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The preparation, characterization and usage of ginger residues as adsorbents of glycerol impurities were evaluated in the present work as an alternative to provide a suitable destination of ginger waste. Many biochars have been used as adsorbents, thus motivating the reuse of different agro-industrial by-products and making the adsorption process suitable for the treatment of industrial waste. Besides, there were no studies using ginger waste as an adsorbent for the purification of glycerol from biodiesel production. The material was characterized in relation to SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), and BET (Surface Area). After characterization, adsorption was performed initially with the adsorbent after heat treatment. The influence of different variables in adsorption process was evaluated through batch adsorption experiments in which was possible to establish the best experimental conditions. Thus, the contact time varied from 0 to 10 to 30 mg/L and from 0 to 150 s for 60 and 90 mg/L, the temperature ranged from 25 to 45 °C and the initial concentration of glycerol solution ranged from 30 to 90 mg/L while the adsorbent mass was kept at 0.05 g. Another analysis was made to obtain equilibrium data. In this case, the experiments were conducted by the addition of 0.05 g of adsorbent in a 25 mL of glycerin solution at various concentrations, whereas temperature and agitation was constant. A comparative analysis among ginger adsorbents, provided by chemical and thermal treatment, and commercial adsorbents such as clay and activated carbon was also made in order to determine its adsorbent capacity. These experiments were carried out at the best-operating conditions determined previously. The results indicated that the analysis by specific surface area (BET) showed that there was a small variation of the same order of magnitude in the surface area (13.18 m2/g), diameter (125.02 Å), and volume of the pores (0.017 cm3/g), indicating the presence of adsorbate in the adsorbent. The pore diameters of the adsorbents showed mesoporosity. Ginger residues thermally treated showed comparable adsorbent capacity to clay as impurity removal obtained was 75%. These results were better than those obtained with commercial activated carbon after chemical treatment (57%). The kinetic modeling demonstrated a better adjustment of pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich models to experimental data, suggesting the controlling steps of adsorption impurities is governed by a simultaneous physisorption-chemisorption mechanism. Thus, the material proved to be a promising alternative adsorbent in the removal of glycerol impurities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncovering the complexity of systems in non-model organisms is critical for understanding arthropod immunology. Prior efforts have mostly focused on Dipteran insects, which only account for a subset of existing arthropod species in nature. Here we use and develop advanced techniques to describe immune cells (hemocytes) from the clinically relevant tick Ixodes scapularis at a single-cell resolution. We observe molecular alterations in hemocytes upon feeding and infection with either the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi or the rickettsial agent Anaplasma phagocytophilum. We reveal hemocyte clusters exhibiting defined signatures related to immunity, metabolism, and proliferation. Depletion of phagocytic hemocytes affects hemocytin and astakine levels, two I. scapularis hemocyte markers, impacting blood-feeding, molting behavior, and bacterial acquisition. Mechanistically, astakine alters hemocyte proliferation, whereas hemocytin affects the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway in I. scapularis. Altogether, we discover a role for tick hemocytes in immunophysiology and provide a valuable resource for comparative biology in arthropods. Rolandelli et al. define how immune cells from the tick Ixodes scapularis are affected by infection and show that this cell population have distinct signatures and functions in immunity, metabolism and proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chains are vital components of mooring lines and are crucial to the safe operation of offshore platforms. Although they are monitored by periodic inspection for early detection of failures, long lengths of chains can be rejected and substituted by new ones when a few damaged links are found, as the replacement of links by the traditional manufacturing process is an infeasible task. Thus, the development of alternative procedures to replace links that meet the design requirements seems to be an important task to overcome this issue and therefore reduce repair costs. Based on this scenario, this work presents a new procedure based on the replacement of damaged links by welded mooring chain links obtained by conventional arc welding processes. Experimental results considering mechanical tests and microstructure analysis revealed that the performance of the welded links could be equivalent to the original common links, since the mechanical properties obtained to achieve the requirements for approval of a new common link, even after fatigue tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The textile industry produces high amounts of effluents containing synthetic dyes that are recalcitrant and potentially hazardous to the environment, being azo dyes one of the most commonly used classes. Biological methods for dye degradation are promising, but knowledge of the toxicity of the resulting products is key for assessing their safety discharge on the environment. The present study investigated the potential toxicity of simulated effluents with dyes commonly used in the textile industry (reactive, direct, and basic groups). These effluents were treated by yeasts Candida parapsilosis (HOMOGS20B), Candida pseudoglaebosa (LIIIS36B), and Yarrowia lipolytica (HOMOGST27AB) after which their toxicity was assessed using three different assays in order to represent different trophic levels. Mutagenicity was also evaluated. C. pseudoglaebosa (LIIIS36B) was the most effective, completely decolorizing four of the five simulated effluents. Degradation products resulting from the yeast treatment were detected in the supernatant of the treated effluents and could be aromatic amines. Although the toxicity of the original simulated effluents was high, treated effluents demonstrated a decrease in toxicity and none exhibit mutagenicity. This work shows that the three selected yeasts could have a high potential for dye removal from textile wastewaters without generating toxic end-products, thus being an environmentally safe biological method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, 3D ultrasonic tomography was combined with petrophysics (color, gloss, open porosity, capillary absorption coefficient and bulk density) and elastic parameters (VS, VP/VS, Young’s modulus—E, shear modulus—µ, bulk modulus—K and Poisson’s ratio—ν) in order to evaluate the effect of high temperatures (300 ºC and 600 ºC) and type of cooling (partial and total immersion in tap water at room temperature) in a Portuguese limestone—the whitish variety of Ançã limestone. The study revealed that this limestone, despite its mineralogical homogeneity and petrographical character, is a heterogeneous stone with relatively high porosity and water absorption by capillarity. Heating at 300 ºC and 600 ºC led to an increase in the stone's heterogeneity (clearly revealed on ultrasound tomograms) and to a degradation of its petrophysical and mechanical properties, being this fact more accentuated in samples heated to 600 ºC and whose cooling was by total immersion. Comparison between total and partial immersion in tap water after high temperature exposure, revealed that total immersion induced high level of damage on this limestone. The high temperatures induced also aesthetical modifications, clearly visible by marked eye, namely a reduction in luminosity, chroma and specular gloss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron-driven reactions of CF 3 CH 2 F have been studied focusing on the formation of the parent cation, CF 3 + and CH 2 F + (C–C bond cleavage) fragments as a function of the electron energy. For the three referred cations, an unpredicted shoulder structure is observed in the ion yield between 12 and 20 eV, indicating a resonant process (electron attachment). Viewing the observations as the result of a competition between the expected dissociative electron ionization and a dissociative electron attachment, we propose a new route where the formation of the transient anion, under two autodetachments, ultimately triggers the formation of positively charged fragments. The reaction e - + AB → AB - ∗ → AB ∗ + e - → A + + B + 2 e - is supported by both experimental data and scattering calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies in the area of functional ecology not only aid in our understanding of the dynamics and structure of communities, but also help elucidate the mechanistic consequences of habitat changes and their implications for species conservation, the nature of biological interactions and the provision of ecosystem services. However, trait selection and measurement are usually not standardized between studies, even for groups that have been widely studied, such as the Drosophilidae (Diptera). In order to suggest a standardized framework for trait selection and measurement for the Drosophilidae, here we reviewed the literature published between September 2018 and June 2021. The review returned 52 relevant papers, and based on the traits presented, we organized three categories of functional traits which we suggest need to be analyzed in order to understand functional pattern of the Drosophilidae: habitat perception, flight performance, and ecophysiological responses. Habitat perception includes those traits that provide the ability to recognize an environment and access its available resources. Flight performance includes those traits related to flight and mobility, while ecophysiological responses include those traits related to energy allocation, survival, and reproductive efficiency. Based on these categories, we projected the expected results for a broad application of the traits we selected in studies with Drosophilidae in natural environments, for example, using the functional approach for a comprehensive diagnosis of the relationship between Drosophilidae and their environments. We encourage a wide use of our framework for both basic and applied studies of Drosophilidae, particularly for those that seek to test hypotheses regarding community structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previous work has shown that a modified HP-NbTi heat-resistant stainless steel exhibited a different magnetic behavior after 90,000 hours of operation in a steam reformer furnace exposed to temperatures between 500 °C and 550 °C or between 950 °C and 1000 °C. In this work, in the sample exposed to the lower temperature range, a thin ferromagnetic layer was detected by magnetic force microscopy in the matrix around the chromium and niobium carbides. However, for the sample exposed to the higher temperature range, no ferromagnetic response was detected whatsoever. The understanding of the influence of microstructure on magnetic behavior is important for the development of non-destructive inspection test methodologies. For this reason, the aim of this study is to perform a microstructural analysis to assess the different magnetic responses. Transmission electron microscopy allowed identifying a Cr-depleted zone in austenite at the Cr23C6-matrix and (NbTi)C-matrix interfaces in the sample exposed to the lower temperature range. Therefore, the austenitic region, with a lower Cr content, becomes ferromagnetic. In the sample exposed to the higher temperature range, the chemical composition of the austenitic matrix was homogenous, and the sample was completely paramagnetic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The elderly population receives the majority of prescription drugs but are usually excluded from Phase 1 clinical trials. Alternative approaches to estimate increases in toxicity risk or decreases in efficacy are therefore needed. This study predicted the pharmacokinetics (PK) of three renally excreted antiretroviral drugs in the elderly population and compared them with known exposures in renal impairment, to evaluate the need for dosing adjustments. Methods: The performance of the physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for tenofovir, lamivudine and emtricitabine were verified using clinical data in young and older subjects. Models were then used to predict PK profiles in a virtual population aged 20 to 49 years (young) and a geriatric population aged 65 to 74 years (elderly). Predicted exposure in the elderly was then compared with exposure reported for different degrees of renal impairment, where doses have been defined. Results: An increase in exposure (AUC) with advancing age was predicted for all drugs. The mean ratio of the increase in exposure were 1.40 for emtricitabine, 1.42 for lamivudine and 1.48 for tenofovir. The majority of virtual patients had exposures that did not require dosage adjustments. About 22% of patients on tenofovir showed exposures similar to that in moderate renal impairment, where dosage reduction may be required. Conclusion: Comparison of the exposure in the elderly with exposure observed in patients with different levels of renal impairment, indicated that a dosage adjustment may not be required in elderly patients on lamivudine, emtricitabine and the majority of the patients on tenofovir. Clinical trials to verify these predictions are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of superaustenitic stainless steels (SASS) as an overlay replacement for nickel-based alloys can be an interesting alternative for the oil and gas industries, due to its lower cost, when compared to superalloys. Usually, the deposition is made with several welding passes by using conventional arc welding processes, such as gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) or gas metal arc welding (GMAW) processes. In this respect, electro-slag welding (ESW), which promotes high heat inputs and low dilution of the welds, can also be attractive for this application, as it provides a higher productivity, once only one layer is needed for the deposition of the minimum thickness required. The present work evaluates the behavior of an AISI 904L SASS weld overlay deposited on a carbon steel ASTM A516 Grade 70 by ESW and GMAW processes. Both as-welded and heat-treated conditions were evaluated and compared. A multipass welding by GMAW process with three layers and 48 passes was performed on 12.5 × 200 × 250 mm steel plates with average welding energy of 1.0 kJ/mm. For ESW process, only one layer was deposited on 50 × 400 × 400 mm steel plates with average welding energy of 11.7 kJ/mm. After welding, a post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) at 620 °C for 10 h was performed in half of the steel plate, in order to allow the comparison between this condition and the as-welded one. For both processes, the austenitic microstructure of the weld deposits was characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with electron backscatter diffraction. A low proportion of secondary phases were observed in all conditions, and the PWHT did not promote significant changes on the hardness profile. Martensite for GMAW process and bainite for ESW process were the microstructural constituents observed at the coarse grain heat-affected zone, due to the different cooling rates. For ESW process, no evidences of partially diluted zones were found. As a consequence of the microstructural findings, the hardness results for ESW were lower than those usually observed for other electric arc welding processes. In addition, specimens subject to bending tests performed in accordance with the current standards used for qualification of welding procedures were approved. These evidences allow the conclusion that the ESW process can provide deposits with high quality despite the high welding energy levels, in order to achieve the desired productivity, being an interesting alternative for AISI 904L weld overlays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to compare the weight loss of obese adolescents on two different low-calorie diets: fixed diet plan and calorie-counting diet. This is a randomized clinical study with 66 obese adolescents (body mass index Z score (ZBMI)>+3, 13.7±0.7 years, 60.6% male) with anthropometric, food intake, physical activity, laboratory, body composition and stage of pubertal development data evaluated. There was a reduction in the ZBMI in both groups (P<0.0001), without significant difference between them (P=0.87). There was a significant reduction in insulin, and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), with no difference between groups. A reduction in total energy intake of the groups was found, with an increase in the proportion of protein and reduction in carbohydrates. In this cohort of severely obese adolescents, fixed diet plan and calorie-counting diet led to a similar reduction of ZBMI, metabolic markers and total energy intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver (Ag) and tin (Sn) nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited by thermal evaporation onto heated glass substrates with a good control of size, shape and surface coverage. This process has the advantage of allowing the fabrication of thin-film solar cells with incorporated NPs without vacuum break, since it does not require chemical processes or post-deposition annealing. The X-ray diffraction, TEM and SEM properties are correlated with optical measurements and amorphous silicon hydrogenated (a-Si:H) films deposited on top of both types of NPs show enhanced absorbance in the near-infrared. The results are interpreted with electromagnetic modelling performed with Mie theory. A broad emission in the near-infrared region is considerably increased after covering the Ag nanoparticles with an a-Si:H layer. Such effect may be of interest for possible down-conversion mechanisms in novel photovoltaic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver metastasis is the major cause of death associated to colorectal cancer. Cadherin-17 (CDH17) is a non-classical, seven domain, cadherin lacking the conserved cytoplasmic domain of classical cadherins. CDH17 was overexpressed in highly metastatic human KM12SM and present in many other colorectal cancer cells. Using tissue microarrays, we observed a significant association between high expression of CDH17 with liver metastasis and poor survival of the patients. On the basis of these findings, we decided to study cellular functions and signaling mechanisms mediated by CDH17 in cancer cells. In this report, loss-of-function experiments demonstrated that CDH17 caused a significant increase in KM12SM cell adhesion and proliferation. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated an interaction between CDH17 and α2β1 integrin with a direct effect on β1 integrin activation and talin recruitment. The formation of this complex, together with other proteins, was confirmed by mass spectrometry analysis. CDH17 modulated integrin activation and signaling to induce specific focal adhesion kinase and Ras activation, which led to the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase and Jun N-terminal kinase and the increase in cyclin D1 and proliferation. In vivo experiments showed that CDH17 silencing in KM12 cells suppressed tumor growth and liver metastasis after subcutaneous or intrasplenic inoculation in nude mice. Collectively, our data reveal a new function for CDH17, which is to regulate α2β1 integrin signaling in cell adhesion and proliferation in colon cancer cells for liver metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propellers for ships can be distinguished into two main types: fixed pitch propeller and controllable pitch propeller (CPP). The CPP design is an alternative for improved efficiency, especially in the need of a wide range of thrust and load levels, while maintaining an optimum shaft speed, as in the case of diesel or gas turbines. A dynamic positioning ship presented a problem on its CPP system after 8 months of operation. By means of fractography, microstructural, microhardness, and chemical analyses, it was possible to determine that fatigue was the main responsible for the failure. Fatigue cracks were initiated at welded connections between the wire spacers and concentric pipes, positioned inside the hollow shaft of the propeller. The stress concentration caused by a sharp defects like lack of penetration and lack of fusion and the geometric restriction of this type of weld contributed to a shorter fatigue crack initiation phase and premature failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catheter-related bacteremia (CRB) is one of the various complications related to hemodialysis (HD). As a result of this high rate of infection, the antibiotic lock technique (ALT) has been recommended to prevent CRB. However, adverse effects of ALT such as increased emergence of strains resistant to antibiotics and increased mechanical dysfunction catheter were poorly evaluated. We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of catheter-restricted filling using an antibiotic lock solution in preventing CRB. A total of 233 HD patients requiring 325 new tunneled catheters while waiting for placement and maturation of an arteriovenous fistula or graft were enrolled in this study. Patients with a tunneled catheter were assigned to receive either an antibiotic-heparin lock solution (antibiotic group: cefazolin 10 mg/ml, gentamicin 5 mg/ml, heparin 1,000 U/ml) or a heparin lock solution (no-antibiotic group: heparin 1,000 U/ml) as a catheter lock solution during the interdialytic period. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy of ALT using cefazolin and gentamicin in reducing CRB in patients undergoing HD with tunneled central catheter and to identify its adverse effects. CRB developed in 32.4 % of patients in the no-antibiotic group and in 13.1 % of patients in the antibiotic group. CRB rates per 1,000 catheter-days were 0.57 in the antibiotic group versus 1.74 in the no-antibiotic group ( p < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier analysis also showed that mean CRB-free catheter survival was significantly higher in the antibiotic group than in the no-antibiotic group (log-rank statistic 17.62, p < 0.0001). There was statistically significant difference between the two groups in causative organisms of CRB, with predominance of negative culture in both groups, but this prevalence was higher in ALT group (57.9 vs 90.1 %, p < 0.0001), and the two groups also were different in prevalence of gram-positive bacteria as causing organisms (ALT group 21.05 vs = 0 % in control group, p < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in drug-resistant germs. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups in the catheter removal causes, with higher rate of infectious cause in control group (12.32 vs 2.22 %, p < 0.0001) and mechanical cause in ALT group (28.26 vs 37.78 %, p < 0.0001). The results suggest that ALT may be a beneficial means of reducing the CRB rate in HD patients with tunneled catheter, without association between ALT and emergence of strains resistant. However, mechanical complications were more prevalent in antibiotic group. Further studies are required to determine the optimal drug regimen, concentrations for ALT, and its adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frequently, the life of the tools used in sheet metal forming operations is determined by a phenomenon known as galling, which originates from the adhesion of the sheet to the forming tool surface. The application of coating architectures composed by single or multiple layers of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) films, such as TiN, TiCN, CrN, TiCNAl, may significantly reduce the chemical interaction in the contact, up to the point that no significant adhesion may be observed for an extended number of forming operations. Usually, the evaluation of the behavior of different thin film architectures is conducted using tribometers that may or may not reproduce the conditions found in industrial practice. This work presents a tribological analysis of coated and uncoated surfaces of tools used in industrial sheet metal forming operations and discusses the capability of laboratory tests in reproducing the situations found in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogenation of sucrose over Ru/NaY, Ru/USY and Ru/CaY catalysts was carried out in a slurry reactor at 135°C and 12 atm. The catalysts were prepared by ion exchange followed by calcination and reduction. These were characterised as AA, TPR, DTA/TGA, H/Chemisorption, CO-FTIR, XRD and t-plot. To describe kinetic product distribution, the 4 order Runge-Kutta method was used for determining the kinetic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the chemical phenomena involved in the reverse forming (negative bias on top electrode) and reset of a TaN/TiTe/Al2O3/Ta memory stack. Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to conduct a non-destructive investigation of the critical interfaces between the electrolyte (Al2O3) and the TiTe top and Ta bottom electrodes. During reverse forming, Te accumulates at the TiTe/Al2O3 interface, the TiOx layer between the electrolyte and the electrode is reduced and the TaOx at the interface with Al2O3 is oxidized. These interfacial redox processes are related to an oxygen drift toward the bottom electrode under applied bias, which may favour Te transport into the electrolyte. Thus, the forming processes is related to both Te release and also to the probable migration of oxygen vacancies inside the alumina layer. The opposite phenomena are observed during the reset. TiOx is oxidized near Al2O3 and TaOx is reduced at the Al2O3/Ta interface, following the O2− drift towards the top electrode under positive bias while Te is driven back into the TiTe electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Cost utility of tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors for rheumatoid arthritis: an application of Bayesian methods for evidence synthesis in a Markov model" that was published in the 2012 issue is presented.

Insightful knowledge on quantum nanostructured materials is paramount to engineer and exploit their vast gamut of applications. Here, a formalism based on the single-band effective mass equation was developed to determine the light absorption of colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) embedded in a wider bandgap semiconductor host, employing only three parameters (dots/host potential barrier, effective mass, and QD size). It was ascertained how to tune such parameters to design the energy level structure and consequent optical response. Our findings show that the CQD size has the biggest effect on the number and energy of the confined levels, while the potential barrier causes a linear shift of their values. While smaller QDs allow wider energetic separation between levels (as desired for most quantum-based technologies), the larger dots with higher number of levels are those that exhibit the strongest absorption. Nevertheless, it was unprecedently shown that such quantum-enabled absorption coefficients can reach the levels (10 4 -10 5  cm -1 ) of bulk semiconductors., (© 2021. The Author(s).)