Optimization of Oxygen Parameters for Determination of Carbon and Nitrogen in Biochar Materials

Recently, there has been increased focus on biochar materials due to their ability to sequester carbon for long-term in soil. In the production of biochar or charcoal, plant biomass is heated in a low or no oxygen environment. This process results in a product with unique characteristics. But there is limited research on the standardization of methods for determining total carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in the biochar materials whose properties vary by feedstock type and pyrolytic conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the oxygen dosing time (OT) and dose (OD) for total organic carbon (TC) and nitrogen (TN) analysis in biochar materials by dry combustion method (using Vario Max CNS analyzer). Central composite rotatable design was used to determine the effect of five levels of oxygen dosing time (OT) and dosing level (OD) on measurement of total carbon and total nitrogen in four types of plant originated biochars. OT and OD level interaction had significant impact on the measurement of TC and TN in all types of biochar materials. Optimum levels of OT and OD were determined as 103 to 110 sec and 180 to 232 ml/min, respectively.     

Functional MRI changes in the central motor system in myotonic dystrophy type 1

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic disease involving multiple organ systems including central nervous system (CNS) and muscles. Few studies have focused on the central motor system in DM1, pointing to a subclinical abnormality in the CNS. The aim of our study was to investigate patterns of cerebral activation in DM1 during a motor task using functional MRI (fMRI). Fifteen DM1 patients, aged 20 to 59 years, and 15 controls of comparable age were scanned during a self-paced sequential finger-to-thumb opposition task of their dominant right hand. Functional MRI images were analyzed using SPM99. Patients underwent clinical and genetic assessment; all subjects underwent a conventional MR study. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 patients showed greater activation than controls in bilateral sensorimotor areas and inferior parietal lobules, basal ganglia and thalami, in the ipsilateral premotor area, insula and supplementary motor area (corrected P<.05). Analysis of the interaction between disease and age showed that correlation with age was significantly greater in patients than in controls in bilateral sensorimotor areas and in contralateral parietal areas. Other clinical and MR characteristics did not correlate with fMRI. Functional changes in DM1 may represent compensatory mechanisms such as reorganization and redistribution of functional networks to compensate for ultrastructural and neurochemical changes occurring as part of the accelerated aging process.     

Structural characterisation of some fatty acids from the brain as biomarkers of BSE risk material

Identification of bovine and ovine tissue from the central nervous system (CNS: brain and spinal cord) in meat products is possible by using certain CNS fatty acids as biomarkers in GC–MS analysis. Furthermore, the relationship between the isomers of the tetracosenic acid (C24:1) is important for differentiation of the species and age of the CNS in view of the legal definition of specified risk material (SRM). This has so far been referred to as the cis/trans ratio of the isomers of nervonic acid; however, structural analysis was not performed. Here we present results from GC–MS structural analysis by retention time and DMDS adduct profiling of the even numbered monoenoic fatty acids from C18:1 to C26:1. Retention times and mass spectra of the FAME standards indicated that the so far designated trans-nervonic acid has a different isomeric structure in the tetracosenic acid from brain-sample extracts. By performing GC–MS analysis of DMDS adducts we have shown that this isomer was actually cis-17-tetracosenic acid in all species so far tested, not trans-15-tetracosenic acid (trans-nervonic acid). The tetracosenic acid isomer ratio proved to be species-specific in accordance with previous results. Thus, instead of the ratio of cis/trans isomers of nervonic acid, the ratio of 9/7-tetracosenic acid (15c-C24:1/17c-C24:1) will have to be used as a correct reference in future publications. Although trans isomers were not detectable in sheep and cattle brain, porcine brain contained, in addition to cis-17-tetracosenic acid, small amounts of the trans isomers of the C18:1, C20:1, C24:1, and C26:1 fatty acids, in decreasing quantities. In future, this might be useful as another means of differentiation between porcine CNS (non-SRM) and ovine or bovine CNS (SRM). Extensive follow-up studies must be performed to elucidate the extent to which this GC–MS approach will facilitate the detection of CNS according to the legal SRM definition.     

Common methods for the chiral determination of amphetamine and related compounds I. Gas, liquid and thin-layer chromatography

This article reviews the most common, useful methods for the chiral determination of amphetamine (AM) and AM-derived designer drugs in different of matrix, including blood, hair, urine, medicaments or standard solutions, taking into consideration articles published in the past 15 years. We consider chromatographic methods (e.g., gas, liquid, high-performance liquid, and thin layer). We describe several types of chiral derivatization reagent, mobile-phase additive and chiral stationary phase commonly used in the chromatographic methods. Tables summarize basic information about conditions (e.g., type of column and mobile phase), detection mode and reference data for each procedure.     

基于模糊自适应的组合导航系统信息融合算法

以INS/GPS/CNS组合导航系统为应用背景,在现有方法的基础上,提出了一种新的模糊自适应的组合导航系统信息融合算法。该系统由三个模糊控制块组成,分别为子滤波器模糊控制块、子滤波器权值模糊推理控制块和信息分配系数模糊控制块。解决了由于模型不准确的情况下滤波精度差的问题,同时又能保证系统的实时性,文中给出了状态方程和量测方程,最后通过软件仿真,结果表明该方法具有高效率、高精度等优点,是一种实时有效的算法。     

星敏感器辅助的临近空间飞行器姿态匹配传递对准方法

为解决临近空间飞行器的精确、快速传递对准问题,提出了发射点惯性坐标系下基于星敏感器信息辅助的传递对准方案。根据星敏感器输出的不同形式的姿态信息,如利用TRIAD算法获得的姿态角信息或利用QUEST算法获得的姿态四元数信息,分别建立了基于平台失准角和基于加性四元数的非线性传递对准模型。针对非线性特性模型,采用UKF滤波算法进行了数学仿真。仿真结果表明,在2 s内,两种方案的姿态角误差均可以收敛到20"。仿真验证了两种算法的有效性,为临近空间飞行器的传递对准提供了参考。     

两种国产低活化的铁素体/马氏体钢的He离子辐照硬化研究

低活化的铁素体/马氏体钢（RAFM）以其高导热率、低热膨胀率、高抗辐照肿胀能力成为未来核聚变堆重要的候选结构材料,在聚变堆高能中子辐照环境由于（n,α）核反应产生的高浓度He在材料中的积累对于材料微观结构和宏观性能的影响是关系这类材料服役寿命的重要问题。本工作研究了面向聚变反应堆应用的两种国产低活化钢（CLF、CNS）的辐照硬化效应,利用中国科学院近代物理研究所320 kV高压实验平台提供的4He离子束进行辐照实验,辐照剂量6×10-3,6×10-2,6×10-1 dpa （辐照损伤/原子平均离位）,对应注He浓度分别为100,1 000,10 000 appm （氦离子浓度/百万分之一）。采用多能注入方法,在样品表面至1微米深度形成He浓度和离位损伤的坪区分布。利用纳米压痕仪对参比样品和注入He的样品进行了连续刚度测试。基于NIX-GAO模型对纳米硬度数据进行分析,获得了注入He的区域样品纳米硬度的数据。研究表明,注入He区域的纳米硬度与辐照损伤水平之间存在着1/2次幂函数的关系。未辐照CLF钢比CNS钢的纳米硬度略低,随着辐照剂量的增加,CLF钢呈现的辐照硬化现象更明显。Reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steels (RAFM) are important candidate materials for future fusion nuclear reactors because of their high thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion rate and high resistance to irradiation swelling performance. The influence of high concentration helium produced by nuclear reaction (n,α) on the micro-structure and macro-properties is an important issue limiting the service lifetime of the materials. In the present work, helium implantation to three different doses (100, 1 000, 10 000 appm helium, corresponding to 6×10-3, 6×10-2, 6×10-1 dpa) was carried out to investigate irradiation hardening of two RAFM Steels. Multi-energy He ion-beams at 320 kV high-voltage platform were used to get a damage plateau from surface to 1 μm depth in specimens. The continuous-stiffness test by a Nano-indentor G2000 was carried out Data of nano-hardness were analyzed based on Nix-Gao model. It is shown that there is a 1/2-power law relationship between the hardening and the irradiation damage level. Before helium implantation, the hardness of the CLF steel is slightly lower than that of the CNS steel. However, with the increase of helium-implantation dose, the hardening is more obvious in CLF steel. Further investigation of microstructures is needed to get a deeper understanding of the hardening mechanism.     

GC-MS detection of central nervous tissues as TSE risk material in meat products: analytical quality and strategy

The detection of central nervous system (CNS) tissue (i.e. brain and spinal cord) by the use of GC-MS and certain fatty acids (FAs) as their methyl esters (FAMEs) was previously shown to be a very promising approach towards identification of CNS tissue as a specified risk material (SRM) in meat products, contrasting available immunochemical methods. This GC-MS method promised to allow quantification of CNS material as low as 0.01%. Here, we show that the CNS-relevant FAMEs C22:6, C24:19, C24:17, C24:0 and C24-OH are present in pure muscle and adipose tissue samples in detectable amounts. Thus, limits of detection are not feasible as quality parameters in this analytical GC-MS approach. Instead, cut-off values have to be applied as calculated from the baseline content of the respective FAME in CNS-free samples and its variation for a given statistical security. Furthermore, the FAs used for quantification of the CNS showed distinct differences depending on species and age. This finding is in accordance with previous studies where it had been concluded that species and age differentiation of CNS might be possible with GC-MS. However, it was not taken into account that it also necessitates a strict analytical strategy for quantification of the CNS content: identification of the presence of CNS (step 1); identification of species and age (step 2); and quantification by use of a species- and age-specific CNS calibration (step 3). Differences between the FA content of the CNS used for calibrating and the CNS in the sample will cause up to fivefold deviation from the true CNS content. Our results show that the FA best suited for identification (step 1) and quantification (step 3) purposes is cerebronic acid C24-OH after silylation. Further in-depth studies are needed in order to elucidate variability of brain FA content and to determine analytical limits. However, the present GC-MS approach is already a highly promising supplement to existing immunochemical methods for the detection of traces of CNS material in meat products.