Background: Waste management in Western Area Rural (WAR), Sierra Leone, is plagued by infrastructural and socioeconomic challenges, leading to environmental and health hazards such as flooding, air pollution, and vect...Background: Waste management in Western Area Rural (WAR), Sierra Leone, is plagued by infrastructural and socioeconomic challenges, leading to environmental and health hazards such as flooding, air pollution, and vector-borne diseases. Despite awareness campaigns, informal methods like open dumping and burning dominate. This study applies the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to analyse how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control influence waste management practices and barriers to proper disposal with potential solutions. Methods: A quantitative approach was employed, using stratified random sampling and structured questionnaires to collect data from 333 participants across ten communities in Western Area Rural (WAR). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to examine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and waste management practices. Results: While 98.2% of respondents acknowledged the importance of waste management, limited perceived behavioural control driven by financial constraints (83.8%), inadequate education (83.2%), and insufficient infrastructure (66.4%) hindered effective waste disposal ultimately linking health and environmental risks, such as flooding and marine pollution from plastic waste. Most respondents (68.8%) lacked access to formal waste services, with disposal occurring primarily via open dumping (62.9%) and burning (17.9%). Subjective norms reinforced informal disposal, as community waste-burning remained an accepted practice. Women were disproportionately affected due to economic constraints and larger household sizes. Despite these challenges, 93.1% were willing to engage in community clean-up efforts, indicating strong pro-environmental attitudes constrained by structural barriers. Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for integrated waste management strategies informed by TPB, targeting attitudes through education, reshaping social norms through community-driven initiatives, and enhancing perceived behavioural control by improving infrastructure and financial accessibility. Addressing gender disparities, strengthening public-private partnerships, and expanding recycling and composting programs can foster sustainable waste management in resource-constrained settings.展开更多
Rolling noise is produced by vibration of the wheels and track,induced by their combined surface roughness.It is important to know the relative contributions of the different sources,as this affects noise control stra...Rolling noise is produced by vibration of the wheels and track,induced by their combined surface roughness.It is important to know the relative contributions of the different sources,as this affects noise control strategies as well as acceptance testing of new rolling stock.Three different techniques are described that aim to use pass-by measurements to separate the wheel and track components of rolling noise.One is based on the TWINS model,which is tuned to measured track vibration.The second is based on the advanced transfer path analysis method,which provides an entirely experimental assessment.The third is based on the pass-by analysis method in combination with static vibroacoustic transfer functions which are obtained using a reciprocity method.The development of these methods is described and comparisons between them are presented using the results from three experimental measurement campaigns.These covered a metro train,a regional train and a high-speed train at a range of speeds.The various methods agree reasonably well in terms of overall trends,with moderate agreement in the mid-frequency region,and less consistent results at low and high frequency.展开更多
This research aimed to obtain accurate estimates of the productivity of eucalyptus plantations under different climate change scenarios without the need for additional fieldwork.Thus,we used tree growth data from 1,10...This research aimed to obtain accurate estimates of the productivity of eucalyptus plantations under different climate change scenarios without the need for additional fieldwork.Thus,we used tree growth data from 1,102research plots,existing spatially continuous environmental data,and the random forest(RF) algorithm to construct raster-based models.We constructed models to predict site index(SI) at landscape scale(250m·pixel^(-1)),which is useful for planning purposes and for analyzing the effect of climate change on productivity,and at forest plot scale(resolutions of 10,25,50,and 100 m-pixel^(-1)),which is essential for predicting plantation yields.All models explained~50% of site index variability,as is usual in this type of study.We found that the different spatial resolutions of predictor variables did not affect the amount of variability explained.This finding may be due to two opposing effects on the explained variability at finer scales:a positive effect,as finer scales enable capture of microscale landform variability through a high-resolution digital elevation model(DEM),and a negative effect due to the introduction of "noise" when downscaling the climatic and lithological information from coarser scales.Elevation and the climatic variables(mainly temperature) were the most important predictor variables:For every 100 m-increase in elevation,the productivity decreased by on average 0.3-0.9 m of site index(1-1.3 m^(3)·ha^(-1)·year^(-1) of maximum mean annual increment in volume) and for each degree-Celsiusincrease in annual mean temperature,productivity increased by about 2.2 m in site index(3 m^(3)·ha^(-1)·year^(-1)of maximum mean annual increment in volume).Due to the forecasted increase in temperatures under climate change,productivity is expected to increase significantly in Eucalyptus globulus plantations in northern Spain in the coming decades,by between 1.68% and 3.38% of the current average site index under the most pessimistic climate change scenario and between 1.79% and 2.48% of the current average site index for the moderate scenario.We conclude that currently available spatially continuous environmental data can be used to develop accurate raster data models for predicting site productivity for E.globulus without the need for fieldwork.The spatially explicit maps produced in the study provide support to forest planners,forest managers,private landowners and politicians,enabling well-founded decisions to be made regarding selection of the best sites for afforestation and providing accurate yield predictions for the plantations.展开更多
Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide.Drug-resistant epilepsy(DRE)accounts for up to a third of these cases,and neuro-inflammation is thought to play a role in such cases.Despite being a long-debated issue...Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide.Drug-resistant epilepsy(DRE)accounts for up to a third of these cases,and neuro-inflammation is thought to play a role in such cases.Despite being a long-debated issue in the field of DRE,the mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation have yet to be fully elucidated.The pro-inflammatory microenvironment within the brain tissue of people with DRE has been probed using single-cell multimodal transcriptomics.Evidence suggests that inflammatory cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the nervous system can lead to extensive biochemical changes,such as connexin hemichannel excitability and disruption of neurotransmitter homeostasis.The presence of inflammation may give rise to neuronal network abnormalities that suppress endogenous antiepileptic systems.We focus on the role of neuroinflammation and brain network anomalies in DRE from multiple perspectives to identify critical points for clinical application.We hope to provide an insightful overview to advance the quest for better DRE treatments.展开更多
Purpose – The vibration of the rails is a significant source of railway rolling noise, often forming the dominantcomponent of noise in the important frequency region between 400 and 2000 Hz. The purpose of the paper ...Purpose – The vibration of the rails is a significant source of railway rolling noise, often forming the dominantcomponent of noise in the important frequency region between 400 and 2000 Hz. The purpose of the paper is toinvestigate the influence of the ground profile and the presence of the train body on the sound radiation fromthe rail.Design/methodology/approach – Two-dimensional boundary element calculations are used, in which therail vibration is the source. The ground profile and various different shapes of train body are introduced in themodel, and results are observed in terms of sound power and sound pressure. Comparisons are also made withvibro-acoustic measurements performed with and without a train present.Findings – The sound radiated by the rail in the absence of the train body is strongly attenuated by shieldingdue to the ballast shoulder. When the train body is present, the sound from the vertical rail motion is reflectedback down toward the track where it is partly absorbed by the ballast. Nevertheless, the sound pressure at thetrackside is increased by typically 0–5 dB. For the lateral vibration of the rail, the effects are much smaller. Oncethe sound power is known, the sound pressure with the train present can be approximated reasonably well withsimple line source directivities.Originality/value – Numerical models used to predict the sound radiation from railway rails have generallyneglected the influence of the ground profile and reflections from the underside of the train body on the soundpower and directivity of the rail. These effects are studied in a systematic way including comparisons with measurements.展开更多
Food safety and hygiene practices require a multisectoral approach including food, water, sanitation, waste management, transport, education, trade, policies and programs that enable safe food preparation, storage and...Food safety and hygiene practices require a multisectoral approach including food, water, sanitation, waste management, transport, education, trade, policies and programs that enable safe food preparation, storage and service. Unsafe food can cause illness keeping people from achieving their full potential and death. This was a descriptive study that uses a mixed method approach to derive insights into the characteristics of food vendors related to demography, knowledge, practices, infrastructure, compliance and recommendation for a policymaking framework. Using the Lemeshows’ sample size formula, 473 vendors from formal (restaurants) and informal (cookri-baffa/table top) sites were interviewed and observed. We found from discussions that respondents had a good understanding on how to keep food safe. However, observed practices were poor 93% handled food with their bare hands, 83% did not cover their hair, and 76% did not wear an apron whilst handling, preparing or serving food, 61% did not keep their finger nails clean or short and 57% did not wash their hand before preparing or serving food. Over half (51%) had access to a toilet but 32% reported their use required payment and emphasized their poor condition/inadequate management. Nearly half (47%) of the vending sites did not have a handwashing facility, with soap and water available. Only 7% reported having any authority oversight of food safety. Food safety and hygiene practices in most cookri shops and restaurants was ‘poor’ with very limited surveillance system in place by competent authorities for compliance of food operators. Hand washing, clean surroundings, and covered food were the most common and emphasized practices to mitigate the risks associated with unsafe food.展开更多
BACKGROUND Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is a leading cause of chronic liver disease with a significant risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Recent clinical evidence indica...BACKGROUND Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is a leading cause of chronic liver disease with a significant risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Recent clinical evidence indicates the potential benefits of statins in cancer chemoprevention and therapeutics.However,it is still unclear if these drugs can lower the specific risk of HCC among patients with MASLD.AIM To investigate the impact of statin use on the risk of HCC development in patients with MASLD.METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis of all the studies was performed that measured the effect of statin use on HCC occurrence in patients with MASLD.The difference in HCC risk between statin users and non-users was calculated among MASLD patients.We also evaluated the risk difference between lipophilic versus hydrophilic statins and the effect of cumulative dose on HCC risk reduction.RESULTS A total of four studies consisting of 291684 patients were included.MASLD patients on statin therapy had a 60%lower pooled risk of developing HCC compared to the non-statin group[relative risk(RR)=0.40,95%CI:0.31-0.53,I2=16.5%].Patients taking lipophilic statins had a reduced risk of HCC(RR=0.42,95%CI:0.28-0.64),whereas those on hydrophilic statins had not shown the risk reduction(RR=0.57,95%CI:0.27-1.20).The higher(>600)cumulative defined daily doses(cDDD)had a 70%reduced risk of HCC(RR=0.30,95%CI:0.21-0.43).There was a 29%(RR=0.71,95%CI:0.55-0.91)and 43%(RR=0.57,95%CI:0.40-0.82)decreased risk in patients receiving 300-599 cDDD and 30-299 cDDD,respectively.CONCLUSION Statin use lowers the risk of HCC in patients with MASLD.The higher cDDD and lipophilicity of statins correlate with the HCC risk reduction.展开更多
The evaluation of plant-based feedstocks is an important aspect of biorefining.Nicotiana glauca is a solanaceous,non-food crop that produces large amounts of biomass and is well adapted to grow in suboptimal condition...The evaluation of plant-based feedstocks is an important aspect of biorefining.Nicotiana glauca is a solanaceous,non-food crop that produces large amounts of biomass and is well adapted to grow in suboptimal conditions.In the present article,compatible sequential solvent extractions were applied to N.glauca leaves to enable the generation of enriched extracts containing higher metabolite content comparing to direct leaf extracts.Typically,between 60 to 100 metabolite components were identified within the fractions.The occurrence of plant fatty acids,fatty acid alcohols,alkanes,sterols and terpenoids was detected by gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and metabolite identification was confirmed by comparison of physico-chemical properties displayed by available authentic standards.Collectively,co-products such waxes,oils,fermentable sugars,and terpenoids were all identified and quantified.The enriched fractions of N.glauca revealed a high level of readily extractable hydrocarbons,oils and high value co-products.In addition,the saccharification yield and cell wall composition analyses in the stems revealed the potential of the residue material as a promising lignocellulosic substrate for the production of fermentable sugars.In conclusion a multifractional cascade for valuable compounds/commodities has been development,that uses N.glauca biomass.These data have enabled the evaluation of N.glauca material as a potential feedstock for biorefining.展开更多
2019年4月9日安进/UCB公司宣布美国食品药品监督管理局(Food and Drug Adminisration,FDA)批准Sclerostin单克隆抗体Evenity (Romosozumab)上市,用于治疗绝经后女性伴高骨折风险的骨质疏松症。Evenity成为全球首个获批上市的抗Sclerosti...2019年4月9日安进/UCB公司宣布美国食品药品监督管理局(Food and Drug Adminisration,FDA)批准Sclerostin单克隆抗体Evenity (Romosozumab)上市,用于治疗绝经后女性伴高骨折风险的骨质疏松症。Evenity成为全球首个获批上市的抗Sclerostin单克隆抗体药物,既能促进骨形成,又能减少骨吸收。该药的上市将对未来骨质疏松症的治疗模式带来深远影响。展开更多
Carbon capture and storage （CCS） technology will play a critical role in reducing anthropogenic carbondioxide （CO2） emission from fossil-fired power plants and other energy-intensive processes. However, theincreme...Carbon capture and storage （CCS） technology will play a critical role in reducing anthropogenic carbondioxide （CO2） emission from fossil-fired power plants and other energy-intensive processes. However, theincrement of energy cost caused by equipping a carbon capture process is the main barrier to its commer-cial deployment. To reduce the capital and operating costs of carbon capture, great efforts have been madeto achieve optimal design and operation through process modeling, simulation, and optimization. Accuratemodels form an essential foundation for this purpose. This paper presents a study on developing a moreaccurate rate-based model in Aspen Plus for the monoethanolamine （MEA）-based carbon capture processby multistage model validations. The modeling framework for this process was established first. The steady-state process model was then developed and validated at three stages, which included a thermodynamicmodel, physical properties calculations, and a process model at the pilot plant scale, covering a wide rangeof pressures, temperatures, and CO2 loadings. The calculation correlations of liquid density and interfacialarea were updated by coding Fortran subroutines in Aspen Plus. The validation results show that the cor-relation combination for the thermodynamic model used in this study has higher accuracy than those ofthree other key publications and the model prediction of the process model has a good agreement with thepilot plant experimental data. A case study was carried out for carbon capture from a 250 MWe combinedcycle gas turbine （CCGT） power plant. Shorter packing height and lower specific duty were achieved usingthis accurate model.展开更多
The present and future energy requirements of mankind can be fulfilled with sustained research and development efforts by global scientists.The purpose of this review paper is to provide an overview of the fundamental...The present and future energy requirements of mankind can be fulfilled with sustained research and development efforts by global scientists.The purpose of this review paper is to provide an overview of the fundamentals,recent advancements on Lithium and non-Lithium electrochemical rechargeable battery systems,and their future prospects.The initial part of this review paper is dedicated to the advancement and challenges faced by the conventional rechargeable batteries,such as lead-acid,Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries.The subsequent section of this review focuses on an in-depth analysis of two major categories of rechargeable batteries,namely lithium-based rechargeable battery systems and alternative non-Lithium rechargeable battery systems.The working principle,construction,and a few important research progress on Li-ion,Li-O_(2),Li-CO_(2) and Li-S batteries have been highlighted.The recent progress and challenges of the alternate batteries such as Na-ion,Na-S,Mg-ion,K-ion,Al-ion,Al-air,Zn-ion and Zn-air are also discussed in this review.The large gap between theoretical and practical electrochemical values for the alternate battery system must be filled by adopting a series of design architectures followed by modern instrumentation for developing next-generation batteries in a sustainable and efficient way.展开更多
Necroptosis has been reported in the last years as a type of regulated cell death that can be ignited by a number of specific death receptors,such as FAS,tumor necrosis factor receptor 1(TNFR1),or pathogen recognition...Necroptosis has been reported in the last years as a type of regulated cell death that can be ignited by a number of specific death receptors,such as FAS,tumor necrosis factor receptor 1(TNFR1),or pathogen recognition receptors.This cell death subroutine is involved in the response to stress and in homeostatic functions,such as the maintenance of adult T-cell balance(Galluzzi et al.,2018).Dead receptor activation leads to the recruitment of protein complexes that act as nodes of signaling that can elicit different pathways driving to death or survival,depending on the cell conditions.展开更多
Resonance effects in parallel jointed rocks subject to stress waves are investigated using transfer functions,derived from signals generated through numerical modelling.Resonance is important for a range of engineerin...Resonance effects in parallel jointed rocks subject to stress waves are investigated using transfer functions,derived from signals generated through numerical modelling.Resonance is important for a range of engineering situations as it identifies the frequency of waves which will be favourably transmitted.Two different numerical methods are used for this study,adopting the finite difference method and the combined discrete element-finite difference method.The numerical models are validated by replicating results from previous studies.The two methods are found to behave similarly and show the same resonance effects;one operating at low frequency and the other operating at relatively high frequency.These resonance effects are interpreted in terms of simple physical systems and analytical equations are derived to predict the resonant frequencies of complex rock masses.Low frequency resonance is shown to be generated by a system synonymous with masses between springs,described as spring resonance,with an equal number of resonant frequencies as the number of blocks.High frequency resonance is generated through superposition of multiple reflected waves developing standing waves within intact blocks,described as superposition resonance.While resonance through superposition has previously been identified,resonance based on masses between springs has not been previously identified in jointed rocks.The findings of this study have implications for future analysis of multiple jointed rock masses,showing that a wave travelling through such materials can induce other modes of propagation of waves,i.e.spring resonance.展开更多
The application-specific multiprocessor system-on-chip(MPSoC) architecture is becoming an attractive solution to deal with increasingly complex embedded applications,which require both high performance and flexible pr...The application-specific multiprocessor system-on-chip(MPSoC) architecture is becoming an attractive solution to deal with increasingly complex embedded applications,which require both high performance and flexible programmability. As an effective method for MPSoC development,we present a gradual refinement flow starting from a high-level Simulink model to a synthesizable and executable hardware and software specification. The proposed methodology consists of five different abstract levels:Simulink combined algorithm and architecture model(CAAM),virtual architecture(VA),transactional accurate architecture(TA),virtual prototype(VP) and field-programmable gate array(FPGA) emulation. Experimental results of Motion-JPEG and H.264 show that the proposed gradual refinement flow can generate various MPSoC architectures from an original Simulink model,allowing processor,communication and tasks design space exploration.展开更多
文摘Background: Waste management in Western Area Rural (WAR), Sierra Leone, is plagued by infrastructural and socioeconomic challenges, leading to environmental and health hazards such as flooding, air pollution, and vector-borne diseases. Despite awareness campaigns, informal methods like open dumping and burning dominate. This study applies the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to analyse how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control influence waste management practices and barriers to proper disposal with potential solutions. Methods: A quantitative approach was employed, using stratified random sampling and structured questionnaires to collect data from 333 participants across ten communities in Western Area Rural (WAR). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to examine the relationship between socio-demographic variables and waste management practices. Results: While 98.2% of respondents acknowledged the importance of waste management, limited perceived behavioural control driven by financial constraints (83.8%), inadequate education (83.2%), and insufficient infrastructure (66.4%) hindered effective waste disposal ultimately linking health and environmental risks, such as flooding and marine pollution from plastic waste. Most respondents (68.8%) lacked access to formal waste services, with disposal occurring primarily via open dumping (62.9%) and burning (17.9%). Subjective norms reinforced informal disposal, as community waste-burning remained an accepted practice. Women were disproportionately affected due to economic constraints and larger household sizes. Despite these challenges, 93.1% were willing to engage in community clean-up efforts, indicating strong pro-environmental attitudes constrained by structural barriers. Conclusion: Findings underscore the need for integrated waste management strategies informed by TPB, targeting attitudes through education, reshaping social norms through community-driven initiatives, and enhancing perceived behavioural control by improving infrastructure and financial accessibility. Addressing gender disparities, strengthening public-private partnerships, and expanding recycling and composting programs can foster sustainable waste management in resource-constrained settings.
基金supported by the TRANSIT project(funded by EU Horizon 2020 and the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking under grant agreement 881771).
文摘Rolling noise is produced by vibration of the wheels and track,induced by their combined surface roughness.It is important to know the relative contributions of the different sources,as this affects noise control strategies as well as acceptance testing of new rolling stock.Three different techniques are described that aim to use pass-by measurements to separate the wheel and track components of rolling noise.One is based on the TWINS model,which is tuned to measured track vibration.The second is based on the advanced transfer path analysis method,which provides an entirely experimental assessment.The third is based on the pass-by analysis method in combination with static vibroacoustic transfer functions which are obtained using a reciprocity method.The development of these methods is described and comparisons between them are presented using the results from three experimental measurement campaigns.These covered a metro train,a regional train and a high-speed train at a range of speeds.The various methods agree reasonably well in terms of overall trends,with moderate agreement in the mid-frequency region,and less consistent results at low and high frequency.
基金supported by the research project of code PID2020-112839RB-I00 funded by the Spanish State Research Agency(AEI)of the Ministry of Science and Innovation(MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)in receipt of a Severo Ochoa Fellowship from the Asturias Government(code BP21-125).
文摘This research aimed to obtain accurate estimates of the productivity of eucalyptus plantations under different climate change scenarios without the need for additional fieldwork.Thus,we used tree growth data from 1,102research plots,existing spatially continuous environmental data,and the random forest(RF) algorithm to construct raster-based models.We constructed models to predict site index(SI) at landscape scale(250m·pixel^(-1)),which is useful for planning purposes and for analyzing the effect of climate change on productivity,and at forest plot scale(resolutions of 10,25,50,and 100 m-pixel^(-1)),which is essential for predicting plantation yields.All models explained~50% of site index variability,as is usual in this type of study.We found that the different spatial resolutions of predictor variables did not affect the amount of variability explained.This finding may be due to two opposing effects on the explained variability at finer scales:a positive effect,as finer scales enable capture of microscale landform variability through a high-resolution digital elevation model(DEM),and a negative effect due to the introduction of "noise" when downscaling the climatic and lithological information from coarser scales.Elevation and the climatic variables(mainly temperature) were the most important predictor variables:For every 100 m-increase in elevation,the productivity decreased by on average 0.3-0.9 m of site index(1-1.3 m^(3)·ha^(-1)·year^(-1) of maximum mean annual increment in volume) and for each degree-Celsiusincrease in annual mean temperature,productivity increased by about 2.2 m in site index(3 m^(3)·ha^(-1)·year^(-1)of maximum mean annual increment in volume).Due to the forecasted increase in temperatures under climate change,productivity is expected to increase significantly in Eucalyptus globulus plantations in northern Spain in the coming decades,by between 1.68% and 3.38% of the current average site index under the most pessimistic climate change scenario and between 1.79% and 2.48% of the current average site index for the moderate scenario.We conclude that currently available spatially continuous environmental data can be used to develop accurate raster data models for predicting site productivity for E.globulus without the need for fieldwork.The spatially explicit maps produced in the study provide support to forest planners,forest managers,private landowners and politicians,enabling well-founded decisions to be made regarding selection of the best sites for afforestation and providing accurate yield predictions for the plantations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82030037)the Translational and Application Project of Brain-inspired and Network Neuroscience on Brain Disorders(11000023T000002036286).
文摘Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide.Drug-resistant epilepsy(DRE)accounts for up to a third of these cases,and neuro-inflammation is thought to play a role in such cases.Despite being a long-debated issue in the field of DRE,the mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation have yet to be fully elucidated.The pro-inflammatory microenvironment within the brain tissue of people with DRE has been probed using single-cell multimodal transcriptomics.Evidence suggests that inflammatory cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the nervous system can lead to extensive biochemical changes,such as connexin hemichannel excitability and disruption of neurotransmitter homeostasis.The presence of inflammation may give rise to neuronal network abnormalities that suppress endogenous antiepileptic systems.We focus on the role of neuroinflammation and brain network anomalies in DRE from multiple perspectives to identify critical points for clinical application.We hope to provide an insightful overview to advance the quest for better DRE treatments.
基金supported by the TRANSIT project(funded by EU Horizon 2020 and the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking under Grant Agreement 881771).
文摘Purpose – The vibration of the rails is a significant source of railway rolling noise, often forming the dominantcomponent of noise in the important frequency region between 400 and 2000 Hz. The purpose of the paper is toinvestigate the influence of the ground profile and the presence of the train body on the sound radiation fromthe rail.Design/methodology/approach – Two-dimensional boundary element calculations are used, in which therail vibration is the source. The ground profile and various different shapes of train body are introduced in themodel, and results are observed in terms of sound power and sound pressure. Comparisons are also made withvibro-acoustic measurements performed with and without a train present.Findings – The sound radiated by the rail in the absence of the train body is strongly attenuated by shieldingdue to the ballast shoulder. When the train body is present, the sound from the vertical rail motion is reflectedback down toward the track where it is partly absorbed by the ballast. Nevertheless, the sound pressure at thetrackside is increased by typically 0–5 dB. For the lateral vibration of the rail, the effects are much smaller. Oncethe sound power is known, the sound pressure with the train present can be approximated reasonably well withsimple line source directivities.Originality/value – Numerical models used to predict the sound radiation from railway rails have generallyneglected the influence of the ground profile and reflections from the underside of the train body on the soundpower and directivity of the rail. These effects are studied in a systematic way including comparisons with measurements.
文摘Food safety and hygiene practices require a multisectoral approach including food, water, sanitation, waste management, transport, education, trade, policies and programs that enable safe food preparation, storage and service. Unsafe food can cause illness keeping people from achieving their full potential and death. This was a descriptive study that uses a mixed method approach to derive insights into the characteristics of food vendors related to demography, knowledge, practices, infrastructure, compliance and recommendation for a policymaking framework. Using the Lemeshows’ sample size formula, 473 vendors from formal (restaurants) and informal (cookri-baffa/table top) sites were interviewed and observed. We found from discussions that respondents had a good understanding on how to keep food safe. However, observed practices were poor 93% handled food with their bare hands, 83% did not cover their hair, and 76% did not wear an apron whilst handling, preparing or serving food, 61% did not keep their finger nails clean or short and 57% did not wash their hand before preparing or serving food. Over half (51%) had access to a toilet but 32% reported their use required payment and emphasized their poor condition/inadequate management. Nearly half (47%) of the vending sites did not have a handwashing facility, with soap and water available. Only 7% reported having any authority oversight of food safety. Food safety and hygiene practices in most cookri shops and restaurants was ‘poor’ with very limited surveillance system in place by competent authorities for compliance of food operators. Hand washing, clean surroundings, and covered food were the most common and emphasized practices to mitigate the risks associated with unsafe food.
文摘BACKGROUND Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is a leading cause of chronic liver disease with a significant risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Recent clinical evidence indicates the potential benefits of statins in cancer chemoprevention and therapeutics.However,it is still unclear if these drugs can lower the specific risk of HCC among patients with MASLD.AIM To investigate the impact of statin use on the risk of HCC development in patients with MASLD.METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis of all the studies was performed that measured the effect of statin use on HCC occurrence in patients with MASLD.The difference in HCC risk between statin users and non-users was calculated among MASLD patients.We also evaluated the risk difference between lipophilic versus hydrophilic statins and the effect of cumulative dose on HCC risk reduction.RESULTS A total of four studies consisting of 291684 patients were included.MASLD patients on statin therapy had a 60%lower pooled risk of developing HCC compared to the non-statin group[relative risk(RR)=0.40,95%CI:0.31-0.53,I2=16.5%].Patients taking lipophilic statins had a reduced risk of HCC(RR=0.42,95%CI:0.28-0.64),whereas those on hydrophilic statins had not shown the risk reduction(RR=0.57,95%CI:0.27-1.20).The higher(>600)cumulative defined daily doses(cDDD)had a 70%reduced risk of HCC(RR=0.30,95%CI:0.21-0.43).There was a 29%(RR=0.71,95%CI:0.55-0.91)and 43%(RR=0.57,95%CI:0.40-0.82)decreased risk in patients receiving 300-599 cDDD and 30-299 cDDD,respectively.CONCLUSION Statin use lowers the risk of HCC in patients with MASLD.The higher cDDD and lipophilicity of statins correlate with the HCC risk reduction.
基金Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEALThe research from the MultiBioPro project leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research,technological development and demonstration under grant agreement 311804Further funding from the BBSRC 21EBTA-Celfacto project is acknowledged by PDF.
文摘The evaluation of plant-based feedstocks is an important aspect of biorefining.Nicotiana glauca is a solanaceous,non-food crop that produces large amounts of biomass and is well adapted to grow in suboptimal conditions.In the present article,compatible sequential solvent extractions were applied to N.glauca leaves to enable the generation of enriched extracts containing higher metabolite content comparing to direct leaf extracts.Typically,between 60 to 100 metabolite components were identified within the fractions.The occurrence of plant fatty acids,fatty acid alcohols,alkanes,sterols and terpenoids was detected by gas liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and metabolite identification was confirmed by comparison of physico-chemical properties displayed by available authentic standards.Collectively,co-products such waxes,oils,fermentable sugars,and terpenoids were all identified and quantified.The enriched fractions of N.glauca revealed a high level of readily extractable hydrocarbons,oils and high value co-products.In addition,the saccharification yield and cell wall composition analyses in the stems revealed the potential of the residue material as a promising lignocellulosic substrate for the production of fermentable sugars.In conclusion a multifractional cascade for valuable compounds/commodities has been development,that uses N.glauca biomass.These data have enabled the evaluation of N.glauca material as a potential feedstock for biorefining.
文摘2019年4月9日安进/UCB公司宣布美国食品药品监督管理局(Food and Drug Adminisration,FDA)批准Sclerostin单克隆抗体Evenity (Romosozumab)上市,用于治疗绝经后女性伴高骨折风险的骨质疏松症。Evenity成为全球首个获批上市的抗Sclerostin单克隆抗体药物,既能促进骨形成,又能减少骨吸收。该药的上市将对未来骨质疏松症的治疗模式带来深远影响。
文摘Carbon capture and storage （CCS） technology will play a critical role in reducing anthropogenic carbondioxide （CO2） emission from fossil-fired power plants and other energy-intensive processes. However, theincrement of energy cost caused by equipping a carbon capture process is the main barrier to its commer-cial deployment. To reduce the capital and operating costs of carbon capture, great efforts have been madeto achieve optimal design and operation through process modeling, simulation, and optimization. Accuratemodels form an essential foundation for this purpose. This paper presents a study on developing a moreaccurate rate-based model in Aspen Plus for the monoethanolamine （MEA）-based carbon capture processby multistage model validations. The modeling framework for this process was established first. The steady-state process model was then developed and validated at three stages, which included a thermodynamicmodel, physical properties calculations, and a process model at the pilot plant scale, covering a wide rangeof pressures, temperatures, and CO2 loadings. The calculation correlations of liquid density and interfacialarea were updated by coding Fortran subroutines in Aspen Plus. The validation results show that the cor-relation combination for the thermodynamic model used in this study has higher accuracy than those ofthree other key publications and the model prediction of the process model has a good agreement with thepilot plant experimental data. A case study was carried out for carbon capture from a 250 MWe combinedcycle gas turbine （CCGT） power plant. Shorter packing height and lower specific duty were achieved usingthis accurate model.
基金the Education Department of the Government of Gujarat for providing fellowships under SHODH (Sc Heme of Developing High-Quality Researchresearch,Ref No:2021013725)for researchthe financial support received from Science and Engineering Research Board,Department of Science and Technology,Government of India (CRG/2022/008719)。
文摘The present and future energy requirements of mankind can be fulfilled with sustained research and development efforts by global scientists.The purpose of this review paper is to provide an overview of the fundamentals,recent advancements on Lithium and non-Lithium electrochemical rechargeable battery systems,and their future prospects.The initial part of this review paper is dedicated to the advancement and challenges faced by the conventional rechargeable batteries,such as lead-acid,Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries.The subsequent section of this review focuses on an in-depth analysis of two major categories of rechargeable batteries,namely lithium-based rechargeable battery systems and alternative non-Lithium rechargeable battery systems.The working principle,construction,and a few important research progress on Li-ion,Li-O_(2),Li-CO_(2) and Li-S batteries have been highlighted.The recent progress and challenges of the alternate batteries such as Na-ion,Na-S,Mg-ion,K-ion,Al-ion,Al-air,Zn-ion and Zn-air are also discussed in this review.The large gap between theoretical and practical electrochemical values for the alternate battery system must be filled by adopting a series of design architectures followed by modern instrumentation for developing next-generation batteries in a sustainable and efficient way.
基金supported by MINECO and FEDER funds(RTC-2015-4094-1)+1 种基金by Junta de Castilla y León(LE025P17)by Neural therapies SL(NT-Dev-01).Paloma González-Rodríguez is granted from Junta de Castilla y León(EDU/529/2017).Enrique Font-Belmonte is supported by a grant from the University of León
文摘Necroptosis has been reported in the last years as a type of regulated cell death that can be ignited by a number of specific death receptors,such as FAS,tumor necrosis factor receptor 1(TNFR1),or pathogen recognition receptors.This cell death subroutine is involved in the response to stress and in homeostatic functions,such as the maintenance of adult T-cell balance(Galluzzi et al.,2018).Dead receptor activation leads to the recruitment of protein complexes that act as nodes of signaling that can elicit different pathways driving to death or survival,depending on the cell conditions.
基金supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council(EPSRC)(EP/R513258/1).
文摘Resonance effects in parallel jointed rocks subject to stress waves are investigated using transfer functions,derived from signals generated through numerical modelling.Resonance is important for a range of engineering situations as it identifies the frequency of waves which will be favourably transmitted.Two different numerical methods are used for this study,adopting the finite difference method and the combined discrete element-finite difference method.The numerical models are validated by replicating results from previous studies.The two methods are found to behave similarly and show the same resonance effects;one operating at low frequency and the other operating at relatively high frequency.These resonance effects are interpreted in terms of simple physical systems and analytical equations are derived to predict the resonant frequencies of complex rock masses.Low frequency resonance is shown to be generated by a system synonymous with masses between springs,described as spring resonance,with an equal number of resonant frequencies as the number of blocks.High frequency resonance is generated through superposition of multiple reflected waves developing standing waves within intact blocks,described as superposition resonance.While resonance through superposition has previously been identified,resonance based on masses between springs has not been previously identified in jointed rocks.The findings of this study have implications for future analysis of multiple jointed rock masses,showing that a wave travelling through such materials can induce other modes of propagation of waves,i.e.spring resonance.
文摘The application-specific multiprocessor system-on-chip(MPSoC) architecture is becoming an attractive solution to deal with increasingly complex embedded applications,which require both high performance and flexible programmability. As an effective method for MPSoC development,we present a gradual refinement flow starting from a high-level Simulink model to a synthesizable and executable hardware and software specification. The proposed methodology consists of five different abstract levels:Simulink combined algorithm and architecture model(CAAM),virtual architecture(VA),transactional accurate architecture(TA),virtual prototype(VP) and field-programmable gate array(FPGA) emulation. Experimental results of Motion-JPEG and H.264 show that the proposed gradual refinement flow can generate various MPSoC architectures from an original Simulink model,allowing processor,communication and tasks design space exploration.
