Zirconium silicate assisted removal of residual proteins after organic solvent deproteinization of human plasma,enhancing the stability of the LC–ESI-MS response for the bioanalysis of small molecules

An efficient blood plasma clean-up method was developed, where methanol protein precipitation was applied, followed by zirconium silicate assisted exclusion of residual proteins. A strong binding of zirconium (IV) silicate to the proteins enabled the elimination of remaining proteins after solvent deproteinization through a rapid solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF MS) was used for monitoring the proteins during clean-up practice applied to human plasma samples. The proteins were quantified by colorimetric detection using the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay. The presented analytical strategy resulted in the depletion of >99.6% proteins from human plasma samples. Furthermore, high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to diode-array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC–DAD/ESI MS) was applied for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) and their metabolites in human plasma. The procedure demonstrated high recoveries for the standard compounds spiked at different concentrations. Cynarin and chlorogenic acid were recovered in the range of 81–86% and 78–83%, respectively. Caffeic acid was extracted in the excess of 89–92%, while ferulic acid and dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid showed a recovery of 87–91% and 92–95%, respectively. The method was partially validated in accordance with FDA-Industry Guidelines for Bioanalytical Method Validation (2001). The presented scheme improves the clean-up efficacy of the methanol deproteinization, significantly reduces the matrix effects and provides a great analytical tool for the isolation of small molecules from human plasma.     

微型气相色谱仪热导检测器放大电路设计

Agilent公司生产的Agilent 3000+系列色谱仪是微型气相色谱仪(micro GC)的典型代表,其热导检测器的信号放大电路和模数转换器(analog-to-digital convertor, ADC)存在功耗大、工作温度过高等不足.文中分析了micro GC电路的功能需求,从选用低噪声的24 bit Δ-Σ ADC ADS1255入手,设计了高共模电压容限、低噪声的全差分放大电路及其他外围电路,并且对全差分放大电路建立了噪声模型,计算了其噪声理论值,优化了系统设计参数.另外,还设计了一个测试平台,对所设计的全差分放大电路和ADC的性能进行了全面的测试评估,结果表明新设计的热导检测器放大电路与ADC的总噪声(以美国材料与试验协会(ASTM)标准值计)仅为1.25 μV,总功耗降低了3.7 W,满足micro GC的功能需求,而且可靠性高、体积小、结构简单,可用于新一代micro GC的研发和生产.     

有界随机噪声激励下软弹簧Duffing振子的安全盆分叉

研究了软弹簧Duffing振子在有界随机噪声激励下，系统安全盆的侵蚀现象，并提出了随机安全盆分叉的概念. 计算表明，由于随机扰动的影响，系统的随机安全盆分叉点发生了偏移. 关键词： Duffing振子 有界随机噪声 安全盆 分叉     

The effect of noise on the dirac phase of electron in the presence of screw dislocation

The effect of noise on the Dirac phase of electron in the presence of screw dislocation is studied. An uncorrelated noise, which coincides with the nature of thermal fluctuations, is adopted. Results indicate that the Dirac phase is robust against the existing noise in the system.     

Versatile wideband balanced detector for quantum optical homodyne tomography

We present a comprehensive theory and an easy to follow method for the design and construction of a wideband homodyne detector for time-domain quantum measurements. We show how one can evaluate the performance of a detector in a specific time-domain experiment based on the electronic spectral characteristic of that detector. We then present and characterize a high-performance detector constructed using inexpensive, commercially available components such as low-noise high-speed operational amplifiers and high-bandwidth photodiodes. Our detector shows linear behavior up to a level of over 13 dB clearance between shot noise and electronic noise, in the range from DC to 100 MHz. The detector can be used for measuring quantum optical field quadratures both in the continuous-wave and pulsed regimes with standard commercial mode-locked lasers.     

Influence of the automotive Start/Stop system on noise emission: Experimental study

One of the most common environmental impacts of road transportation is the traffic noise. Linked to this, Start/Stop is a technology which has demonstrated to save fuel by powering off the engine when the vehicle is stopped, such as in front of a traffic light, and restarting the engine instantly when the driver pushes back the pedal brake to proceed. The technology helps also to reduce the CO₂ emission, playing a key role in a way to accomplish stringent emission norms for vehicle manufacturer. However, we are not sure whether it reduces the noise emission and how much? Thus, the main aim of this work is to assess the engine noise emissions of a vehicle incorporating a Start/Stop system in urban traffic, and compare it with those radiated by the mean traffic stream. Experimental results demonstrate that there are no contributions of the Start/Stop system to reduce meaningfully the engine noise in urban traffic.     

红外成像系统NETD参数测试算法及应用研究

噪声等效温差(NETD)是表征红外成像系统灵敏度的关键参数,也是评估红外成像系统性能的重要参数之一,应用广泛。通过对红外成像系统3D噪声、信号传递函数(SiTF)、NETD等参数测试方法、算法和流程研究,给出一种基于视频文件的3D噪声离线对比测试方法和一种SiTF线性区自动判断计算斜率算法,在此基础上针对某型技术保障装备国产化光电检测平台开发了配套应用软件功能模块。实现了通过计算单位均方根噪声所对应的SiTF斜率值,分析得出系统NETD参数值的功能。以某型热像仪为被测对象,开展了测试结果重复性和一致性试验,并与美国Optikos公司I-SITE红外整机测试系统进行了对比测试。实验结果表明开发的NETD参数测试功能模块测试精度和重复性满足设计要求,具有较高实用价值,已进行了工程应用。     

Approximation properties for solutions to non‐Lipschitz stochastic differential equations with Lévy noise

In this paper, we consider the non‐Lipschitz stochastic differential equations and stochastic functional differential equations with delays driven by Lévy noise, and the approximation theorems for the solutions to these two kinds of equations will be proposed respectively. Non‐Lipschitz condition is much weaker condition than the Lipschitz one. The simplified equations will be defined to make its solutions converge to that of the corresponding original equations both in the sense of mean square and probability, which constitute the approximation theorems. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal Groomings with Grooming Ratios Six and Seven

Grooming uniform all‐to‐all traffic in optical (SONET) rings with grooming ratio C requires the determination of a decomposition of the complete graph into subgraphs each having at most C edges. The drop cost of such a grooming is the total number of vertices of nonzero degree in these subgraphs, and the grooming is optimal when the drop cost is minimum. The determination of optimal C‐groomings has been considered for , and completely solved for . For , it has been shown that the lower bound for the drop cost of an optimal C‐grooming can be attained for almost all orders with 5 exceptions and 308 possible exceptions. For , there are infinitely many unsettled orders; especially the case is far from complete. In this paper, we show that the lower bound for the drop cost of a 6‐grooming can be attained for almost all orders by reducing the 308 possible exceptions to 3, and that the lower bound for the drop cost of a 7‐grooming can be attained for almost all orders with seven exceptions and 16 possible exceptions. Moreover, for the unsettled orders, we give upper bounds for the minimum drop costs.     

New low-cost tubular ceramic microfiltration membrane based on natural sand for tangential urban wastewater treatment

In wastewater treatment, the development of low-cost separation methods is of significant importance. Low-cost membranes based on natural materials have become a highly active research topic in recent years. Herein, using low-cost natural Moroccan sand, new ceramic supports have been developed and characterized using different techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), along with scanning electron microscope (SEM). Plastic paste (average particle size ≤125 µm) was blended with organic additives and water, then the obtained paste was extruded into porous tubular supports. The support had a porosity of 43%, water permeability of 1928 L/h m² bar, excellent chemical and mechanical properties and an average pore diameter in the range of 8–15 µm after firing at 950 °C/2 h. As per SEM analysis, the tubular supports had a smooth and crack-free surface. The slip casting process was used to create a microfiltration layer from the same natural sand powder (average particle size ≤63 µm) using a mixture of powder sand, water, and polyvinyl alcohol solution. The water permeability of the microfiltration membrane sintered at 950 °C/2 h was 1052 L/h m² bar, the average pore size diameter was about 0.90 µm and 82% of pores had a diameter ≤1.00 µm. The obtained microfiltration membrane was tested for the treatment of urban wastewater. The membrane showed excellent separation performance in turbidity removal and chemical oxygen demand.