Higher FW Research Articles

D-π-A type dicyanoethylene derivatives modified by tetraphenylethylene exhibiting aggregation-induced emission and high-contrast mechanofluorochromism

Based on a rational design strategy by combining an electron-withdrawing dicyanoethylene unit and electron-donating tetraphenylethylene moiety, we successfully synthesized two π-conjugated molecules Ph-TPE-MMN and NA-TPE-MMN. According to the optical research and theoretical calculation results, they had highly distorted conformations, D-A type molecular structure and definite intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) properties. Moreover, two molecules Ph-TPE-MMN and NA-TPE-MMN showed aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties in the THF/water mixture at higher fw (water fraction). Ph-TPE-MMN and NA-TPE-MMN also exhibited fluorescence response to external force. The emitting color of both had changed greatly before and after grinding. The maximum emission wavelengths of Ph-TPE-MMN and NA-TPE-MMN were redshifted by 46 nm and 33 nm, respectively, implying high-contrast mechanofluorochromism. Notably, mechanofluorochromic process also showed a good reversible. XRD experiments indicated that mechanofluorochromic mechanism originated from changes in molecular stacking in solid state.

Multimodal associations of physical exercise, diet, body mass index, and sleep on white matter injury: The SOL‐INCA‐MRI study

AbstractBackgroundEveryday modifiable lifestyle factors play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of successful cognitive and neurodegenerative trajectories in later life. Although research has focused on independent associations of physical exercise (PE), diet, body mass index (BMI), and sleep, how all four factors simultaneously work in a larger multimodal association has not been studied. We examine the synergistic associations of all four risk factors to predict two markers of future white matter injury (cerebral free water [FW] content, a sensitive and early biomarker of white matter injury and white matter hyperintensities [WMH]) in Hispanic/Latino‐population.MethodWe used cognitively normal older adults (n = 1386; mean age = 50.96(10.14) years; 66.2% female) with cross‐sectional data from the Study of Latinos‐Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging‐Magnetic Resonance Imaging (SOL‐INCA‐MRI). First, we applied path analyses to test independent associations of diet(Healthy‐Eating‐Index‐2010), PE(total activity), BMI, and sleep‐duration (measured 2008‐2015) on FW and WMH (measured 2018‐2022). Higher PE score represents lower exercise. Second, we tested mediations using significant independent predictors of FW and WMH. Third, we explored the best possible models that incorporated all six factors. We accounted for age, sex, and education in the final model.ResultFirst, lower PE predicted greater WMH (β = 0.171,SE = 0.064,p = 0.008) and FW (β = 0.004,SE = 0.002, p = 0.013). Higher BMI (β = 0.018,SE = 0.007, p = 0.017), and higher FW (β = 22.230,SE = 0.939, p<0.001) was associated with greater WMH. Second, we did not find that any of the three modifiable factors mediated the relationship between PE and FW. However, the association between PE and WMH was mediated by BMI (indirect model[borderline]:β = 0.012,SE = 0.006, p = 0.050) and by FW (indirect model:β = 0.066,SE = 0.025, p = 0.007). Third, the addition of diet and sleep in this double mediation model strengthened both mediations (PE→BMI→WMH:β = 0.012,SE = 0.006, p = 0.039; PE→FW→WMH:β = 0.065,SE = 0.025, p = 0.008) resulting in an overall indirect model (PE→BMI→WMH+ PE→FW→WMH:β = 0.077,SE = 0.025,p = 0.002) (Figure 1). Better diet was associated with lower BMI (β = ‐0.026,SE = 0.012,p = 0.029) and lower PE with more sleep (β = 0.190,SE = 0.061,p = 0.002).ConclusionWe observed that the association between PE and WMH is mediated by both BMI and FW, and the overall double mediation is clearer when diet and sleep are accounted for in the model. Our complex multimodal model provides a potential framework on how everyday modifiable risk factors synergistically predict WMH years later.

Polyculture of European seabass and Nile tilapia in the recirculating aquaculture system with brackish water: Effects on the growth performance, feed utilization, and health status

Non-traditional aquaculture practices are crucially needed to overcome the climate change consequences, especially in countries suffering from water shortages. Polyculture strategy depends on the diversification and compilation between different aquatic animal species to fasten farmed species' growth and improve available resources' utilization. In this study, European seabass and Nile tilapia were poly-cultured in brackish water (salinity 12) in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). For this reason, fish were distributed into five groups with triplicates in each. The first group (G1) of aquaria (120 L) was stocked with 40 specimens of European seabass, the second group (G2) was stocked with 30 specimens of European seabass + 10 specimens of Nile tilapia, the third group (G3) was stocked with 20 specimens of European seabass + 20 specimens of Nile tilapia, the fourth group (G4) stocked with 10 specimens of European seabass + 30 specimens of Nile tilapia, and the fifth group (G5) stocked with 40 specimens of Nile tilapia. The dissolved oxygen (DO), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), and NH3–N showed higher levels in G2, G3, G4, and G5 than in G1 (P < 0.05). Except for G5, European seabass showed higher growth performance indices (FW, WG, and SGR) and lower FCR in G4 than in G1, G2, and G3 (P < 0.05). On the other hand, Nile tilapia growing in G2 resulted in higher FW, WG, and SGR and lower FCR than in G3, G4, and G5 (P < 0.05). The total biomass of poly-cultured European seabass and Nile tilapia is higher in G3 than in G1 and G5 (P < 0.05). All groups had no significant differences in the somatic indices (P˃0.05). In European seabass, the crude protein and total lipids were significantly increased in fish compared to the initial carcass composition (P < 0.05). Besides, in Nile tilapia, the total lipids were significantly increased in fish compared to the initial carcass composition (P < 0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were seen between all groups (P＞0.05) on the blood total protein, albumin, globulin, ALT, and AST. In conclusion, the polyculture strategy is appropriate for farming European seabass and Nile tilapia in RAS with brackish water without compromising growth performance, health status, and survivability.

Vascular and microstructural markers of cognitive pathology

AbstractBackgroundArterial stiffness may play a role in the development of dementia, presumably through its effects on white matter integrity and hyperintensities (WMH). However, relationships among arterial stiffness, white matter microstructure, and WMH volumes remain poorly understood. Arterial stiffness increases monotonically with age and its increase is accelerated by cardiometabolic disorders (e.g., hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes). Further exploration of these relationships is key to the development of targeted therapies, early management, and detection.MethodArterial stiffness was measured using carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in ADRC participants with baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements, detailed cognitive testing, cognitive adjudication, and brain MRI. We examined associations of cfPWV and SBP with cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA], Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite [PACC5], and domain measures of memory and executive function) and brain MRI measures of: macrostructure (volume of gray matter [GM] and WMH from T1‐weighted and FLAIR imaging), white matter microstructure (neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging [NODDI] free water [FW] and diffusion tensor imaging [DTI] fractional anisotropy [FA]), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in white matter (WM) and GM. Age, race, gender, education, and APOE‐4 status were included as covariates and in interaction terms in linear regression analyses.ResultAmong 458 participants with a mean age 70±8 years and cognitive adjudication (44 dementia, 157 MCI, 257 normal cognition; Table 1), higher cfPWV was associated with worse cognitive performance (MoCA, PACC5), as was SBP (MoCA, PACC5, executive domain, language domain; Table 2). Higher cfPWV was associated with differences in WM microstructure (higher FW, lower FA) and higher WMH volume. While no overall associations between cfPWV and CBF were detected, cfPWV had stronger associations with FW, FA, and WMH in men. Higher SBP was associated with higher FW, higher WMH volume, and lower WM and GM CBF (Table 3). SBP had stronger associations with WMH in younger participants (&lt;70y) and GM CBF in Black/AA participants and participants with impaired fasting glucose. No other interactions were detected.ConclusionsArterial stiffness is associated with microstructural and macrostructural differences and poorer global and executive cognitive function.

Neuroimaging findings related to glymphatic system alterations in older adults with metabolic syndrome

ObjectiveThe glymphatic system is a glial-based perivascular network that promotes brain metabolic waste clearance. Reduced glymphatic flow has been observed in rat models of type 2 diabetes and hypertension, indicating the role of vascular risk factors in the glymphatic system. However, little is known about how vascular risk factors affect the human glymphatic system. The present study aims to assess the relationships between metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of vascular risk factors, and the glymphatic system function using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based measures of water diffusivity in the glymphatic compartments, including the brain interstitial space and perivascular spaces around the deep medullary vein. We hypothesized that vascular risk factors are associated with glymphatic dysfunction, leading to cognitive impairment in older adults. MethodsThis cross-sectional study assessed 61 older adults (age range, 65–82 years) who had participated in the Bunkyo Health Study, including 15 healthy controls (mean age, 70.87 ± 4.90 years) and 46 individuals with MetS (mean age, 71.76 ± 4.61 years). Fractional volume of extracellular-free water (FW) and an index of diffusion tensor imaging along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) were used as indirect indicators of water diffusivity in the interstitial extracellular and perivenous spaces of white matter, respectively. ResultsAfter adjusting for age, sex, years of education, total Fazekas scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) score, and intracranial volume (ICV), a significantly (P = 0.030; Cohen's d = 1.01) higher FW was observed in individuals with MetS than in the healthy controls. Furthermore, individuals with MetS had a significantly (P = 0.031; Cohen's d = 0.86) lower ALPS index than the healthy controls, with age, sex, years of education, total Fazekas scale, PSQI score, ICV, fractional anisotropy, and mean diffusivity included as confounding factors. Higher FW was significantly associated with lower ALPS index (r = −0.37; P = 0.004). Multiple linear regression (MLR) with backward elimination analyses showed that higher diastolic blood pressure (BP; standardized β = 0.33, P = 0.005) was independently associated with higher FW, whereas higher fasting plasma glucose levels (standardized β = −0.63, P = 0.002) or higher Brinkman index of cigarette consumption cumulative amount (standardized β = −0.27, P = 0.022) were associated with lower ALPS index. The lower ALPS index (standardized β, 0.28; P = 0.040) was associated with poorer global cognitive performance, which was determined using the Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA-J) scores. Finally, partial correlation analyses showed a significant correlation between higher FW and lower MOCA-J scores (r = −0.35; P = 0.025) and between higher FW and higher diastolic BP (r = 0.32, P = 0.044). ConclusionThe present study shows the changes in diffusion MRI-based measures reflected by the higher FW and lower ALPS index in older adults with MetS, possibly due to the adverse effect of vascular risk factors on the glymphatic system. Our findings also indicate the associations between the diffusion MRI-based measures and elevated diastolic BP, hyperglycemia, smoking habit, and poorer cognitive performance. However, owing to the limitations of this study, the results should be cautiously interpreted.

Vascular and Microstructural Markers of Cognitive Pathology

AbstractBackgroundArterial stiffness may play a role in the development of dementia, presumably through its effects on white matter integrity and hyperintensities (WMH). However, relationships among arterial stiffness, white matter microstructure, and WMH volumes remain poorly understood. Arterial stiffness increases monotonically with age and its increase is accelerated by cardiometabolic disorders (e.g., hypertension , metabolic syndrome, diabetes). Further exploration of these relationships is key to the development of targeted therapies, early management, and detection.MethodArterial stiffness was measured using carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in ADRC participants with baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements, detailed cognitive testing, cognitive adjudication, and brain MRI. We examined associations of cfPWV and SBP with cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment [MoCA], Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite [PACC5], and domain measures of memory and executive function) and brain MRI measures of: macrostructure (volume of gray matter [GM] and WMH from T1‐weighted and FLAIR imaging), white matter microstructure (neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging [NODDI] free water [FW] and diffusion tensor imaging [DTI] fractional anisotropy [FA]), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in white matter (WM) and GM. Age, race, gender, education, and APOE‐4 status were included as covariates and in interaction terms in linear regression analyses.ResultAmong 458 participants with a mean age 70±8 years and cognitive adjudication (44 dementia, 157 MCI, 257 normal cognition; Table 1), higher cfPWV was associated with worse cognitive performance (MoCA, PACC5), as was SBP (MoCA, PACC5, executive domain, language domain; Table 2). Higher cfPWV was associated with differences in WM microstructure (higher FW, lower FA) and higher WMH volume. While no overall associations between cfPWV and CBF were detected, cfPWV had stronger associations with FW, FA, and WMH in men. Higher SBP was associated with higher FW, higher WMH volume, and lower WM and GM CBF (Table 3). SBP had stronger associations with WMH in younger participants (&lt;70y) and GM CBF in Black/AA participants and participants with impaired fasting glucose. No other interactions were detected.ConclusionsArterial stiffness is associated with microstructural and macrostructural differences and poorer global and executive cognitive function.

Effects of Dietary Replacement of Maize with Sweet Potato Peel in the Diet of African Catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of dietary replacement ofmaize with sweet potato peel in the diet of Clarias gariepinus juveniles.The levels of the SPP inclusion in the experimental diets were 0%, 25%,50%, 75% and 100%. All the diets were iso-nitrogenous. One hundred andfifty (150) C. gariepinus juveniles (33 g ~ 35 g) were randomly distributedto five treatments with three replicates each and 5% of their body weightfor 12 weeks. Fish carcass proximate compositions analyzed before andafter feeding with the experimental diets shows that CP and EE differedsignificantly (p&lt;0.05) among the experimental fish and the control, exceptthe percentage CP of the fish fed SPP0% and SPP50% in which there wasno significant difference (p&gt;0.05). Highest MWG of 207.70±25.95 g wasobtained in the fish fed SPP100% followed by 191.30±16.15 g obtained inthe fish fed SPP75%. The least MWG of 149.83±16.01 g was recorded infish fed SPP25%. The highest FCR of 3.61±0.45 g was recorded in the fishfed SPP100%. A steady decrease in FCR was observed with decreasinginclusion levels of SPP meal. However, higher FW, FL, SGR and PERwere observed in the experimental fish as from 50% inclusion levels of theSPP. The cost of feed per kg was reduced and the NP and WG increasedwith increasing levels of SPP and the profitability was enhanced at 100%SPP inclusion level. The results revealed that C. gariepinus juvenile couldtolerate up to 50%, 75% and 100% inclusion levels of SPP. The best growthperformance was recorded in the fish fed SPP100%, therefore, sweet potatopeel can replace maize in the diet of C. gariepinus without any inauspiciouseffect on the growth performance and nutrient utilization.

Hemostasis system and uterine scar formation in women undergoing conservative myomectomy

Annotation. The aim of the study was to assess the characteristics of hemostasis and the formation of a scar on the uterus in women who underwent conservative myomectomy. Medical records of 426 women with a scar on the uterus were analyzed. The results of pathomorphological examination of biopsy materials obtained in the area of the “old” scar during myomectomy with recurrence of fibroids with a gestational age of 33 to 40 weeks. The micromorphological structure of postoperative scars and pericycatric region of the myometrium was determined and immunohistochemical examination was performed on serial paraffin sections of biopsy material using primary and secondary monoclonal antibodies of Dako kits (USA). To quantify the immunohistochemical results in the sections, the number of cells in which the immunoperoxidase label (positive staining) was detected in 10 fields of view randomly selected (&gt;200 cells) was counted. FW expression was determined using a semi-quantitative method with H-score calculation. Statistical processing of the obtained results was performed by non-parametric methods using the software TIBCO Statistica 13.5 (USA). It was shown that 40.1% of uterine scars are due to conservative myomectomy. In the postoperative period, patients who underwent conservative myomectomy have a tendency to hypercoagulation, while the frequency of thromboembolic complications after conservative myomectomy does not exceed 3%. High FW expression indicates the presence of endothelial dysfunction and should be taken into account when assessing the risk of thromboembolic complications in patients after conservative myomectomy.

Autoimmunity and autoinflammation in pathogenesis of immunoinflammatory diseases

To present the heterogeneous pathogenesis of inflammation in IID. It is inspected 260 patients (pts) with IID: 242 pts with systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD): 65 systemic lupus erythematosis, 50 systemic sclerosis, 127 systemic vasculitides (SV) and 18 patients with autoinflammatory diseases (AID): 8 Behcets disease, 2 periodic disease, 5 familial cold fever, 2 idiopathic lobular panniculitis and 1 relapsing polychondritis. Is carried out a study of complement, antigen of von Willebrand factor (FW:AG), antinuclear antibodies, antibodies to DNA, anti-endothelial antibodies, antibodies to topoizomeraze I (anti-Scl-70), antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL IgG and aCL IgM), cryoglobulins, VS, CRP. SAD were characterized by the synthesis of wide antibodies spectrum. As the basic serological marker at the screening it follows to consider antinuclear antibodies (75%). Practically in all groups it took place hypcomlemetemia with reduction of C3 and C4 complement. With systemic lupus erythematosis are revealed antibodies to DNA (71%), with ANCA-associated SV-ANCA (94%), aKL (14%); with SSD aScl-70 (17%). At Wegener granulomatosis ANCA are determined in 94% patients in the active stage. It is noted correlation ANCA with the index of the clinical activity of vasculitis. In the remaining SV groups ANCA were separated in the single cases. Cryoglobulins are noted in all patients with cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. aCL IgG and aCL IgM were the markers of antiphospholipid syndrome. Аnti-endothelial antibodies had significant oscillation spectrum. High indices FW:AG are noted with all above nosologic forms indicated, especially with Wegener granulomatosis and vasculitis hemorrhagic. Among the laboratory tests of inflammatory activity should be considered the determination of VS, CRP and FV:AG, which is also considered the marker of vascular wall defeat. Is given clinical characteristic and changes in the laboratory indices at AID: Conclusion.Isolation from the group IID of patients with AID serves as indication for a genetic study of this contingent with the approval of use for their treatment of biological therapy. Isolation from the group SAD patients with AID serves as indication for a genetic study of this contingent with the approval of use for their treatment of biological therapy.

Growth Medium and Soil Amendment Influence on Seedling Growth Responses of African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum)

African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) classified as a forest food tree with economic potentials requires domestication attention for improved productivity. A study conducted in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2017 using one year old C. albidum seedlings determined the plant’s growth responses when cultivated using different growth medium and soil amendment methods. The 3 x 9 factorial experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) at three replications. Three textural soil types (sandy, loamy and clayey soils) were evaluated using nine soil amendment methods (5, 10, 15t/ha poultry manure (PM) and 150, 250 and 500kg/ha NPK, and integrated amendment methods using 5t/ha PM+150kg/ha NPK and 10t/ha PM+150kg/ha NPK), and the un-amended plot as control. The results showed that plants in loamy and clayey soils had more leaves compared to those in sandy soil only at 74WAS. C. albidum had most numerous leaves with 150 kg/ha, taller plant and wider canopy with 250 kg/ha, and thicker girth with all NPK rates compared to control, manure rates and integrated fertilizers. The plants with loamy soil had highest CPC, Ash C, FC, starch and sugar. Plants with inorganic fertilizers and integrated fertilizers had higher FW and DW compared to manure rates. The 5 t/ha manure rate and the 250 kg/ha NPK produced plants with high sugar content and were lowest in starch content compared to other applied rates. In conclusion, C. albidum from juvenile to vegetative stage with proper management can be grown on the different soil types while the 150 kg/ha NPK fertilizer rate appeared as optimum for the plant growth.

Brain free water alterations in first-episode psychosis: a longitudinal analysis of diagnosis, course of illness, and medication effects.

Multiple lines of evidence suggest the presence of altered neuroimmune processes in patients with schizophrenia (Sz) and severe mood disorders. Recent studies using a novel free water diffusion tensor imaging (FW DTI) approach, proposed as a putative biomarker of neuroinflammation, atrophy, or edema, have shown significantly increased FW in patients with Sz. However no studies to date have investigated the longitudinal stability of FW alterations during the early course of psychosis, nor have studies focused separately on FE psychosis patients with Sz or bipolar disorder (BD) with psychotic features. The current study included 188 participants who underwent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging scanning at baseline. Sixty-four participants underwent follow-up rescanning after 12 months. DTI-based alterations in patients were calculated using voxelwise tract-based spatial statistics and region of interest analyses. Patients with FE psychosis, both Sz and BD, exhibited increased FW at illness onset which remained unchanged over the 12-month follow-up period. Preliminary analyses suggested that antipsychotic medication exposure was associated with higher FW in gray matter that reached significance in the BD group. Higher FW in white matter correlated with negative symptom severity. Our results support the presence of elevated FW at the onset of psychosis in both Sz and BD, which remains stable during the early course of the illness, with no evidence of either progression or remission.

Novel Combined Spectral Indices Derived from Hyperspectral and Laser-Induced Fluorescence LiDAR Spectra for Leaf Nitrogen Contents Estimation of Rice

Spectra of reflectance (Sr) and fluorescence (Sf) are significant for crop monitoring and ecological environment research, and can be used to indicate the leaf nitrogen content (LNC) of crops indirectly. The aim of this work is to use the Sr-Sf features obtained with hyperspectral and laser-induced fluorescence LiDAR (HSL, LIFL) systems to construct novel combined spectral indices (NCIH-F) for multi-year rice LNC estimation. The NCIH-F is in a form of FWs* Φ + GSIs* Φ , where Φ is the Sr-Sf features, and FWs and GSIs are the feature weights and global sensitive indices for each characteristic band. In this study, the characteristic bands were chosen in different ways. Firstly, the Sr-Sf characteristics which can be the intensity or derivative variables of spectra in 685 and 740 nm, have been assigned as the Φ value in NCIH-F formula. Simultaneously, the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) formed with 531 and 570 nm was modified based on a variant spectral index, called PRIfraction, with the Sf intensity in 740 nm, and then compared its potential with NCIH-F on LNC estimation. During the above analysis, both NCIH-F and PRIfraction values were utilized to model rice LNC based on the artificial neural networks (ANNs) method. Subsequently, four prior bands were selected, respectively, with high FW and GSI values as the ANNs inputs for rice LNC estimation. Results show that FW- and GSI-based NCIH-F are closely related to rice LNC, and the performance of previous spectral indices used for LNC estimation can be greatly improved by multiplying their FWs and GSIs. Thus, it can be included that the FW- and GSI-based NCIH-F constitutes an efficient and reliable constructed form combining HSL (Sr) and LIFL (Sf) data together for rice LNC estimation.

Thermal structure and water-ice heat transfer in a shallow ice-covered thermokarst lake in central Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

A large number of lakes and ponds are unevenly distributed over the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Little is known about their ice processes and thermal regimes. Seasonal ice mass balance, thermal regime and stratification of under-ice water were investigated in a shallow thermokarst lake in central QTP using in situ observations and global reanalysis data. Congelation ice grew to 60–70 cm depth while continuous surface sublimation caused a total ice loss of over 30 cm. The bulk lake temperature below ice remained above 3.0 °C through the ice freezing period and rose gradually up to 7–9 °C during the melting period. The vertical thermal structure of under-ice water consisted of a stable strongly stratified interfacial layer (IL) and an underlying convective layer reaching the lake bottom. A warm layer existed just beneath the IL since the middle equilibrium period and increased in thickness and temperature. There was seasonal variation of IL depth and temperature gradient in response to the ice thermodynamics and atmospheric conditions. The calculated daily water-ice heat flux (Fw) was of 10 W m−2 magnitude. Seasonal variation of Fw manifested both diffusive and convective heat transport to the ice-water interface. This study suggests that strong penetration of solar radiative flux is the dominant contributor to high Fw, which results in a relatively thin ice compared with other equivalent high-latitude climate.

An Integrated Approach for the Assessment of Central Cooling Retrofit Using Variable Speed Drive Pump in Marine Applications

The present study describes a model-based approach for the assessment of central cooling retrofit solutions using variable speed drive (VSD) seawater (SW) pumps in marine applications. There are two main innovative features of the proposed methodology. The effect of boundary conditions (fluid stream temperatures and mass flow rates) on the performance of central SW/fresh water (FW) cooler is considered via a detailed heat exchanger simulation model. Additionally, the repercussion of the higher FW temperature on the main engine fuel consumption due to the incorporation of a VSD SW pump is examined. The proposed methodology is applied on a handy-size bulk carrier equipped with a shell and tube SW/FW central cooler and a two-stroke main diesel engine. Both the reduced power demand for the VSD pump and the increased brake specific fuel consumption (bsfc) of the main engine due to the increased low temperature (LT)/FW temperature have been considered at each operating point examined. Predictions have shown that in all part-load operating cases examined the use of a VSD SW pump has a positive effect on the reduction of total fuel consumption, whereas at full engine load, there is a SW threshold temperature under which the operation with a VSD pump leads to slightly higher total fuel consumption. This study highlights the importance of using an integrated approach for the reliable assessment of central cooling retrofit solutions, which can lead to optimized control solutions of the VSD pump operation for maximizing a ship’s fuel savings.

Synthesis and aggregation-induced emission enhancement of naphthalimide-rhodamine dye

Abstract A series of naphthalimide-rhodamine dye L1–4 with the different terminal structures were designed and synthesized. The rhodamine was used as bulky rigid substituent of naphthalimide to enhance the AIE property. All the naphthalimide-rhodamine dye exhibited the significant aggregation-induced emission enhancement. The strong fluorescence emissions in solid state were observed with emission peaks ranging from 549 to 608 nm. In high fW mixture solution, the fluorescence intensity enhanced with the increase of water content, which can be attributed to two types of aggregation-induced morphology. The AIE dye-doped silica nanoparticles (Si-NPs) were prepared and exhibited good solubility in pure water. In addition, dye L1 and L2 exhibited the selective recognition toward Hg2+ ions and were successfully applied to the bioimages in living cells. The intramolecular fluorescence resonance energy transfer mechanism from the naphthalimide moiety to the rhodamine moiety was investigated.

Triphenylene-Based Side Chain Liquid Crystalline Block Copolymers Containing a PEG block: Controlled Synthesis, Microphase Structures Evolution and Their Interplay with Discotic Mesogenic Orders

Triphenylene (TP) derivatives are typical and probably the most widely studied discotic liquid crystalline (DLC) materials. Through polymer analogous reactions to attach TP mesogens to the well-synthesized poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PEG–PHEA) by ATRP, a series of well-defined side chain DLC diblock copolymers PEG–poly(TPm) (m = 6 or 10) with DLC block weight fraction (fw,DLC) ranging from 37% to 90% have been successfully prepared with narrow molecular weight distribution (PDI ≤ 1.11). An intriguing microphase-separated superstructure evolution and the correlation between overall morphologies and discotic mesogenic orders as a function of fw,DLC and temperature have been demonstrated by combination of DSC, POM, and variable temperature SAXS/WAXS. Those copolymers with lower DLC contents (fw,DLC = 37% and 43%) and at lower temperatures formed lamellar structures of variant periods and underwent order–order transitions upon PEG region crystallization at 45 °C and different discotic mesophases of ND or Ncol transition at about 25 °C. For the copolymer with intermediate fw,DLC = 62%, a high temperature hexagonal packed cylinder (HPC) structure of amorphous PEG nanocylinders in the matrix of DLC was formed above 35 °C, while upon cooling below 35 °C it turned into a mixed lamellar structure with PEG region crystallization. The higher fw,DLC (67% ∼ 80%) copolymers exhibited HPC structures with the DLC matrix showing Ncol or ND mesophases. For copolymers with the highest fw,DLC around 90%, an overall ND phase was developed in sharp contrast to the ordered columnar phase formed by their corresponding DLC homopolymers, which was quite inspiring and might suggest another pathway of attaining this important nematic discotic phase through introducing a suitable copolymerized block. The better understanding of the interrelation of microstructures and discotic mesogenic orders constitutes the key basis for utilizing such type of organic semiconductor materials and could help to guide the design of complex DLC polymer materials with hierarchical structures for variant applications.

COMPETITION BETWEEN SPROUT AND DAUGHTER BULBS FOR CARBOHYDRATES IN TULIP AS AFFECTED BY MOTHER BULB SIZE AND CYTOKININS

Planting of large mother bulbs resulted in large tulip flowers, planting of small mother bulbs in small tulip flowers. However, a heavier bulb gave a relatively lighter tulip flower, indicating different mechanisms for the redistribution of fresh weight and dry weight. The possibilities to grow good quality tulips from small sized bulbs were investigated in terms of source sink relationships, for a “splitting” cultivar, cv. Apeldoorn, as well as for a “non-splitting” cultivar, cv. Parade. Over the period between planting and flowering, the recovery percentage of dry matter in generative bulbs depended on the size of the mother bulb, changing from about 70 to 60% for bulb size 14 to 8 respectively. The distribution of dry matter at the moment of flowering also depended on the size of the mother bulb. In small sized (8) bulbs about 85% of dry matter was transported to the tulip flower, in big sized bulbs this percentage was about 40%, resulting in different amounts of dry matter left in the scales. The percentage dry matter transported to the daughter bulbs never exceeded 12% at the moment of flowering. Tulip flowers grown from big sized bulbs also contained a higher percentage dry weight than tulips grown from a small sized mother bulb. Removing scales from a big sized tulip bulb before cold treatment or immediately before planting, resulted in a system comparable to small sized mother bulbs: slightly more dry matter was lost in the period from planting to flowering, a higher percentage of dry matter was transported to the tulip flower, and the tulip flower itself contained a lower percentage of dry weight. Injection of tulip bulbs with benzyladenine (BA) immediately before planting resulted in a higher FW of the tulip flowers. As the DW of the tulips did not increase, this result is due to a higher water uptake. Therefore, the redistribution of DW from source to sink was unaffected by application of BA.

Sodium Sulfate Tolerance in Beta vulgaris (Sugar Beet) Callus Cultures

Beta vulgaris L. cv Prima Hill (sugar beet) callus, was selected for tolerance to Na2SO4 and maintained on this salt. The effect of 0, 70, 140, and 210 mM Na2SO4 on the concentrations of ions, reducing sugars, sucrose, quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), and proline in unselected and selected callus was assessed. Both types responded similarly. Sodium accumulated in proportion to its initial concentration in the medium, while calculated molar concentrations of proline, reducing sugars, and sucrose increased slightly. There was a fourfold increase in the concentration of QACs. Tolerance, measured by survival and growth, was lost within one subculture in selected callus maintained without Na2SO4, although the high FW:DW ratio, characteristic of tolerance, was retained in the absence or presence of Na2SO4. Evidence suggests physiological adaptation to Na2SO4 occurred during selection.

Concentrations of potassium in the dry matter and tissue water of field-grown spring barley and their relationships to grain yield

SUMMARYIn 68 spring barley crops grown in five experiments at Rothamsted and Woburn between 1980 and 1982, and given adequate K fertilizer, there was a positive correlation (r = 0·76; P &lt; 0·001) between maximum % K in dry matter of young plants and the grain yield at final harvest. In all crops changes in % K in dry matter during the growing season were directly related to changes in fresh weight to dry weight ratio (FW: DW) suggesting that differences in % K in dry matter were the result of differences in tissue hydration. Potassium concentrations expressed on the basis of tissue water were not correlated with grain yield. All crops maintained K concentrations in their tissue water of about 200 mmol/kg tissue water, except at the end of the growing season when water loss during ripening caused a steep rise.The correlation between % K in dry matter and yield was the result of differences in FW: DW. Within each experiment there was a good correlation between FW: DW and grain yield, but because the relationship was different for each experiment the overall correlation for all crops was poor. The correlation between FW: DW and grain yield within experiments probably arises because crops with a higher FW: DW will have higher specific leaf areas and hence higher relative growth rates and yields.