Power smoothing and energy storage sizing of vented oscillating water column wave energy converter arrays

Oscillating water column wave energy converter arrays can be arranged to enhance the energy production and quality of power delivered to the grid. This study investigates four different array configurations of vented oscillating water columns and their effect on power quality and capacity of the energy storage systems required to absorb power fluctuation. Configuring the array of vented oscillating water columns as a nearshore detached breakwater allows combining the benefits of their complementary features. This increases the economic optimization of wave energy converters, paving the path to the energy market. The operations of the integration schemes are evaluated using the results obtained from simulations carried out using MATLAB/Simulink software. Simulation results show that the array of vented oscillating water columns and array of vented oscillating water columns as nearshore detached breakwater configurations increase the quality of power delivered to the grid and reduce the capacity of the energy storage systems required

P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is involved in arginase-II-mediated eNOS-Uncoupling in Obesity

Background Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-uncoupling links obesity-associated insulin resistance and type-II diabetes to the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Studies have indicated that increased arginase is involved in eNOS-uncoupling through competing with the substrate L-arginine. Given that arginase-II (Arg-II) exerts some of its biological functions through crosstalk with signal transduction pathways, and that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38mapk) is involved in eNOS-uncoupling, we investigated here whether p38mapk is involved in Arg-II-mediated eNOS-uncoupling in a high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model. Methods Obesity was induced in wild type (WT) and Arg-II-deficient (Arg-II-/-) mice on C57BL/6 J background by high-fat diet (HFD, 55% fat) for 14 weeks starting from age of 7 weeks. The entire aortas were isolated and subjected to 1) immunoblotting analysis of the protein level of eNOS, Arg-II and p38mapk activation; 2) arginase activity assay; 3) endothelium-dependent and independent vasomotor responses; 4) en face staining of superoxide anion and NO production with Dihydroethidium and 4,5-Diaminofluorescein Diacetate, respectively, to assess eNOS-uncoupling. To evaluate the role of p38mapk, isolated aortas were treated with p38mapk inhibitor SB203580 (10 μmol/L, 1 h) prior to the analysis. In addition, the role of p38mapk in Arg-II-induced eNOS-uncoupling was investigated in cultured human endothelial cells overexpressing Arg-II in the absence or presence of shRNA against p38mapk. Results HFD enhanced Arg-II expression/activity and p38mapk activity, which was associated with eNOS-uncoupling as revealed by decreased NO and enhanced L-NAME-inhibitable superoxide in aortas of WT obese mice. In accordance, WT obese mice revealed decreased endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine despite of higher eNOS protein level, whereas Arg-II-/- obese mice were protected from HFD-induced eNOS-uncoupling and endothelial dysfunction, which was associated with reduced p38mapk activation in aortas of the Arg-II-/- obese mice. Moreover, overexpression of Arg-II in human endothelial cells caused eNOS-uncoupling and augmented p38mapk activation. The Arg-II-induced eNOS-uncoupling was prevented by silencing p38mapk. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of p38mapk recouples eNOS in isolated aortas from WT obese mice. Conclusions Taking together, we demonstrate here for the first time that Arg-II causes eNOS-uncoupling through activation of p38 mapk in HFD-induced obesity

EFFECT OF GLUTEN ADDITION TO RICE FLOUR IN DEVELOPING A NEW RICE FLOUR :BREAD

It was observed that the minimum quantity of vital wheat gluten requiredto mix with rice flour in bread making to be 20 %. Studies on the chemicalcomposition of this bread showed higher moisture and protein levels than wheatbread. Farinograph absorption curves of wheat gluten/rice flour mixesshowed that stable doughs could be made with mixes having 20 % and 25 %wfw Gluten. It was observed that such doughs needed 70% water. Amylographviscosity data showed the above mixture to behave like rice flour onheating, but on cooling it did not show a sharp increase in viscosity like riceflour. The extensibility of the above dough was lower and the resistence washigher than in a wheat flour dough. Gluten/rice flour dough tended to collapseand became porous after two hours. This dough gave a good loaf whendeveloped by a combination of chemical and activated dough developmentmethods. Lecithin when used at 0.5 % (w/w) concentration in the form of aliquid crystaline lipid phase was found to improve the loaf volume further

FOOD HABITS OF ASIAN ELEPHANT (Elephas maximus maximus) IN HANDAPANAGALA , SOUTH EAST SRI LANKA

Handapanagala tank area is home for the largest Elephant aggregation(Elephas maxim us maxim us) in Wellawaya area during the dry season. Mostof these Elephants come from different areas mainly from adjacent protectedareas such as Yala, Udawalawe and Lunugamwehera National parks. Themain traditional migratory route lies across the study area connecting Yala -through Demodara. The local migration is mainly due to lack of food andwater within the protected areas.The study attempted to find the food habits of elephants in Handapanagalaarea during dry season. This study was carried out for six months. The mainobjectives were to determine both food availability and feeding habits inrelation to the habitats. Food availability and their Relative ImportanceValues (RIV) were estimated using line transect and direct observationmethod within study area. Relative importance values were comparativelyhigh in species like Bauhinia racemosa (12.39 %), Fleuggea leucocarpa(17.32 %), Securinrega leucopyrus (14.3 %). Relative frequency valueindicated that most common species distributed in the study area wereBauhinia racemosa, Dichrostachys cinera, Phyllanthus sp., Premna sp. Themicro histological analysis was done to determine food habits of elephants.The major food plant parts in dung samples were analyzed to identify thecategories of plants consumed by elephants. This study revealed that themajor food items consumed by elephant during dry season were themonocotyledon leaves (65 %), Culm (12 %), Sheath (6 %) and DicotylidensBark (7 %) and, Woody fiber (2%). The predominant grasses identified indung samples were Imperata cylindrica (Gini grass) and Panicum maximum(Illuk). The field observations revealed that the elephants were mainlyconsuming plants in families such as Leguminosae, Graminae,Euphorbiaceae and Verbenaceae. Majority of bark damages were seen inplants such as Bauhinia racemosa (RIV - 12.39), Treminalia arjuna(Kumbuk) and Phyllanthus spp. A total of 112 plant species were identifiedand 35 species (31% of the available plants) were consumed by elephants.The results indicate that the Elephants in the Handapanagala are grazers andmainly feed on tall grasses during the dry season. Results also indicated that there is an impact on forest tree species like Bauhinia racemosa, Fleuggealeucocarpa and Securinrega leucopyrus, which have high RIV. Since thepresent study was carried out during dry season, this should be continuedduring wet season to get a hroad idea about the seasonal changes in foodhabits of Elephants.

Estimation of Poisson’s Ratio and Variation of Tensile Yield Strength of Composite Clay Balls Used in Pebble Matrix Filtration

Clay balls can be used as an alternative to natural pebbles in pebble matrix filtration, a method for drinking water treatment. These clay balls are subjected to stresses due to self-weight and overburden in water-saturated conditions. Although there are empirical relationships to evaluate tensile yield strength ($T_s$) of clay balls using Poisson’s ratio ($μ$), diameter ($d$) of clay balls, and failure polar force ($F_s$), so far for such calculations the value of Poisson’s ratio has been taken from studies based on clay bricks. However, during ball preparation, if clay is mixed with other raw materials from industry wastes, such as saw dust or alum sludge in order to enhance the pollutant removal properties of the filter media, then the Poisson’s ratio of composite balls would be quite different from that of clay bricks. This paper describes a novel method for estimating Poisson’s ratio of composite clay balls by measuring vertical deformation using LVDTs in a uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) apparatus and lateral deformation using particle image velocimetry (PIV).This research work was carried out with the finance received from Early Career Academic Recruitment and Development (ECARD) Grant from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia