External Weather Data Assimilation to Simulate Wind and Temperature Fields in the Region of Gualeguaych~, Argentina

This work shows the comparison between the results of wind and temperature simulation and data weather measurements in low layers near Gualeguaychfi City, Argentine, for 12 h in January 1, 2011. The model ARPS （advanced regional prediction system） with two options in the boundary conditions is used. In such conditions, wave-radiating open （radiative） with relaxation to the initial state were used while otherwise used absorbing boundary conditions data forced from MBLM （meso-scale boundary layer model） operational forecasters used by the National Weather Office. The results of both simulations are compared with data measured by three weather stations located around of the Uruguay River. As both simulations are initialized using the same data, there is a better agreement between the values obtained by forcing the boundary conditions for which are using ＂radiative＂ boundary conditions after 2 h physical time from the start of the simulation.     

Comparison of Lewis acids of different hardness supported on silica gel as catalysts of Diels–Alder reactions of (E)-2-cyanocinnamates

The behaviour of several Lewis acids, derived from zinc, aluminium and titanium, supported on silica gel, as catalysts of the Diels-Alder reactions of cyclopentadiene with methyl, (1R,2S,5R)-menthyl, and (R)-pantolactone (E)-2-cyanocinnamates has been compared. The best catalytic activities were observed with the zinc catalysts. The extent and even the direction of the asymmetric induction changes for the same chiral auxiliary depending on the catalyst used. Ab initio theoretical calculations, carried out on model dienophile-catalyst intermediates, show that the coordination of the softer zinc derivatives at the nitrogen atom is thermodynamically favoured, whereas coordination to the carbonyl oxygen atom is preferred for the harder aluminium catalysts. However, in both cases the most reactive intermediate comes from the coordination of the Lewis acid to the carbonyl group of the dienophile in the s-trans conformation. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Modes of executive control in sequence learning: From stimulus-based to plan-based control.

The authors argue that human sequential learning is often but not always characterized by a shift from stimulus- to plan-based action control. To diagnose this shift, they manipulated the frequency of 1st-order transitions in a repeated manual left-right sequence, assuming that performance is sensitive to frequency-induced biases under stimulus- but not plan-based control. Indeed, frequency biases tended to disappear with practice, but only for explicit learners. This tendency was facilitated by visual-verbal target stimuli, response-contingent sounds, and intentional instructions and hampered by auditory (but not visual) noise. Findings are interpreted within an event-coding model of action control, which holds that plans for sequences of discrete actions are coded phonetically, integrating order and relative timing. The model distinguishes between plan acquisition, linked to explicit knowledge, and plan execution, linked to the action control mode. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of Clarification System on the Conservation of Virgin Olive Oil during Its Storage

The results obtained in this work explain how clarification systems can affect the conservation of virgin olive oils (VOOs) during the storage step. The evolution of the quality and sensory properties during the storage of VOOs clarified by different systems, vertical centrifugal separator (VCS) with minimal water addition and conical bottom settling tank (CBST), is studied at industrial scale for two different crop years. In general, VCS oils show a slight higher moisture and solid impurities content at the end of the storage step due to a higher emulsion grade (because of the emulsion generated) caused by the rotating movement of this clarification system. For the studied clarification systems, no remarkable differences are observed between the oils during their storage for quality indexes. However, these systems show differences regarding oil sensory properties. The VOOs clarified by VCS are characterized by a higher presence of phenol components, higher positive sensory attributes intensity, and higher lipoxygenase (LOX) aldehydes content during their storage. VOOs from CBST show lower phenol content, a higher “non‐LOX” volatiles content, and the presence of sensory defects during storage. Practical Applications: The results obtained in this work are very important in order to provide specific recommendations and scientific support based on objective data to improve VOO quality. As described in this study, the VCS with a minimal water addition can be a better option to produce VOO of improved quality. This clarification system is an efficient and quick operation that reduces the contact between oil and the remaining water and impurities during the storage step. The minimal water addition used in this clarification system allows obtaining VOOs with higher phenol content and positive sensory notes. This leads to prolong VOO shelf‐life and conservation during the storage stage, due to preservation of the quality indexes and minor components with antioxidant activity. Besides, this clarification system reduces the water consumption during oil clarification and generates a lower wastewater volume regarding conventional vertical centrifugation, and therefore can be considered more environmentally friendly.     

Electrochemistry of surface grafted copper(II) benzoate complexes

Glassy carbon electrodes were grafted with carboxyphenyl groups by reduction of 4-carboxyphenyldiazonium tetrafluoroborate and these modified electrodes were characterised by cyclic voltammetry and ac impedance measurements. Cu(II) was reacted with the carboxyphenyl groups in the film to give a surface voltammetric response for the immobilised Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple. The results indicated an ECEC mechanism, in which the chemical steps correspond to the change of coordination environment following the electron transfer steps. The relaxation half-life time for the Cu(I) species formed after electron transfer was estimated at (140 ± 11) s. The large value of the peak width of 200 mV was analysed by modelling the voltammograms and the large value of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) could be explained by dispersion in the formal potentials of Cu centres present in a variety of environments in the films studied. An ECEC mechanism (scheme of square) is proposed for the electron transfer reaction considering that the chemical step after reduction of the Cu(II) complex corresponds to conformational changes within the attached layer. Experimental data clearly show that the oxidation of the reduced film can take place from different Cu(I) complexes formed along the reduction to the fully relaxed Cu(I) species.     

Cancer prognostics by direct detection of p53-antibodies on gold surfaces by impedance measurements

The identification and measurement of biomarkers is critical to a broad range of methods that diagnose and monitor many diseases. Serum auto-antibodies are rapidly becoming interesting targets because of their biological and medical relevance. This paper describes a highly sensitive, label-free approach for the detection of p53-antibodies, a prognostic indicator in ovarian cancer as well as a biomarker in the early stages of other cancers. This approach uses impedance measurements on gold microelectrodes to measure antibody concentrations at the picomolar level in undiluted serum samples. The biosensor shows high selectivity as a result of the optimization of the epitopes responsible for the detection of p53-antibodies and was validated by several techniques including microcontact printing, self-assembled-monolayer desorption ionization (SAMDI) mass spectrometry, and adhesion pull-off force by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This transduction method will lead to fast and accurate diagnostic tools for the early detection of cancer and other diseases.