Benefits of using a Wendland Kernel for free-surface flows

The aim of this paper Is lo discuss the influence of the selection of the interpolation kernel in the accuracy of the modeling of the internal viscous dissipation in Tree surface Hows, Simulations corresponding to a standing wave* for which an analytic solution available, are presented. Wendland and renormalized Gaussian kernels are considered. The differences in the flow pattern* and Internal dissipation mechanisms are documented for a range of Reynolds numbers. It is shown that the simulations with Wendland kernels replicate the dissipation mechanisms more accurately than those with a renormalized Gaussian kernel. Although some explanations are hinted we have Tailed to clarify which the core structural reasons for Mich differences are*

An automatic translation scheme from prolog to the andorra kernel language

The Andorra family of languages (which includes the Andorra Kernel Language -AKL) is aimed, in principie, at simultaneously supporting the programming styles of Prolog and committed choice languages. On the other hand, AKL requires a somewhat detailed specification of control by the user. This could be avoided by programming in Prolog to run on AKL. However, Prolog programs cannot be executed directly on AKL. This is due to a number of factors, from more or less trivial syntactic differences to more involved issues such as the treatment of cut and making the exploitation of certain types of parallelism possible. This paper provides basic guidelines for constructing an automatic compiler of Prolog programs into AKL, which can bridge those differences. In addition to supporting Prolog, our style of translation achieves independent and-parallel execution where possible, which is relevant since this type of parallel execution preserves, through the translation, the user-perceived "complexity" of the original Prolog program.

Biokerosene from coconut, babassu, camelina and palm kernel oils: production and properties of their blends with fossil kerosene

On December 20th 2006 the European Commission approved a law proposal to include the civil aviation sector in the European market of carbon dioxide emission rights [European Union Emissions Trading System, EUETS). On July 8th 2009, the European Parliament and Conseil agreed that all flights leaving or landing in the EU airports starting from January 1st 2012 should be included in the EUETS. On November 19th 2008, the EU Directive 2008/101/CE [1] included the civil aviation activities in the EUETS, and this directive was transposed by the Spanish law 13/2010 of July 5th 2010 [2]. Thus, in 2012 the aviation sector should reduce their emissions to 97 % of the mean values registered in the period 2004-2006, and for 2013 these emission reductions should reach 95 % of the mean values for that same period. Trying to face this situation, the aviation companies are planning seriously the use of alternative jet fuels to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and to lower their costs. However, some US airlines have issued a lawsuit before the European Court of Justice based in that this EU action violates a long standing worldwide aviation treaty, the Chicago convention of 1944, and also the Chinese aviation companies have rejected to pay any EU carbon dioxide tax [3]. Moreover, the USA Departments of Agriculture and Energy and the Navy will invest a total of up to $150 million over three years to spur production of aviation and marine biofuels for commercial and military applications [4]. However, the jet fuels should fulfill a set of extraordinarily sensitive properties to guarantee the safety of planes and passengers during all the flights.

Seismic hazards of the Iberian Peninsula - evaluation with Kernel functions

The seismic hazard of the Iberian Peninsula is analysed using a nonparametric methodology based on statistical kernel functions; the activity rate is derived from the catalogue data, both its spatial dependence (without a seismogenetic zonation) and its magnitude dependence (without using Gutenberg–Richter's law). The catalogue is that of the Instituto Geográfico Nacional, supplemented with other catalogues around the periphery; the quantification of events has been homogenised and spatially or temporally interrelated events have been suppressed to assume a Poisson process. The activity rate is determined by the kernel function, the bandwidth and the effective periods. The resulting rate is compared with that produced using Gutenberg–Richter statistics and a zoned approach. Three attenuation laws have been employed, one for deep sources and two for shallower events, depending on whether their magnitude was above or below 5. The results are presented as seismic hazard maps for different spectral frequencies and for return periods of 475 and 2475 yr, which allows constructing uniform hazard spectra.

Airplane materials compatibility with blends of fossil kerosene JET A1 with biokerosenes from babassu, palm kernel and coconut oils

The aviation companies are facing some problems that argue in favor of biofuels: Rising cost of traditional fuel: from 0.71 USD/gallon in May 2003 to 3.09 USD/gallon in January 2012. Environmental concerns: direct emissions from aviation account for about 3 % of the EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) forecasts that by 2050 they could grow by a further 300-700 %. On December 20th 2006 the European Commission approved a law proposal to include the civil aviation sector in the European market of carbon dioxide emission rights (European Union Emissions Trading System, EUETS)

Blends of babassu, palm kernel and coconut fame with fossil kerosene. Technical aspects of low carbon number methyl esters as a possible source for renewable jet fuel

State of the Art. Process and Distillation. Fuel Characterization. Fuel Compatibility Tests

Genetic characterization of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) orchards and traditional nut varieties in El Bierzo, a glacial refuge and major cultivation site in Northwestern Spain

This paper presents a detailed genetic study of Castanea sativa in El Bierzo, a major nut production region with interesting features. It is located within a glacial refuge at one extreme of the distribution area (northwest Spain); it has a centenary tradition of chestnut management; and more importantly, it shows an unusual degree of genetic isolation. Seven nuclear microsatellite markers were selected to analyze the genetic variability and structure of 169 local trees grafted for nut production. We analyzed in the same manner 62 local nuts. The selected loci were highly discriminant for the genotypes studied, giving a combined probability of identity of 6.1 × 10−6. An unprecedented density of trees was sampled for this project over the entire region, and nuts were collected representing 18 cultivars marketed by local producers. Several instances of misclassification by local growers were detected. Fixation index estimates and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) data are supportive of an unexpectedly high level of genetic differentiation in El Bierzo, larger than that estimated in a previous study with broader geographical scope but based on limited local sampling (Pereira-Lorenzo et al., Tree Genet Genomes 6: 701–715, 2010a). Likewise, we have determined that clonality due to grafting had been previously overestimated. In line with these observations, no significant spatial structure was found using both a model-based Bayesian procedure and Mantel’s tests. Taken together, our results evidence the need for more fine-scale genetic studies if conservation strategies are to be efficiently improved.

Airplane materials compatibility with blends of fossil kerosene jet a1 with biokerosenes from babassu, palm kernel and coconut oils

El desarrollo de bioqueroseno de diferentes orígenes y su uso creciente, hacen necesario el estudio de la compatibilidad estos nuevos combustibles con los materiales y recubrimientos con los que se encuentra en contacto. Por tanto, el presente proyecto estudia la compatibilidad de los bioquerosenos mezclados en diferentes proporciones con queroseno mineral, para evaluar posteriormente su compatibilidad con diferentes polímeros y composites presentes en la estructura de un avión.Currently there is a big interest to increase the sources of alternative fuels for aviation to get a reduction of their carbon footprint and the deep energetic dependence from fossil fuels of different countries. Although there are studies about how to produce this alternative fuel and how to accomplish the standards for a good performance in the aircraft turbines, there are no studies about how these fuels could affect the different materials of airplanes. In this context this work describes the compatibility of biokerosene blends of coconut, babassu and palm kernel with commercial Jet A-1 testing airplane polymeric materials, metals and composites. As a conclusion, all material samples show a good compatibility with the fuel blends tested.

Seismic hazard of the Iberian Peninsula: evaluation with Kernel functions

The seismic hazard of the Iberian Peninsula is analysed using a nonparametric methodology based on statistical kernel functions; the activity rate is derived from the catalogue data, both its spatial dependence (without a seismogenic zonation) and its magnitude dependence (without using Gutenberg–Richter's relationship). The catalogue is that of the Instituto Geográfico Nacional, supplemented with other catalogues around the periphery; the quantification of events has been homogenised and spatially or temporally interrelated events have been suppressed to assume a Poisson process. The activity rate is determined by the kernel function, the bandwidth and the effective periods. The resulting rate is compared with that produced using Gutenberg–Richter statistics and a zoned approach. Three attenuation relationships have been employed, one for deep sources and two for shallower events, depending on whether their magnitude was above or below 5. The results are presented as seismic hazard maps for different spectral frequencies and for return periods of 475 and 2475 yr, which allows constructing uniform hazard spectra

NIR hyperspectral imaging for detection of nut contamination

NIR hyperspectral imaging for detection of nut contamination

Is Microarray Analysis Really Useful and Sufficient to Diagnose Nut Allergy in the Mediterranean Area?

Background: Component-based diagnosis on multiplex platforms is widely used in food allergy but its clinical performance has not been evaluated in nut allergy. Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of a commercial protein microarray in the determination of specific IgE (sIgE) in peanut, hazelnut, and walnut allergy. Methods: sIgE was measured in 36 peanut-allergic, 36 hazelnut-allergic, and 44 walnut-allergic patients by ISAC 112, and subsequently, sIgE against available components was determined by ImmunoCAP in patients with negative ISAC results. ImmunoCAP was also used to measure sIgE to Ara h 9, Cor a 8, and Jug r 3 in a subgroup of lipid transfer protein (LTP)-sensitized nut-allergic patients (positive skin prick test to LTP-enriched extract). sIgE levels by ImmunoCAP were compared with ISAC ranges. Results: Most peanut-, hazelnut-, and walnut-allergic patients were sensitized to the corresponding nut LTP (Ara h 9, 66.7%; Cor a 8, 80.5%; Jug r 3, 84% respectively). However, ISAC did not detect sIgE in 33.3% of peanut-allergic patients, 13.9% of hazelnut-allergic patients, or 13.6% of walnut-allergic patients. sIgE determination by ImmunoCAP detected sensitization to Ara h 9, Cor a 8, and Jug r 3 in, respectively, 61.5% of peanut-allergic patients, 60% of hazelnut-allergic patients, and 88.3% of walnut-allergic patients with negative ISAC results. In the subgroup of peach LTP?sensitized patients, Ara h 9 sIgE was detected in more cases by ImmunoCAP than by ISAC (94.4% vs 72.2%, P<.05). Similar rates of Cor a 8 and Jug r 3 sensitization were detected by both techniques. Conclusions: The diagnostic performance of ISAC was adequate for hazelnut and walnut allergy but not for peanut allergy. sIgE sensitivity against Ara h 9 in ISAC needs to be improved.

Interaction between the phage HK022 Nun protein and the nut RNA of phage lambda.

The nun gene product of prophage HK022 excludes phage lambda infection by blocking the expression of genes downstream from the lambda nut sequence. The Nun protein functions both by competing with lambda N transcription-antitermination protein and by actively inducing transcription termination on the lambda chromosome. We demonstrate that Nun binds directly to a stem-loop structure within nut RNA, boxB, which is also the target for the N antiterminator. The two proteins show comparable affinities for boxB and they compete with each other. Their interactions with boxB are similar, as shown by RNase protection experiments, NMR spectroscopy, and analysis of boxB mutants. Each protein binds the 5' strand of the boxB stem and the adjacent loop. The stem does not melt upon the binding of Nun or N, as the 3' strand remains sensitive to a double-strand-specific RNase. The binding of RNA partially protects Nun from proteolysis and changes its NMR spectra. Evidently, although Nun and N bind to the same surface of boxB RNA, their respective complexes interact differently with RNA polymerase, inducing transcription termination or antitermination, respectively.

Influence of different genotypes in the pattern of selenoprotein expression in response to Brazil nut supplementation

The micronutrient selenium is essential to human physiology. As the amino acid selenocysteine, it is inserted into selenoproteins with a wide range of functions including antioxidant capacity, thyroid hormone metabolism, improvement of immune system, brain function, fertility and reproduction. Low selenium status has been associated with increased risk for chronic diseases, such as cancer, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this context, several studies have been conducted in order to investigate if selenium supplementation could reduce the risk of such diseases. However, genetic variations may interfere in the response of individuals to a dietary intervention and must be considered as a important source of inter-individual variation. Therefore, this study was conducted was conducted to investigate the influence of genetic variations in selenoproteins genes on the response to an intervention with Brazil nuts, the richest source of selenium known in nature. The study included 130 healthy volunteers with both genders, aged 20 to 60 years old selected in University of São Paulo. They received nuts for 8 weeks, eating one nut a day, and did a washout period for more 8 weeks. All volunteers had a blood sampling collection every 4 weeks during 4 months, in a total of 5. The following analysis were done: anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, plasma malondialdehyde, plasma and erythrocyte Se, selenoprotein P, plasma and erythrocyte GPx activity, gene expression of GPX1, SEPP1, SELS and SEP15. The volunteers were also genotyped for SNPs rs1050450, rs3811699, rs1800699, rs713041, rs3877899, rs7579, rs34713741 and rs5845. Each unit of Brazil nut provided an average of 300 µg of selenium. All 130 volunteers completed the protocol. The concentrations of total cholesterol and glucose decreased after 8 weeks of supplementation. Moreover, HDL concentrations were higher for carriers of the variant T allele for GPX4_rs713041. The frequencies of the variant genotypes were 5,4% for rs1050450, rs3811699 e rs1088668, 10% for rs3877899, 19,2% for rs713041 e rs7579, 11,5% for rs5845 and 8,5% for rs34713741. The levels of the five biomarkers increased significantly after supplementation. In addition, erythrocyte GPx activity was influenced by rs1050450, rs713041 and rs5845; erythrocyte selenium was influenced by rs5845 and plasma selenium by rs3877899. Gene expression of GPX1, SEPP1 and SEP15 were higher after supplementation. The SNP rs1050450 influenced GPX1 mRNA expression and rs7579 influenced SEPP1 mRNA expression. Therefore, it can be concluded that the supplementation with one of Brazil nut for 8 weeks was efficient to reduce total cholesterol and glucose levels and to increase the concentrations of the main biomarkers of selenium status in healthy adults. Furthermore, our results suggest that GPX4_rs713041 might interfere on HDL concentrations and GPx1 activity, GPX1_rs1050450 might interfere on GPx1 activity, SEP15_rs5845 might interfere on GPx1 activity and erythrocyte selenium and SEPP1_3877899 might interfere on plasma Se levels. Therefore, the effect of genetic variations should be considered in future nutritional interventions evaluating the response to Brazil nut supplementation.

Análise da aderência de práticas ágeis na cultura de startups de software: o mapeamento de práticas através do SEMAT Kernel.

Este trabalho analisa os principais métodos ágeis utilizados em empresas startup, como scrum, extreme programming, kanban e lean, isolando suas práticas e mapeando-as no Kernel do SEMAT para escolher os elementos essenciais da engenharia de software que estão relacionados a cada prática de forma independente. Foram identificadas 34 práticas que foram reduzidas a um conjunto de 26 pelas similaridades. Um questionário foi desenvolvido e aplicado no ambiente de startups de software para a avaliação do grau de utilização de cada determinada prática. Através das respostas obtidas foi possível a identificação de um subconjunto de práticas com utilização acima de 60% onde todos os elementos essenciais da engenharia de software são atendidos, formando um conjunto mínimo de práticas capazes de sustentar este tipo específico de ambiente.