Effects of leading-edge devices on the low-speed aerodynamic characteristics of a highly-swept arrow-wing

An investigation was conducted in the Texas A&M University 7 by 10 foot Low Speed Wind Tunnel to provide a direct comparison of the effect of several leading edge devices on the aerodynamic performance of a highly swept wing configuration. Analysis of the data indicates that for the configuration with undeflected leading edges, vortex separation first occurs on the outboard wing panel for angles of attack of approximately 2, and wing apex vorticies become apparent for alpha or = 4 deg. However, the occurrence of the leading edge vortex flow may be postponed with leading edge devices. Of the devices considered, the most promising were a simple leading edge deflection of 30 deg and a leading edge slat system. The trailing edge flap effectiveness was found to be essentially the same for the configuration employing either of these more promising leading edge devices. Analysis of the lateral directional data showed that for all of the concepts considered, deflecting leading edge downward in an attempt to postpone leading edge vortex flows, has the favorable effect of reducing the effective dihedral

Full Sequence Bleaching with Dimethyldioxirane

Research work to date has shown dimethyldioxirane to be a very powerful, yet highly selective oxidant. Dimethyldioxirane bleaching may become more important in the future with legislative restrictions on chlorine based bleaching agents as it contains no chlorine. Most work with dimethyldioxirane to date has concentrated on short sequence bleaching, or the use of peroxymonosulfate as a pre-treatment to improve oxygen delignification. The goal of this study was to develop a full sequence bleaching containing only dimethyldioxirane and other chlorine free bleaching agents that matched the brightness and strength characteristics of comparable chlorine dioxide based full sequences. Dimethyldioxirane was found to match the strength, but not the brightness of, chlorine dioxide. As well, dimethyldioxirane may be harsher on cellulose than chlorine dioxide. Additional optimization may allow dimethyldioxirane to perform as well as chlorine dioxide. It was seen that increased brightnesses were achieved by using optimum conditions and a step-wise chemical addition. As well, the addition of peroxide to dimethyldioxirane stages may increase brightness

Meta-analysis of IDH-mutant cancers identifies EBF1 as an interaction partner for TET2

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes 1 and 2 are frequently mutated in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), low-grade glioma, cholangiocarcinoma (CC) and chondrosarcoma (CS). For AML, low-grade glioma and CC, mutant IDH status is associated with a DNA hypermethylation phenotype, implicating altered epigenome dynamics in the aetiology of these cancers. Here we show that the IDH variants in CS are also associated with a hypermethylation phenotype and display increased production of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate, supporting the role of mutant IDH-produced 2-hydroxyglutarate as an inhibitor of TET-mediated DNA demethylation. Meta-analysis of the acute myeloid leukaemia, low-grade glioma, cholangiocarcinoma and CS methylation data identifies cancer-specific effectors within the retinoic acid receptor activation pathway among the hypermethylated targets. By analysing sequence motifs surrounding hypermethylated sites across the four cancer types, and using chromatin immunoprecipitation and western blotting, we identify the transcription factor EBF1 (early B-cell factor 1) as an interaction partner for TET2, suggesting a sequence-specific mechanism for regulating DNA methylation

Technical and economic feasibility study of solar/fossil hybrid power systems

Results show that new hybrid systems utilizing fossil fuel augmentation of solar energy can provide significant capital and energy cost benefits when compared with solar thermal systems requiring thermal storage. These benefits accrue from a reduction of solar collection area that results from both the use of highly efficient gas and combined cycle energy conversion subsystems and elimination of the requirement for long-term energy storage subsystems. Technical feasibility and fuel savings benefits of solar hybrid retrofit to existing fossil-fired, gas and vapor cycle powerplants was confirmed; however, economic viability of steam cycle retrofit was found to be dependent on the thermodynamic and operational characteristics of the existing powerplant

Expression profiles of meiotic genes in male vs. female gonads and gametes : insights into fertility issues

Gametes are specialized cells that, at fertilization, give rise to a totipotent zygote capable of generating an entire organism. Female and male germ cells undergo meiosis to produce mature gametes; however, sex-specific events of oogenesis and spermatogenesis contribute to specific roles of gametes in reproductive issues. We investigate the differential gene expression (DGE) of meiosis-related genes in human female and male gonads and gametes in normal and pathological conditions. The transcriptome data for the DGE analysis was obtained through the Gene Expression Omnibus repository, comprising human ovary and testicle samples of the prenatal period and adulthood, additionally to male (nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) and teratozoospermia), and female (polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and advanced maternal age) reproductive conditions. Gene ontology terms related to meiosis were associated with 678 genes, of which 17 genes in common were differentially expressed between the testicle and ovary during the prenatal period and adulthood. Except for SERPINA5 and SOX9, the 17 meiosis-related genes were downregulated in the testicle during the prenatal period and upregulated in adulthood compared to the ovary. No differences were observed in the oocytes of PCOS patients; however, meiosis-related genes were differentially expressed according to the patient’s age and maturity of the oocyte. In NOA and teratozoospermia, 145 meiosis-related genes were differentially expressed in comparison to the control, including OOEP; despite no recognized role in male reproduction, OOEP was co-expressed with genes related to male fertility. Taking together, these results shed light on potential genes that might be relevant to comprehend human fertility disorders

All-fluid amplifier development for liquid rocket secondary injection thrust vector control Final report

Staged vortex amplifier with integral gas generators for liquid rocket secondary injection thrust vector contro

Use of olive oil polyphenols to counteract neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases represent a health emergency that we should address in the coming decades. The underlying causes of these diseases are still unclear, but they are probably closely linked to neuroinflammation and oxidative stress processes in the brain. The use of molecules that can counteract these phenomena could be an excellent tool in hampering the progression of these pathologies. Polyphenols are molecules naturally present in plant foods that exert many biological effects, particularly against inflammation and oxidative stress. They seem to be promising molecules in the biomedical field, indeed in recent years some of them have been used in several clinical trials. Olive oil is a good source of polyphenols, particularly of secoiridoids, a class of compounds which comprise oleocanthal and oleacein which are only found in this type of oil. The extraction of these polyphenols generally involves the use of organic solvents, such as methanol and hexane, a process which may lead to risks for the operators and environmental threats, as the oil matrix and the polyphenolic product may retain traces of organic solvents, thus being unsuitable for food use. To solve the extraction problem, alternative extraction techniques can be used such as Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), Pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) and Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). These techniques are mainly used not only on oil but also on olive pomace and wastemill water to retrieve polyphenols lost during the process of olive oil production. Moreover they are extremely energy-demanding. An alternative method, certainly simpler, quicker and environmentally friendly is the use of Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES). DES are binary solvents consisting of a hydrogen bond donor (nontoxic quaternary ammonium salts or amino acids) and a hydrogen bond acceptor (polyols, organic acids or carbohydrates). These two chemical families, through thermal, mechano-chemical or freeze drying treatments, form an eutectic solvent characterised by an intense network of hydrogen bonds. When the eutectic solvent are made of natural compounds that are non toxic and even edible (such as monosaccarides, aminoacids, alcohols), they are named Natural DES (NaDES). In this work, the bioactive capacities of polyphenols extracted from extravirgin olive oil are evaluated on different cellular and animal models of diseases, paying particular attention to inflammation and oxidative stress. In the first section, experiments are presented to evaluate whether there are biological differences between polyphenols extracted by the classical method and those extracted via NaDES, by determining the biological response (inflammation and oxidative stress) on murine BV2 microglia cells following administration of the polyphenols before or after treatment with a pro-inflammatory stimulus. In the second section, polyphenols extracted by classical method (OOEP) were administered for 8 weeks in drinking water (10 mg/kg/day) to C57BL/6J mice under physiological or low-grade inflammation conditions (obtained by intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 mg/kg/week LPS). The mice were assessed in their cognitive capacity (long-term memory, anxiety-like behaviour) and inflammation and oxidative stress status. A broad-spectrum metabolomics study was performed in the liver and intestine. At the same time, we evaluated the impact of LPS and polyphenols on the microbiota. In the third and final section, polyphenols extracted with a NaDES made up with betaine and glycerol in a 1:2.2 molar ratio (OOE-DES) were administered for 12 weeks in drinking water (5 mg/kg/day) to euploid B6EiC3SnF1 and trisomic Ts2Cje mice. The impact of polyphenols on the mice in terms of cognition, oxidative stress and inflammation at the brain cortex and liver level was assessed, and a broad-spectrum lipidomic analysis was conducted on the brain, liver and caecum tissues. The data obtained show that olive oil polyphenols extracted with NaDES, OOE-DES, have the same anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant capacities as classical extracted OOEP at both the cellular and animal level. From a comprehensive point of view, olive oil polyphenols positively impact the brain directly (by modulating inflammation) and indirectly (by modifying the microbiota and metabolites produced both in the gut and liver), promoting neurodevelopment and synaptogenesis. Thus, olive oil polyphenols are an excellent tool to alleviate neuroinflammation and in this way strike at the base of neurodegeneration. Moreover, olive oil polyphenols manage oxidative stress by modulating the activation of the pathway under the control of nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC-1α), regulating the expression of antioxidant enxymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX)