A statistical model for dew point air cooler based on the multiple polynomial regression approach

Swift assessment of evaporative cooling systems has become a necessity in practical engineering applications of this advanced technology. This paper bypasses details of the performance process and pioneers in developing a statistical model based on the multiple polynomial regression (MPR) to predict the performance of a dew point cooling (DPC) system. Thousands of numerical and experimental data are explored and the statistical model is produced. The developed statistical model correlates the performance parameters with the key operational parameters, including the flow and geometric characteristics. The selected operational parameters are, intake air conditions, including temperature, relative humidity and flow rate as well as the working air fraction over the intake air, while cooling capacity, coefficient of performance (COP), pressure drop, dew point and wet-bulb effectiveness are selected as performance parameters. The considered geometric characteristics are channel height, channel interval and number of layers in heat and mass exchanger. The model with different polynomial degrees is assessed by R2, MRE and MSE metrics. The 8th degree polynomial model is selected. The maximum relative error of the cooling capacity, coefficient of performance, pressure drop, dew point and wet-bulb effectiveness are 6.1%, 7.54%, 0.07%, 3.54% and 2.53% respectively. Finally, as examples, the model is used to predict the performance of the DPC system in random operating conditions and in a dry climate i.e. Las Vegas. Model developed in this study would enable the swift prediction of the DPC system

The nutritional composition of the vegetable soybean (maodou) and its potential in combatting malnutrition

IntroductionGlobal malnutrition continues to be a canker owing to poor eating habits and over-reliance on the major staple crops. Vegetable soybean (maodou) is gaining popularity globally as an affordable snack and vegetable.MethodsIn this study, we profiled the nutritional composition of 12 soybean cultivars at the vegetable (R6-R7) and mature (R8) stages. We also conducted an RNA-seq analysis during seed development, focusing on key biosynthesis enzymes for quality traits.ResultsThe results showed that 100 g of maodou contained 66.54% moisture, 13.49% protein, 7.81% fatty acids, 2.47% soluble sugar, abundant content of minerals, and micronutrients, including folate (462.27 μg FW) and carotenoids (3,935.41 μg FW). Also, the isoflavone content of maodou ranged between 129.26 and 2,359.35 μg/g FW. With regard to the recommended daily allowance, 100 g fresh weight of maodou can contribute 26.98, 115.57, and 11.60% of protein, folate, and zinc, respectively, and significant proportions of other nutrients including linoleic acid (21.16%), linolenic acid (42.96%), zinc (11.60%), and iron (18.01%). On a dry weight basis, maodou has two to six folds higher contents of folate, tocopherol, and carotenoid than the mature soybean. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis revealed that key biosynthesis enzymes of quality traits are differentially expressed during seed development and may contribute to variations in the content of quality traits at the vegetable and mature stages. Correlation analysis of quality traits at both stages revealed that protein only correlated positively with zinc at the vegetable stage but negatively correlated with total tocopherol and total fatty acid at the mature stage. Complex associations among folates, soluble sugar, and isoflavones were also identified.DiscussionThis study provides insight into the nutritional contents of vegetable soybean and demonstrates that maodou is essential for meeting the nutritional requirements of most countries

Efficacy and safety of tigecycline monotherapy vs. imipenem/cilastatin in Chinese patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections: a randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tigecycline, a first-in-class broad-spectrum glycylcycline antibiotic, has broad-spectrum in vitro activity against bacteria commonly encountered in complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs), including aerobic and facultative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and anaerobic bacteria. In the current trial, tigecycline was evaluated for safety and efficacy vs. imipenem/cilastatin in hospitalized Chinese patients with cIAIs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this phase 3, multicenter, open-label study, patients were randomly assigned to receive IV tigecycline or imipenem/cilastatin for ≤2 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoints were clinical response at the test-of-cure visit (12-37 days after therapy) for the microbiologic modified intent-to-treat and microbiologically evaluable populations. Because the study was not powered to demonstrate non-inferiority between tigecycline and imipenem/cilastatin, no formal statistical analysis was performed. Two-sided 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for the response rates in each treatment group and for differences between treatment groups for descriptive purposes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One hundred ninety-nine patients received ≥1 dose of study drug and comprised the modified intent-to-treat population. In the microbiologically evaluable population, 86.5% (45 of 52) of tigecycline- and 97.9% (47 of 48) of imipenem/cilastatin-treated patients were cured at the test-of-cure assessment (12-37 days after therapy); in the microbiologic modified intent-to-treat population, cure rates were 81.7% (49 of 60) and 90.9% (50 of 55), respectively. The overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was 80.4% for tigecycline vs. 53.9% after imipenem/cilastatin therapy (<it>P </it>< 0.001), primarily due to gastrointestinal-related events, especially nausea (21.6% vs. 3.9%; <it>P </it>< 0.001) and vomiting (12.4% vs. 2.0%; <it>P </it>= 0.005).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Clinical cure rates for tigecycline were consistent with those found in global cIAI studies. The overall safety profile was also consistent with that observed in global studies of tigecycline for treatment of cIAI, as well as that observed in analyses of Chinese patients in those studies; no novel trends were observed.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00136201</p

Adenovirus-mediated stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha gene transfer improves cardiac structure and function after experimental myocardial infarction through angiogenic and antifibrotic actions

Stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1) is not only a major chemotactic factor, but also an inducer of angiogenesis. The effects of SDF-1α on the left ventricular remodeling in a rat myocardial infarction (MI) model were analyzed. Myocardial infarction was induced by ligation of the left coronary artery in rats. 0.5 × 1010 pfu/ml AdV-SDF-1 or 0.5 × 1010 pfu/ml Adv-LacZ were immediately injected into the infarcted myocardium, 120 μl cell-free PBS were injected into the infarcted region or the myocardial wall in control, and sham group, respectively. We found that AdV-SDF-1 group had higher LVSP and ±dP/dtmax, lower LVEDP compared to control or Adv-LacZ group. The number of c-Kit+ stem cells, and gene expression of SDF-1, VEGF and bFGF were obviously increased, which was associated with reduced infarct size, thicker left ventricle wall, greater vascular density and cardiocytes density in infarcted hearts of AdV-SDF-1 group. Furthermore, the expression of collagen type I and type III mRNA, and collagen accumulation in the infarcted area was lower, which was associated with decreased TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression in AdV-SDF-1 group. Conclusion: SDF-1α could improve cardiac structure and function after Myocardial infarction through angiogenic and anti-fibrotic actions

Catalytic upgrading of bio-oils by esterification

Biomass is the term given to naturally-produced organic matter resulting from photosynthesis, and represents the most abundant organic polymers on Earth. Consequently, there has been great interest in the potential exploitation of lignocellulosic biomass as a renewable feedstock for energy, materials and chemicals production. The energy sector has largely focused on the direct thermochemical processing of lignocellulose via pyrolysis/gasification for heat generation, and the co-production of bio-oils and bio-gas which may be upgraded to produce drop-in transportation fuels. This mini-review describes recent advances in the design and application of solid acid catalysts for the energy efficient upgrading of pyrolysis biofuels