomaterials for skin wound healing due to their remarkable versatility,tunable pore size,surface area,targeted delivery of various therapeutic agents,and controlled release properties.The combination of these materials with biocompatible and synthetic polymers can help improve their performance in wound regeneration.This review examines the potential of MOF-polymer composites in skin wound healing.Physical and biological chemical properties and methods of making MOFs and their composites have been investigated.In the final section of this review,challenges and future prospects for the development of MOF-polymer composites are stated.
基金the Tarbiat Modares University & Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute for their financial support
文摘This research aimed to enhance the column bioleaching recovery of uranium ore by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans.Seven factors were examined for their significance on bioleaching using a Plackett-Burman factorial design.Four significant variables([Fe2+]initial,pH,aeration rate and inoculation percent)were selected for the optimization studies.The effect of these variables on uranium bioleaching was studied using a central composite design(CCD).The optimal values of the variables for the maximum uranium bioleaching recovery(90.27±0.98)%were as follows:[Fe2+]initial=2.89g/L,aeration rate420mL/min,pH1.45and inoculation6%(v/v).[Fe2+]initial was found to be the most effective parameter.The maximum uranium recovery from the predicted models was92.01%.This value was in agreement with the actual experimental value.The analysis of bioleaching residue of uranium ore under optimum conditions confirmed the formation of K-jarosite on the surface of minerals.By using optimal conditions,uranium bioleaching recovery is increased at column and jarosite precipitation is minimized.The kinetic model showed that uranium recovery has a direct relation with ferric ion concentration.
基金This work was supported by Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(LGF21H060010)National Natural Science Foundation of China(82272555)+3 种基金Zhejiang Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Program(2020ZB146)Zhejiang Provincial Medical Technology Foundation of China(2022PY071)Wenzhou Major Scientific and Technological Innovation Project(ZY2022010)Wenzhou Public Welfare Science and Technology Project(WIUCASQD2019001).
文摘Intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD)is a leading cause of low back pain.The strategy of using functional materials to deliver nucleic acids provides a powerful tool for ameliorating IVDD.However,the immunogenicity of nucleic acid vectors and the poor mechanical properties of functional materials greatly limit their effects.Herein,antagomir-204-3p(AM)shows low immunogenicity and effectively inhibits the apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells.Moreover,a high-strength biohydrogel based on zinc-oxidized sodium alginate-gelatin(ZOG)is designed as a multifunctional nucleic acid delivery platform.ZOG loaded with AM(ZOGA)exhibits great hygroscopicity,antibacterial activity,biocompatibility,and biodegradability.Moreover,ZOGA can be cross-linked with nucleus pulposus tissue to form a high-strength collagen network that improves the mechanical properties of the intervertebral disc(IVD).In addition,ZOGA provides an advantageous microenvironment for genetic expression in which AM can play an efficient role in maintaining the metabolic balance of the extracellular matrix.The results of the radiological and histological analyses demonstrate that ZOGA restores the height of the IVD,retains moisture in the IVD,and maintains the tissue structure.The ZOGA platform shows the sustained release of nucleic acids and has the potential for application to ameliorate IVDD,opening a path for future studies related to IVD.
文摘This study demonstrated a solvothermal method of growth of three different morphologies of zinc oxide nanoparticles （ZnO NPs）： i） flower-like nanorod and nanoflakes, ii） assembled hierarchical structure, and iii） nano granule. Oleic acid （C18H3402）, gluconic acid （C6H1207） and tween 80 （C64H124026） were used as surfactant/capping/reducing agent for the formation of different morphologies of nanoparticles. The as-synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by different physicochemical techniques such as UV-vis （UV-vis） spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction （XRD）, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FFIR）, field emission scanning electron microscopy （FE-SEM）, energy dispersive X-ray （EDX） analysis and dynamic light scattering （DLS） studies. Further, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of these nanostructures was evaluated. The antioxidant activity of these nanostructures was assessed via 2,2-diphenyl,1-1 picrylhydrazyl （DPPH）, 2,2＇-azino-bis （3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid） （ABTS） and H202 free radical scavenging activity. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the obtained nanostructures was demonstrated against both gram negative （Escherichia coil） and gram positive （Staphylococcus aureus） bacterial genera. This study revealed antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of different structures ofZnO NPs suggesting their biomedical and industrial applications.
文摘Development and expansion of cities in one hand and increasing transport needs on the other hand have been causing underground constructions. So understanding the behavior of these structures is essential. Ground displacement around the tunneling area is one of the most important issues which have been studied by many researchers, while the effects of the slope behavior of the ground on the tunnel is paid less attention. This study will have analyzed the effects of frequency and surface slope on the surface subsidence caused by tunneling under dynamic loads (without structure). The results show that the frequency and surface slope have significant effects on the land displacements and the area surrounded by a tunnel.
基金Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences,Yazd,Iran(grant number 5689).
文摘Objective:To evaluate the protective effects of probiotic microorganisms on the reproductive and nervous systems of male rats treated with acrylamide.Methods:Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into 4 groups and received normal saline through gavage(control),acrylamide 20 mg/kg body weight,acrylamide plus probiotic microorganisms(Lactobacillus acidophilus,Lactobacillus casei,Lactobacillus bulgaricus,Lactobacillus rhamnosus,Bifidobacterium breve,Bifidobacterium infantis,Streptococcus thermophilus and fructooligosaccharides,all mixed in sachets)20 or 200 mg/kg body weight,respectively.After 30 days,the testis,prostate,seminal vesicle and cerebellum were removed,fixed and stained with hematoxylin-eosin(H&E).The Johnsen score was used to classify spermatogenesis.Cavalieri's principle method was used to evaluate the total volume(in mm3)of the testes.The number of each intratubular cell type as well as intertubular Leydig cells in whole samples was measured using the physical dissector counting techniques.Stereological analysis and the grids were used to determine the volume of cerebellar layers as well as the Purkinje cell number.Results:The testis weight decreased significantly in the acrylamide-treated group compared to the other groups(P<0.001).The number of spermatogonia,spermatocytes,spermatids and Leydig cells in the acrylamide-treated group were significantly less compared to the control group(P<0.05),while they were increased significantly in the acrylamide+200 mg/kg probiotic group(P<0.05;P<0.01).The mean Johnsen score in the acrylamide-treated group was lower than in the control group(P<0.001).Acrylamide-induced changes including congestion,vacuolization in the secretory epithelial cells,and epithelial rupture were observed in the prostate and seminal vesicle.The volumes of cerebellar layers were decreased in the acrylamide group compared to the control group while recovered in both probiotic treated groups.Conclusions:Probiotic microorganisms alleviate acrylamide-induced toxicities against the reproductiv
基金project was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Erciyes University(project number FBA-2022-11737)the TESS mission is provided by the NASA Explorer Program。
文摘The light curve analyses and orbital period variations for two contact binary stars,LS Del and V997 Cyg,are presented in this work which was conducted in the frame of the Binary Systems of South and North project Ground-based photometric observations were performed at two observatories in France.We used the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite(TESS)data for extracting times of minima and light curve analysis of the targe systems.The O-C diagram for both systems displays a parabolic trend.LS Del and V997 Cyg’s orbital periods are increasing at rates of dP/dt=7.20×10^(-08)days yr^(-1)and dP/dt=2.54×10^(-08)days yr^(-1),respectively Therefore,it can be concluded that mass is being transferred from the less massive star to the more massive component with a rate of dM/dt=-1.96×10^(-7)M_(⊙)yr^(-1)for the LS Del system,and dM/dt=-3.83×10^(-7)M_(⊙)yr-1for V997 Cyg.The parameters of a third possible object in the system are also considered.The PHysics Of Eclipsing BinariEs Python code was used to analyze the light curves.The light curve solutions needed a cold starspot due to the asymmetry in the LS Del system’s light curve maxima.The mass ratio fill-out factor,and star temperature all indicate that both systems are contact binary types in this investigation.Two methods were applied to estimate the absolute parameters of the systems:one method relied on the parallax of Gaia DR3,and the other used a P-M relationship.The positions of the systems are also depicted on the M-L,M-R q-L_(ratio),and logM_(tot)-logJ_(0)diagrams.We recommend that further observations and investigations be done on the existence of a fourth body in this system.
基金The work was funded by the Noble Research Institute,LLCthe USDA NIFA EAGER program(2017-67007-26953)+1 种基金the Department of Energy ARPA-E ROOTS program(DE-AR0000822)the United Soybean Board(1420-532-5613).
文摘Root crown phenotyping measures the top portion of crop root systems and can be used for marker-assisted breeding,genetic mapping,and understanding how roots influence soil resource acquisition.Several imaging protocols and image analysis programs exist,but they are not optimized for high-throughput,repeatable,and robust root crown phenotyping.The RhizoVision Crown platform integrates an imaging unit,image capture software,and image analysis software that are optimized for reliable extraction of measurements from large numbers of root crowns.The hardware platform utilizes a backlight and a monochrome machine vision camera to capture root crown silhouettes.The RhizoVision Imager and RhizoVision Analyzer are free,open-source software that streamline image capture and image analysis with intuitive graphical user interfaces.The RhizoVision Analyzer was physically validated using copper wire,and features were extensively validated using 10,464 groundtruth simulated images of dicot and monocot root systems.This platform was then used to phenotype soybean and wheat root crowns.A total of 2,799 soybean(Glycine max)root crowns of 187 lines and 1,753 wheat(Triticum aestivum)root crowns of 186 lines were phenotyped.Principal component analysis indicated similar correlations among features in both species.The maximum heritability was 0.74 in soybean and 0.22 in wheat,indicating that differences in species and populations need to be considered.The integrated RhizoVision Crown platform facilitates high-throughput phenotyping of crop root crowns and sets a standard by which open plant phenotyping platforms can be benchmarked.
文摘In this study,the performances of fixed and fluidized bed reactors in the production of single-walled carbon nanotubes（SWNTs）have been investigated.In both reactors,single-walled carbon nanotubes were grown by catalytic chemical vapor decomposition（CCVD）of methane over Co-Mo/MgO nanocatalyst under two different operating conditions.The synthesized samples were characterized by TEM,TGA and Raman spectroscopy.It is found that the performance of a fluidized bed in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes is much better than that of a fixed bed.The quality of carbon nanotubes obtained from the fluidized bed was significantly higher than that from the fixed bed and the former one with the ID/IG ratio of 0.11 while the latter one with the ID/IG ratio of 0.71.Also,the yield of SWNTs in the fluidized bed was 92 wt%,while it was 78 wt%in the fixed bed.These advantages of fluidized bed reactors for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes can be attributed to more available space for the growth of carbon nanotubes and more uniform temperature and concentration profiles.
文摘In the new competitive electricity market, the accurate operation management of Micro-Grid (MG) with various types of renewable power sources (RES) can be an effective approach to supply the electrical consumers more reliably and economically. In this regard, this paper proposes a novel solution methodology based on bat algorithm to solve the op- timal energy management of MG including several RESs with the back-up of Fuel Cell (FC), Wind Turbine (WT), Photovoltaics (PV), Micro Turbine (MT) as well as storage devices to meet the energy mismatch. The problem is formulated as a nonlinear constraint optimization problem to minimize the total cost of the grid and RESs, simultaneously. In addition, the problem considers the interactive effects of MG and utility in a 24 hour time interval which would in- crease the complexity of the problem from the optimization point of view more severely. The proposed optimization technique is consisted of a self adaptive modification method compromised of two modification methods based on bat algorithm to explore the total search space globally. The superiority of the proposed method over the other well-known algorithms is demonstrated through a typical renewable MG as the test system.
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean Government (MSIT) (No.2022M3J7A1062940,2021R1A5A6002853,and 2021R1A2C3011585)supported by the Technology Innovation Program (20015577)funded by the Ministry of Trade,Industry&Energy (MOTIE,Korea)。
文摘This review explores glucose monitoring and management strategies,emphasizing the need for reliable and userfriendly wearable sensors that are the next generation of sensors for continuous glucose detection.In addition,examines key strategies for designing glucose sensors that are multi-functional,reliable,and cost-effective in a variety of contexts.The unique features of effective diabetes management technology are highlighted,with a focus on using nano/biosensor devices that can quickly and accurately detect glucose levels in the blood,improving patient treatment and control of potential diabetes-related infections.The potential of next-generation wearable and touch-sensitive nano biomedical sensor engineering designs for providing full control in assessing implantable,continuous glucose monitoring is also explored.The challenges of standardizing drug or insulin delivery doses,low-cost,real-time detection of increased blood sugar levels in diabetics,and early digital health awareness controls for the adverse effects of injectable medication are identified as unmet needs.Also,the market for biosensors is expected to expand significantly due to the rising need for portable diagnostic equipment and an ever-increasing diabetic population.The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for further research and development of glucose biosensors to meet the stringent requirements for sensitivity and specificity imposed by clinical diagnostics while being cost-effective,stable,and durable.
基金Seed Grant Fund No. [Dean (R&C) 19/1012] dated 14/08/2019 provided by MANIT Bhopal for supporting the research work
文摘Energy is a basic requirement for development in the world.The continuously rising demand for energy resources and the fast depletion of fossil fuel is raises researcher's concern to focus on alternative sources of energy that can replace the shortage of fossil fuels soon.Biodiesel is recognized as one of the potential alternative renewable energy fuels that can be easily available in a wide range in every part of the world.This paper reviews biodiesel's prospect and focuses on the different fuel properties(physicochemical)of 100 biodiesels from first-,second-and third-generation followed by the evaluation of CI engine characteristics.It has been observed that the fuel properties of first-,second-and third-generation biodiesel are compatible with the ASTM standards.The present paper discussed the potential of various generations of biodiesel feedstocks from production perspectives.This paper also examined many aspects of these feedstocks which include different biodiesel feedstock sources,biodiesel conversion technology,and second-generation biodiesel performance and emission characteristics.Most of the studies showed that biodiesel derived from plant feedstock is costly than diesel.Thus,more influence is to be given to non-edible sources.However,the engine characteristics are shown promising behavior with biodiesel and a slight increase in NOX is also reported on using various biodiesel.
基金funding from the National Institutes of Health(4UG3TR003148-02,and 5R01AR073135-06)the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation.
文摘Heparin is a negatively charged polysaccharide with various chain lengths and a hydrophilic backbone.Due to its fascinating chemical and physical properties,nontoxicity,biocompatibility,and biodegradability,heparin has been extensively used in different fields of medicine,such as cardiovascular and hematology.This review highlights recent and future advancements in designing materials based on heparin for various biomedical applications.The physicochemical and mechanical properties,biocompatibility,toxicity,and biodegradability of heparin are discussed.In addition,the applications of heparin-based materials in various biomedical fields,such as drug/gene delivery,tissue engineering,cancer therapy,and biosensors,are reviewed.Finally,challenges,opportunities,and future perspectives in preparing heparin-based materials are summarized.
