Heat flow in the postquasistatic approximation

We apply the postquasistatic approximation to study the evolution of spherically symmetric fluid distributions undergoing dissipation in the form of radial heat flow. For a model which corresponds to an incompressible fluid departing from the static equilibrium, it is not possible to go far from the initial state after the emission of a small amount of energy. Initially collapsing distributions of matter are not permitted. Emission of energy can be considered as a mechanism to avoid the collapse. If the distribution collapses initially and emits one hundredth of the initial mass only the outermost layers evolve. For a model which corresponds to a highly compressed Fermi gas, only the outermost shell can evolve with a shorter hydrodynamic time scale.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Extraction of silymarin compounds from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) seed using hot, liquid water as the solvent

High-value specialty chemicals are usually obtained from natural products by extracting with generally regarded as safe (GRAS) solvents. Because organic solvents are quite often used, high operating and disposal costs occur. When compared to traditional solvents, water is an interesting alternative because of its low operating and disposal costs. Milk thistle contains compounds (taxifolin, silychristin, silydianin, silybinin A, and silybinin B) that display hepatoxic protection properties. This paper examines the batch extraction of silymarin compounds from milk thistle seed meal in 50°C, 70°C, 85°C and 100°C water as a function of time. For taxifolin, silychristin, silybinin A, and silybinin B, extraction with 100°C water resulted in the highest yields. After 210 min of extraction at 100°C, the yield of taxifolin was 1.2 mg/g of seed while the yields of silychristin, silybinin A, and silybinin B were 5.0, 1.8 and 3.3 mg/g of seed, respectively. The ratios of the extracted compounds, and particularly the ratios at long extraction times, showed that the more polar compounds (taxifolin and silychristin) were preferentially extracted at 85°C, while the less polar silybinin was preferentially extracted at 100°C

Estimated glomerular filtration rate is a poor predictor of the concentration of middle molecular weight uremic solutes in chronic kidney disease

Background: Uremic solute concentration increases as Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) declines. Weak associations were demonstrated between estimated GFR (eGFR) and the concentrations of several small water-soluble and protein-bound uremic solutes (MW500Da). Materials and Methods: In 95 CKD-patients (CKD-stage 2-5 not on dialysis), associations between different eGFR-formulae (creatinine, CystatinC-based or both) and the natural logarithm of the concentration of several LMWP's were analyzed: i.e. parathyroid hormone (PTH), Cystatin C (CystC), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), leptin, retinol binding protein (RbP), immunoglobin light chains kappa and lambda (Ig-kappa and Ig-lambda), beta-2-microglobulin (beta M-2), myoglobin and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23)). Results: The regression coefficients (R-2) between eGFR, based on the CKD-EPI-Crea-CystC-formula as reference, and the examined LMWP's could be divided into three groups. Most of the LMWP's associated weakly (R-2 0.7). Almost identical R-2-values were found per LMWP for all eGFR-formulae, with exception of CystC and beta M-2 which showed weaker associations with creatinine-based than with CystC-based eGFR. Conclusion: The association between eGFR and the concentration of several LMWP's is inconsistent, with in general low R-2-values. Thus, the use of eGFR to evaluate kidney function does not reflect the concentration of several LMWP's with proven toxic impact in CKD

Quality-in-use app evaluation: case of a recruitment app for Portuguese SMEs

E-Recruitment, a term that refers to online recruitment, has been increasingly adopted by companies that are prone to changes and ready to the constant evolution of society. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the impact of a recruitment application in Portugal. This application was developed to meet the needs of candidates and employers, and its evaluation is made in terms of quality-in-use by both parties, small and medium-sized companies in Portugal and potential job offers applicants. To achieve the results related to the defined objective, managers from six companies were interviewed, producing a qualitative evaluation of the application, accompanied by a survey to achieve its quantitative evaluation (3.36 in 4 points). Simultaneously, a quantitative study was carried out among the candidates for evaluation of the mobile application, 3.67 points out of 4 possible. Thus, it was verified that the application developed is suitable for candidates. However, despite the positive evaluation, recruiters point to improvements in the company module.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Equation of state and transport processes in self--similar spheres

We study the effect of transport processes (diffusion and free--streaming) on a collapsing spherically symmetric distribution of matter in a self--similar space--time. A very simple solution shows interesting features when it is matched with the Vaidya exterior solution. In the mixed case (diffusion and free--streaming), we find a barotropic equation of state in the stationary regime. In the diffusion approximation the gravitational potential at the surface is always constant; if we perturb the stationary state, the system is very stable, recovering the barotropic equation of state as time progresses. In the free--streaming case the self--similar evolution is stationary but with a non--barotropic equation of state.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Decision boundaries using Bayes factors: the case of cloud masks

We assess the use of an approximation to the Bayes factor for objectively assessing spatial segmentation models. The Bayes factor allows us to automatically determine thresholds, in multidimensional feature space, for such objectives as cloud mask definition. We compare our results with a cloud map currently provided as a data product

Determination of the optimal range of the compressor inlet air temperature in a power plant with stig cycle through of advanced exergetic analysis

Conventional exergy analysis identifies the more inefficient components; however, this doesn’t regard interaction between components, neither real improvement potential to each component of the system, this information is providing for the advanced exergy analysis. In this paper was developed an advanced exergy analysis to determine the optimal range of the compressor inlet air temperature, to compensate the power loss in a power plant with Stig cycle and an air cooling system. This plant without cooling system at ISO conditions produce 52 MW, while in local conditions (32 °C, 80%RH) its productions decreases to 44.3MW. The results showed that for every degree centigrade that the air temperature decreases at inlet compressor the power output increases in 0.17 MW and total destroyed exergy increases 0.23 MW. It was determined that for the optimal range of compressor inlet air temperature is between 10 and 12°C; at this range were obtained the highest power output values, and the values of the avoidable and endogenous exergy destroyed are diminished in 0.28 MW and 0.20 MW respectively compared to those given in local operating conditions. Copyright © 2019 ASME

Stigma-based rejection experiences affect trust in others

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from SAGE Publications via the DOI in this record.Rejection experiences are likely to influence individuals’ subsequent feelings about others and their behaviour in social interactions. The present study specifically examined whether stigma-based rejection leads to decreased trust in others, compared to rejections that are not stigma-based. Trust was assessed behaviourally with an online task where the interaction partner was pre-programmed. Participants showed less trust after stigma-based rejection than after a non-stigma based rejection. This research provides the first experimental evidence that stigma-based rejection uniquely influences trust in others

Thermal Energy Replacement Potential in a Slaughter Plant From Rumen Pellets

In this work, steam generation was studied using natural gas or rumen as energy sources in a slaughter plant that sacrifices 7500 cattle per month, with consumption 0.5749 kg/s of saturated steam at 624 kPa. For a slaughtered cow, 10.5 kg of rumen can be obtained after being dried outdoors; for its final disposal, the slaughter plant bears the costs of USD 7.2 per ton of rumen. In the study, exergy and exergoeconomic performances were compared by generating steam with a natural gas boiler with the steam generation with a rumen boiler. From this, combustion analysis, energy efficiency, exergy destruction, exergy efficiency, exergy destruction costs, and generating 1 kg of steam from the two boilers were evaluated. The study results showed that the generation of steam with rumen is less efficient than with natural gas since it presents the exergy destruction of 1175.9 kW and exergy efficiency of 26.83%. While the generation of steam with rumen boiler was obtained, with exergy destruction of 1419.9 kW and exergy efficiency of 23.29%. Exergy destruction cost and the cost of generating 1 kg of steam using rumen were $/h 7821 and 0.0073$/kg, respectively. Although the generation of steam with natural gas present the exergy destruction cost of 26285 $/h and the cost of generating steam of 0.021$/kg, this indicators are higher using natural gas as a fuel that with rumen pellets