Agricultural valorisation of de-inking paper sludge as organic amendment in different soils

The objective of this study is to study the influence of de-inking paper sludge (DPS) and sewage sludge (SL) mixtures addition at different rates (2, 4 and 8%) in two soils. Incubation experiments were performed during 60 days and the influence of treatments in physical soil properties was determined by soil porosity and stability of aggregates. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) of amended soils after incubation was performed. Experimental results show that amendment increased biological soil activity, soil porosity and stability of aggregates. DTA analysis shows that the first exothermic peak generally increases with the dosage of DPS:SL due to the addition of immature organic matter. Moreover, the second peak enlarges probably due to the humification process during incubation.     

Regioisomeric analysis of triacylglycerols using silver-ion liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry: comparison of five different mass analyzers

Silver-ion high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) is used for the regioisomeric analysis of triacylglycerols (TGs). Standard mixtures of TG regioisomers are prepared by the randomization reaction from 8 mono-acid TG standards (tripalmitin, tristearin, triarachidin, triolein, trielaidin, trilinolein, trilinolenin and tri-gamma-linolenin). In total, 32 different regioisomeric doublets and 11 triplets are synthesized, separated by silver-ion HPLC using three serial coupled chromatographic columns giving a total length of 75cm. The retention of TGs increases strongly with the double bond (DB) number and slightly for regioisomers having more DBs in sn-1/3 positions. DB positional isomers (linolenic vs. γ-linolenic acids) are also separated and their reverse retention order in two different mobile phases is demonstrated. APCI mass spectra of all separated regioisomers are measured on five different mass spectrometers: single quadrupole LC/MSD (Agilent Technologies), triple quadrupole API 3000 (AB SCIEX), ion trap Esquire 3000 (Bruker Daltonics), quadrupole time-of-flight micrOTOF-Q (Bruker Daltonics) and LTQ Orbitrap XL (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The effect of different types of mass analyzer on the ratio of [M+H-R(i)COOH](+) fragment ions in APCI mass spectra is lower compared to the effect of the number of DBs, their position on the acyl chain and the regiospecific distribution of acyl chains on the glycerol skeleton. Presented data on [M+H-R(i)COOH](+) ratios measured on five different mass analyzers can be used for the direct regioisomeric determination in natural and biological samples.     

Magnetic nanostructures by adaptive twinning in strained epitaxial films

We exploit the intrinsic structural instability of the Fe(70)Pd(30) magnetic shape memory alloy to obtain functional epitaxial films exhibiting a self-organized nanostructure. We demonstrate that coherent epitaxial straining by 54% is possible. The combination of thin film experiments and large-scale first-principles calculations enables us to establish a lattice relaxation mechanism, which is not expected for stable materials. We identify a low twin boundary energy compared to a high elastic energy as key prerequisite for the adaptive nanotwinning. Our approach is versatile as it allows to control both, nanostructure and intrinsic properties for ferromagnetic, ferroelastic, and ferroelectric materials.     

Synthesis of substituted pyrrolo[2,3-D]pyrimidine-2,4-diones

A facile route for the synthesis of substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diones from substituted 2-amino-3-cyano-4-methylpyrroles is reported.     

A linearization technique for multi-species transport problems

We study a one-dimensional multi-species system of dispersive-advective contaminant transport equations coupled by nonlinear biological (kinetic reactions) and physical (adsorption) processes. To deal with the nonlinearities and the coupling, and to avoid additional computational costs, we propose a linearization technique based on first-order Taylor’s series expansions. A stabilized finite element in space, combined with an Euler implicit finite difference discretization in time, is used to approximate the dispersive-advective transport problem. Three computational tests are performed with different boundary conditions, retardation factors and kinetic parameters for a nonlinear reactive multi-species transport model. The proposed methodology is shown to be accurate and decrease computational costs in the numerical implementation of nonlinear reactive transport problems.     

Measurement accuracy of a mono-fiber optical probe in a bubbly flow

The measurement accuracy of a mono-fiber optical probe is studied experimentally using isolated bubbles rising freely in a still liquid. The dwell time of the probe tip within the gas phase, which is obtained from both the optical probe signal and high-speed visualization, is compared with the value expected for a non-perturbed bubble. The difference originates mainly from the intrusive nature of the optical probe, which modifies the bubble behavior when it comes into contact with the probe tip. This interaction increases the dwell time if the bubble is pierced by the probe near its pole, and shortens it for piercing near the equator. The mean dwell time, obtained by averaging for various piercing locations, is shortened and the local void fraction indicated by the probe is thus underestimated. It is shown that the void fraction error can be correlated with a modified Weber number, and this correlation is helpful for sensor selection and for uncertainty estimate. In addition, the distribution of gas dwell time usually differs from the response expected for an ideal probe. This deviation results from the dependence of the dwell time error on the piercing location. The dwell time distribution can be used to infer the dependence of the dwell time on the piercing location. Finally, the deformation of long fibers during the bubble-probe interaction significantly increases the measurement error. Observed results are consistent with data of Andreotti (2009), which were measured in an airlift flow, suggesting that present results are applicable also to the case of moving liquid. Conclusions of this study could be applied also to conductivity probes or more generally to the interaction of a bubble with any kind of thin, intrusive sensor or fiber.     

Recurrent patterns of daily intimate partner violence and environment

Although predictors of violent relationships have been identified, we are only beginning to understand the day-to-day dynamics of domestic violence. The objective of this study was to identify commonly seen patterns and strings of consecutive days involving verbal or physical abuse, and their preceding and subsequent events. Adult women (n=20) seen in a primary care clinic who experienced violence within the past month were enrolled. Subjects completed a daily telephone assessment of household environment and marital relationship for two months using Interactive Verbal Response (IVR). Results were analyzed using orbital decomposition, an analytic technique based on symbolic dynamics, in which categorical time series data are used to identify recurrent patterns of strings and quantify their complexity. While days without abuse had varied patterns involving arguments, stress levels, daily hassles, husband's alcohol intake, and sense of closeness (27 unique patterns), days involving verbal or physical abuse included a narrower range of patterns (15 patterns for verbal and 16 patterns for physical abuse). Daily patterns appear to cluster in triplets (3 consecutive days) of activity and show nonlinearity with triplets involving verbal abuse and triplets involving physical violence. Triplets involving either verbal or physical abuse were associated with arguments and high stress, but differed in the consistency of association with hassles, alcohol intake, and closeness. Finally, physical and verbal abuse tended to self-propagate. However, days involving verbal abuse did not precede days involving physical violence. In conclusions, while patterns of violence and household environments followed a nonlinear trajectory, only a limited set of patterns were observed. Although violence led to more violence, verbal abuse did not necessarily lead to physical aggression. In fact, verbal abuse and physical violence differed in the consistency of their relationships to hassles, husband's alcohol intake, and closeness.