Potential of AOD Retrieval Using Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI)

Aerosols in the atmosphere play an essential role in the radiative transfer process due to their scattering, absorption, and emission. Moreover, they interrupt the retrieval of atmospheric properties from ground-based and satellite remote sensing. Thus, accurate aerosol information needs to be obtained. Herein, we developed an optimal-estimation-based aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrieval algorithm using the hyperspectral infrared downwelling emitted radiance of the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer (AERI). The proposed algorithm is based on the phenomena that the thermal infrared radiance measured by a ground-based remote sensor is sensitive to the thermodynamic profile and degree of the turbid aerosol in the atmosphere. To assess the performance of algorithm, AERI observations, measured throughout the day on 21 October 2010 at Anmyeon, South Korea, were used. The derived thermodynamic profiles and AODs were compared with those of the European center for a reanalysis of medium-range weather forecasts version 5 and global atmosphere watch precision-filter radiometer (GAW-PFR), respectively. The radiances simulated with aerosol information were more suitable for the AERI-observed radiance than those without aerosol (i.e., clear sky). The temporal variation trend of the retrieved AOD matched that of GAW-PFR well, although small discrepancies were present at high aerosol concentrations. This provides a potential possibility for the retrieval of nighttime AOD.

Enhancing turbulence: a potential strategy for drag reduction based on ground transportation systems (GTS) model

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanism and performance of a potential strategy, which is to enhance turbulence to carry out drag reduction for heavy trucks. Design/methodology/approach Enhancing turbulence deflector (ETD) was placed on the roof surface of an ground transportation system (GTS) to investigate the drag reduction mechanism of enhancing turbulence. Transition shear-stress transport improved delay detach eddy simulation model was adopted to simulate the unsteady small-scale flow around the ETD. Findings By optimizing the three influencing factors, diameter, streamwise length and streamwise position, the optimized ETD has achieved a maximum drag reduction of 7.04%. The analysis of flow field results shows that enhancing turbulence can effectively suppress flow separation and reduce the negative pressure intensity in the wake region of GTS. Originality/value The present work provides another potential possibility for the improvement of the aerodynamic performance of heavy trucks.

Utilization of EPS Beats and Polypropylene Fiber in Controlled Low Strength Material

Controlled low-strength material (CLSM) is a self-levelling cementitious material. It is not concrete nor soil-cement, however, it possesses properties similar to both. CLSM is widely used as a replacement for soil-cement material in many geotechnical applications such as structural backfill, pipeline beddings, void fill, pavement bases and bridge approaches. This paper study potential possibility of polypropylene fiber in CLSM. Harden and fresh properties compressive strength , flowability and density for the proposed CLSM were investigated. This CLSM mix design with different percentage of polypropylene fiber and pond ash, cement and water. EPS beats and polypropylene add 0 %, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% of total weight is added in CLSM MIx. Results show that the CLSM incorporating EPS beats and polypropylene satisfies compressive strength requirement as per the requirements of ACI committee 229. polypropylene decreases the flowability of CLSM mix and at the same tine by adding EPS beats the density of CLSM mix are reduce which become lightweight CLSM mix. from this it can conclude that polypropylene fibers is less effective in CLSM mix and EPS beats make CLSM mix lightweight which create lightweight CLSM mix applicable for filling application.

Safety of Aesthetic Medicine Procedures in Patients with Autoimmune Thyroid Disease: A Literature Review

Autoimmune thyroid diseases are the most common organ-specific autoimmune diseases, affecting 2–5% of the world’s population. Due to the autoimmune background of thyroid diseases, we analyzed a wide range of cosmetic procedures, from minimally invasive cosmetic injections (mesotherapy) to highly invasive procedures, such as lifting threads. Out of the seven categories of treatments in aesthetic medicine analyzed by us—hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin, autologous platelet-rich plasma, autologous fat grafting, lifting threads, IPL and laser treatment and mesotherapy—only two, mesotherapy and lifting threads, are not recommended. This is due to the lack of safety studies and the potential possibility of a higher frequency of side effects in patients with autoimmune thyroid diseases.

Mechanical Properties and Degradation Behaviors of Zn-xMg Alloy Fine Wires for Biomedical Applications

Zn and Zn-based alloys exhibit biosafety and biodegradation, considered as candidates for biomedical implants. Zn-0.02 wt.% Mg (Zn-0.02 Mg), Zn-0.05 wt.% Mg (Zn-0.05 Mg), and Zn-0.2 wt.% Mg (Zn-0.2 Mg) wires (Φ 0.3 mm) were prepared for precision biomedical devices in this work. With the addition of Mg in Zn-xMg alloys, the grain size decreased along with the occurrence of Mg2Zn11 at the grain boundaries. Hot extrusion, cold drawing, and annealing treatment were introduced to further refining the grain size. Besides, the hot extrusion and cold drawing improved the tensile strength of Zn-xMg alloys to 240-270 MPa while elongation also increased but remained under 10%. Annealing treatment could improve the elongation of Zn alloys to 12% -28%, but decrease the tensile strength. Furthermore, Zn-xMg wires displayed an increase in degradation rate with Mg addition. The findings might provide a potential possibility of Zn-xMg alloy wires for biomedical applications.

Administrative and criminal penalties for a failure to register a vehicle in due time

A determination of amounts of administrative monetary penalties and criminal sanctions resulting from a lack of fulfilment of some of registration obligations imposed on an owner of a vehicle is a practical problem related to the activity of the authorities keeping the vehicle register. Particular doubts are raised not by a necessity to impose a penalty, but by its amount, as well as by a possibility of waiving the penalty. Further doubts are raised by a possibility of applying a criminal liability to entities that have not fulfilled with their obligations. In the present study, the authors, using a dogmatic and legal method, analyse circumstances affecting the amount of the penalty, the possibility of abrogating the penalty, as well as the potential possibility of applying criminal liability.

Tumor-Associated Macrophages: Critical Players in Drug Resistance of Breast Cancer

Drug resistance is one of the most critical challenges in breast cancer (BC) treatment. The occurrence and development of drug resistance are closely related to the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), the most important immune cells in TIME, are essential for drug resistance in BC treatment. In this article, we summarize the effects of TAMs on the resistance of various drugs in endocrine therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, and their underlying mechanisms. Based on the current overview of the key role of TAMs in drug resistance, we discuss the potential possibility for targeting TAMs to reduce drug resistance in BC treatment, By inhibiting the recruitment of TAMs, depleting the number of TAMs, regulating the polarization of TAMs and enhancing the phagocytosis of TAMs. Evidences in our review support it is important to develop novel therapeutic strategies to target TAMs in BC to overcome the treatment of resistance.

COURT’S DEFENSE OF PERSON’S RIGHTS IN A SPHERE OF CITY PLANNING BY PUBLIC ASSOCIATIONS: DEFINITION OF A PROBLEM

Unauthorized buildings are enough common problem of city planning in Ukraine. There is very popular practice to receive permissive documents after the beginning of building works and before commissioning. Therefore, effectiveness of activity of the Ukrainian State Architectural Building Service is not high. As a result, last decade some citizens and public organizations take part in struggle with city planning violations. Therefore, an investigation of a normative base of an appropriate activity of public organizations and court’s practice in this sphere is an actual task in purpose of an adoption of some legislative decisions. The author had identified position of Supreme Court on duty to application a rule about legal interest of a plaintiff. Only fact of an unauthorized building is not enough for its stopping on claims of not interested persons. The cessation of a town planning violation is possible only in condition of risk for rights and legal interests of plaintiffs (citizens and / or legal entities) or on actions of authorized state organs. The number of decisions of Supreme Court decided in favor of plaintiffs in cases on the claims of citizens and public organizations regarding unauthorized buildings of apartment buildings and other capital objects of town planning is small enough. Actual procedural legislation and normative legal acts which define a status of public organizations don’t provide its right to take legal action for a defense of rights and interests of legal entities and persons, territorial communities, public interests. Nowadays the question of provision public organizations by procedural interest in appropriate categories of disputes in the legislation kept up. Procedural interest of public organizations, its legal interest directly links to the question of court’s defense of public interests, with an institute of actio popularis. Because such organizations have to defend only public, not personal interest in accordance to its statutory object. It is important to understand that an interest for the stopping of illegal building cannot be personalize as an interest of any citizen. Therefore, it is an actual task to develop theoretical ideas about court’s defense of public interest. Nowadays Ukraine accepted the possibility of the defense of public interests only in spheres of consumer’s rights and ecological disputes. The legal public interest in other spheres of public life is not legitimize for the court’s defense. The author has made a conclusion about potential possibility and necessity of legislative recognizing of the right of public organizations to take legal action for the defense of rights of its members in the sphere of unauthorized buildings.

Blackberry Leaves as New Functional Food? Screening Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Microbiological Activities in Correlation with Phytochemical Analysis

Blackberry fruits are recognized as functional foods while blackberry leaves are outside this classification and they also contain active compounds with health-promoting potential. Therefore, the aim of this study was the phytochemical analysis of blackberry leaves of varieties (Chester, Loch Ness, Loch Tay and Ruczaj) and screening of their biological activity (antioxidant potential, possibility of inhibition of enzymes, anti-inflammatory and microbial activity). The following compounds from selected groups: phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ellagic acid, gallic acid, syringic acid), flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol) and their glycosides (rutin, isoquercetin, hyperoside) and flavon-3-ols (catechin, epicatechin) were chromatographically determined in the aqueous and hydroalcoholic leaves extracts. All tested blackberry leaves extracts showed antioxidant effects, but the highest compounds content (TPC = 101.31 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity (e.g., DPPH IC50 = 57.37 μg/mL; ABTS IC50 = 24.83 μg/mL; CUPRAC IC50 = 62.73 μg/mL; FRAP IC50 = 39.99 μg/mL for hydroalcoholic extracts) was indicated for the Loch Tay variety. Blackberry leaf extracts’ anti-inflammatory effect was also exceptionally high for the Loch Tay variety (IC50 = 129.30 μg/mL), while leaves extracts of the Loch Ness variety showed a significant potential for microbial activity against Lactobacillus spp. and Candida spp. Summarizing, the best multidirectional pro-health effect was noted for leaves extracts of Loch Tay variety.

Lead Bioaccumulation and Translocation in Herbaceous Plants Grown in Urban and Peri-Urban Soil and the Potential Human Health Risk

Lead (Pb) contamination risks to crops grown in urban and peri-urban soils is a great concern that should be better evaluated to define the Pb maximum levels in soils for safe cultivation and to identify suitable strategies to remediate Pb polluted urban soils. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential risk for human health from the ingestion of the edible portions of barley, castor bean, common bean, Indian mustard, sorghum, spinach, and tomato grown in an unpolluted soil (initial Pb content 32.6 mg kg−1) spiked with 0, 300, 650, 1000 mg Pb kg−1, respectively. The potential possibility of using these plants to phyto-remediate the soil of Pb was also assessed. Pot trials were conducted for two years (2008 and 2009). Results highlighted that all the investigated species were able to attain growth to maturity in high Pb spiked soil, although Pb influenced dry matter accumulation. Even in soils with low Pb concentrations, Pb accumulated the edible parts. Noteworthy, even in untreated control soils, all tested species revealed a Pb concentration in the edible parts that was higher than the safe limit set by FAO/WHO. None of the investigated species were considered Pb hyperaccumulators, but all were shown to be potentially suitable for phyto-stabilization.