Estimation of Properties of Liquid-Vapor Mixture of Some Refrigerants at High Pressure for Solar-Photovoltaic Refrigeration

Abstract. In this work, a hybrid method based on neural network and particle swarm optimization is applied to literature data to develop and validate a model that can predict with precision vapor-liquid equilibrium data for the binary systems (hexafluoroethane (R116(1)), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R134a) and R1234ze) . ANN was used for modelling the non-linear process. The PSO was used for two purposes: replacing the standard back propagation in training the ANN and optimizing the process. The training and validation strategy has been focused on the use of a validation agreement vector, determined from linear regression analysis of the predicted versus experimental outputs, as an indication of the predictive ability of the neural network model. Statistical analysis of the predictability of the optimized neural network model shows excellent agreement with experimental data (coefficient of correlation equal to 0.998). Furthermore, the comparison in terms of average relative deviation (AARD%) between, the predicted results for the whole temperature and pressure range shows that the ANN-PSO model can predict far better the mixture properties than cubic equations of state

Screening for genes coding for putative antitumor compounds, antimicrobial and enzymatic activities from haloalkalitolerant and haloalkaliphilic bacteria strains of Algerian Sahara soils

Extreme environments may often contain unusual bacterial groups whose physiology is distinct from those of normal environments. To satisfy the need for new bioactive pharmaceuticals compounds and enzymes, we report here the isolation of novel bacteria from an extreme environment. Thirteen selected haloalkalitolerant and haloalkaliphilic bacteria were isolated from Algerian Sahara Desert soils. These isolates were screened for the presence of genes coding for putative antitumor compounds using PCR based methods. Enzymatic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities were determined by using cultural dependant methods. Several of these isolates are typical of desert and alkaline saline soils, but, in addition, we report for the first time the presence of a potential new member of the genus Nocardiawith particular activity against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition to their haloalkali character, the presence of genes coding for putative antitumor compounds, combined with the antimicrobial activity against a broad range of indicator strains and their enzymatic potential, makes them suitable for biotechnology applications

Application of PC-SAFT and cubic equations of state for the correlation of solubility of some pharmaceutical and statin drugs in SC-CO2

In this work, the solubilities of some anti-inflammatory (nabumetone, phenylbutazone and salicylamide) and statin drugs (fluvastatin, atorvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin and rosuvastatin) were correlated using the Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) with one-parameter mixing rule and commonly used cubic equations of state Peng-Robinson (PR) and Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) combining with van-der Waals-1 parameter (VDW1) and van-der Waals-2 parameters (VDW2) mixing rules. The experimental data for studied compounds were taken from literature at temperature and pressure in ranges (308-348 K) and (100-360 bar) respectively. The critical properties required for the correlation with PR and SRK were estimated using Gani and Noonalol contribution group methods whereas, PC-SAFT pure-component parameters; segment number (m), segment diameter (σ) and energy parameter (ε/k) have been estimated by tihic’s group contribution method for nabumetone. For phenylbutazone and salicylamide those parameters were determined using a linear correlation. For statin drugs, PC-SAFT parameters were fitted to solubility data, and binary interaction parameters (kij and lij) have been obtained by fitting the experimental data. The result was found to be in good agreement with the experimental data and showed that PC-SAFT approach can be used to model solid-SCF equilibrium with better correlation accuracy than cubic equations of state

Understanding the relationship between cerebellar structure and social abilities.

BACKGROUND: The cerebellum contains more than 50% of all neurons in the brain and is involved in a broad range of cognitive functions, including social communication and social cognition. Inconsistent atypicalities in the cerebellum have been reported in individuals with autism compared to controls suggesting the limits of categorical case control comparisons. Alternatively, investigating how clinical dimensions are related to neuroanatomical features, in line with the Research Domain Criteria approach, might be more relevant. We hypothesized that the volume of the "cognitive" lobules of the cerebellum would be associated with social difficulties. METHODS: We analyzed structural MRI data from a large pediatric and transdiagnostic sample (Healthy Brain Network). We performed cerebellar parcellation with a well-validated automated segmentation pipeline (CERES). We studied how social communication abilities-assessed with the social component of the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS)-were associated with the cerebellar structure, using linear mixed models and canonical correlation analysis. RESULTS: In 850 children and teenagers (mean age 10.8 ± 3 years; range 5-18 years), we found a significant association between the cerebellum, IQ and social communication performance in our canonical correlation model. LIMITATIONS: Cerebellar parcellation relies on anatomical boundaries, which does not overlap with functional anatomy. The SRS was originally designed to identify social impairments associated with autism spectrum disorders. CONCLUSION: Our results unravel a complex relationship between cerebellar structure, social performance and IQ and provide support for the involvement of the cerebellum in social and cognitive processes

Punishing childhoods: contradictions in children’s rights and global governance

The article considers efforts to eradicate corporal punishment as an aspect of the global governance of childhood and raises problems relevant to global governance more broadly. The article analyses contradictions in children’s rights advocacy between its universal human rights norms and implicit relativist development model. Children’s rights research is influenced by social constructivist theories, which highlight the history of childhood and childhood norms. Earlier social constructivist studies identified the concept of childhood underpinning the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as a Western construction based on Western historical experiences, which excluded the experiences of childhood in developing countries. More recent social constructivist approaches emphasise how childhood norms are constructed and therefore can be reconstructed. The article outlines problems with attempts to globalise childhood norms without globalising material development. The article discusses the softening of discipline norms in Western societies historically. It indicates problems with children’s rights advocacy seeking to eradicate the corporal punishment of children globally without globalising the material conditions, which underpin the post-industrial ideal of childhood embodied in the CRC