A volatolomic approach using cerumen as biofluid to diagnose bovine intoxication by Stryphnodendron rotundifolium

An innovative volatolomic approach employs the detection of biomarkers present in cerumen (earwax) to identify cattle intoxication by Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart., Fabaceae (popularly known as barbatimão). S. rotundifolium is a poisonous plant with the toxic compound undefined and widely distributed throughout the Brazilian territory. Cerumen samples from cattle of two local Brazilian breeds (‘Curraleiro Pé-Duro’ and ‘Pantaneiro’) were collected during an experimental intoxication protocol and analyzed using headspace (HS)/GC–MS followed by multivariate analysis (genetic algorithm for a partial least squares, cluster analysis, and classification and regression trees). A total of 106 volatile organic metabolites were identified in the cerumen samples of bovines. The intoxication by S. rotundifolium influenced the cerumen volatolomic profile of the bovines throughout the intoxication protocol. In this way, it was possible to detect biomarkers for cattle intoxication. Among the biomarkers, 2-octyldecanol and 9-tetradecen-1-ol were able to discriminate all samples between intoxicated and nonintoxicated bovines. The cattle intoxication diagnosis by S. rotundifolium was accomplished by applying the cerumen analysis using HS/GC–MS, in an easy, accurate, and noninvasive way. Thus, the proposed bioanalytical chromatography protocol is a useful tool in veterinary applications to determine this kind of intoxication.     

Fabrication and characterization of a PbTe quantum dots multilayer structure

Multilayer PbTe quantum dots (QDs) and SiO₂ were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) techniques. The crystalline structure, QD size and size dispersion were observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) measurements. This technique allows one to grow PbTe QDs as small as 1.8 nm diameter and 0.6 nm size dispersion. The whole structure can be used in a Fabry–Perot cavity for an optical device operating at the mid-infrared region.     

Preparation and properties of homogeneous V2O5-SiO2 xerogel composite based on interpenetrating polymer network

In this paper, we report the conducting and electrochemical properties of a homogeneous V₂O₅-SiO₂ xerogel composite obtained from the simultaneous polymerization in both inorganic components (Si-O and V-O based polymers) forming an interpenetrating polymer network, where a mutual “solubility” due to cross-links and entanglements was observed. The presence of V₂O₅ inside the silica matrix has a strong effect on electrical conductivity; measurements showed room temperature conductivity almost 1000 times higher than what is found in the literature. In addition, the electrochemical behavior is quite similar to that found in V₂O₅ xerogel. Moreover, the effects of thermal treatment on the conducting and electrochemical properties were investigated. It was found that both properties were improved with no significant effect on V₂O₅ xerogel layered structure.     

Adaptive detection of DS/CDMA signals in fading channels

This paper examines the behavior of the minimum mean-squared error (MMSE) receiver in frequency-nonselective-fading channels. It is noted that the MMSE receiver will often lose phase lock on the desired signal when the desired signal dips into a deep fade. A modification to the MMSE receiver is presented which is demonstrated to function quite nicely in flat-fading channels. Analytical results for the modified MMSE receiver are presented and found to agree very well with simulation results. These analytical results are then compared to the theoretical performance of the conventional (i.e., correlator) receiver in terms of both bit-error rate (BER) and capacity. As expected, the modified MMSE receiver was found to offer a substantial improvement in both BER and capacity. Finally, a simple empirically derived formula is given which will give a good approximation to the BER of the modified MMSE receiver in a Rayleigh-fading environment. This formula can also be used to determine the number of users a given system can support. It is noted that as E_b/N₀ grows, it is quite feasible to approach 100% channel utilization with the MMSE receiver, whereas a conventional receiver is typically limited to a utilization of 10%-20%     

A linear-operator formalism for the analysis of inhomogeneousbiisotropic planar waveguides

Using the theory of linear operators, guided electromagnetic wave propagation in inhomogeneous (nonreciprocal) biisotropic planar structures is analyzed in terms of a 2×2 matrix differential operator. Based on the concept of adjoint waveguide, a new biorthogonality relation for the guided hybrid modes is derived. For the special case of reciprocal biisotropic media or chiral media, the linear-operator formalism leads to a self-adjoint problem. As an application example, a general analysis of the radiation modes of a grounded chiroslabguide is also presented     

Production and characterization of refractive index gratings in high-birefringence fibre optics

In this work, we report production and modelling of both Bragg gratings and rocking filters in high birefringence fibre optics. Bragg gratings are produced by UV (257.0 nm) external interferometric exposition of a frequency-doubled Ar⁺ ion laser, whereas for rocking filters formation the visible Ar⁺ ion laser lines in 488.0 and 514.5 nm are used in an internal method. The spectral characteristics due to the birefringence properties are studied through numerical methods and experimental techniques. The spectral responsivity of the structures under temperature changes and stress application is presented.     

A zero-voltage and zero-current switching three-level DC/DC converter

This paper presents a novel zero-voltage and zero-current switching (ZVZCS) three-level DC/DC converter. This converter overcomes the drawbacks presented by the conventional zero-voltage switching (ZVS) three-level converter, such as high circulating energy, severe parasitic ringing on the rectifier diodes, and limited ZVS load range for the inner switches. The converter presented in this paper uses a phase-shift control with a flying capacitor in the primary side to achieve ZVS for the outer switches. Additionally, the converter uses an auxiliary circuit to reset the primary current during the freewheeling stage to achieve zero-current switching (ZCS) for the inner switches. The principle of operation and the DC characteristics of the new converter are analyzed and verified on a 6 kW, 100 kHz experimental prototype.     

Application of quantum-chemical methods including density functional theory for the interpretation of isotropic hyperfine data. The example of azulenebenzoquinone

The radical anion of aceneazulenedione in which a benzoquinone is fused to an azulene moiety was generated by electrolysis and by reduction with the alkali metals in ethereal solvents. The hyperfine data could not be reproduced by standard Hückel calculations which usually give reliable predictions for the spin distribution in radical ions such as azulene quinones and a variety of extended π systems. However, PPP and, preferably,ab initio geometry optimisations followed by single-point calculations of the Fermi contact interaction with density functional theory, led to a straightforward assignment of the hyperfine coupling constants.     

Thermal and mechanical properties of PE/organoclay nanocomposites

Polyethylene/montmorillonite clay nanocomposites were obtained via direct melt intercalation. The clay was organically modified with four different types of quaternary ammonium salts. The objective of this work is to study the use of montmorillonite clay in the production of nanocomposites by means on rheological, mechanical and crystallization properties of nanocomposites and to compare to the properties of the matrix and PE/unmodified clay nanocomposites. In general, the tensile test showed that the yield strength and modulus of the nanocomposites are close to the pure PE. Apparently, the mixture with Dodigen salt seems to be more stable than the pure PE and PE/unmodified clay.     

Prediction of electrophoretic mobilities in non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis. Optimal separation of quinolones in acetonitrile-water media

A model of electrophoretic behaviour is used to predict the optimum conditions for the separation of a series of quinolones zwitterionic substances in mixtures of acetonitrile-water up to 30% (w/w) of acetonitrile. The effect of pH, pKa, the electrophoretic mobility of protonated and anionic species, and activity coefficients on the electrophoretic behaviour of quinolones is considered. The model proposed allows the resolution between substances in acetonitrile-water mixtures to be predicted from a few experimental data and thus permits one to obtain the best experimental conditions for separation methodologies.