Coal water suspensions of two different Indian coals (namely Coal 1 and Coal 2) were successfully prepared and their rheological behaviors were tested in the shear rate range of 60-160 s
−1
for the ...comparison. Sodium tripolyphosphate was employed as dispersant after testing its suitability for the coal samples in zeta potential and turbidity measurements. The percentage of solids loading and dispersant dosage were varied to study their effect on the rheological behavior. The rheological nature of the suspensions for different solids loading and dispersant dosages were predicted after fitting the obtained rheological data using the power law model. Shear thickening behavior was observed for the lower solids loading (10%, 20%) with no significant change in the viscosity-shear rate relations with the dispersant addition. Conversely, the effect of dispersant was quite significant and desirable at the higher solids loading (30%, 40%, 50%) with the observed shear thinning behavior. The transition from shear thickening to shear thinning was seen between 20% and 30% solids loading with the addition of dispersant. Coal 1 exhibited favorable pumpable characteristics with low apparent viscosity. The lower percentage of ash-bearing minerals and the chemical composition of Coal 1 were seen as the main reason for its superior flow characteristics in comparison with that of Coal 2.
Abstract
In many complex molecular systems, the macroscopic ensemble’s properties are controlled by microscopic dynamic events (or fluctuations) that are often difficult to detect via ...pattern-recognition approaches. Discovering the relationships between local structural environments and the dynamical events originating from them would allow unveiling microscopic-level structure-dynamics relationships fundamental to understand the macroscopic behavior of complex systems. Here we show that, by coupling advanced structural (e.g. Smooth Overlap of Atomic Positions, SOAP) with local dynamical descriptors (e.g. Local Environment and Neighbor Shuffling, LENS) in a unique dataset, it is possible to improve both individual SOAP- and LENS-based analyses, obtaining a more complete characterization of the system under study. As representative examples, we use various molecular systems with diverse internal structural dynamics. On the one hand, we demonstrate how the combination of structural and dynamical descriptors facilitates decoupling relevant dynamical fluctuations from noise, overcoming the intrinsic limits of the individual analyses. Furthermore, machine learning approaches also allow extracting from such combined structural/dynamical dataset useful microscopic-level relationships, relating key local dynamical events (e.g. LENS fluctuations) occurring in the systems to the local structural (SOAP) environments they originate from. Given its abstract nature, we believe that such an approach will be useful in revealing hidden microscopic structure-dynamics relationships fundamental to rationalize the behavior of a variety of complex systems, not necessarily limited to the atomistic and molecular scales.
The CUPID-0 experiment searches for double beta decay using cryogenic calorimeters with double (heat and light) read-out. The detector, consisting of 24 ZnSe crystals 95 Formula omitted enriched in ...Formula omittedSe and two natural ZnSe crystals, started data-taking in 2017 at Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. We present the search for the neutrino-less double beta decay of Formula omittedSe into the 0 Formula omitted, 2 Formula omitted and 2 Formula omitted excited states of Formula omittedKr with an exposure of 5.74 kg Formula omittedyr (2.24 Formula omitted10 Formula omitted emitters Formula omittedyr). We found no evidence of the decays and set the most stringent limits on the widths of these processes: Formula omitted( Formula omittedSe Formula omittedKr Formula omitted)8.55 Formula omitted10 Formula omitted yr Formula omitted, Formula omitted ( Formula omitted Se Formula omitted Kr Formula omitted) Formula omitted yr Formula omitted, Formula omitted( Formula omittedSe Formula omittedKr Formula omitted)8.25 Formula omitted10 Formula omitted yr Formula omitted (90 Formula omitted credible interval).
Abstract Our aim was to assess the influence of the presence and state of impaction of mandibular third molars on the incidence of fractures of the mandibular angle and condyle. We designed a ...retrospective study of patients who presented for the treatment of mandibular fractures from January 2006 to April 2011. The independent variables were the presence and degree of impaction of lower third molars, and the outcome variables were the incidence of fractures of the mandibular angle and condyle. The information was acquired from hospital records and panoramic radiographs. Personal data included age, sex, mechanism of injuries, and number of fractures of the mandibular angle and condyle. We studied 110 fractures of the mandibular condyle and 80 of the angle. The incidence of fractures of the mandibular angle was higher in the group with incompletely erupted third molars (37/80, p < 0.001) and that of condylar fractures was higher in the group without (67/110, p < 0.001). An incompletely erupted third molar reduces the risk of condylar fractures and increases the risk of fractures of the mandibular angle.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are major causes of mortality worldwide, leading to premature deaths, loss of quality of life, and extensive socioeconomic impacts. Alterations in normal plasma lipid ...concentrations comprise important risk factors associated with CVD due to mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. Genetic markers such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are known to be associated with lipid metabolism, including variants in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene. Thus, the study's objective was to assess the relationship among lipid profile, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, health status, inflammatory biomarkers, and CETP genetic variants in individuals living in a highly admixed population.
The study comprises an analysis of observational cross-sectional data representative at the population level from a highly admixed population, encompassing 901 individuals from three age groups (adolescents, adults, and older adults). Socioeconomic, demographic, health, and lifestyle characteristics were collected using semi-structured questionnaires. In addition, biochemical markers and lipid profiles were obtained from individuals' blood samples. After DNA extraction, genotyping, and quality control according to Affymetrix's guidelines, information on 15 SNPs in the CETP gene was available for 707 individuals. Lipid profile and CVD risk factors were evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA), and associations between lipid traits and those factors were assessed through multiple linear regression and logistic regression.
There were low linear correlations between lipid profile and other individuals’ characteristics. Two principal components were responsible for 80.8 % of the total variance, and there were minor differences in lipid profiles among individuals in different age groups. Non-HDL-c, total cholesterol, and LDL-c had the highest loadings in the first PC, and triacylglycerols, VLDL-c and HDL-c were responsible for a major part of the loading in the second PC;, whilst HDL-c and LDL-c/HDL-c ratio were significant in the third PC. In addition, there were minor differences between groups of individuals with or without dyslipidemia regarding inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1β, IL- 6, IL-10, TNF-α, CRP, and MCP-1). Being overweight, insulin resistance, and lifestyle characteristics (calories from solid fat, added sugar, alcohol and sodium, leisure physical activity, and smoking) were strong predictors of lipid traits, especially HDL-c and dyslipidemia (p < 0.05). The CETP SNPs rs7499892 and rs12691052, rs291044, and rs80180245 were significantly associated with HDL-c (p < 0.05), and their inclusion in the multiple linear regression model increased its accuracy (adjusted R2 rose from 0.12 to 0.18).
This study identified correlations between lipid traits and other CVD risk factors. In addition, similar lipid and inflammatory profiles across age groups in the population suggested that adolescents might already present a significant risk for developing cardiovascular diseases in the population. The risk can be primarily attributed to decreased HDL-c concentrations, which appear to be influenced by genetic factors, as evidenced by associations between SNPs in the CETP gene and HDL-c concentrations, as well as potential gene–diet interactions. Our findings underscore the significant impact of genetic and lifestyle factors on lipid profile within admixed populations in developing countries.
Mosquito-repellent textiles offer protection from mosquito bites, thereby keeping the user safe. Using an herbal mosquito repellent extract on textile material could prompt protection from mosquitoes ...along with safety for both users and the environment. So, this study was under taken to develop an herbal mosquito repellent finish for cotton fabric using optimized process variables. The active component was extracted from different parts of the Anacyclus pyrethrum (Akarkara) plant, applied on cotton fabric samples and assessed for mosquito repellency. The highest mosquito repellency was observed in cotton fabric samples finished with Akarkara flower extract. The process parameters (conc. of the extract, material to liquor ratio and treatment time) were optimized using Box and Behnken Design of RSM to apply Akarkara flower extract on cotton fabric directly. To select the optimized variables, the finished fabrics were assessed for mosquito repellency (laboratory cage test method). Experimental work revealed that the mosquito repellency of finished cotton fabric samples was noted in a range of 57.87 percent to 79.63 percent in the 17 cotton fabric samples prepared as per the BBD matrix. The optimized concentration of the extract (15 %), MLR (1:20) and treatment time (30 min) were used for finishing the cotton fabric samples. It was observed that mosquito repellency increased with increasing concentration of the extract. The mosquito repellency of the finished cotton fabric sample was reduced to 24.2 percent from 79.5 percent upon one wash cycle and decreased further on every wash. Additionally, eight months old extract's from Akarkara flower, when applied on a cotton fabric surface, displayed a reduced mosquito repellency as compared to fresh extract application. Henceforth, through this kind of finish, an individual can receive protection from mosquito bites and further reduce cases of deadly diseases.
The rheological nature of coal-water suspensions of an Indian coal variety is reported in the shear rate range of 60-160 s
−1
. Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) is used as a dispersant or chemical ...additive for the slurries. The effects of percentage solid loading, dispersant dosage and pH on the rheological nature are comprehensively studied. The rheological data is fitted for power-law model to categorize the slurry flow nature with reference to the calculated flow behavior index of the model. At lower solid loadings (10% 20%), the shear stress-shear rate relation did not alter with the dispersant dosage or pH and the slurries of exhibited dilatant behavior. The effects of the slurry parameters are quite predominant at higher solid loadings (30%, 40%, and 50%). For pH ≥ 8.0, dilatancy of the slurries were observed for 30% solids loadings with dispersant in some cases. Excluding this, the higher percent solid loadings exhibited shear thinning behavior. For a fixed shear rate, the shear stress decreased with increasing pH at higher dispersant dosages which confirms the sharp effect of pH on the slurry rheology with the dispersant addition. The increased adsorption of the anionic dispersant (STPP) on the solids at higher pH values is the reason for this trend.
Point mutations in the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase gene have recently been identified in mucosal, acral lentiginous, and chronically sun-damaged melanomas. We have identified the first human ...melanoma cell line with an endogenous L576P mutation, the most common KIT mutation in melanoma ( approximately 30-40%). In vitro testing showed that the cell viability of the L576P mutant cell line was not reduced by imatinib, nilotinib, or sorafenib small molecule KIT inhibitors effective in nonmelanoma cells with other KIT mutations. However, the viability of the mutant cells was reduced by dasatinib at concentrations as low as 10 nM (P = 0.004). Molecular modeling studies found that the L576P mutation induces structural changes in KIT that reduce the affinity for imatinib (DeltaDeltaGbind = -2.52 kcal/mol) but not for dasatinib (DeltaDeltaGbind = +0.32 kcal/mol). Two metastatic melanoma patients with the L576P KIT mutation were treated with dasatinib, including one patient previously treated with imatinib. Both patients had marked reduction (>50%) and elimination of tumor F18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avidity by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging after dasatinib treatment. These data support the selective inhibitory effect of dasatinib against cells harboring the most common KIT mutation in melanoma, and thus has therapeutic implications for acrallentiginous, chronic sun-damaged, and mucosal melanomas.
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