Improved Integrated Optimization Method of Gasoline Blend Planning and Real-Time Blend Recipes

An innovative integrated optimization strategy for gasoline blend planning is proposed, and an improved method to achieve online optimization of real-time blend recipes is described. The proposed strategy can calculate a rough blend and delivery sequence of gasoline and then adapt to process changes by using a three-level discrete-time algorithm. Only one blender is considered in this study. A single-period nonlinear model (NLP) is solved at the top level of the algorithm to check the feasibility of a long-term production plan. A multi-period mixed-integer nonlinear model is formulated and solved at the middle level of the algorithm to compute a short-term blend plan. Finally, a single-period NLP is solved circularly at the lowest level of the algorithm to optimize blend recipes to consider the changes in the quality of blend components. The initial plan is modified if the top-level model is not feasible. The middle-level model is resolved if an unexpected event occurs during blending. The proposed approach is advantageous because the initial planning and blending recipes can be modified online, remarkably minimizing quality giveaway and increasing the blending success rate. The performance of the proposed strategy is illustrated through its industrial application in real-world gasoline blending

Integrated Operation and Cyclic Scheduling Optimization for an Ethylene Cracking Furnaces System

Multiple cracking furnaces in an ethylene plant run in parallel to produce ethylene, propylene, and other products from different hydrocarbon feedstocks. Because both coke formation in radiant coils and change of operation conditions with time have significant effects on the performance of cracking furnaces, it is better for the cyclic scheduling to be simultaneously optimized with the operation conditions. To match this real requirement, a mixed-integer dynamic optimization (MIDO) problem is presented for the optimization of both operation conditions and cyclic scheduling simultaneously, through which the optimal assignment, the processing time, the subcycle number, and the optimal operation conditions of different feeds in different cracking furnaces are determined at the same time. To solve the MIDO problem, it is discretized and converted into a large scale mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problem. The two scheduling cases of a cracking furnaces system are illustrated showing a remarkable increase in the economic performance as compared with that of the traditional method

Modeling and Optimization of a Steam System in a Chemical Plant Containing Multiple Direct Drive Steam Turbines

Steam systems in some of China’s chemical plants usually contain multiple direct-drive steam turbines that provide mechanical power to pumps/compressors. When optimizing this system, a certain degree of deviation is found in the theoretical models of steam turbines. A more realistic steam turbine model is developed by improving the traditional thermal model using industry data. This model characterizes efficiency variations under different conditions. Boiler and other unit models are then simplified to allow the use of this model in optimization. By incorporating the models, a mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is formulated to perform the operation optimization. The proposed model considers electric power as the alternative energy source for lower-level mechanical power demands. Using the proposed optimization model on an ethylene plant, a maximum of 8.01% reduction in the total operation cost is achieved compared with the original operation strategies. This case study shows a successful application of the MINLP model in optimizing an actual chemical plant

Additional file 1: of The E2F4 prognostic signature predicts pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients

Clinical characteristics by dataset of samples used in analysis. Sample size and clinical characteristics, including age, estrogen receptor status, neoadjuvant response status, and treatment protocol, for the samples used in each dataset involved in the study. (PDF 246 kb

ATRA pretreatment inhibits melphalan-induced apoptosis.

<p>(<b>A</b>) U266 cells were treated with 1 µM of ATRA or vehicle for 72 h prior to 5 µM melphalan treatment for another 48 h. Apoptosis in cells treated or untreated by melphalan was analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentage of survival cells in each group was calculated from triplicate data. Data are mean ± SD from three independent experiments.^#<i>P</i><0.01 by one-way ANOVA. (<b>B</b>) U266 cells treated as described above were subjected to immunoblotting with antibodies to CBP, Ape/Ref-1, MDR1, PARP-1, and GAPDH proteins. The experiment was repeated at least three times. The figure shows a representative result. (<b>C</b>) The relative expression of <i>MDR1</i> was determined by quantitative real-time PCR and normalized to <i>GAPDH</i> mRNA level. All experiments were performed in triplicate, and data are shown as normalized mean ± SD. ^#<i>P</i><0.01, n = 3. (<b>D</b>) After transfected with siRNA or control vectors for 24 h, U266 cells were treated with melphalan for 48 h and cell apoptosis was monitored by flow cytometry analysis.</p

Effect of ATRA on p38-MSK cascade activation in myeloma cells.

<p>(<b>A</b>) U266 cells were treated with the indicated concentrations of ATRA for 2 h. Cell lysates were subjected to immunoblotting with antibodies to phosphorylated and total p38 as well as MSK1 proteins. (<b>B</b>) U266 cells were incubated with 1 µM of ATRA for the indicated periods. Phosphorylated p38 and MSK1 were measured by Western blotting. The experiment was repeated at least three times. The figure shows a representative result.</p

MSK1-mediated CREB phosphorylation activates Ape/Ref-1 expression.

<p>(<b>A</b>) U266 cells were treated with the indicated concentrations of ATRA for 4 h. Cell lysates were subjected to immunoblotting with antibodies to phosphorylated CREB (Ser133) and total CREB. (<b>B</b>) U266 cells were incubated with 1 µM of ATRA for the indicated periods. Phosphorylated and total CREB levels were measured by Western blotting. The figure shows a representative result of triplicate experiments. (<b>C</b>) After exposure to 1 µM ATRA for 24 h, U266 cells were subjected to ChIP experiments using anti-CREB and control normal IgG antibodies. Immunoprecipitated genomic DNA fragments were amplified by PCR with specific primers targeting <i>Ape</i>/<i>Ref-1</i> promoter. Input reflected the relative amounts of sonicated DNA fragments using in immunoprecipitation. ATRA vs. vehicle: ^#<i>P</i><0.01, n = 3. (<b>D</b>) At 24 h after transfection of scrambled or <i>MSK1</i> siRNAs, cells was treated with 1 µM of ATRA for another 24 h. Attenuated CREB phosphorylation by <i>MSK1</i> knockdown was detected by Western blotting. (<b>E</b>) At 24 h after transfection of siRNAs against <i>MSK1</i> together with CREB-luc (2 µg) and pRSV-luc (20 ng) reporters, U266 cells were incubated with 1 µM ATRA for another 24 h. Luciferase activity was measured and normalized to <i>Renilla</i> luciferase activity. Each value presented is the average of triplicate samples and a representative of multiple independent experiments.</p

Ape/Ref-1 inhibition accelerates ATRA-induced growth arrest and apoptosis.

<p>(<b>A</b>) U266 cells were transfected with specific siRNA vector (pSUPER Aper/Ref-1) or control vector (pSUPER Luc), and incubated for 48 h following by immunoblotting with antibodies againset Ape/Ref-1 or GAPDH. (<b>B</b>) After transfected with siRNA or control vectors for 24 h, U266 cells were treated with the indicated concentrations of ATRA for 72 h and the proliferation rates were monitored by CCK-8 assay. (<b>C</b>) Flow cytometry analysis of apoptosis in U266 cells transfected with siRNA vectors and then treated by ATRA at indicated concentrations for 72 h. Data are typical of three similar experiments. The percentage of Annexin V-FITC and/or PI positive cells was depicted with cytofluorometer quadrant graphs.</p

Intermolecular Interactions between Coencapsulated Drugs Inhibit Drug Crystallization and Enhance Colloidal Stability of Polymeric Micelles

Novel “pairs” of drugs possessing pharmacological synergies could be encapsulated into polymeric micelles and exert superb therapeutic effects <i>in vivo</i> upon intravenous administration, with the prerequisite that the micelles remain stable. NADP­(H) quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) inhibitors, such as β-lapachone (LPC) and tanshinone IIA (THA), are structurally and pharmacologically similar molecules that are poorly water-soluble, crystallize extremely fast, and demonstrate synergistic anticancer effect when used together with paclitaxel (PTX). However, when coencapsulated with PTX in poly­(ethylene glycol)-<i>b</i>-poly­(d,l-lactic acid) (PEG-PLA) micelles, only PTX/LPC but not the PTX/THA pair yields satisfactory colloidal stability. To reveal the molecular mechanism contributing to the colloidal stability of the coencapsulated micelles, we investigated the molecular interactions of PTX/LPC and PTX/THA, through both experimental methods (crystallization kinetics, ¹³C NMR) and molecular dynamic simulation. We observed that PTX was capable of inhibiting LPC but not THA crystallization both in an aqueous environment and in the solid state, which could be attributed to the strong hetero-intermolecular interactions (π–π, H-bonding) between LPC and PTX, which disrupted the homo-intermolecular interactions between LPC molecules and thus formed a favorable miscible binary system. In comparison, the lack of a strong PTX/THA interaction left the strong THA/THA stacking interaction undisturbed and the fast THA crystallization tendency unrestrained. We conclude that the intermolecular interactions, i.e., the “pharmaceutical synergy”, between the coencapsulated drugs critically control the colloidal stability of polymeric micelles and, therefore, should be evaluated when coencapsulated drug delivery systems are designed for optimal therapeutic benefits

Facile Fabrication of Magnetic Carbon Composites from Hydrochar via Simultaneous Activation and Magnetization for Triclosan Adsorption

Advanced magnetic carbon composites with high specific surface area and high microporosity are required for both environmentally and agriculturally related applications. However, more research is needed for the development of a facile and highly efficient synthesis process. In the present work, a novel approach of simultaneous activation and magnetization is proposed for the fabrication of magnetic carbon composites via the thermal pyrolysis of hydrochar (i.e., a solid residue from a hydrothermal carbonization process) that has been pretreated with mixtures of ferric chloride (FeCl₃) and zinc chloride (ZnCl₂). The main objective of this study is the investigation of the variation of characteristics of magnetic carbon composites produced at various conditions, as well as triclosan (TCS) adsorption behavior on such composites. This presented simple one-step synthesis method has the following advantages: (a) the hydrochar is activated with high surface area and pore volume (up to 1351 m²/g and 0.549 cm³/g, respectively), (b) activation and magnetization are simultaneously achieved without further modification, (c) the magnetic particles (γ-Fe₂O₃) are stable under an acidic medium (pH of 3.0 and 4.0), and (d) the products have the potential to remove TCS from aqueous solutions with a maximum adsorption capacity of 892.9 mg/g. The results indicate the effectiveness of this facile synthesis strategy in converting low-value biowaste into a functional material with high performance for pollutant removal from aqueous solutions