944 research outputs found
Monitoring and control of anaerobic digesters treating industrial effluents
Increasing charges by the private utilities for the treatment of industrial waste water
are making on-site effluent treatment more attractive. On-site anaerobic digestion is
increasingly being used by food processing factories as a cost effective solution to
waste liquid waste disposal. Discharge of treated effluent to sewer or water course
requires compliance to a maximum admissible concentration (MAC) value, therefore,
there is a need for careful control of on-site waste water treatment. This research
investigates the treatment of effluent from instant coffee production. This results in a
liquid waste that contains recalcitrant and toxic compounds formed during the
roasting process. This waste varies in strength and composition according to the
different processes that are performed in the manufacture of instant coffee. Anaerobic
filters are particularly attractive for wastes containing recalcitrant or inhibitory
compounds requiring a long sludge age. Therefore, this study was aimed at firstly
investigating the treatability of coffee waste, using anaerobic filters; and secondly
monitoring and control of the digestion process in order to maintain a constant
effluent quality. [Continues.
Solar Energy
This thesis is about Photovoltaic (PV) cells and its stresses in various directions by calculating the power generated using solar cells under different conditions to improve its efficiency. Our research studies found that using multi-junction cells with larger substrates can increase the efficiency to some extent which in practice is limited to 43 percent. The experiment was conducted using ten solar cells each with an area of 20.9?cm? ^2, where each cell gives 0.5 V and 0.4 A and a 1.25 ? resistor was used. The cells were connected in series. Once, the PV cells were fixed horizontally and the other time tested in tilted position under same outdoor condition. The purpose of testing PV cells was to investigate the efficiency under above mentioned conditions. The data collected from the readings was used in calculation, and we have obtained from the calculations that horizontally fixed cells gave 4.8 percent efficiency whereas tilted cells gave 6.6 percent efficiency. Hence, the ratio showed that fixed cells produced 37.5 percent more power compared to horizontally fixed cells. Our other experiment consisted of testing PV cells under different temperature conditions that was done using a freezer and an oven for temperature variation and a tungsten bulb was used as a light source. The purpose of performing this experiment was to investigate how the efficiency of PV cells is affected under extreme conditions. Part of our thesis was also including studies and analysis of produced energy by the solar panel installed on the roof of BTH building in Karlskrona, Sweden. The data consisted of energy produced from February up to August 2014. The investigation also included finding the highest produced energy during these months. We have found that the highest energy was generated on the 1st of July which was 12.86 kWh. Furthermore, we went deep into investigation of the 1st of July to know exactly which hour of that day the highest energy was produced. The data showed that the highest produced energy was at 12:19 and 13:19 which was 2.03 kWh. Ramzi: +46723231353, +966561993488 Zain
Document type: Part of book or chapter of boo
Presumed Pyogenic Granuloma Associated with Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy
To report a case of a presumed pyogenic granuloma at the site of multiple intravitreal anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) injections. Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections can be complicated by a localized reaction of the conjunctiva
Quantum energy inequalities and local covariance II: Categorical formulation
We formulate Quantum Energy Inequalities (QEIs) in the framework of locally
covariant quantum field theory developed by Brunetti, Fredenhagen and Verch,
which is based on notions taken from category theory. This leads to a new
viewpoint on the QEIs, and also to the identification of a new structural
property of locally covariant quantum field theory, which we call Local
Physical Equivalence. Covariant formulations of the numerical range and
spectrum of locally covariant fields are given and investigated, and a new
algebra of fields is identified, in which fields are treated independently of
their realisation on particular spacetimes and manifestly covariant versions of
the functional calculus may be formulated.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX. Further discussion added. Version to appear in
General Relativity and Gravitatio
Dissociation of Subjectively Reported and Behaviorally Indexed Mind Wandering by EEG Rhythmic Activity
Inattention to current activity is ubiquitous in everyday situations. Mind wandering is an example of such a state, and its related brain areas have been examined in the literature. However, there is no clear evidence regarding neural rhythmic activities linked to mind wandering. Using a vigilance task with thought sampling and electroencephalography recording, the current study simultaneously examined neural oscillatory activities related to subjectively reported and behaviorally indexed mind wandering. By implementing time-frequency analysis, we found that subjectively reported mind wandering, relative to behaviorally indexed, showed increased gamma band activity at bilateral frontal-central areas. By means of beamformer source imaging, we found subjectively reported mind wandering within the gamma band to be characterized by increased activation in bilateral frontal cortices, supplemental motor area, paracentral cortex and right inferior temporal cortex in comparison to behaviorally indexed mind wandering. These findings dissociate subjectively reported and behaviorally indexed mind wandering and suggest that a higher degree of executive control processes are engaged in subjectively reported mind wandering
Pathogen lifestyle determines host genetic signature of quantitative disease resistance loci in oilseed rape ( Brassica napus )
© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Using associative transcriptomics, our study identifies genes conferring resistance to four diverse fungal pathogens in crops, emphasizing key genetic determinants of multi-pathogen resistance. Crops are affected by several pathogens, but these are rarely studied in parallel to identify common and unique genetic factors controlling diseases. Broad-spectrum quantitative disease resistance (QDR) is desirable for crop breeding as it confers resistance to several pathogen species. Here, we use associative transcriptomics (AT) to identify candidate gene loci associated with Brassica napus constitutive QDR to four contrasting fungal pathogens: Alternaria brassicicola, Botrytis cinerea, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, and Verticillium longisporum. We did not identify any shared loci associated with broad-spectrum QDR to fungal pathogens with contrasting lifestyles. Instead, we observed QDR dependent on the lifestyle of the pathogen-hemibiotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens had distinct QDR responses and associated loci, including some loci associated with early immunity. Furthermore, we identify a genomic deletion associated with resistance to V. longisporum and potentially broad-spectrum QDR. This is the first time AT has been used for several pathosystems simultaneously to identify host genetic loci involved in broad-spectrum QDR. We highlight constitutive expressed candidate loci for broad-spectrum QDR with no antagonistic effects on susceptibility to the other pathogens studies as candidates for crop breeding. In conclusion, this study represents an advancement in our understanding of broad-spectrum QDR in B. napus and is a significant resource for the scientific community.Peer reviewe
Functional diversity and community assembly of river invertebrates show globally consistent responses to decreasing glacier cover
Global change threatens invertebrate biodiversity and its central role in numerous ecosystem functions and services. Functional trait analyses have been advocated to uncover global mechanisms behind biodiversity responses to environmental change, but the application of this approach for invertebrates is underdeveloped relative to other organism groups. From an evaluation of 363 records comprising >1.23 million invertebrates collected from rivers across nine biogeographic regions on three continents, consistent responses of community trait composition and diversity to replicated gradients of reduced glacier cover are demonstrated. After accounting for a systematic regional effect of latitude, the processes shaping river invertebrate functional diversity are globally consistent. Analyses nested within individual regions identified an increase in functional diversity as glacier cover decreases. Community assembly models demonstrated that dispersal limitation was the dominant process underlying these patterns, although environmental filtering was also evident in highly glacierized basins. These findings indicate that predictable mechanisms govern river invertebrate community responses to decreasing glacier cover globally.This work was funded by the following organisations: The UK Natural Environment Research
Council grants and studentships GR9/2913, NE/E003729/1, NE/E004539/1, NE/E004148/1,
20
NE/G523963/1, NER/S/A/2003/11192, and NE/L002574/1; the European Union
Environment and Climate Programme Arctic and Alpine Stream Ecosystem Research
(AASER) project (ENV-CT95-0164); EU-FP7 Assessing Climate impacts on the Quality and
quantity of WAter (ACQWA) project (212250); Icelandic Research Council (954890095,
954890096); University of Iceland Research Fund (GMG96, GMG97, GMG98), Wyoming
Center for Environmental Hydrology and Geophysics-National Science Foundation
(1208909); USA-Wyoming NASA Space Grant Faculty Research Initiation (#NNX10A095H);
USA-NSF Wyoming Epscor; Nationalpark Hohe Tauern, Austria; the Royal Society
(International Outgoing Grant 2006/R4); the Leverhulme Trust; the Universities of Leeds,
Birmingham, Iceland and Innsbruck; European Centre for Arctic Environmental Research
(ARCFAC): a Research Infrastructures Action of the European Community FP6 (026129-2008-
72); the Stelvio National Park (2000-2001); the Autonomous Province of Trento (HIGHEST
project, 2001-2004, del. PAT n. 1060/2001; VETTA project, 2003-2006, del. PAT n.
3402/2002); MUSE-Museo delle Scienze. We are grateful to Russell Taylor and Mike
Winterbourn at the University of Canterbury, NZ, who helped to collect NZ invertebrate data
and assisted with identification, and to Hakon Adalsteinsson who contributed to data
collection in Iceland. Many other people, too numerous to mention, assisted with fieldwork
at all of the study locations. The European Science Foundation sponsored an exploratory
┘ラヴニゲエラヮ WミデキデノWS さGノ;IキWヴ-fed rivers, hydroecology and climate change: current knowledge
and future network of monitoring sites (GLAC-HYDROECO-NETぶざ デエ;デ ┘;ゲ エWノS キミ
Birmingham, UK in September of 2013 where some of the ideas in this paper were first
discussedPeer Reviewe
Utilizing energy transfer in binary and ternary bulk heterojunction organic solar cells
Energy transfer has been identified as an important process in ternary organic solar cells. Here, we develop kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) models to assess the impact of energy transfer in ternary and binary bulk heterojunction systems. We used fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy to determine the energy disorder and Förster radii for poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl), [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, 4-bis[4-(N,N-diisobutylamino)-2,6-dihydroxyphenyl]squaraine (DIBSq), and poly(2,5-thiophene-<i>alt</i>-4,9-bis(2-hexyldecyl)-4,9-dihydrodithieno[3,2-c:3′,2′-<i>h</i>][1,5]naphthyridine-5,10-dione). Heterogeneous energy transfer is found to be crucial in the exciton dissociation process of both binary and ternary organic semiconductor systems. Circumstances favoring energy transfer across interfaces allow relaxation of the electronic energy level requirements, meaning that a cascade structure is not required for efficient ternary organic solar cells. We explain how energy transfer can be exploited to eliminate additional energy losses in ternary bulk heterojunction solar cells, thus increasing their open-circuit voltage without loss in short-circuit current. In particular, we show that it is important that the DIBSq is located at the electron donor–acceptor interface; otherwise charge carriers will be trapped in the DIBSq domain or excitons in the DIBSq domains will not be able to dissociate efficiently at an interface. KMC modeling shows that only small amounts of DIBSq (<5% by weight) are needed to achieve substantial performance improvements due to long-range energy transfer
Prevalence and characteristics of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease in a prospective registry
Rationale
Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) is characterized by progressive
physiologic, symptomatic, and/or radiographic worsening. The real-world prevalence and
characteristics of PF-ILD remain uncertain.
Methods
Patients were enrolled from the Canadian Registry for Pulmonary Fibrosis between 2015-2020.
PF-ILD was defined as a relative forced vital capacity (FVC) decline ≥10%, death, lung
transplantation, or any 2 of: relative FVC decline ≥5 and <10%, worsening respiratory
symptoms, or worsening fibrosis on computed tomography of the chest, all within 24 months of
diagnosis. Time-to-event analysis compared progression between key diagnostic subgroups.
Characteristics associated with progression were determined by multivariable regression.
Results
Of 2,746 patients with fibrotic ILD (mean age 65±12 years, 51% female), 1,376 (50%) met PFILD criteria in the first 24 months of follow-up. PF-ILD occurred in 427 (59%) patients with
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), 125 (58%) with fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP),
281 (51%) with unclassifiable ILD (U-ILD), and 402 (45%) with connective tissue diseaseassociated ILD (CTD-ILD). Compared to IPF, time to progression was similar in patients with
HP (hazard ratio [HR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.79-1.17), but was delayed in patients
with U-ILD (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.96) and CTD-ILD (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.56-0.74).
Background treatment varied across diagnostic subtypes with 66% of IPF patients receiving
antifibrotic therapy, while immunomodulatory therapy was utilized in 49%, 61%, and 37% of
patients with CHP, CTD-ILD, and U-ILD respectively. Increasing age, male sex,
gastroesophageal reflux disease, and lower baseline pulmonary function were independently
associated with progression.
Interpretation
Progression is common in patients with fibrotic ILD, and is similarly prevalent in HP and IPF.
Routinely collected variables help identify patients at risk for progression and may guide
therapeutic strategie
Identifying beliefs underlying pre-drivers’ intentions to take risks: an application of the theory of planned behaviour
Novice motorists are at high crash risk during the first few months of driving. Risky behaviours such as speeding and driving while distracted are well-documented contributors to crash risk during this period. To reduce this public health burden, effective road safety interventions need to target the pre-driving period. We use the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to identify the pre-driver beliefs underlying intentions to drive over the speed limit (N = 77), and while over the legal alcohol limit (N = 72), talking on a hand-held mobile phone (N = 77) and feeling very tired (N = 68). The TPB explained between 41% and 69% of the variance in intentions to perform these behaviours. Attitudes were strong predictors of intentions for all behaviours. Subjective norms and perceived behavioural control were significant, though weaker, independent predictors of speeding and mobile phone use. Behavioural beliefs underlying these attitudes could be separated into those reflecting perceived disadvantages (e.g., speeding increases my risk of crash) and advantages (e.g., speeding gives me a thrill). Interventions that can make these beliefs safer in pre-drivers may reduce crash risk once independent driving has begun
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