Measurements of relative thick target yields for PIGE analysis on light elements in the proton energy interval 2.4–4.2 MeV

In order to extend the energy range of the systematic investigation on relative thick target yields performed by ANTTILA et al² for 1E_p2.4 MeV bombarding energies, gamma spectra and yield data are presented for elements Z=3–9, 11–17, 19–21 in the energy range 2.4E_p4.2 MeV and the results are discussed from the point of view of PIGE analysis.     

Chlorine and bromine contents in tobacco and tobacco smoke

The chlorine and bromine contents in tobacco and tobacco smoke in both the particulate and gaseous phases were studied by neutronactivation analysis. Methyl chloride and methyl bromide concentrations were measured in the gaseous phase by gas-liquid chromatography — mass spectrometry. The chlorine and bromine contents in nine brands of cigarettes were on the average as follows: Tobacco—6600 ppm chlorine and 110 ppm bromine. Cigarette smoke, particulate phase—68 g chlorine and 1 g bromine per cigarette. Cigarette smoke, gaseous phase—90 g chlorine and 5 g bromine per cigarette. In the gaseous phase methyl chloride accounted for 60% of the total chlorine and methyl bromine for 80% of the total bromine.     

Vitality fertilization of Scots pine stands growing along a gradient of heavy metal pollution: short-term effects on microbial biomass and respiration rate of the humus layer

In 1992 forest vitality fertilization experiments were established on a heavy metal deposition gradient with four treatments in three replications at distances of 0.5, 4 and 8 km from a Cu-Ni smelter in order to estimate their impact on the disturbed forest ecosystem. The increase in Cu concentration in the humus (F/H) layer of the Calluna site type Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) stands from ca. 300 to 8000 mg kg(-1) d.m. (dry matter) along the 8 km long transect towards the smelter resulted in declining soil microbial biomass and soil respiration activity. Three independent measurements of microbial biomass: C(mic)-FE (fumigation extraction), C(mic)-SIR (substrate induced respiration), and ATP have been used together with an indicator of fungal biomass (ergosterol) and microbial activity (soil respiration). Within this Cu pollution range, all the measured microbial biomass levels declined to 10%-28% of the control plot values and activity assessed by respiration was lowered to 16%. Liming has increased the C(mic)-SIR and respiration rate. Treatments with test fertilizer, made from grounded apatite, did not result in different microbial biomass and respiration rate values compared to the respective controls along the whole gradient. Nitrogen + lime treatments resulted in similar changes to lime alone. No changes, as compared to the respective control, could be detected with nitrogen fertilization at the less polluted end of the gradient.     

Optimal Maps and Exponentiation on Finite-Dimensional Spaces with Ricci Curvature Bounded from Below

We prove existence and uniqueness of optimal maps on \(\mathsf{RCD}^*(K,N)\) spaces under the assumption that the starting measure is absolutely continuous. We also discuss how this result naturally leads to the notion of exponentiation and to the local-to-global property of \(\mathsf{RCD}^*(K,N)\) bounds.     

Introducing <Emphasis FontCategory="NonProportional" Type="Bold">libeemd</Emphasis>: a program package for performing the ensemble empirical mode decomposition

The ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and its complete variant (CEEMDAN) are adaptive, noise-assisted data analysis methods that improve on the ordinary empirical mode decomposition (EMD). All these methods decompose possibly nonlinear and/or nonstationary time series data into a finite amount of components separated by instantaneous frequencies. This decomposition provides a powerful method to look into the different processes behind a given time series data, and provides a way to separate short time-scale events from a general trend. We present a free software implementation of EMD, EEMD and CEEMDAN and give an overview of the EMD methodology and the algorithms used in the decomposition. We release our implementation, libeemd, with the aim of providing a user-friendly, fast, stable, well-documented and easily extensible EEMD library for anyone interested in using (E)EMD in the analysis of time series data. While written in C for numerical efficiency, our implementation includes interfaces to the Python and R languages, and interfaces to other languages are straightforward.     

Hybrid films from cellulose nanomaterials—properties and defined optical patterns

Cellulose - Polymer composites with nanocellulose as the reinforcing agent often lack good compatibility between the two components. In this study, we have combined cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and...     

Sustainable composites of surface-modified cellulose with low–melting point polyamide

The present study proposed a series of sustainable polyamide/cellulose composites with up to 60% bio-based content to address environmental issues arising from using fossil-based polymers. Furthermore, it addressed one of the most challenging cellulose/polymer composites' issues, filler/matrix compatibility. Accordingly, the microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) surface was treated through the grafting of n-octadecyl isocyanate (ODI) molecules. The elemental analysis confirmed the substitution of approximately 9 ODI molecules per 100 anhydroglucose units, resulting in superhydrophobic MCC formation with a water contact angle of 130°. The surface-modified MCC was melt blended with a bio-based low–melting point polyamide, developed through copolymerization of 11-aminoundecanoic acid and 12-aminolauric acid. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed no evidence of surface-modified MCC agglomeration, even at a high loading of 30 wt%, suggesting a uniform dispersion of the filler particles and excellent compatibility between two phases. Consequently, the storage modulus, tensile modulus, and yield stress were enhanced by 40%, 100%, and 50%, respectively, in the composite sample with 30 wt% of MCC, proving excellent stress transformation from the matrix to particles arose from good adhesion between cellulose particles and polyamide chains. Furthermore, all samples revealed suitable melt flowability and viscoelastic performances, suggesting their excellent processability, a critical property for engineered thermoplastics. On top of that, the presence of the surface-modified particles considerably decreased water uptake capacity and water vapor transmission of the polymer matrix, making it interesting for specific applications like packaging films.     

Computationally identified novel diphenyl- and phenylpyridine androgen receptor antagonist structures

We have identified and profiled a set of androgen receptor (AR) binding compounds representing two nonsteroidal scaffolds from a public chemical database supplied by Asinex with virtual screening procedure incorporating our recently published 3D QSAR model of AR ligands. The diphenyl- and phenylpyridine-based compounds act as antagonists in wild-type AR in CV1 cells and also retain this antagonistic character in CV1 cells expressing T877A mutant receptor. This mutation is frequently associated with prostate cancer. Two of the compounds repress the androgen-dependent cell growth of LNCaP prostate cancer cells expressing the T877A AR mutant. Molecular modeling of the observed in vitro antagonism with induced fit docking suggests that W741 and M895 could be mechanistically involved in the initiation of the antagonism. The results indicate finding of nonsteroidal AR antagonist compounds from a public chemical database with computational methods. Compounds could serve as a novel platform to develop more potent AR antagonists with inhibitory activity in both wild-type and T877A mutant AR.     

An efficient Schottky-varactor frequency multiplier at millimeter waves. Part I: Doubler

The efficiency of millimeter wave doublers with a wide tunable bandwidth was studied. The efficiency depends on the varactor parameters and the embedding impedances seen by the diode at fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Millimeter wave doublers were simulated with a nonlinear analysis program to find optimum embedding impedances for a given diode. Also the sensitivity of the efficiency to various diode and circuit parameters was evaluated. A scaled model was constructed in order to experimentally optimize the impedances. For experimental verification a doubler from 40–58 GHz to 80–116 GHz was constructed. The highest efficiency measured was 45% at 94 GHz with 5 mW input power. The highest efficiency obtained with 20 mW input power was 38%.     

Quantitative retinal-blood flow measurement with three-dimensional vessel geometry determination using ultrahigh-resolution Doppler optical coherence angiography

Retinal blood flow quantification by retinal vessel segmentation with Doppler optical coherence angiography is presented. Vessel diameter, orientation, and position are determined in an en face vessel image and two representative cross-sectional flow images of the vessel. Absolute blood flow velocity is calculated with the help of the measured Doppler frequency shift and determined vessel angle. The volumetric flow rate is obtained with the position and the region of the vessel lumen. The volumetric blood flow rate of retinal arteries before and after a bifurcation is verified in a healthy human eye.