Multivariate optimization and comparison between conventional extraction (CE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of carotenoid extraction from cashew apple

Carotenoids are an essential component of cashew and can be used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, natural pigment, food additives, among other applications. The present work focuses on optimizing and comparing conventional and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods. Every optimization step took place with a 1:1 (w:w) mixture of yellow and red cashew apples lyophilized and ground in a cryogenic mill. A Simplex-centroid design was applied for both methods, and the solvents acetone, methanol, ethanol, and petroleum ether were evaluated. After choosing the extractor solvent, a central composite design was applied to optimize the sample mass (59–201 mg) and extraction time (6–34 min). The optimum conditions for the extractor solvent were 38% acetone, 30% ethanol, and 32% petroleum ether for CE and a mixture of 44% acetone and 56% methanol for UAE. The best experimental conditions for UAE were a sonication time of 19 min and a sample mass of 153 mg, while the CE was 23 min and 136 mg. Comparing red and yellow cashews, red cashews showed a higher carotenoid content in both methodologies. The UAE methodology was ca. 21% faster, presented a more straightforward composition of extracting solution, showed an average yield of superior carotenoid content in all samples compared to CE. Therefore, UAE has demonstrated a simple, efficient, fast, low-cost adjustment methodology and a reliable alternative for other applications involving these bioactive compounds in the studied or similar matrix.     

Terahertz generation in quantum cascade structures by two-color deriving fields: An approach to reach inversion population via optical pumping

In this paper, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) design is proposed based on GaAs/AlGaAs material system, which simultaneously operates at three widely separated wavelengths (${\lambda }_1=11.1\mu m,{\lambda }_2=14.1\mu m$ and ${\lambda }_{THz}=60\mu m$). In the design, all the wavelength radiations are achieved by the engineering of the electronic spectrum via the quantum-well widths and the applied electric field in a single active region within a same waveguide. The mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths are obtained by adoption a dual-upper-state active region, and the proposed design aims to use both the mid-IR radiations as the coherent deriving fields to populate the upper THz lasing state to aid the THz-laser population inversion via optical pumping instead of direct electrical injection. A detailed analysis of electronic transport in the structure is carried out using a multi-level rate-equation model. The results show that the proposed structure offers an alternative approach to room temperature THz generation in QCLs.     

雾化辅助化学气相沉积法氧化镓薄膜生长研究

采用自主设计搭建的雾化辅助化学气相沉积系统设备,开展了Ga₂O₃薄膜制备及其特性研究工作。通过X射线衍射研究了沉积温度、系统沉积压差对Ga₂O₃薄膜结晶质量的影响。结果表明,Ga₂O₃在425~650 ℃温度区间存在物相转换关系。随着沉积温度从425 ℃升高至650 ℃,薄膜结晶分别由非晶态、纯α-Ga₂O₃结晶状态向α-Ga₂O₃、β-Ga₂O₃两相混合结晶状态改变。通过原子力显微镜表征探究了生长温度对Ga₂O₃薄膜表面形貌的影响,从475 ℃升高至650 ℃时,薄膜表面粗糙度由26.8 nm下降至24.8 nm。同时,高分辨X射线衍射仪测试表明475 ℃、5 Pa压差条件下的α-Ga₂O₃薄膜样品半峰全宽仅为190.8″,为高度结晶态的单晶α-Ga₂O₃薄膜材料。     

Ergodic stationary distribution and practical application of a hybrid stochastic cholera transmission model with waning vaccine-induced immunity under nonlinear regime switching

Considering the effect of stochasticity including white noise and colored noise, this paper aims to study a hybrid stochastic cholera epidemic model with waning vaccine-induced immunity and nonlinear telegraph perturbations. First, we derive a critical value ${?}_0^C$ related to the basic reproduction number ${?}_0$ of the deterministic model. The key aim of this paper is to generalize the θ-stochastic criterion method proposed by the recent work (Han et al. in Chaos Solit Fract 140:110238, 2020) to eliminate nonlinear telegraph perturbations. Next, via constructing several θ-stochastic Lyapunov functions and using the generalized method, we further prove that the stochastic model have a unique ergodic stationary distribution under ${?}_0^C>1$. Results show that the prevention and control of cholera epidemic depend on low transmission rate and small telegraph perturbations. Finally, the corresponding numerical simulations are performed to illustrate our analytical results and a practical application on the Somalia cholera outbreak is shown at the end of this paper.     

非线性玻尔兹曼方程的傅里叶谱方法

玻尔兹曼方程作为空气动理学中最基本的方程之一,是连接微观牛顿力学和宏观连续介质力学的重要桥梁.该方程描述了一个由大量粒子组成的复杂系统的非平衡态时间演化:除了基本的输运项,其最重要的特性是粒子间的相互碰撞由一个高维,非局部且非线性的积分算子来描述,从而给玻尔兹曼方程的数值求解带来非常大的挑战.在过去的二十年间,基于傅里叶级数的谱方法成为了数值求解玻尔兹曼方程的一种很受欢迎且有效的确定性算法.这主要归功于谱方法的高精度及它可以被快速傅里叶变换加速的特质.本文将回顾玻尔兹曼方程的傅里叶谱方法,具体包括方法的导出,稳定性和收敛性分析,快速算法,以及在一大类基于碰撞的空气动理学方程中的推广.     

广义神经传播方程的整体吸引子

使用Galerkin方法,结合Sobolev空间理论和不等式技巧,给出了广义神经传播方程解的存在唯一性定理,然后利用吸引子存在性定理,采用半群方法证明了方程整体吸引子的存在性.