scholarly journals Optimization of Unit Operations for Microencapsulating Ferrous Fumarate During Scale-up of Double Fortification of Salt with Iron and Iodine

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwasegun Modupe ◽  
Kiruba Krishnaswamy ◽  
Yao Olive Li ◽  
Levente Diósady
Keyword(s):  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Particle Density ◽  
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Unit Operations ◽  
Hydrophobic Nature ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This study evaluates factors responsible for the floating of iron premix in Double Fortified Salt (DFS) and provides solutions to scale-up of the DFS technology. The hydrophobic 10% soy stearin coating that created a barrier between iron and iodine in the Double Fortified Salt caused the iron premix to float in water. This problem initially affected the large-scale implementation of the salt fortification program in India. To mitigate this time-sensitive scale-up challenge: First, the iron premix samples were obtained from the industrial scale-up pilot studies in India, evaluated for the impact of the amount of coating material, type of formulation, amount of titanium dioxide used for color masking. Second, we studied the effect of change in the composition of the coating, from 10% soy stearin to a double coat with 5% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and 5% soy stearin or 10% soy stearin and 1% lecithin mixture, on particle density, floating or sinking property of the iron premix, and on the stability of iodine in the Double Fortified Salt (DFS). Finally, the extruded iron premix was color masked with 25-35% of titanium dioxide. It was observed that the hydrophobic nature and the amount of soy stearin used for coating caused the floating issue. The double coating with 5% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and 5% soy stearin was preferred because lecithin in soy stearin enhanced the moisture-aided adverse interaction between iron and iodine. Shelf-life storage studies proved over 80% iodine retention after 1-year of storage in the Double Fortified Salt formulated with iron premix double-coated with hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and soy stearin. This proffered solution enabled the full implementation of the double fortification program in India.

scholarly journals Australian agricultural scale and corporate agroholdings: environmental and climatic impacts

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley Plunkett ◽  
Andrew Duff ◽  
Ross Kingwell ◽  
David Feldman
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Corporate Ownership ◽  
Family Structures ◽  
Climatic Impacts ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Average Size ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Concentrate Production

The average size of Australian farms in scale and revenue are the globe’s largest. This scale is a result, in part, of low average rural population densities; development patterns in broadacre production; low levels of effective public policy transfers; a stable and suitable institutional setting suitable for corporate and other large scale investment; and low yields. It is also a factor of the natural variability of the country’s climatic systems which have contributed to the scale of extensive northern cattle production; this variability has implications for the pattern of ownership of broadacre and extensive production. Corporate ownership, tends to concentrate production aggregations at sufficient scale to offset its additional overheads in areas of relative climatic stability and to replicate these agroholding aggregations spatially to protect the stability of revenue flows. Family structures are more dominant in areas of greater climatic variability. Of interest is the impact that any increasing climatic variability (versus rapid changes in technology) may have upon this pattern.

A Predictive Energy Landscape Model of Metamorphic Protein Conformational Specificity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James O. Wrabl ◽  
Keila Voortman-Sheetz ◽  
Vincent J. Hilser
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Structure Prediction ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Energy Landscape ◽  
Thermodynamic Approach ◽  
High Identity ◽  
Denatured State ◽  
Metamorphic Protein ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Impact

'Metamorphic' proteins challenge state-of-the-art structure prediction methods reliant on amino acid similarity. Unfortunately, this obviates a more effective thermodynamic approach necessary to properly evaluate the impact of amino acid changes on the stability of two different folds. A vital capability of such a thermodynamic approach would be the quantification of the free energy differences between 1) the energy landscape minima of each native fold, and 2) each fold and the denatured state. Here we develop an energetic framework for conformational specificity, based on an ensemble description of protein thermodynamics. This energetic framework was able to successfully recapitulate the structures of high-identity engineered sequences experimentally shown to adopt either Streptococcus protein GA or GB folds, demonstrating that this approach indeed reflected the energetic determinants of fold. Residue-level decomposition of the conformational specificity suggested several testable hypotheses, notably among them that fold-switching could be affected by local de-stabilization of the populated fold at positions sensitive to equilibrium perturbation. Since this ensemble-based compatibility framework is applicable to any structure and any sequence, it may be practically useful for the future targeted design, or large-scale proteomic detection, of novel metamorphic proteins.

scholarly journals Combined measurement of velocity and temperature in liquid metal convection

2019 ◽  
Vol 876 ◽  
pp. 1108-1128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Till Zürner ◽  
Felix Schindler ◽  
Tobias Vogt ◽  
Sven Eckert ◽  
Jörg Schumacher
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Liquid Metal ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Convection Cell ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Convection Flow ◽  
Large Scale Circulation ◽  
Large Scale Flow ◽  
The Impact

Combined measurements of velocity components and temperature in a turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection flow at a low Prandtl number of $Pr=0.029$ and Rayleigh numbers of $10^{6}\leqslant Ra\leqslant 6\times 10^{7}$ are conducted in a series of experiments with durations of more than a thousand free-fall time units. Multiple crossing ultrasound beam lines and an array of thermocouples at mid-height allow for a detailed analysis and characterization of the complex three-dimensional dynamics of the single large-scale circulation roll in a cylindrical convection cell of unit aspect ratio which is filled with the liquid metal alloy GaInSn. We measure the internal temporal correlations of the complex large-scale flow and distinguish between short-term oscillations associated with a sloshing motion in the mid-plane as well as varying orientation angles of the velocity close to the top/bottom plates and the slow azimuthal drift of the mean orientation of the roll as a whole that proceeds on a time scale up to a hundred times slower. The coherent large-scale circulation drives a vigorous turbulence in the whole cell that is quantified by direct Reynolds number measurements at different locations in the cell. The velocity increment statistics in the bulk of the cell displays characteristic properties of intermittent small-scale fluid turbulence. We also show that the impact of the symmetry-breaking large-scale flow persists to small-scale velocity fluctuations thus preventing the establishment of fully isotropic turbulence in the cell centre. Reynolds number amplitudes depend sensitively on beam-line position in the cell such that different definitions have to be compared. The global momentum and heat transfer scalings with Rayleigh number are found to agree with those of direct numerical simulations and other laboratory experiments.

scholarly journals Mass Production of the Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens (L.), (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Reared on Three Manure Types

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea D. Miranda ◽  
Jonathan A. Cammack ◽  
Jeffery K. Tomberlin
Keyword(s):  
Mass Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Control Diet ◽  
Swine Manure ◽  
Dairy Manure ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Black Soldier Fly ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Alfalfa Meal ◽  
The Impact

Recent interest in the mass production of black soldier fly (BSF) larvae has resulted in many studies being generated. However, a majority of the studies are benchtop, or small-scale, experiments. Results generated from such studies may not translate to large-scale/industrial production. The current study was conducted at a conventional large-scale (10,000 larvae/treatment fed seven kg) to determine the impact on selected life-history traits when BSF were fed seven kg of manure (swine, dairy, or poultry) or a control diet (Gainesville diet: 50% wheat bran, 30% alfalfa meal, and 20% corn). Results showed larvae fed dairy manure took one to two days longer to develop to prepupation, with lower survivorship (45%) compared to those fed poultry or swine manure (>70%). Furthermore, the maximum larval weight was reached on day six for those fed swine manure, while other treatments achieved the maximum weight on day seven. However, larvae fed swine manure averaged 150 mg, while those fed the other diets ranged between 175 and 200 mg. Data from this study may be valuable for the industrialization of BSF. Companies using a scale varying from previously published work, including this study, should conduct pilot studies to optimize their system prior to implementation.

Method of Image Matching for Seabed Sonar Images Based on Regions of Interest

2014 ◽  
Vol 532 ◽  
pp. 126-129
Author(s):  
Zhi Gang Zhang ◽  
Hong Yu Bian ◽  
Hui Xu ◽  
Zi Qi Song
Keyword(s):  
Target Detection ◽  
Image Matching ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Regions Of Interest ◽  
Matching Method ◽  
Aspect Angle ◽  
Sonar Images ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Imaging Sonar ◽  
The Impact

One of the most effective instruments for target detection in turbid waters is imaging sonar. However, the aspect angle of imaging sonar is usually small and that is a sacrifice for high detection precision. To make imaging sonar practical in large scale target detection with wide aspect angle, investigating image matching methods for continuous sonar frames is of great importance. A novel image matching method using local features of SIFT is described in this paper, which mainly focuses on the problem of weak echo signals and the following sonar images mismatch. The correspondence between objects and cast shadow regions is employed to extract regions of interest. Besides, status parameters of underwater vehicle are used to approximate the image transformation. Image segmentation methods are involved to decrease the size of the feature extracting regions and reduce the impact of non-target seabed areas, which improves the stability of this sonar image matching method significantly.

Recruiting breast cancer patients for mHealth research: Obstacles to clinic-based recruitment for a mobile phone app intervention study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 675-683
Author(s):  
Alisha Gupta ◽  
Gabrielle Ocker ◽  
Philip I Chow
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
The Impact

Background Nearly half of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients will report clinically significant symptoms of depression and/or anxiety within the first year of diagnosis. Research on the trajectory of distress in cancer patients suggests that targeting patients early in the diagnostic pathway could be particularly impactful. Given the recent rise of smartphone adoption, apps are a convenient and accessible platform from which to deliver mental health support; however, little research has examined their potential impact among newly diagnosed cancer patients. One reason is likely due to the obstacles associated with in-clinic recruitment of newly diagnosed cancer patients for mHealth pilot studies. Methods This article draws from our experiences of a recently completed pilot study to test a suite of mental health apps in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Recruitment strategies included in-clinic pamphlets, flyers, and direct communication with clinicians. Surgical oncologists and research staff members approached eligible patients after a medical appointment. Research team members met with patients to provide informed consent and review the study schedule. Results Four domains of in-clinic recruitment challenges emerged: (a) coordination with clinic staff, (b) perceived burden among breast cancer patients, (c) limitations regarding the adoption and use of technology, and (d) availability of resources. Potential solutions are provided for each challenge. Conclusion Recruitment of newly diagnosed cancer patients is a major challenge to conducting mobile intervention studies for researchers on a pilot-study budget. To realize the impact of mobile interventions for the most vulnerable cancer patient populations, health researchers must address barriers to in-clinic recruitment to provide vital preliminary data in proposals of large-scale research projects.

scholarly journals Investigating the impact of atmospheric stability on thunderstorm outflow winds and turbulence

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Hawbecker ◽  
Sukanta Basu ◽  
Lance Manuel
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Atmospheric Stability ◽  
Temperature Inversion ◽  
Ring Vortex ◽  
Large Eddy Simulation Model ◽  
Eddy Simulation ◽  
Large Scale Flow ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Thunderstorm Outflow ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Downburst events initialized at various hours during the evening transition (ET) period are simulated to determine the effects of ambient stability on the outflow of downburst winds. The simulations are performed using a pseudo-spectral large eddy simulation model at high resolution to capture both the large-scale flow and turbulence characteristics of downburst winds. First, a simulation of the ET is performed to generate realistic initial and boundary conditions for the subsequent downburst simulations. At each hour in the ET, an ensemble of downburst simulations is initialized separately from the ET simulation in which an elevated cooling source within the model domain generates negatively buoyant air to mimic downburst formation. The simulations show that while the stability regime changes, the ensemble mean of the peak wind speed remains fairly constant (between 35 and 38 m s−1) and occurs at the lowest model level for each simulation. However, there is a slight increase in intensity and decrease in the spread of the maximum outflow winds as stability increases as well as an increase in the duration over which these strongest winds persist. This appears to be due to the enhanced maintenance of the ring vortex that results from the low-level temperature inversion, increased ambient shear, and a lack of turbulence within the stable cases. Coherent turbulent kinetic energy and wavelet spectral analysis generally show increased energy in the convective cases and that energy increases across all scales as the downburst passes.

scholarly journals Bottlenecks to Intervention Scale Up: Supply and Demand Side Perspectives From a Large, Community-based Trial of Malaria Testing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Kirui ◽  
Josephine Malinga ◽  
Edna Sang ◽  
George Ambani ◽  
Lucy Abel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Demand Side ◽  
Endemic Region ◽  
Community Based ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Malaria Test

Abstract Background: Maximizing the impact of community-based programs requires understanding how the supply of and demand for the intervention interact at the point of delivery. We present results from a large-scale community health worker study designed to increase the availability of and demand for malaria diagnostic testing in a rural, malaria-endemic region in western Kenya between 2015 and 2017. Methods: Community Health Workers (CHWs) provided free malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test(mRDT) in the community. Those with a positive malaria test were provided with a discounted first-line antimalarial over-the-counter. We conducted a community-based survey to collect individual study outcomes at 12- and 18-months post-implementation. In addition, we collected monthly testing data from the 244 participating CHWs and also conducted in-depth interviews with a random sample of 70 CHWs. Results: From the survey, 55% (n=948/1738) reported having a malaria test for their recent illness with 38% having been tested by a CHW. Being aware of a local CHW (95% CI:1.10-2.04) and belonging to a wealthy household (95% CI:1.14-2.06) were associated with higher malaria testing uptake from any source. Poorer households were more likely to receive a test from a CHW. School-aged children between 5-17 years were more than twice as likely to be tested by a CHW (95% CI:1.47-4.14). Both confidence in AL treatment (95% CI:1.54-4.92) and perceived accuracy of an RDT performed by a CHW (95% CI:1.12-5.27) were strongly and positively associated with testing by a CHW. In adjusted analyses, specific CHWs attributes were significantly associated with higher testing rates including formal employment (95% CI:0.05-2.70), those serving more than 50 households (95% CI:0.70-2.74) and those serving areas with a higher proportion of positive tests (95% CI:1.05, 3.22). On both the supply side and the demand side, confidence in a test performed by a CHW was strongly correlated with the success of the intervention.Conclusion: Scale-up of community-based malaria testing intervention through CHWs is feasible and effective at reaching the poorest households. In order to maximize the impact of such interventions, it is important to recognize factors that may restrict both delivery and demand for such services.

scholarly journals From giant clumps to clouds – I. The impact of gas fraction evolution on the stability of galactic discs

2021 ◽  
Vol 508 (1) ◽  
pp. 352-370
Author(s):  
Florent Renaud ◽  
Alessandro B Romeo ◽  
Oscar Agertz
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Molecular Gas ◽  
Stellar Component ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Spiral Structures ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Stability Regime ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Gas Fractions ◽  
Disc Galaxies

ABSTRACT The morphology of gas-rich disc galaxies at redshift $\sim 1\!-\!3$ is dominated by a few massive clumps. The process of formation or assembly of these clumps and their relation to molecular clouds in contemporary spiral galaxies are still unknown. Using simulations of isolated disc galaxies, we study how the structure of the interstellar medium and the stability regime of the discs change when varying the gas fraction. In all galaxies, the stellar component is the main driver of instabilities. However, the molecular gas plays a non-negligible role in the interclump medium of gas-rich cases, and thus in the assembly of the massive clumps. At scales smaller than a few 100 pc, the Toomre-like disc instabilities are replaced by another regime, especially in the gas-rich galaxies. We find that galaxies at low gas fraction (10 per cent) stand apart from discs with more gas, which all share similar properties in virtually all aspects we explore. For gas fractions below $\approx 20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, the clump-scale regime of instabilities disappears, leaving only the large-scale disc-driven regime. Associating the change of gas fraction to the cosmic evolution of galaxies, this transition marks the end of the clumpy phase of disc galaxies, and allows for the onset of spiral structures, as commonly found in the local Universe.

Knowledge and Attitudes toward an Artificial Intelligence-Based Fidelity Measurement in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Supervision

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torrey A. Creed ◽  
Rebecca Oziel ◽  
Danielle Reich ◽  
Margaret Thomas ◽  
Sydne O'Connor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Fidelity Assessment ◽  
The Impact

Purpose. To capitalize on investments in evidence-based practice implementation, technology is needed to scale up fidelity assessment. Stakeholder feedback may facilitate adoption of such tools. This study examined mental health providers’ perceptions of an automated fidelity-rating tool for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Methods. We administered online surveys before and after focus groups that included therapists (n=18) and clinical leadership (n=12) from community mental health programs implementing CBT. Discussions centered on supervision practices followed by feedback about the fidelity tool. Transcripts were analyzed using a grounded theory approach.Results. Initial perceptions of acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of automated CBT fidelity tools were positive and increased after introduction of the tool, including significant increases in ratings of acceptability and appropriateness. Standard supervision was described as collaboratively guided, either scheduled or spontaneous, and focused on clinical content, self-care, and documentation. Participants highlighted the tool’s utility for supervision, training, and professional growth, but questioned its ability to rate skills related to rapport, cultural diversity, and non-verbal communication. Concerns were raised about client and therapist privacy, and the impact of low scores on therapist confidence. Desired features included labeling of interventions used and transparency about how fidelity scores related to specific point in the session. Opportunities for asynchronous, remote, and targeted supervision were of particular value. Conclusions. Automated fidelity assessment may present an opportunity for an acceptable, appropriate, and feasible approach to large-scale EBP implementation. Continued partnership with community stakeholders will be key for designing such tools in a manner that increases the likelihood of uptake.

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