Could near infrared spectroscopy be the new weapon in our understanding of the cerebral and muscle microvascular oxygen demand during exercise?

Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)has been increasingly utilized in both sport and health sciences to assess various physiological parameters related to exercise performance.1 NIRS methods coupled with the recent development of portable and wearable devices suitable for field-based measurements have revolutionized the study of exercise physiology and the determinants of exercise performance by providing real-time,non-invasive,and spatially localized measurements of tissue oxygenation dynamics.

Exploring the effects of dietary inulin in rainbow trout fed a high‑starch,100%plant‑based diet

Background High dietary carbohydrates can spare protein in rainbow trout(Oncorhynchus mykiss)but may affect growth and health.Inulin,a prebiotic,could have nutritional and metabolic effects,along with anti-inflammatory properties in teleosts,improving growth and welfare.We tested this hypothesis in rainbow trout by feeding them a 100%plant-based diet,which is a viable alternative to fishmeal and fish oil in aquaculture feeds.In a two-factor design,we examined the impact of inulin(2%)as well as the variation in the carbohydrates(CHO)/plant protein ratio on rainbow trout.We assessed the influence of these factors on zootechnical parameters,plasma metabolites,gut microbiota,production of short-chain fatty acids and lactic acid,as well as the expression of free-fatty acid receptor genes in the mid-intestine,intermediary liver metabolism,and immune markers in a 12-week feeding trial.Results The use of 2%inulin did not significantly change the fish intestinal microbiota,but interestingly,the high CHO/protein ratio group showed a change in intestinal microbiota and in particular the beta diversity,with 21 bacterial genera affected,including Ralstonia,Bacillus,and 11 lactic-acid producing bacteria.There were higher levels of butyric,and valeric acid in groups fed with high CHO/protein diet but not with inulin.The high CHO/protein group showed a decrease in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines(il1b,il8,and tnfa)in liver and a lower expression of the genes coding for tight-junction proteins in mid-intestine(tjp1a and tjp3).However,the 2%inulin did not modify the expression of plasma immune markers.Finally,inulin induced a negative effect on rainbow trout growth performance irrespective of the dietary carbohydrates.Conclusions With a 100%plant-based diet,inclusion of high levels of carbohydrates could be a promising way for fish nutrition in aquaculture through a protein sparing effect whereas the supplementation of 2%inulin does not appear to improve the use of CHO when combined with a 100%plant-based diet.

Use of biopolymers in wastewater treatment:A brief review of current trends and prospects

Indeed,polymeric materials have thrived in worldwide sectors over the last five decades due to their versatility and durability,to the point that we can no longer envisage a product that does not contain them.However,many synthetic polymers that have been produced are mostly sourced from petroleum and coal as raw materials,making them environmentally incompatible because they cannot be integrated with what is a natural recycling system.One of the most important aspects of the transition to a circular bioeconomy(CBE)is the provision of more sustainable strategies for resource and waste management.Considering the environmental consequences associated with petroleum-based polymers(PBPs),natural biopolymers,originating from biomass,can be conceived as a promising solution to gradually replace the PBPs,and address,and resolve the potential challenges and prevailing research gaps in the PBPs.The biopolymers have significant advantages over PBPs in terms of low-cost/zero-cost precursors,environmental friendliness,and user-friendliness.The present review dissects the sources,synthesis pathways,structures,characterization,and employment of biopolymers and their composites in water and wastew-ater treatment applications via different scenarios.Furthermore,the CBE model framework proposes potential approaches to applying CBE principles in the wastewater management sector,with a heavy emphasis on not only technology but also organizational and societal reforms.To sum up,the reliance on biopolymers can be considered a crucial tool for assessing the global progress toward CBE,as well as future environmental management and planning.

Experiment/simulation correlation-based methodology for metallic ballistic protection solutions

A methodology is developed based on the coupling of a finite element code with an optimisation module for the design of land vehicle armouring composed of lightweight aluminium alloy and high strength steel plate.Following an experiment/simulation correlation,a numerical model has been built and calibrated considering monolithic plates and then verified considering a bi-metal protection against tungsten carbide projectile mimicking the core of a 7.62×51 AP8 ammunition.In addition,a method is proposed to obtain the v_(res)-v_(i) curve for the full 7.62×51 AP8 bullet from the v_(res)-v_(i) curve obtained from the core only.

The Effects of Accelerated Photooxidation on Molecular Weight and Thermal and Mechanical Properties of PHBV/Cloisite 30B Bionanocomposites

The effects of accelerated photooxidation on the molecular weight and thermal and mechanical properties of Cast PHBV and PHBV/Cloisite 30B(3 wt%)bionanocomposites are investigated herein.Through size exclusion chromatography(SEC)analysis,a significant decrease in both weight and number average molecular weights was observed for all irradiated samples over time,resulting from the chain scission mechanism.Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)data indicated a decrease in degree of crystallinity and melting temperature after UV exposure,with the appearance of double melting peaks related to the changes in the crystal structure of PHBV.Thermal stability,tensile and thermo-mechanical properties were also reduced consecutively in photooxidation,being more pronounced for Cast PHBV.This study shows that the incorporation of Cloisite 30B in PHBV provides a better resistance to photooxidation in comparison with the neat polymer.

The Effects of Gamma Irradiation on Molecular Weight, Morphology and Physical Properties of PHBV/Cloisite 30B Bionanocomposites

In this paper,the effects of gamma irradiation on Cast poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)(PHBV)and PHBV/Cloisite 30B(C30B)(3 wt%)bionanocomposite prepared by melt compounding,were evaluated at various doses,i.e.,5,15,20,50 and 100 kGy at room temperature in air.Changes in molecular weight,morphology and physical properties were investigated.The study showed that the main degradation mechanism occurring in gamma irradiation in both Cast PHBV and C-PHBV/3C30B bionanocomposite is chain scission,responsible for the decrease of molecular weight.Differential scanning calorimetry(DSC)data indicated a regular decrease in crystallization temperature,melting temperature and crystallinity index for all irradiated samples with increasing the dose.Further,DSC thermograms of both Cast PHBV and PHBV bionanocomposite exhibited double melting peaks due probably to changes in the PHBV crystal structure.Tensile and DMA data showed a reduction in Young’s modulus,strength,elongation at break and storage modulus with the radiation dose;the decrease was however more pronounced for Cast PHBV.The morphological damages were much less pronounced for the PHBV bionanocomposite sample compared to Cast PHBV,for which some irregularities and defects were observed at 100 kGy.This study highlighted the ability of C30B to counterbalance the detrimental effect of radiolytic degradation on the functional properties of PHBV up to 100 kGy,thus acting as a potential anti-rad.

Comparative Study of Combined Fault Diagnosis Schemes Based on Convolutional Neural Network

In this paper, comparative combined fault diagnosis schemes are studied including vibration analysis, acoustic signal analysis and thermal image analysis based on the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). The advantage of the CNN structure is that it does not need manual feature extraction or selection, which requires prior knowledge of specific machinery dynamics. The vibration and acoustic signals were transformed into spectrograms, which are effective for the diagnostic analysis by using CNN. Comparatively, the thermal images were directly analyzed using CNN. The effectiveness of the CNN-based diagnosis methods was investigated through the analysis of different experimental data, i.e., vibration, acoustic signals and thermal images, which were collected from a test rig where different types of faults are induced on the roller bearing and shaft. The results show that the thermal image analysis and acoustic signal analysis could achieve relatively higher accuracy rate compared to vibration analysis. Moreover, the advantage is easy-deployment because of the non-contact way during signal acquisition. With the CNN-based fault diagnosis method for the three different signals collected, the accuracy of different signal predictions for combined faults can be compared, and the effective method can be applied to fault diagnosis of other industrial rotating machinery.

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a PCM-Integrated Roof for Higher Thermal Performance of Buildings

Phase change materials(PCMs) designate materials able to store latent heat.PCMs change state from solid to liquid over a defined temperature range.This process is reversible and can be used for thermo-technical purposes.The present paper aims to study the thermal performance of an inorganic eutectic PCM integrated into the rooftop slab of a test room and analyze its potential for building thermal management.The experiment is conducted in two test rooms in Antofagasta(Chile) during summer,fall,and winter.The PCM is integrated into the rooftop of the first test room,while the roof panel of the second room is a sealed air cavity.The work introduces a numerical model,which is built using the finite difference method and used to simulate the rooms' thermal behavior.Several thermal simulations of the PCM room are performed for other Chilean locations to evaluate and compare the capability of the PCM panel to store latent heat thermal energy in different climates.Results show that the indoor temperature of the PCM room in Antofagasta varies only 21.1℃±10.6℃,while the one of the air-panel room varies 28.3℃±18.5℃.Under the experiment's conditions,the PCM room's indoor temperature observes smoother diurnal fluctuations,with lower maximum and higher minimum indoor temperatures than that of the air-panel room.Thermal simulations in other cities show that the PCM panel has a better thermal performance during winter,as it helps to maintain or increase the room temperature by some degrees to reach comfort temperatures.This demonstrates that the implementation of such PCM in the building envelope can effectively reduce space heating and cooling needs,and improve indoor thermal comfort in different climates of Chile.

Emergency evacuation in a supermarket during a terrorist attack: towards a possible modelling of the influence of affordances on the evacuation behavior of agents in a complex virtual environment

During a terrorist attack on a supermarket,the use of emergency exits is essential for effective evacuation and saving lives.However,people tend to ignore emergency situations.This behavior can lengthen evacuation times,endanger individuals,and even prove fatal.In this context,we conducted a series of experiments to explore the links between cognition and the dynamics of human capabilities in a complex and changing environment.In a series of behavioral experiments and computer simulations,we found that active guidance by green flashing lights at emergency exits impacts the behavior of individuals in an emergency evacuation situation in a supermarket;this tested our hypothesis that changing the environment in turn changes the evacuation behavior of individuals.We also show that environmental modification can help in decision-making in an emergency situation.Furthermore,the results of computer simulations support a possible modeling of the influence of affordances on the evacuation behavior of agents in a complexvirtual environment.

Dissimilar linear friction welding of selective laser melted Inconel 718 to forged Ni-based superalloy AD730TM:Evolution of strengthening phases

The continuous growth in the manufacture of aerospace components such as blisks has led to an increase in the application of different hybrid materials fabricating methods,and thus the requirements for joining and strengthening of dissimilar welds.According to this goal,selective laser melted(SLM)Inconel718 was joined with forged AD730^(TM)Nickel-based superalloy through linear friction welding(LFW)in this study.Microstructure variation,specifically with respect to secondary phases precipitation was investigated.The microhardness and strengthening mechanisms of the weldment were also studied.The precipitation(volume fraction and size of particles)at different regions of both sides of the weld line was characterized.Close to the weld line,the dissolution ofγ’/γ"and Laves phases and grain refinement occurred which reveals the effects of both compression strain and high temperature on recrystallization and high degree of elemental diffusion in the weld zone(WZ).It is shown that the size,volume fraction,and shape of secondary phases increased and changed(from spherical to long-striped for Laves particles)as we went from the WZ toward the base metal.However,the measured microhardness indicated that the strength of AD730^(TM)alloy depends significantly on the grain size,while strength in SLM Inconel 718 was dominated by shape(or size)and the presence of secondary phases(γ’/γ"and Laves).