A computational study on outliers in world music

The comparative analysis of world music cultures has been the focus of several ethnomusicological studies in the last century. With the advances of Music Information Retrieval and the increased accessibility of sound archives, large-scale analysis of world music with computational tools is today feasible. We investigate music similarity in a corpus of 8200 recordings of folk and traditional music from 137 countries around the world. In particular, we aim to identify music recordings that are most distinct compared to the rest of our corpus. We refer to these recordings as ‘outliers’. We use signal processing tools to extract music information from audio recordings, data mining to quantify similarity and detect outliers, and spatial statistics to account for geographical correlation. Our findings suggest that Botswana is the country with the most distinct recordings in the corpus and China is the country with the most distinct recordings when considering spatial correlation. Our analysis includes a comparison of musical attributes and styles that contribute to the ‘uniqueness’ of the music of each country

Removal of pharmaceuticals from water by carbon-based materials

Dans cette étude, le comportement d'adsorption de trois produits pharmaceutiques contenant du Pemetrexed (PEME), Sulfaclozine (SCL) et Terbutaline (TBL) dans l'eau par différents types de CA (AC1, AC2, AC3) et biochars (MSP550, (MSP700, WSP550, WSP700) a été étudié. Les principaux objectifs de cette étude étaient d'explorer les effets de différents facteurs tels que la dose d'adsorbant, le temps de contact, la concentration de polluant, la température, le pH et les ions sur l'adsorption des produits pharmaceutiques afin de déterminer les conditions optimales pour éliminer les produits pharmaceutiques de l'eau. En outre, les mécanismes d'adsorption entre les adsorbants et les produits pharmaceutiques ont été étudiés en utilisant une analyse caractérisée et une méthodologie théorique. Les principales conclusions sont les suivantes : (1) AC1 et AC3 ont été mieux décrits par les modèles de Freundlich et Langmuir, respectivement, alors que les deux modèles ont pu être utilisés pour ajuster l'isotherme d'adsorption de AC2. Plus la concentration initiale de PEME ou la température étaient élevées, plus la capacité d'adsorption était importante. Les capacités d'adsorption des adsorbants étaient dans l'ordre suivant, AC3 > AC2 > AC1, en accord avec leurs surfaces spécifiques. Un processus de coexistence d'adsorption physique et chimique a existé dans tous les ACs comme prédit par le meilleur ajustement obtenu avec les modèles de Dubinin-Radushkevich, de cinétique de pseudo-second ordre et d'Elovich. Les AC3 et AC2 contenant plus de groupes oxygénés, doivent adsorber le PEME sur leur surface selon un mécanisme d'adsorption monocouche. La procédure d'ajustement a démontré que les données d'équilibre obtenues avec ces deux matériaux peuvent être ajustées à l'isotherme de Langmuir. (2) La présence de sels simples et mixtes a été capable d'augmenter l'affinité d'adsorption des ACs pour le PEME pendant l'adsorption statique. Dans le mode d'adsorption dynamique, le temps de pénétration et le temps de déplétion de la colonne d'ACs ont diminué avec l'augmentation de la concentration initiale de PEME. Dans les mêmes conditions, le temps de pénétration de la colonne AC3 était plus rapide, mais son temps d'épuisement était plus lent comparé à celui de la colonne AC1. L'augmentation de la température a ralenti le temps de pénétration de la colonne ACs et augmente la capacité d'adsorption de l'adsorbant, ralentissant ainsi le temps de saturation de la colonne. Cela indique que l'adsorption dynamique est un processus d'absorption de chaleur, ce qui est cohérent avec la tendance des résultats de l'adsorption statique. (3) Les trois biochars (MSP550, MSP700 et WSP550) étaient presque incapables d'adsorber le PEME à 25°C, à l'exception du WSP700, tandis que pour le SCL, tous les biochars n'ont pas fonctionné. TBL a montré la meilleure performance d'adsorption parmi tous les biochars. La concentration initiale des produits pharmaceutiques et l'augmentation de la température externe ont contribué à améliorer la capacité d'adsorption des biochars. L'adsorption de tous les biochars pour le PEME et le SCL a diminué avec l'augmentation du pH du système, cependant, l'adsorption du TBL sur les biochars a montré une tendance d'augmentation puis de diminution avec l'augmentation du pH. Dans l'ensemble, l'ordre de la capacité d'adsorption des biochars se reflète comme suit : WSP700 > MSP700 > MSP550 > MSP700. L'affinité d'adsorption est influencée par de nombreux facteurs, notamment leur capacité d'échange de cations, leur surface spécifique, leur porosité, l'interaction électrostatique, la liaison hydrogène et les interactions π-π.In this study, the adsorption behavior of three pharmaceuticals contains Pemetrexed (PEME), Sulfaclozine (SCL) and Terbutaline (TBL) in water by different types of ACs (AC1, AC2, AC3) and biochars (MSP550, (MSP700, WSP550, WSP700) was investigated. The main purposes of this thesis were to explore the effects of different factors such as the adsorbent dose, contact time, pollutant concentration, temperature, pH and ions on the adsorption of pharmaceuticals to determine the optimal conditions for removing pharmaceuticals from water. In addition, the adsorption mechanisms between adsorbents and pharmaceuticals were researched using characterized analysis and theoretical methodology. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) AC1 and AC3 were better described by the Freundlich and Langmuir models, respectively, whereas both models could be used to fit the adsorptive isotherm of AC2. The higher the initial PEME concentration or the temperature, the higher the adsorption capacity was. The adsorption capacities of the adsorbents were in the following order, AC3 > AC2 > AC1, in agreement with their specific surface areas. A coexistence process of physical and chemical adsorption existed in all ACs as predicted by the best fitting obtained with the Dubinin–Radushkevich, pseudo–second–order kinetic and Elovich models. AC3 and AC2 containing more oxygenated groups, must adsorb PEME onto their surface according to a monolayer adsorption mechanism. Fitting procedure demonstrated that the equilibrium data obtained with these two materials can be fitted to the Langmuir isotherm. (2) The presence of both single and mixed salts was able to increase the adsorption affinity of ACs for PEME during static adsorption. In the dynamic adsorption mode, the penetration time and depletion time of the ACs column decreased with increasing initial PEME concentration. Under the same conditions, the penetration time of the AC3 column was faster, but its exhaustion time was slower compared to that of the AC1 column. The increase in temperature slowed down the penetration time of the ACs column and enhances the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent, thus slowing down the saturation time of the column. This indicates that dynamic adsorption is a heat absorption process, which is consistent with the trend of the static adsorption results. (3) The three biochars (MSP550, MSP700 and WSP550) were almost unable to adsorb PEME at 25°C, except for WSP700, while for SCL, all biochars did not work. TBL showed the best adsorption performance among all biochars. Both the initial pharmaceuticals concentration and the increase in external temperature helped to improve the adsorption capacity of the biochars. The adsorption of all biochars for PEME and SCL decreased with increasing pH of the system, however, the TBL adsorption on biochars showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing with increasing pH. Overall, the order of adsorption capacity of biochars reflected as WSP700 > MSP700 > MSP550 > MSP700. The adsorption affinity is influenced by many factors, including their cation exchange capacity, specific surface area, porosity, electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions

Study on Interior Space Optimization of Green Affordable Housing in Cold Region

With the construction of a large number of affordable housing and the development of green buildings, the design of green affordable housing has become a new concern and research topic in China’s residential architectural design, and the interior design of affordable housing has become a top priority. This article takes Changchun city as an example, through the research of affordable housing in Changchun, visit, found the main problems existing in the status quo, in view of the problems put forward housing interior space design optimization principle, and according to the design principles of indoor space scale, provides a good green indoor living environment for green residential tenants in cold areas

Application of Green Building Technology in Cold Region Cities

After half a century of development, green buildings have gradually formed a relatively sophisticated system. Based on the development status of green buildings and the climatic characteristics of cold region cities, the paper analyses the key technologies applicable to cold region cities in combination with actual projects, and provides a theoretical and applied basis for promoting the sustainable development of green buildings in severe cold regions

Characterization of Biochar Derived from Pineapple Peel Waste and Its Application for Sorption of Oxytetracycline from Aqueous Solution

Physicochemical characteristics of biochar and its sorption potential for oxytetracycline (OTC) were investigated. Biochars from pineapple peel waste were produced via pyrolysis under oxygen-depleted conditions at 350 °C (BL350), 500 °C (BL500), and 650 °C (BL650), as well as the characteristics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contents of the samples were compared. The sorption kinetics of OTC onto the biochars was completed in three stages, i.e., a fast stage, a slow stage, and an equilibrium stage after 24 h. The kinetics data were perfectly fitted by the pseudo-second-order model with high correlation coefficients (R2 > 0.999). All of the sorption isotherms were nonlinear and well described by the Langmuir model. The Langmuir maximum sorption capacity (qmax) increased in the order of BL650 > BL500 > BL350. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the sorption of OTC onto the biochars was spontaneous and endothermic. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of the biochars before and after sorption of OTC confirmed that the H-bonding interaction was the dominant sorption mechanism. The results demonstrated that biochars obtained from inexpensive and renewable materials could be utilized as a highly effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent for removing organic contaminants from wastewater

Stimulation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling to Improve Bone Development by Naringin via Interacting with AMPK and Akt

Background/Aims: Naringin is a naturally existing compound in citrus fruits and has been elucidated to promote bone development and maintenance. Methods: The biological roles of naringin were investigated in vitro using osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells, and in vivo through performing ovariectomy to mimic osteoporosis in female mice. Since Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in osteoblastogenesis, the effect of naringin on Wnt/β-catenin signaling was studied. Results: Naringin promoted the mRNA and protein expressions of β-catenin, and improved Ser552 phosphorylation on β-catenin in UMR-106 cells, which leads to the activation of lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF)/ T-cell factor (TCF) transcription factors. The recruitments of protein kinase B (Akt) inhibitor (Akti-1/2) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor (Dorsomorphin) reduced the influence of naringin on β-catenin phosphorylation, suggesting naringin activates β-catenin via regulating Akt and AMPK. In ovariectomized (OVX) mice naringin treatment improved the bone strength while AMPK and Akt inhibitors partly reversed the effect, which further proved the involvements of Akt and AMPK in the action of naringin in vivo. Conclusion: Our study points to a novel finding on the mechanism of naringin in facilitating bone formation via Akt and AMPK signaling

Removal of Pemetrexed from aqueous phase using activated carbons in static mode

International audienceThree activated carbons (ACs) obtained from wood and activated either by steam (AC1) or phosphoric acid (AC2, AC3) were characterized via nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, zeta potentials, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, as well as their chemical analysis was determined. Adsorption experiments with Pemetrexed (PEME), a pharmaceutical used for the treatment of tumors, were carried out in which adsorbent doses, contact times, temperatures, and solution pH were investigated. Correlation between the physicochemical properties of ACs and the adsorption capacity was proposed.According to the results, it was found that AC1 and AC3 were better described by the Freundlich and Langmuir models, respectively, whereas both models could be used to fit the adsorptive isotherm of AC2. The higher the initial PEME concentration or the temperature, the higher the adsorption capacity was. The adsorption capacities of the adsorbents were in the following order, AC3 > AC2 > AC1, in agreement with their specific surface areas. A coexistence process of physical and chemical adsorption existed in all ACs as predicted by the best fitting obtained with the Dubinin–Radushkevich, pseudo–second–order kinetic and Elovich models.The adsorption mechanisms were researched using the Conductor–like Screening Model methodology to determine the proton donor and acceptor centres in PEME. As main conclusion, supported by DRIFTS analysis and O/C ratios, AC3 and AC2 containing more oxygenated groups, must adsorb PEME onto their surface according to a monolayer adsorption mechanism. Fitting procedure demonstrated that the equilibrium data obtained with these two materials can be fitted to the Langmuir isotherm