Optimising continuous microstructures: a comparison of gradient-based and stochastic methods

This work compares the use of a deterministic gradient based search with a stochastic genetic algorithm to optimise the geometry of a space frame structure. The goal is not necessarily to find a global optimum, but instead to derive a confident approximation of fitness to be used in a second optimisation of topology. The results show that although the genetic algorithm searches the space more broadly, and this space has several global optima, gradient descent achieves similar fitnesses with equal confidence. The gradient descent algorithm is advantageous however, as it is deterministic and results in a lower computational cost

Mechanisms of cancer pain

Personalised and targeted interventions have revolutionised cancer treatment and dramatically improved survival rates in recent decades. Nonetheless, effective pain management remains a problem for patients diagnosed with cancer, who continue to suffer from the painful side effects of cancer itself, as well as treatments for the disease. This problem of cancer pain will continue to grow with an ageing population and the rapid advent of more effective therapeutics to treat the disease. Current pain management guidelines from the World Health Organisation are generalised for different pain severities, but fail to address the heterogeneity of mechanisms in patients with varying cancer types, stages of disease and treatment plans. Pain is the most common complaint leading to emergency unit visits by patients with cancer and over one-third of patients that have been diagnosed with cancer will experience under-treated pain. This review summarises preclinical models of cancer pain states, with a particular focus on cancer-induced bone pain and chemotherapy-associated pain. We provide an overview of how preclinical models can recapitulate aspects of pain and sensory dysfunction that is observed in patients with persistent cancer-induced bone pain or neuropathic pain following chemotherapy. Peripheral and central nervous system mechanisms of cancer pain are discussed, along with key cellular and molecular mediators that have been highlighted in animal models of cancer pain. These include interactions between neuronal cells, cancer cells and non-neuronal cells in the tumour microenvironment. Therapeutic targets beyond opioid-based management are reviewed for the treatment of cancer pain

A model of the near-field expansion of CO2 jet released from a ruptured pipeline

The transportation of pressurised CO2 using pipelines is a crucial element of the Carbon Capture and Storage chain; for their safe design the ability to accurately predict the consequences of a failure, the jet release and ensuing dispersion is essential. Such phenomena are commonly modelled in stages: jet expansion followed by atmospheric dispersion. For jet expansion modelling, both analytical and Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) models are available to predict the fully expanded flow conditions which are subsequently used as inputs in dispersion modelling. Although analytical models are computationally efficient, due to the lack of experimental data, their predictions have yet been verified. In this work, a conservation law based multiphase analytical model is constructed with a rigorous equation of state. The predicted flow variables at full expansion are then compared to those from the Shear Stress Transport k-ω CFD model. The quantitative comparisons between two models provide necessary verification of the application of analytical models in accidental release modelling

Effect of chemical and biological insecticides on growth, pigmentation, photosynthetic activity and yield productivity of vicia faba plants

A pot experimental was conducted to the effect of foliar application of chemical insecticide (malathion) and biological insecticide (yeast emulsion) on growth vigor, pigments content, of bean plants and the quality of vielded seeds as well as its chemical composition. In the majority of cases, the two insecticides appeared to cause pronounced effect on growth parameters during growth of bean plants. Malathion application induced slight increase or marked decrease in pigments content and photosynthetic activity of 50 and 85 days old plant, respectively. On the other hand, yeast emulsion appeared to cause nonsignificant effect on the above-mentioned parameters, all over the growth period of bean plants. Foliar application of malathion caused significant decrease in growth promotery substances (i.e. IAA, GA3and cytokinin) with simultaneous increase in IAA-oxidase as well as abscisic acid content of bean plant. The application of yeast emulsion appeared without significant effect on growth regulators content of bean plants. Moreover, yield and yield attributes as well as the biochemical aspects of yielded seeds showed variable changes in response to malathion and yeast emulsion application

The potential of a solid-state fermentation supplement to augment white lupin (Lupinus albus) meal incorporation in diets for farmed common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

A 10-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of partially substituting soya protein concentrate (SPC), with white lupin (Lupinus albus) meal in carp (Cyprinus carpio) diets. This study further investigated the dietary inclusion of a solid-state fermentation (SSF) product of Aspergillus niger in tandem with SPC replacement. Six experimental diets were produced to be isonitrogenous (42%), isolipdic (8%) and isoenergetic (19 MJ kg−1). Four diets were formulated to have 12.5 and 25% substitution of SPC using lupin meal, and with and without a supplement of 0.1% of SSF. An additional two diets were designed to serve as a basal reference with no SPC replacement, but one supplemented with 0.1% SSF inclusion. The results of this study showed that SPC can be replaced with up to 25% white lupin meal in carp diets, without reduction of growth performance, feed utilisation, body composition, gut integrity or health. The addition of SSF to the test diets enhanced growth performance (specific growth rate, P < 0.05) and nutrient utilisation (e.g. feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio, P < 0.05)

Physicochemical Parameters and Heavy Metals Analysis of Wastewater from Kakuri Drain in Makera/Kakuri Industrial Layout, Kaduna, Nigeria

The Kakuri drain carries wastewater from Kakuri/Makera industrial layout and environ into river Kaduna. Samples were collected from points/stations 200m apart and labeled as points C, D, E and F, for a period of six months. Physico-chemical studies shows level of determined parameters to be within safe limits as recommended by WHO. Temperature reading showed an average of +_25.50C in water as against 26.50C on surface water. The Dissolved oxygen (DO) in the water was recorded as _+1.77mg/l, while the BOD had a mean of _+9.93mg/l .The level of heavy metals in the wastewater showed chromium with levels higher than the approved values recommended by WHO. Level of metals analyzed were as follows; chromium _+ 0.05853ppm. Lead _+0.03058ppm, copper _+1.08505ppm and _+0.45203ppm for zinc. Mean concentration of TDS for the various sampling points (C,ED,E and F) showed  significant difference ( at 5% significant level), with the highest value of _+488.83mg/l in September and the lowest value of _+415.33mg/l recorded in April. Values may appear low, but the effect of bioaccumulation in crops raised by using such water for irrigation and subsequently consumed by man cannot be underestimated

Effects of dietary baker’s yeast extract on the growth, blood indices and histology of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus L.) fingerlings

Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (average initial weight, 5.91 ± 0.04 g), were fed four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets for 84 days. The diets contained four levels of yeast extract (CW‐I) rich in nucleotides and β‐glucan: 0 (control), 5, 10 and 15 g/kg diet. Weight gain increased linearly, whereas the feed conversion ratio decreased linearly with increasing levels of yeast extract. The diet containing 15 g/kg yeast extract resulted in significantly better (p 0.05) differences were found in dry matter, protein, lipid or ash contents or in haematocrit, haemoglobin or total protein contents among the treatment groups. Blood sample profiles showed an increase in white and red blood cells in fish fed 15 g/kg yeast extract in comparison with the other treatment groups. The fish fed the diets with 10 and 15 g/kg yeast extract had significantly higher albumin and globulin levels than the control group, whereas decreased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase were noted in fish fed the diet with 15 g/kg yeast extract. Histological analysis of the liver and intestine in fish fed the control diet showed a slightly abnormal structure in these organs. Only in fish fed diets supplemented with the highest amount of yeast extract was the structure of the hepatocytes and villi almost unchanged, which indicated that the yeast nucleotides could improve hepatic function and promote liver and gut restoration

Dual inoculation of Bradyrhizobium and Enterobacter alleviates the adverse effect of salinity on Glycine max seedling

The aid of beneficial microbes, which is a well-accepted strategy, may improve plant salt tolerance. However, the mechanisms that underpin it are unclear. In this study, seedling experiments were carried out to assess the effect of Bradyrhizobium and Enterobacter on the germination, growth, nonenzymatic and enzymatic content in soybean (Glycine max L.) under salt stress. Water was sprayed on the seeds as a control, and with 75 mM, 150 mM NaCl as salt stress. The findings demonstrate that salt stress (75, 150 mM) caused a significant decrease in germination, morphological criteria, and membrane stability index (MSI) when compared to control seeds but increased lipid peroxidation (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), osmotic pressure, proline, citric acid, sugar content, antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, endophytic Bradyrhizobium and Enterobacter inoculation resulted in a significant rise in all of the above metrics.; however, these treatments resulted in significant reductions in ROS, EL, and MDA in stressed plants. Finally, the findings showed that combining Bradyrhizobium and Enterobacter was the most efficient in reducing the harmful effects of salt on soybean plants by boosting antioxidant up-regulation and lowering membrane leakage and ROS

Effect of Deficit Irrigation and Root-Zone Drying Irrigation Technique under Different Nitrogen Rates on Water Use Efficiency for Potato (Solanum Tuberosum L.) in Semi-arid Conditions (I)

An investigation was carried out at the Technical Center of Potato and Artichoke CTPTA in the region of Saida, located in the lower valley of Medjerda river during the season of 2017. The objective was to evaluate the effects of deficit irrigation (DI) and the root-zone drying irrigation technique (PRD) under different nitrogen rates on total dry matter production (TDM), water consumption (WC) and water use efficiency of potato (Solanum Tuberosum L. VS. Spunta). Three water treatments (T1 = FI = 100% ETC, T2 = DI = 75% ETC and T3 = PRD50) and three nitrogen rates (F1 = N150: 150 kg N ha-1, F2 = N75: 75kg N ha-1, F3 = N0: 0kg N ha-1) were applied since the tuber initiation (55 days after planting) to maturity (100 days after planting). The results showed that the water regime affected negatively the total dry matter accumulation. A decline of 7 and 18.6% was registered in the two treatments T2 and T3 compared to the control T1. The WC decreased during water restriction respectively by 16; 33 and 29% for the T2 and T3 (PRD50 left) and T3 (PRD50 right) compared to T1. For the three nitrogen treatments (F1, F2 and F3) the water restriction has increased the WUE. The best values was recorded in the treatment T2 and then in the treatment T3 from where this increase compared to T1 was equal to (22.6% and 12.9%), (24.1% and 12, 4%) and (21.9% and 15.3%) respectively