Effect of Catalytic Cylinders on Autothermal Reforming of Methane for Hydrogen Production in a Microchamber Reactor

A new multicylinder microchamber reactor is designed on autothermal reforming of methane for hydrogen production, and its performance and thermal behavior, that is, based on the reaction mechanism, is numerically investigated by varying the cylinder radius, cylinder spacing, and cylinder layout. The results show that larger cylinder radius can promote reforming reaction; the mass fraction of methane decreased from 26% to 21% with cylinder radius from 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm; compact cylinder spacing corresponds to more catalytic surface and the time to steady state is decreased from 40 s to 20 s; alteration of staggered and aligned cylinder layout at constant inlet flow rates does not result in significant difference in reactor performance and it can be neglected. The results provide an indication and optimize performance of reactor; it achieves higher conversion compared with other reforming reactors

The Side Population in Human Lung Cancer Cell Line NCI-H460 Is Enriched in Stem-Like Cancer Cells

Lung cancer is among the most lethal malignancies with a high metastasis and recurrence rate. Recent studies indicate that tumors contain a subset of stem-like cancer cells that possess certain stem cell properties. Herein, we used Hoechst 33342 dye efflux assay and flow cytometry to isolate and characterize the side population (SP) cells from human lung cancer cell line NCI-H460 (H460). We show that the H460 SP cells harbor stem-like cells as they can readily form anchorage-independent floating spheres, possess great proliferative potential, and exhibit enhanced tumorigenicity. Importantly, the H460 SP cells were able to self-renew both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we show that the H460 SP cells preferentially express ABCG2 as well as SMO, a critical mediator of the Hedgehog (HH) signaling, which seems to play an important role in H460 lung cancer cells as its blockage using Cyclopamine greatly inhibits cell-cycle progression. Collectively, our results lend further support to the existence of lung cancer stem cells and also implicate HH signaling in regulating large-cell lung cancer (stem) cells

Left turn phasing type determination at isolated intersections solved by a genetic algorithm

A left turn could be treated as a permitted or protected left turn. Good left turn treatment could improve the efficiency at intersections. This paper aims to solve the left turn phasing type problem with the goal of minimizing the total delay. The determination of left turn phasing types extends the lane-based signal optimization method by introducing the decision variables of left turn phasing type indicators. This problem is solved with a genetic algorithm with Penalty functions. It is found that permitted left turns contribute to total delay reduction

The Types Division and Severity Threshold of Traffic Conflict on Freeway Interchange

This paper selects time to collision (TTC) as the traffic conflict index. Shooting high-definition video from high altitude above freeway interchange by unmanned aircraft, the TTC was calculated by processing software. The mechanism of traffic conflict on Freeway Interchange area was researched by combining subjective and objective method, and then defined severity. Firstly, conflict observers were trained. Twelve observers were trained repeatedly on the judgment of traffic conflict type and severity cognitive until a consensus was reached. Secondly, the subjective judgment on traffic conflict types and severity was made. The video clips containing traffic conflict were selected, and then all observers together determined the type of each conflict and severity. Thirdly, TTC samples were analyzed. The obviously unsuitable TTC samples were excluded, and the rest would be tested whether meet the sample size requirement of each type of traffic conflict. Finally, the TTC threshold value was defined. According to the cumulative frequency distribution of each type TTC, 85% value was selected as severity of traffic conflict threshold

Microencapsulation of plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) phenolics by spray drying technology and storage stability

<div><p>Abstract To improve the stability of the phenolic extracts from plum fruit (Prunus salicina Lindl.), the microencapsulation conditions of spray drying were optimized by the response surface method. The Box-Behnken experimental results indicated the optimal conditions involved an inlet air temperature of 142.8 °C, a core material content of 23.7% and a feed solids content of 11.7%. The maximum microencapsulating efficiency was 87.7% at optimal conditions. Further, the physicochemical properties of the microcapsule powders were improved overall due to the addition of the coating agents. There were no statistically significant differences in phenolic content of the obtained microcapsules for the first 40 days of storage at 25 °C in dark condition (p > 0.05), and the retention rate of total phenol remained above 85% after 60 days. Microcapsules can be potentially developed as a source of natural pigment or functional food based on the advantages of rich phenolic compounds and red color.</p></div

Effect of lipid source and bile salts in diet of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., on astaxanthin blood levels

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary lipid and bile acids on astaxanthin absorption in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). Fish with an average weight of 1500 g were fitted with a dorsal aorta cannula and fed diets containing herring oil, soybean lecithin, lard, or herring oil supplemented with taurocholic acid (2.5 g/kg diet). Each fish was fed all of the experimental diets in successive order to minimize the effect of individual variation. At a given time following the feeding of each diet, blood was collected and analyzed for astaxanthin. Soybean lecithin significantly lowered the absorption of astaxanthin compared to fish fed herring oil. A 20% (p < 0.12) increase in blood astaxanthin was observed when the fish were fed the diet supplemented with taurocholic acid. Feeding lard significantly increased the blood astaxanthin level compared to the control group. It appears that altering the micellar structure by stimulating micellar (taurocholic acid) or mixed micellar (lecithin) systems did not increase the apparent absorption of astaxanthin. However, increasing the phospholipid level may have actually decreased the absorption possibly by lowering the astaxanthin solubility in the micelles. The increased apparent absorption of astaxanthin with lard is possibly linked to the increased content of 16:0, 18:1n - 9 or 18:2n - 6 fatty acids in this diet, or a reduction in very long chain monoenes (20:1n - 9 and 22:1n - 9). This suggests that the solubility of astaxanthin is higher in diets containing higher levels of 16:0 or 18:1n - 1, or alternatively, that reductions in longer chain monoenes (20:1n - 9 and 22:1n - 9) increase the micellar solubility of this pigment.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

The Types Division and Severity Threshold of Traffic Conflict on Freeway Interchange

This paper selects time to collision (TTC) as the traffic conflict index. Shooting high-definition video from high altitude above freeway interchange by unmanned aircraft, the TTC was calculated by processing software. The mechanism of traffic conflict on Freeway Interchange area was researched by combining subjective and objective method, and then defined severity. Firstly, conflict observers were trained. Twelve observers were trained repeatedly on the judgment of traffic conflict type and severity cognitive until a consensus was reached. Secondly, the subjective judgment on traffic conflict types and severity was made. The video clips containing traffic conflict were selected, and then all observers together determined the type of each conflict and severity. Thirdly, TTC samples were analyzed. The obviously unsuitable TTC samples were excluded, and the rest would be tested whether meet the sample size requirement of each type of traffic conflict. Finally, the TTC threshold value was defined. According to the cumulative frequency distribution of each type TTC, 85% value was selected as severity of traffic conflict threshold

Extraction optimization of polyphenols, antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities from Prunus salicina Lindl.

Abstract Optimization of polyphenols extraction from plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) was evaluated using response surface methodology. The Box-Behnken experimental results showed the optimal conditions involved an extraction temperature of 59 °C, a sonication time of 47 min, and an ethanol concentration of 61% respectively. The maximum extraction yield of total polyphenols was 44.74 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dried plum at optimal conditions. Polyphenol extracts exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than Vc by evaluating of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Furthermore, polyphenol extracts (IC50 = 179 g/mL) showed obvious inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase. These findings suggest that polyphenol extracts from P. salicina can be potentially used as natural antioxidant and xanthine oxidase inhibitory agents

Effect of Catalytic Cylinders on Autothermal Reforming of Methane for Hydrogen Production in a Microchamber Reactor

A new multicylinder microchamber reactor is designed on autothermal reforming of methane for hydrogen production, and its performance and thermal behavior, that is, based on the reaction mechanism, is numerically investigated by varying the cylinder radius, cylinder spacing, and cylinder layout. The results show that larger cylinder radius can promote reforming reaction; the mass fraction of methane decreased from 26% to 21% with cylinder radius from 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm; compact cylinder spacing corresponds to more catalytic surface and the time to steady state is decreased from 40 s to 20 s; alteration of staggered and aligned cylinder layout at constant inlet flow rates does not result in significant difference in reactor performance and it can be neglected. The results provide an indication and optimize performance of reactor; it achieves higher conversion compared with other reforming reactors

The microRNA miR-34a Inhibits Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Growth and the CD44^hi Stem-Like NSCLC Cells

<div><p>Lung cancer is among the most lethal malignancies with a high metastasis and recurrence rate, which is probably due to the existence of lung cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs in many tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been identified using adhesion molecular CD44, either individually or in combination with other marker(s). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate both normal stem cells and CSCs and dysregulation of miRNAs has been implicated in tumorigenesis. Recently, miR-34a was found to be downregulated in NSCLC cells but the biological functions of miR-34a in regulating NSCLC cell behavior have not been extensively studied. Here we show that transfection of synthetic miR-34a, but not the negative control (NC) miRNA oligonucleotides (oligos) in three NSCLC cell lines, i.e., A549, H460, and H1299, inhibited their holoclone formation, clonogenic expansion, and tumor regeneration in vivo. Furthermore, the lentiviral vector-mediated overexpression of miR-34a in purified CD44^hi H460 cells also inhibited tumor outgrowth. In contrast, expression of miR-34a antagomirs (i.e., antisense oligos) in the CD44^lo H460 cells promoted tumor development. Our study shows that miR-34a is a negative regulator of the tumorigenic properties of NSCLC cells and CD44^hi lung CSCs, and establishes a strong rationale for developing miR-34a as a novel therapeutic agent against NSCLC.</p></div