Measurement of dissolved oxygen during red wines tank aging with chips and micro-oxygenation

Nowadays, micro-oxygenation is a very important technique used in aging wines in order to improve their characteristics. The techniques of wine tank aging imply the use of small doses of oxygen and the addition of wood pieces of oak to the wine. Considering the low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels used by micro-oxygenation technique it is necessary to choose the appropriate measurement principle to apply the precise oxygen dosage in wine at any time, in order to assure its correct assimilation. This knowledge will allow the oenologist to control and run the wine aging correctly.This work is a thorough revision of DO measurement main technologies applied to oenology. It describes the strengths and weaknesses of each of them, and draws a comparison of their workings in wine measurement. Both, the traditional systems by electrochemical probes, and the newest photoluminescence-based probes have been used. These probes adapted to red wines ageing study are then compared.This paper also details the first results of the dissolved oxygen content evolution in red wines during a traditional and alternative tank aging. Samples have been treated by three different ageing systems: oak barrels, stainless-steel tanks with small oak wood pieces (chips) and with bigger oak pieces (staves) with low micro-oxygenation levels. French and American oak barrels manufactured by the same cooperage have been used.     

Investigation studies involving sound absorbing parameters of roadside screen panels subjected to aging in simulated conditions

The paper presents the results of investigation studies involving the impact of atmospheric factors on sound-absorbing parameters of roadside acoustic screen panels. The research studies comprised the aging test consisting of 1000 cycles in simulated conditions, sound absorption measurements and surface morphology tests, using the SEM scanning method. The simulation of aging consisted of 100 or 150 cycles at a time. Then, the panels were investigated in the reverberation chamber to define their sound-absorbing properties. The process was repeated until 1000 cycles were completed. Basing on the carried out tests, a statistical linear model was worked out which was used to estimate the value of a single number sound absorption coefficient after successive aging cycles. The optimality of the model was demonstrated by means of a statistical test confirming normal distribution of random residuals. For the research studies, we employed an innovative structural design of panels for which aging characteristics were obtained. Basing on the obtained results and on the statistical analysis, the prospects to maintain acoustic properties of the panels during their service life was estimated.     

Modeling instrumented indentation testing to evaluate the behavior of PA11 and CaCO3 composites for offshore applications

PA/PCC micro-composites were prepared with different PCC contents. Compatibility tests were conducted with crude oil at aging times up to 28 days. The experimental phases of the instrumented indentation test (loading, creep and unloading) were modeled. Moreover, the heuristic method of differential evolution was used to fit the parameters. Loading curves showed higher scattering than the subsequent unloading, regardless of the aging time. The two unloading parameters exhibited quasi-linear dependency, but their dispersion was quite different. The mechanical and viscoelastic properties revealed that the PCC filler acted as a reinforcing agent. However, a higher PCC content did not lead to an increase in modulus, probably due to the poor interaction between particles and polymer. The hardness results showed that this property is not so sensitive to the material's morphology as are modulus data. All systems still had predominantly plastic behavior even after aging.     

Effects of gamma irradiation and accelerated aging on GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites

This article investigates irradiated and accelerated aged graphene oxide (GO)/ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) nanocomposites. The prepared GO/UHMWPE nanocomposites are gamma-irradiated at a high irradiation dose in a vacuum and then accelerated aging procedure is performed at 80°C in an air oven for 21 days. Irradiated and aged samples are characterized by Raman spectrum, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle, and gel content. Filling GO reduces the intensity of Raman spectrum of UHMWPE and irradiation or aging cannot affect vibrational modes of UHMWPE and GO/UHMWPE. The result of the FT-IR spectrum shows that UHMWPE and GO/UHMWPE basically have the same oxidation index values, whether with irradiation or accelerated aging. Irradiation or aging can slightly increase the melting temperature. GO, irradiation, or aging can significantly increase the crystallinity and improve wetting properties. In irradiated GO/UHMWPE, GO is able to maintain the efficiency of the cross-linking. However, after aging, the cross-linking density of GO/UHMWPE is reduced significantly. According to the above results, it is proposed that GO shows a very weak scavenging free radicals capacity in GO/UHMWPE composites and cannot display antioxidant capacity.     

Non-destructive assessment of parchment deterioration by optical methods

A non-destructive and non-invasive method for quantitative characterization of parchment deterioration, based on spectral measurements, is proposed. Deterioration due to both natural aging (ancient parchments) and artificial aging (achieved by means of controlled UV irradiation and temperature treatment) was investigated. The effect of aging on parchment native fluorescence was correlated with its deterioration condition. Aging causes fluorescence intensity drop, spectral shift of the main peak, and an overall change in the fluorescence spectral features. Digital color imaging analysis based on visible reflectance from the parchment surface was also applied, and the correspondent color components (RGB) were successively correlated with the state of parchment deterioration/aging. The fluorescence and color imaging data were validated by analysis of historical parchments, aged between 50 and 2000 years and covering a large variety of states of deterioration. The samples were independently assessed by traditional microscopy methods. We conclude that the proposed optical method qualifies well as a non-destructive tool for rapid assessment of the stage of parchment deterioration.     

Longitudinal voice changes: Facts and interpretation

To study intraindividual vocal changes over time, a longitudinal research design is preferred. However, this procedure reveals many restrictions concerning methodology and interpretation, especially in cases of (semi)retrospective studies. This is illustrated by an investigation of the voices of 20 male Dutch-speaking reporters of the Belgian Radio Broadcasting service. These men read the same text they did 30 years previously for a digital registration. After having copied the high-quality archival recordings digitally, the results of the acoustical analysis of both recordings (recent and archival) were compared. This was done to search for the contribution of aging. In this article we report on the results of the speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) and the standard deviation of the SFF (SFFsd) as a measure of intraindividual variability, and the voice onset time (VOT). Results indicate that, in connected speech, SFF decreased, SFFsd became more restricted, and the VOT increased strongly. The interpretation of the results compels us to conclude that it is extremely difficult to define the specific effect of aging alone, since it is only one element among many others, including methodological concerns.     

红外光谱探究常见污染气体对丝织品结构的影响

丝织品是由丝蛋白质组成,高温、高湿及污染物等因素会使其结构发生变化。为了科学地评估博物馆中污染气体对丝织品结构的影响,采取人工模拟实验制备二氧化氮、二氧化硫、乙酸和氨气常见博物馆污染气体环境,利用傅里叶红外光谱（FTIR）从丝蛋白质肽链结构、二级结构等方面探讨4种污染气体对丝织品蛋白质结构的影响。实验结果表明,二氧化氮老化30 h后样品的红外光谱在1 382 cm-1波数附近出现甲基对称变角振动吸收峰,而其他气体老化50 d的丝织品仍未产生甲基对称变角振动,说明二氧化氮对丝织品破坏最严重。所有污染气体老化后,样品的红外光谱在975和999 cm-1丝蛋白-Gly-Ala-和-Gly-Gly-肽链（一级）结构特征吸收峰处均有不同程度减弱,但碱性气体氨气较酸性气体减弱更明显。傅里叶红外光谱技术结合酰胺Ⅲ带（1 330～1 200 cm-1）去卷积和高斯拟合法研究表明,50 d氨老化后仅引起丝蛋白质非结晶区的轻微变化,α-螺旋、无规卷曲、β-折叠含量变化幅度较小,丝蛋白二级结构变化较小。相比而言,酸性气体对丝蛋白二级结构影响更加显著,出现β-折叠相对含量大幅降低、无规卷曲相对含量明显增加,其结晶区遭受严重破坏。在4种气体中,二氧化氮对丝织品二级结构影响最显著,老化30 h后β-折叠相对含量由原始值30.36%降低至18.12%,约降低40%。相应的二氧化氮对丝织品强度破坏最严重,在β-折叠含量降低的同时,材料的力学强度出现了显著降低。利用波数在1 700和1 640 cm-1红外光谱吸收峰的比值（A_{1 700/1 640}）和波数在1 620和1 514 cm-1红外光谱吸收峰的比值（A_{1 620/1 514}）判断样品的老化方式,实验结果表明二氧化氮、二氧化硫、氨气老化样品的方式主要为氧化老化,而乙酸老化的样品则发生氧化老化和水解老化两种老化方式。随着老化时间的延长,4种气体中二氧化氮老化样品的A_{1 620/1 514}比值增加最多、氧化最严重。推断与二氧化氮的强氧化性有关,也与二氧化氮使丝织品产生显著的甲基对称变角振动有关。建议博物馆应严格监测和控制二氧化氮气体浓度。该研究为制定合理的丝织品文物存放环境提供科学依据,对丝织品文物的保护具有重要意义。     

飞机舱音记录器背景声的联合时频分析研究

飞机舱音记录器记录的舱音主要是由话语音、噪声和具有不同物理意义的背景声组成的复杂混合体,用传统的辨听和分析方法难以获取较多的舱音特征参数。本文以一个舱音记录器记录的主告警声为例,针对传统短时傅立叶变换在舱音辨听、分析的不足,将联合时频分析引入到飞机舱音分析中,扩展了舱音分析方法。对比分析结果表明:时频分布及其重排,在时频分辨率、时频凝聚性、交叉项干扰的抑制上各有所长,都适合分析非平稳舱音背景声,从而为飞行事故调查提供一种值得采用的方法。     

White matter hyperintensities and dynamics of postural control

Background

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on MRI have been associated with age, cardiovascular risk factors and falls in the elderly. This study evaluated the relationship between WMHs and dynamics of postural control in older adults without history of falls.

Methods

We studied 76 community-living subjects without history of falls (age 64.5±7.3 years). Brain and WMH volume calculations and clinical rating were done on fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) and MP-RAGE MR images on 3 T. Balance was assessed from the center of pressure displacement using the force platform during 3 min of quiet standing using traditional and dynamic measures (using stabilogram-diffusion analysis). Gait speed was measured from 12-min walk.

Results

Age-adjusted periventricular and focal WMHs were associated with changes in certain dynamic balance measures, including reduced range of postural sway in anteroposterior direction (fronto-temporal WMHs, P=.045; parieto-occipital WMHs, P=.009) and more irregular long-term mediolateral fluctuations (P=.046). Normal walking speed was not affected by WMHs.

Conclusions

Periventricular and focal WMHs affect long-term dynamics of postural control, which requires engagement of feedback mechanisms, and may contribute to mobility decline in the elderly.