Sudhakar Muniyasamy^1,2, Osei Ofosu^1,2, Maya Jacob John^1,2, Rajesh D. Anandjiwala^1,2*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.4, No.2, pp. 133-145, 2016, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634104

Abstract The present study investigates the mineralization of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-covalerate) (PHBV), and PLA/PHBV blend in compost and soil burial environments. The mineralization was assayed on the basis of carbon dioxide (CO2) release from the test materials incubated in compost and soil for a period of 200 days. The degradation was followed by means of fragmentation, thermogravimetric (TGA), FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The results showed that PLA, PHBV and blend of PLA/PHBV achieved almost 90% biodegradation under composting conditions, while PHBV, PLA/PHBV blend and PLA respectively achieved only 35%, 32% More >

Saber Hamimid¹, Messaoud Guellal²

FDMP-Fluid Dynamics & Materials Processing, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 137-153, 2016, DOI:10.32604/fdmp.2016.012.137

Abstract The numerical study of combined thermo-magnetic convection and surface radiation is presented in this paper and computations are performed for a paramagnetic fluid filled square cavity whose four walls have the same emissivity, placed in a micro-gravity environment (g ≈0), and subjected to various strong non-uniform magnetic field gradients. The vertical walls were isothermal, and the horizontal walls were adiabatic. Finite volume method based on the concepts of staggered grid and SIMPLER algorithm has been applied, and the view factors were determined by analytical formula. Representative results, illustrating the effect of magnetic field strength on More >

Zhuohuan Hu^a,*, Lulu Wang^a, Hui Wang^b, Mo Yang^a

Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol.6, pp. 1-8, 2015, DOI:10.5098/hmt.6.16

Abstract A numerical investigation was conducted to study the heat transfer in an aircraft cabin and the effects of air distribution under different angle and inlet velocity conditions. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations and the low Reynolds number turbulence model were used to simulate the airflow in the cabin. Mathematical statistics was used to process the relevant data, and statistical results revealed that different inlet angles and velocities significantly affect air temperature and flow field. The study also determined a set of optimum matching inlet vane angles and inlet velocities that result in an environment which meets More >

Henning Roedel¹, Isamar Rosa Plata¹, Michael Lepech^1,*, David Loftus²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.3, pp. 183-194, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634107

Abstract This article presents the sustainability assessment of a novel biocomposite material that is under investigation by NASA for use in construction in limited resource environments. The composite consists of soil particles solidified by a protein binding agent. Preliminary compressive strength data suggests the biocomposite could be used for numerous construction applications. To assess the biocomposite’s potential for use in sustainable construction, a comparative process-based life cycle assessment between biocomposite and concrete pavers was performed to analyze the life cycle primary energy and IMPACT 2002+ points of both types of pavers. Results show that the concrete More >

Mike Lawrence

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.3, No.3, pp. 163-174, 2015, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2015.634105

Abstract The relative importance of embodied energy and operational energy on the environmental impact of construction are examined in this article. It highlights the fact that the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol are primarily being met by the reduction of in-use energy, and that the implications of that are that the energy embodied in buildings will increase in signifi cance from its current 17% level to 50% by 2050. The article describes how the use of bio-based renewable materials can make a signifi cant contribution to reducing not only the embodied energy of buildings by More >

Salomón N¹, V Misller¹, C Delrieux², R Miranda³

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.2, pp. 306-311, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.306

Abstract Color is one of the factors used in quality estimation in many agricultural and food products. Currently, the evaluation of color depends on judgments made by human experts. These are subjective and inevitably affected by physical, physiological and environmental conditions. Suitable instrumental is required to provide objectivity and coherence to color measurements and quantitative expressions. It would be very useful to have tools that allow both practical and precise approaches to chromatic evaluation of products for human consumption. This work suggests a methodology which might contribute to solve that constraint and the analysis of environmental… More >

Ayerdi Gotor A^1,5*, M Berger¹, F Labalette², S Centis³, J Daydé¹, A Calmon^1,4

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.84, No.1, pp. 14-25, 2015, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2015.84.014

Abstract Sunflower oil is naturally rich in both unsaturated fatty acids and numerous minor components, with high levels of α-tocopherol and phytosterols that could play an important role in plant protection. These micronutriments, tocopherols and phytosterols, also exhibit health benefits for humans including reducing both cardiovascular diseases and aging disorders. α−Tocopherol represents more than 95% of total sunflower tocopherol and has the greatest vitaminic activity. Furthermore, this oil contains high amounts of β-sitosterol which is a promising health beneficial phytosterol. The objective of this study was to compare the content and composition of fatty acids, tocopherols More >

Yan Cai^1,2,3, Jie Wu⁴, Zhiyong Li^1,2

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 231-248, 2015, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2015.012.231

Abstract We propose a coupled mathematical model for the detailed quantitative analyses of initial microtumour and micrometastases formation by including cancer cell migration, host vessel cooption and changes in microenvironment. Migrating cells are included as a new phenotype to describe the migration behaviour of malignant tumour cells. Migration probability of a migrating cell is assumed to be influenced by local chemical microenvironment. Pre-existing vessel cooption and remodelling are introduced according to the local haemodynamical microenvironment, such as interstitial pressure and vessel wall permeability. After the tumour cells and tumour vessels distribution are updated, the chemical substances… More >

Martin Kováč^1,2, Martina Vášková^1,2, Denisa Petráčková³, Vendula Pelková^1,2, Ester Mejstříková^1,2, Tomáš Kalina^1,2, Markéta Žaliová^1,2, Jaroslav Weiser³, Jan Starý², Ondřej Hrušák^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.25, No.1, pp. 8-13, 2014, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2014.0348

Abstract Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells depend on the microenvironment of the host in vivo and do not survive in in vitro culture. Conversely, the suppression of non-malignant tissues is one of the leading characteristics of the course of ALL. Both the non-malignant suppression and malignant cell survival may be partly affected by soluble factors within the bone marrow (BM) environment. Here, we aimed to identify proteins in BM plasma of children with ALL that may contribute to ALL aggressiveness and/or the microenvironment-mediated survival of ALL cells. LBMp (leukemic bone marrow plasma) at the time of… More >

Rosana Moriana^1,2,*, Emma Strömberg¹, Amparo Ribes², Sigbritt Karlsson^1,*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.2, No.2, pp. 145-156, 2014, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2014.634103

Abstract The purpose of this work was to study the effect of hydrothermal, biological and photo degradation on natural fi bres reinforced biodegradable starch-based (Mater-BiKE) composites to characterize the structural changes occurring under exposure to different environments. The composites water-uptake rate was hindered by the interfacial interactions between matrix and fi bres. Thermal, structural and morphological analysis provided useful information about the irreversible changes in the properties of the composites caused by degradation in soil and photodegradation, and their synergetic effects. The effects due to the photo-oxidation and degradation in soil on the composites depended on… More >