Modelling Uncertainty in Flood Studies

Estimates of average annual damage (AAD) are a key central component of the hydrologic, hydraulic, and economic information developed in the evaluation of flood damage reduction plans. AAD or the expected value of annual damage, in dollars or other monetary units, is a probability-weighted average of the economic losses associated with the full range of possible flood magnitudes. Economic benefits are assessed as the reduction in AAD which would result from implementation of a particular plan. Traditional methodologies for performing hydrologic, hydraulic, and economic studies and estimating AAD have recently been expanded to explicitly incorporate analysis of the uncertainties inherent in the data collection and modelling effort. This paper presents a strategy for modelling uncertainties in the estimation of AAD for ungauged urban floodplains.     

Effects of carbonaceous nanoparticles from low-emission and older diesel engines on human skin cells

Diesel exhaust particles (DEP) are major constituents of ambient air pollution and are associated with respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as well skin cell alterations in vitro. The epidermal cells are among the first cell populations exposed to chemical pollutants, including DEP, and are an important source of pro-inflammatory mediators. We evaluated the effects of carbonaceous soot particles from current low-emission (Euro IV) diesel engines on the oxidative and inflammatory response of normal human skin cells and compared the results with those induced by carbonaceous soot particles from an older diesel engine (BS) operating under black smoke conditions. We observed that both soot nanoparticles were spontaneously internalised by keratinocytes and distributed mostly around the cell nucleus. Moreover, at the same mass concentration, Euro IV soot particles exhibited a much higher oxidative, pro-fibrotic and toxic potential on these cell types than soot particles from the older diesel engine. These results are in agreement with and confirm our previous findings on human macrophage cells and strengthen the assumption that, at the same mass concentration, soot particles produced under low emission conditions are more cytotoxic than particles from the older diesel engine. This effect could be assigned to the defective surface structure of Euro IV diesel soot, rendering it highly active. Our findings highlight that the reduction of soot emission in terms of mass does not automatically lead to a reduction of the dangerous effects and show that soot particles from different diesel engines possess different biological behaviour towards human cells.     

Effect of Surface Density on the Engineering Properties of High Methoxyl Pectin-Based Edible Films

The effect of pectin surface density (ρ _s) on the engineering properties of high methoxyl (HM) pectin-based edible films was determined in order to explore the role of ρ _s on structure and functional properties. Films at different ρ _s values (2.5, 3.2, 3.8, 4.5, 5.1, 5.8 mg cm⁻²) were analyzed by means of microscopy, thermal, mechanical, and barrier (water vapor permeability WVP, oxygen permeability \textkP_\textO2 {\text{kP}}_{{{\text{O}}_2 }} , carbon dioxide permeability \textkP_\textCO2 {\text{kP}}_{{{\text{CO}}_2 }} ) properties. Microscopy, thermal, and mechanical results showed that by increasing ρ _s from 2.5 to 5.8 mg cm⁻², the film structure does not change. HM pectin-based film has a tensile strength of 20 ± 7 MPa and an elastic modulus (E) equal to 2,400 ± 200 MPa. However, it is quite brittle as the elongation to break (e) is close to 1%. Although the film structure was unaffected by ρ _s, WVP increased with the rise in ρ _s while \textkP_\textO2 {\text{kP}}_{{{\text{O}}_2 }} and \textkP_\textCO2 {\text{kP}}_{{{\text{CO}}_2 }} decreased. On the whole, HM pectin-based film showed barrier properties comparable to biodegradable commercial film and low selectivity.     

A Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis of the Lipoxygenases Superfamily in Shewanella Woodyi Strain （Strain ATCC 519081MS32）

Sbewanella bacteria have real potential for the bioremediation of contaminated environmental and presents a differential that are three lipoxygenases described in its genome. Lipoxygenases （LOX） are a family of iron-containing enzymes that catalyze the dioxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in lipids. They occur ubiquitously in plants and mammals, and only recently, they have been detected in coral, moss, fungi and a number of bacteria as well. In this work, analyzed three enzymes lipoxigenases described for Shewanella woodyi deposited in GeneBank as probable LOX gene in the Swoo_2318 S. woodyi ATCC 51908： Proteins Code （ACA86597.1） hypothetical protein, （ACA87192. I） arachidonate 15-1ipoxygenase and （AEF01209.1） arachidonate 15-1ipoxygenase precursor the strain S. woodyi DSM 12036. The bioinformatics tools tend to solve impossible problems to be addressed in the past decades. These analyses identified were the three proteins described as lipoxygenases have different secondary structures, the phosphorylation sites; the protein GRAVY （grand average of hydropathy） and protein isoelectric point are distinct. However, binding site is Fe for three lipoxygenases. This suggested that three lipoxygenases deserve special attention for work in situ, due to peculiar characteristics and still not know what is the need ofS. woodyi have in its genome three genes encoding the same protein.     

Separation of Scaptotrigona postica Workers into Defined Task Groups by the Chemical Profile on Their Epicuticle Wax Layer

During evolution, the cuticle surface of insects acquired functions in communication, such as inter- and intra-specific recognition, identification of gender, physiological state, and fertility. In eusocial bees, the information in the cuticular surface is important not only to discriminate nestmates from non-nestmates but also to identify an individual’s class, life phase or task. A comparative study of the cuticular surface chemical profile of workers of Scaptotrigona postica in different phases of life, i.e., newly emerged workers (NE), brood comb area workers (CA), and forager workers (FO) was undertaken by gas chromatography linked to mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to verify how workers are grouped according to their chemical profile and to determine which compounds are responsible for separating them into groups. The cuticle surface of workers contains mainly hydrocarbons and a small amount of oxygenated compounds. Multivariate statistical analysis showed qualitative and quantitative variation in relation to the life phases/tasks performed, and all groups were distinct. The most abundant compound found in NE and CA was n-heptacosane, while in FO, it was (Z)-9-heptacosene. The compounds that differentiate NE from other groups are n-tricosane and n-hexacosane. A (Z)-X-octacosene and n-nonacosane are the chemicals that distinguish CA from NE and FO, while 11- and 13-methylpentacosane, (Z)-X-hexacosene, and (Z)-9-heptacosene characterize FO as distinct from NE and CA. The probable function of alkenes is nestmate recognition, mainly in FO. The results show that the cuticle surfaces of workers are characteristic of the phase of life/task performed by workers, allowing intra-colonial recognition.     

Investigation of the thermal stability of phosphotungstic Wells-Dawson heteropoly-acid through in situ Raman spectroscopy

The present investigation applies laser Raman spectroscopy under in situ conditions to obtain insights on the effect of the temperature on the molecular structure of the bulk phosphotungstic Wells-Dawson heteropoly-acid H₆P₂W₁₈O₆₂·xH₂O (HPA). The in situ temperature-programmed studies followed the evolution of phosphotungstic Wells-Dawson and Keggin heteropoly-acids along with tungsten trioxide under controlled atmosphere and temperature. The spectroscopic investigation of the Wells-Dawson HPA demonstrated that in situ Raman spectroscopy is a suitable technique to follow the effect of a gradual dehydration on the secondary structure of such a complex structure. Moreover, the absence of the signals belonging either to the Keggin or WO₃ phases provides further evidence that the phosphotungstic heteropolyanion does not decomposes towards those materials at temperatures below 600 °C.     

Experimental Investigation of Microstructure and Phase Transitions in Ag-Cu-Zn Brazing Alloys

Microstructure and phase transitions of selected brazing alloys from the Ag-Cu-Zn ternary system were investigated. Four ternary alloys with silver content in the compositional range from 25 to 60 wt.% were studied using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with the energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). Phase transitions of the investigated alloys were measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Experimentally obtained results were compared with the results of a thermodynamic calculation of the phase equilibria according to the CALPHAD method. The experiments confirmed the optimized thermodynamic parameters for the calculations from the thermodynamic assessment in literature. Phase compositions, liquidus and solidus temperatures were confirmed by the EDS and DTA methods. Additionally, the calculated solidification paths and predicted phase transformations were in agreement with the SEM images.     

Effect of hot air,vacuum and infrared drying methods on quality of rose hip (Rosa rubiginosa) leathers

For the development of fruit leathers, a formulation containing rose hip pulp, sucrose and citric acid was used as initial material for the drying process. Three dehydration techniques were tested: forced hot air, infrared and vacuum, all carried out at 60 and 70 °C. All methods led to flexible, translucent fruit leathers at both temperatures. Colour and water activity were not affected by the dehydration method nor by the temperatures tested. Nutritional parameters such as antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and content of phenolic substances were measured. The best retention was achieved with vacuum drying at 60 °C being of 57.5% and 25.1%, respectively. ESEM observations were conducted to assess the effect of drying methods and conditions on microstructure of leathers. Various extents of sucrose crystallisation were inferred from surface images. Cross‐sectional micrographs showed that the size of pores was affected by the drying technique but not by temperature in the range studied.     

Isothermal Crystallization of Palm Oil-Based Fats with and without the Addition of Essential Oils

The objective of study was to evaluate the crystallization behavior of palm oil-based fats processed with and without the addition of essential oils (5% w/w) obtained from the flowers (EsOF) and stems (EsOS) of Pituranthos scoparius. Palm oil (PO) and a mixture of PO, soybean oil, and sunflower oil (Mix) were tested. The addition of the essential oils did not change the melting points of the fats but affected their crystallization behavior. A delay in crystallization was observed, evidenced by lower crystallization rates, and lower solid fat contents. This delay was comparable in the samples crystallized with EsOF and EsOS for the PO samples but EsOF was more efficient at delaying crystallization in the Mix sample. EsOF generated a less organized crystalline network in both samples (lower enthalpy values) while EsOS generated a more organized crystalline network (high enthalpy values) when used in the Mix sample. The addition of EsO also affected the crystal microstructure in some cases. While a slight increase in crystal size was observed for some PO samples crystallized with EsOF, no change or a decrease in crystal size was observed for the samples crystallized with EsOS. A slight decrease in crystal size was observed for Mix samples crystallized with EsOF while no effect was observed for these samples crystallized with EsOS. Results from this study show that these essential oils can be used as natural additives to modify the crystallization of fats for food applications and therefore widen their functional properties.     

New approaches to clarify antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extract from Vernonia condensata leaves

The present study was aimed at evaluating the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extract from Vernonia condensata leaves in animal models, in order to afford a better understanding of these properties. The extract reduced the number of abdominal contortions at doses of 100 (51.00 ± 3.00), 200 (42.00 ± 2.98) and 400 mg/kg (39.00 ± 4.00). In formalin tests, a significant reduction in the licking time (p < 0.01) was observed in the first phase by 25.14 (200 mg/kg = 51.50 ± 4.44) and 31.15% (400 mg/kg = 48.00 ± 4.37). The doses of 100 (43.37 ± 5.15), 200 (34.62 ± 4.16) and 400 mg/kg (28.37 ± 3.98) inhibited (p < 0.001) the second phase. After 60 and 90 min of treatment, a dose of 400 mg/kg (10.13 ± 0.39 and 11.14 ± 1.33, respectively) increased the latency time. Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg potentiated the sleeping time induced by diazepam, pentobarbital and meprobamate. The extracts (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) showed anti-inflammatory effects by a decrease in paw edema. The extracts also reduced the exudate volume at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg. The leukocyte migration had significant effect (p < 0.001) at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg. The completion of additional experiments in the investigation of the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of V. condensata allowed a better understanding of the central and peripheral mechanisms involved.