Experiments and Modeling of Solid–Solid Phase Change Material-Loaded Plaster to Enhance Building Energy Efficiency

In this paper, cement mortar IN200 integrated with solid–solid PlusIce X25 commercial PCM was fully characterized for the first time via experimental tests and numerical simulations. An experimental setup was designed and built to evaluate the thermal performance of the composite. Experimental results confirmed the expected advantages of the PCM-loaded plaster in terms of inner surface temperature, inbound heat flux reduction, and the enhanced damping effect on the average temperature. The experimental results were used to validate and calibrate a finite element model implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics® 5.6. The model was adopted to carry out a parametric analysis assessing the influence of PCM mass fraction, phase transition temperature, and PCM mortar thickness. The composite thickness was the most influential parameter, resulting in an energy saving increase from 3.29% to 72.72% as it was increased from 10 mm to 30 mm. Moreover, the model was used in a set of dynamic simulations, reproducing real Mediterranean climatic conditions to capture the transition process for a long period in buildings. The PCM mortar located on the interior side exhibited the highest reduction in both heat flux and inner surface temperature, representing a simple approach to achieving the best thermal comfort conditions

Long-Term Structural State Trend Forecasting Based on an FFT–Informer Model

Machine learning has been widely applied in structural health monitoring. While most existing methods, which are limited to forecasting structural state evolution of large infrastructures. forecast the structural state in a step-by-step manner, extracting feature of structural state trends and the negative effects of data collection under abnormal conditions are big challenges. To address these issues, a long-term structural state trend forecasting method based on long sequence time-series forecasting (LSTF) with an improved Informer model integrated with Fast Fourier transform (FFT) is proposed, named the FFT–Informer model. In this method, by using FFT, structural state trend features are represented by extracting amplitude and phase of a certain period of data sequence. Structural state trend, a long sequence, can be forecasted in a one-forward operation by the Informer model that can achieve high inference speed and accuracy of prediction based on the Transformer model. Furthermore, a Hampel filter that filters the abnormal deviation of the data sequence is integrated into the Multi-head ProbSparse self-attention in the Informer model to improve forecasting accuracy by reducing the effect of abnormal data points. Experimental results on two classical data sets show that the FFT–Informer model achieves high and stable accuracy and outperforms the comparative models in forecasting accuracy. It indicates that this model can effectively forecast the long-term state trend change of a structure and is proposed to be applied to structural state trend forecasting and early damage warning

Topological Navigation for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles in Confined Semi-Structured Environments

In this work, we present the design, implementation, and simulation of a topology-based navigation system for the UX-series robots, a spherical underwater vehicle designed to explore and map flooded underground mines. The objective of the robot is to navigate autonomously in the 3D network of tunnels of a semi-structured but unknown environment in order to gather geoscientific data. We start from the assumption that a topological map has been generated by a low-level perception and SLAM module in the form of a labeled graph. However, the map is subject to uncertainties and reconstruction errors that the navigation system must address. First, a distance metric is defined to compute node-matching operations. This metric is then used to enable the robot to find its position on the map and navigate it. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach, extensive simulations have been carried out with different randomly generated topologies and various noise rates

Measurement of Total Air Entrainment, Disentrainment and Net Entrainment Flow Rates Utilizing Novel Downcomer Incorporating Al-Anzi’s Disentrainment Ring (ADR) in a Confined Plunging Jet Reactor

Plunging liquid jet reactor (PLJR) has gained popularity as a feasible and efficient aerator and mixer. However, the measurement of air disentrainment rate (Qads), which affects aeration performance, has been overlooked by many researchers. In this work, a newly invented Al-Anzi disentrainment ring (ADR) device was incorporated in CPLJR to experimentally measure Qads and its effect on the net air entrainment rate. Furthermore, the effect of new variables (lADR and ds) and old variables (Lj and VL) on Qanet were also investigated. Results showed that shorter ds and lADR produced higher Qanet for the same ADR device. A new net entrainment jet velocity at the impingement point (VLnet) was measured at about 651 cm/s, above which bubbles left the base of downcomer as Qanet. Qanet increased linearly with VL; however, Qads increased until it reached maximum value, and then decreased. Bubble penetration depth and liquid rise height increased for all VL until they reached maximum, and then leveled off for the same lADR. A significant increase in Qanet values was achieved with this downcomer in comparison with the conventional one. The increase in Qanet was measured to be approximately 2.5–15 times of that measured by the standalone downcomer

Proteomic Variability and Nutrient-Related Proteins across Pigmented and Non-Pigmented Rice Grains

Rice protein is considered an important dietary protein source. Information regarding rice nutrient-related protein expression is still scarce, hence further study investigating this aspect is highly needed. Herein, we applied sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS) for a comparative proteomic analysis across six different Malaysian rice varieties. These consisted of black rice (BR: PH9 and BALI), red rice (RR: MRQ100 and MRM16), and white rice (WR: MRQ76 and MR297). This study aimed to unravel rice nutrient-related proteins and if their expressions were significantly different across varieties. A total of 4022 quantified proteins were found to be significantly expressed across all varieties with a false discovery rate (FDR) < 1% and p < 0.05. While among 1792 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that were identified, 74 DEPs had functions related to nutrient biosynthesis. There were significantly higher expressions of key enzymes for the carotenoid and amylopectin biosynthesis pathways and seed storage proteins, i.e., prolamins and glutelins in RR. Glycoproteins such as cupin and germin-like protein, as well as enzymes that are involved in the biosynthesis of thiamine and anthocyanin were abundantly found in BR. WR was particularly enriched with biosynthesis enzymes for essential amino acids (methionine and arginine), vitamin B, and unsaturated fatty acid. This study provides us insights into the differential expressions of storage and functional proteins with nutrient-related properties in shaping rice grain pigmentations and plant immunity, as well as in contributing diverse health benefits as daily functional food for human consumption

Genomic Insights into the Origin of a Thermotolerant Tomato Line and Identification of Candidate Genes for Heat Stress

Climate change represents the main problem for agricultural crops, and the constitution of heat-tolerant genotypes is an important breeder’s strategy to reduce yield losses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the whole genome of a heat-tolerant tomato genotype (E42), in order to identify candidate genes involved in its response to high temperature. E42 presented a high variability for chromosomes 1, 4, 7 and 12, and phylogenetic analysis highlighted its relationship with the wild S. pimpinellifolium species. Variants with high (18) and moderate (139) impact on protein function were retrieved from two lists of genes related to heat tolerance and reproduction. This analysis permitted us to prioritize a subset of 35 candidate gene mapping in polymorphic regions, some colocalizing in QTLs controlling flowering in tomato. Among these genes, we identified 23 HSPs, one HSF, six involved in flowering and five in pollen activity. Interestingly, one gene coded for a flowering locus T1 and mapping on chromosome 11 resides in a QTL region controlling flowering and also showed 100% identity with an S. pimpinellifolium allele. This study provides useful information on both the E42 genetic background and heat stress response, and further studies will be conducted to validate these genes

Elucidation of DNA-Eltrombopag Binding: Electrochemical, Spectroscopic and Molecular Docking Techniques

Eltrombopag is a powerful adjuvant anticancer drug used in treating MS (myelodysplastic syndrome) and AML (acute myeloid leukemia) diseases. In this study, the interaction mechanism between eltrombopag and DNA was studied by voltammetry, spectroscopic techniques, and viscosity measurements. We developed a DNA-based biosensor and nano-biosensor using reduced graphene oxide-modified glassy carbon electrode to detect DNA-eltrombopag binding. The reduction of desoxyguanosine (dGuo) and desoxyadenosine (dAdo) oxidation signals in the presence of the drug demonstrated that a strong interaction could be established between the eltrombopag and dsDNA. The eltrombopag-DNA interaction was further investigated by UV absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopy to gain more quantitative insight on binding. Viscosity measurements were utilized to characterize the binding mode of the drug. To shed light on the noncovalent interactions and binding mechanism of eltrombopag molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD), simulations were performed. Through simultaneously carried out experimental and in silico studies, it was established that the eltrombopag binds onto the DNA via intercalation

Proteomics Analysis of Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines from Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) consists of the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, caused by poorly understood mechanisms for which there is no cure. Some of the cellular perturbations associated with ALS can be detected in peripheral cells, including lymphocytes from blood. A related cell system that is very suitable for research consists of human lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), which are immortalized lymphocytes. LCLs that can be easily expanded in culture and can be maintained for long periods as stable cultures. We investigated, on a small set of LCLs, if a proteomics analysis using liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry reveals proteins that are differentially present in ALS versus healthy controls. We found that individual proteins, the cellular and molecular pathways in which these proteins participate, are detected as differentially present in the ALS samples. Some of these proteins and pathways are already known to be perturbed in ALS, while others are new and present interest for further investigations. These observations suggest that a more detailed proteomics analysis of LCLs, using a larger number of samples, represents a promising approach for investigating ALS mechanisms and to search for therapeutic agents. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD040240

Floristic Inventory of Ethnobotanically Important Halophytes of North-Western Mediterranean Coastal Brackish Areas, Tuscany, Italy

Plants have always been used by people for multiple purposes, but over the centuries knowledge of useful plants has largely been lost. Through ethnobotanical studies it is possible to retrieve information on the uses of plants and renew the ancient attention to plants which could be useful to apply in modern applications. In this context, the ethnobotanical use of halophytes has not been explored in depth. The present study focused on the flora of two brackish areas of the north-western Mediterranean sited in Tuscany, Italy. This research aimed to identify the halophyte species of ethnobotanical interest and create a relative map database of the study areas. The floristic list of the two areas, including 78 halophyte and non-halophyte species, was created following periodic field sampling, localization of the species by GPS, and taxonomic identification. The ethnobotanical information was acquired through a bibliographic survey. Botanical, geographic, and ethnobotanical information was filed and included in floristic maps produced using the free Open Source QGIS software. Of the total wild species surveyed, 50% were halophytes with ethnobotanical properties, with a predominance for medicinal ones. Some of them are the subject of numerous studies today such as those on antioxidants. Both investigated areas showed a high floristic and ethnobotanical value. This makes them interesting as potential germplasm banks to be used in various application contexts of ethnobotany

Festuca pratensis-like Subgenome Reassembly from a “Chromosomal Cocktail” in the Intergeneric Festulolium (Poaceae) Hybrid: A Rare Chromoanagenesis Event in Grasses

Festuca and Lolium grass species are used for Festulolium hybrid variety production where they display trait complementarities. However, at the genome level, they show antagonisms and a broad scale of rearrangements. A rare case of an unstable hybrid, a donor plant manifesting pronounced variability of its clonal parts, was discovered in the F2 group of 682 plants of Lolium multiflorum × Festuca arundinacea (2n = 6x = 42). Five phenotypically distinct clonal plants were determined to be diploids, having only 14 chromosomes out of the 42 in the donor. GISH defined the diploids as having the basic genome from F. pratensis (2n = 2x = 14), one of the progenitors of F. arundinacea (2n = 6x = 42), with minor components from L. multiflorum and another subgenome, F. glaucescens. The 45S rDNA position on two chromosomes also corresponded to the variant of F. pratensis in the F. arundinacea parent. In the highly unbalanced donor genome, F. pratensis was the least represented, but the most involved in numerous recombinant chromosomes. Specifically, FISH highlighted 45S rDNA-containing clusters involved in the formation of unusual chromosomal associations in the donor plant, suggesting their active role in karyotype realignment. The results of this study show that F. pratensis chromosomes have a particular fundamental drive for restructuring, which prompts the disassembly/reassembly processes. The finding of F. pratensis “escaping” and rebuilding itself from the chaotic “chromosomal cocktail” of the donor plant points to a rare chromoanagenesis event and extends the view of plant genome plasticity