This work presents a study of the impact of the linearity assumption of the mechanical model in the overall performance of an energy harvesting piezoelectric beam. Also, a brief assessment of ...geometrical optimization solutions using different objective functions is presented. The mechanical model of the harvester is based on both linear and nonlinear variants of the electrical and mechanical constitutive equations for the piezoelectric material. The nonlinear elastic, damping and electromechanical coupling parameters are obtained via least squares identification using physical experimentation; the experimental tests are performed at different ground excitation accelerations. The computational optimization of the harvester is done using the genetic algorithm implemented in Matlab. Different objective functions are tested, i.e. broadband maximum peak power, maximum power at a particular frequency and broadband mean power; the influence of the selection of each of them in the total recovery of the power of the device is analyzed. The most suitable function to recover the vibratory energy from conventional transport vehicles is found.
To evaluate the expression of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) genes in visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in normotensive subjects with different body mass index (BMI). Adipose ...tissue was obtained from 22 normotensive (12 normal weight and 10 overweight) patients during surgery for colecystectomy. Angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) mRNA, and protein levels were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively. The AGT mRNA and AT1 receptor mRNA levels were significantly higher in VAT than in SAT; AGT mRNA levels were higher, although not significantly, in overweight subjects in both SAT and VAT. There was no significant difference in ACE gene expression in the two tissues, and no expression of angiotensin II receptor type 2 (AT2). Finally, we failed to find mRNA for the renin gene in adipose tissue. The presence of AGT and AT1 receptor in SAT and VAT was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Our study demonstrates the presence—and different levels of expression—of the various components of the RAS system (AGT, AT1, and ACE) in human SAT and VAT, and highlights the different role and regulation of the system in the two tissues. Its high expression in VAT suggests that its regulation and function are involved in all conditions where visceral adiposity is present.
This paper presents the influence of nonlinear terms of a previously proposed constitutive piezoelectric equation on the dynamics of a cantilever aluminium beam with a piezoelectric unimorph PZT ...(MIDE QP16N) attached to it. The system is subjected to different levels of base acceleration with the intention to evidence the limits of the linear model. To carry out the analysis, a one-dimensional model is applied and solved employing a single-term solution of the harmonic balance method to compare with the experiments. A model identification of linear and nonlinear parameters such as dissipation, stiffness, and electromechanical coupling were then performed. From the results, it is possible to observe the departure of the linear model even for very low acceleration levels (0.1G). It can be concluded that the nonlinearity plays an unavoidable roll in predicting electric generation for the considered systems.
The mechanical vibration induced by rotation speed is gaining interest in the last years. Comparing to other mechanical vibration sources, the excitation by rotational speed from low power wind ...turbines is really a challenge since the vibration frequency is lower than 10 Hz and it generates accelerations higher than 1 g. In this paper, a rotating piezoelectric energy harvester is designed and analysed. In order to achieve the best electrical power performance, the prototype is designed to have low natural frequencies varying the hub positions and dimensions of the multi-beams, decreasing the crossing-frequency (natural frequency/rotation speed) and finding the optimal electrical load resistance. The dynamic behaviour of the harvester is simulated using a nonlinear one-dimensional finite element formulation. The rotating piezoelectric beam is formulated by means of a geometrically nonlinear finite element with six mechanical degrees of freedom and one electrical degree of freedom per node. The simulations are performed from 1 to 4.5 Hz (60 - 270 rpm) rotation speeds. A performance assessment is done investigating the influence of the hub positions, crossing-frequencies, electrical resistance and rotation speeds over the voltage and power generation. Regarding harvester's performance, promising results are obtained since the output power 3.72 mW @ 3.61 Hz. In this sense, this article provides a prototype at low rotational frequency capable to scavenge energy from low power wind turbines.
Analysis of the chemical bonding in the position space, instead of or besides that in the wave function (Hilbert) orbital space, has become increasingly popular for crystalline systems in the past ...decade. The two most frequently used investigative tools, the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules and Crystal (QTAIMAC) and the Electron Localization Function (ELF) are thoroughly discussed. The treatment is focussed on the topological peculiarities that necessarily arise from the periodicity of the crystal lattice and on those facets of the two tools that have been more debated, especially when these tools are applied to the condensed phase. In particular, in the case of QTAIMAC, the physical and chemical significance of the bond paths for the very weak or the supposedly repulsive interactions, the distinctive features and the appropriateness of the several schemes that have been proposed to classify chemical bonds, and, finally, the relative importance of the local and integrated electron density properties for describing intermolecular interactions. In the case of the ELF, particular attention is devoted to how this function is formulated and to the related physical meaning, and to how can the ELF be chemically interpreted and properly analysed in crystals. Several examples are reported to illustrate all these points and for critically examine the answers obtained and the problems encountered. The discussed examples encompass the case of molecular crystals, Zintl phases, intermetallic compounds, metals, supported and unsupported metal-metal bonds in organometallics, ionic solids, crystal surfaces, crystal defects, etc. Whenever possible joint ELF and QTAIMAC studies are considered, with particular emphasis on the comparison of the bond description afforded by the ELF and the Laplacian of the electron density. Two recently proposed functions, the Localized Orbital Locator (LOL) and the Source Function in its integrated or local form are also presented, in view of their potential interest for stud ies of chemical bonding in crystals. The use of approximated ELF and LOL, as derived from the density functional form of the positive kinetic energy density, is also discussed.
Surface hydrophobicity of whey protein concentrate (WPC) under heated (85 °C for 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 min) and unheated conditions was measured using cis-parinaric acid (CPA), ...1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS), and a fluorescence quenching method using acrylamide as a quencher. This last method evaluates the degree of exposure of tryptophanyl residues in proteins to the solvent. The initial slope of Stern−Volmer plots, K app, was used as an index of protein hydrophobicity. Surface hydrophobicity of WPC exhibited good relation with surface functional properties such as emulsifying and foaming. Analysis of the data obtained in this work showed that the fluorescence quenching method gave results similar to those obtained using CPA and ANS. Therefore, this simple technique is satisfactory in effectively obtaining information about the hydrophobicity of whey proteins. Keywords: Whey protein concentrate; hydrophobicity; fluorescence quenching; heat treatment; surface functional properties
This paper presents a rotary power scavenging unit comprised of two systems of flexible beams connected by two masses which are joined by means of a spring, considering a PZT (QP16N, Midé ...Corporation) piezoelectric sheet mounted on one of the beams. The energy harvesting (EH) system is mounted rigidly on a rotating hub. The gravitational force on the masses causes sustained oscillatory motion in the flexible beams as long as there is rotary motion. The intention is to use the EH system in the wireless autonomous monitoring of wind turbines under different wind conditions. Specifically, the development is oriented to monitor the dynamic state of the blades of a wind generator of 30 KW which rotates between 50 and 150 rpm. The paper shows a complete set of experimental results on three devices, modifying the amount of beams in the frame supporting the system. The results show an acceptable sustained voltage generation for the expected range, in the three proposed cases. Therefore, it is possible to use this system for generating energy in a low-frequency rotating environment. As an alternative, the system can be easily adapted to include an array of piezoelectric sheets to each of the beams, to provide more power generation.
We present a retrospective study of 129 medical files concerning seafood poisonings (SFPs) registered at the central hospital of Tahiti (French Polynesia) between 1999 and 2005. Even if during that ...period most of the described cases (96%) concerned the ichtyosarcotoxism ciguatera, it is interesting to note that we also registered three other SFPs: tetrodotoxism, carchatoxism and lyngbyatoxism due to the consumption of tetraodon/diodon species, sharks or sea turtles, respectively. In ciguatera, cardiovascular symptoms were the primary criteria of severity with bradycardia and hypotension observed at 75% and 43%, respectively. Neurological manifestations (such as cerebellar syndrome, language troubles, diplopia or polyradiculoneuritis), trouble and/or loss of consciousness and dyspnoea were secondary criteria of severity. Body temperature was reported under 36.5
°C in 48 of 80 documented files. This observation, which has not previously been described in humans, may be related to possible central effects of the ingested toxin. The last remark concerns two extremely severe cases of ciguatera fish poisoning in which physicians had suspected an inflammatory neuropathy called the Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS). Even if it is premature to conclude any correlation between the intoxication and the appearance of GBS, it is interesting to note that in both pathologies, morphological disturbances of nerve fibres have been reported.
Background: The clinical outcome is generally positive for patients with node-negative breast carcinoma (i.e., those who do not have detectable metastases in the lymph nodes) who have been treated ...with surgery or surgery plus radiation therapy. In about 30% of the patients, however, the disease recurs, and they are at risk of death. Determination of valid new prognostic indicators would improve the ability to identify patients at high risk of recurrence. Breast cancer can entail substantial development of new blood vessels within the tumor tissue, and it is known that the growth and metastasis of solid tumors are dependent on such angiogenesis. The conversion of tumor cells to an angiogenic phenotype may be preceded by a change in the balance of angiogenic growth factors and angiogenesis inhibitors. Purpose: This study was conducted to determine if the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein, a potent endothelial growth factor and mediator of vascular permeability and angiogenesis, measured in the primary tumors of women with node-negative breast cancer are associated with known prognostic factors and patient survival. Methods: By use of a selective enzymatic immunoassay, levels of VEGF protein were measured in cytosolic extracts of primary tumor tissue surgically obtained from 260 women with node-negative breast carcinoma who had been treated with surgery with or without radiation therapy but not with adjuvant therapy and who had been followed for a median time of 66 months. The relationships between VEGF concentrations and other prognostic dichotomous variables or clinical outcome were tested by the use of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, respectively. The relationship between VEGF and hormone receptors (i.e., those for estrogen and progesterone) was examined by the use of Spearman's correlation analyses. All P values resulted from the use of two-sided statistical tests. Results: Tumors from 247 (95%) of the 260 patients had detectable VEGF, ranging in concentration from 5.0 to 6523 pg/mg protein (median, 126.25 pg/mg protein). No statistically significant associations were found between VEGF and the other prognostic factors (e.g., age, menopausal status, histologic tumor type, tumor size, and hormone receptors) examined. Levels of VEGF were found to be prognostic for both relapse-free and overall survival in univariate and multivariate analyses (likelihood ratio tests; all four P values <.001). In the multivariate analysis, the first-order interaction term of VEGF and estrogen receptor was also prognostic for overall survival (likelihood ratio test; P = .05). Conclusions: The results show that cytosolic levels of VEGF in tumor tissue samples are indicative of prognosis for patients with node-negative breast carcinoma.
Prostaglandins generated by cyclooxygenase (COX) have been implicated in hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. However, the role of individual COX isoenzymes as well as the molecular ...mechanisms linking oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in diabetes remains to be clarified.
Human aortic endothelial cells were exposed to normal (5.5 mmol/L) and high (22.2 mmol/L) glucose. Glucose selectively increased mRNA and protein expression of COX-2. Its upregulation was associated with an increase of thromboxane A2 and a reduction of prostacyclin (PGI2) release. Glucose-induced activation of PKC resulted in the formation of peroxynitrite and tyrosine nitration of PGI2 synthase. NO release was reduced despite 2-fold increase of endothelial NO synthase expression. Phorbol ester caused an increase of COX-2 and endothelial NO synthase expression similar to that elicited by glucose. These effects were prevented by the PKC inhibitor calphostin C. N-acetylcysteine, vitamin C, and calphostin C prevented ROS formation, restored NO release, and reduced colocalization of nitrotyrosine and PGI2 synthase. Expression of p22(phox), a subunit of NAD(P)H oxidase, was increased, and diphenyleneiodonium inhibited ROS formation. By contrast, indomethacin did not affect glucose-induced ROS generation.
Thus, high glucose, via PKC signaling, induces oxidative stress and upregulation of COX-2, resulting in reduced NO availability and altered prostanoid profile.
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