Response surface methodology toward the optimization of high-energy carotenoid extraction from Aristeus antennatus shrimp

High-energy assisted extraction techniques, like ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave assisted extraction (MAE), are widely applied over the last years for the recovery of bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, antioxidants and phenols from foods, animals and herbal natural sources. Especially for the case of xanthophylls, the main carotenoid group of crustaceans, they can be extracted in a rapid and quantitative way with the use of UAE and MAE.     

A new study of associating inhomogeneous fluids with classical density functional theory

ABSTRACT

A new density functional for the study of associating inhomogeneous fluids based on Wertheim's first-order thermodynamic perturbation theory is presented and compared to the most currently used associating density functionals. This functional is developed using the weighted density approximation in the range of association of hard spheres. We implement this functional within the framework of classical density functional theory together with modified fundamental measure theory to account for volume exclusion of hard spheres. This approach is tested against molecular simulations from literature of pure associating hard spheres and mixtures of non-associationg and associating hard spheres with different number of bonding sites close to a hard uniform wall. Furthermore, we compare and review our results with the performance of associating functionals from literature, one based on fundamental measure theory and the inhomogeneous version of Wertheim's perturbation theory. Results obtained with classical DFT and the three functionals show excellent agreement with molecular simulations in systems with one hard wall. For the cases of small pores where only one or two layers of fluid are allowed discrepancies between results with classical DFT and molecular simulations were found.     

Model for describing the production of Centauro events and strangelets in heavy-ion collisions

A phenomenological model for describing the production of Centauro events in relativistic heavy-ion collisions is discussed. The model provides quantitative predictions for kinematical variables, for the baryon number, and for the masses of a Centauro fireball and of its decay products. A Centauro fireball decays predominantly into nucleons, strange hyperons, and possibly strangelets. Centauro events in Pb + Pb collisions at the LHC energy are simulated for the CASTOR detector. The signatures of these events are discussed in detail.     

Lifetime study of high-spin states in 104,105In

In the neutron deficient isotopes _104,105In lifetimes of high spin states in the range from 0.5 ps to 600 ps have been measured in a coincidence recoil distance Doppler shift (RDDS) experiment. By combining the Doppler shift attenuation (DSA) and RDDS methods at few μm flight distances, the problem of delayed feeding has been avoided and very short lifetimes in the range 0.5–0.8 ps have been determined. Shell model calculations with strong restrictions for the neutron orbitals reveal good agreement with experimental level energies and still fair agreement for most measured B(M1) and B(E2) values. Received: 30 June 1998     

Notes on the non-autonomous Lyness equation

We prove that the solutions of the non-autonomous Lyness equation x_n+1=(x_n+b_n)/x_n−1, b_n>0, x₀>0, x₁>0, are bounded away from zero and infinity if the sequence b_n is monotonic. We also give an example to show that the solutions need not be bounded even when the sequence b_n attains only two values.     

The k-means range algorithm for personalized data clustering in e-commerce

This paper describes the k-means range algorithm, a combination of the partitional k-means clustering algorithm with a well known spatial data structure, namely the range tree, which allows fast range searches. It offers a real-time solution for the development of distributed interactive decision aids in e-commerce since it allows the consumer to model his preferences along multiple dimensions, search for product information, and then produce the data clusters of the products retrieved to enhance his purchase decisions. This paper also discusses the implications and advantages of this approach in the development of on-line shopping environments and consumer decision aids in traditional and mobile e-commerce applications.     

The nanogranular nature of C-S-H

Despite its ubiquitous presence as binding phase in all cementitious materials, the mechanical behavior of calcium-silicate-hydrates (C-S-H) is still an enigma that has deceived many decoding attempts from experimental and theoretical sides. In this paper, we propose and validate a new technique and experimental protocol to rationally assess the nanomechanical behavior of C-S-H based on a statistical analysis of hundreds of nanoindentation tests. By means of this grid indentation technique we identify in situ two structurally distinct but compositionally similar C-S-H phases heretofore hypothesized to exist as low density (LD) C-S-H and high density (HD) C-S-H, or outer and inner products. The main finding of this paper is that both phases exhibit a unique nanogranular behavior which is driven by particle-to-particle contact forces rather than by mineral properties. We argue that this nanomechanical blueprint of material invariant behavior of C-S-H is a consequence of the hydration reactions during which precipitating C-S-H nanoparticles percolate generating contact surfaces. As hydration proceeds, these nanoparticles pack closer to center on-average around two characteristic limit packing densities, the random packing limit (η=64%) and the ordered face-centered cubic (fcc) or hexagonal close-packed (hcp) packing limit (η=74%), forming a characteristic LD C-S-H and HD C-S-H phase.