Distribution of mineral species in different coal seams of Talcher coalfield and its transformation behavior at varying temperatures

International Journal of Coal Science & Technology - Mineral phase characterization and thorough understanding of its transformation behavior during combustion are imperative to know the...     

Structural and ion transport properties of [(AgI)x(AgBr)0.4−x](LiPO3)0.6 and (AgBr)x(LiPO3)(1−x) solid electrolytes

The (AgBr)_x(LiPO₃)_(1−x) (x=0.4 and 0.5) and [(AgI)_x(AgBr)_0.4−x](LiPO₃)_0.6 (x=0.1, 0.2, and 0.3) superionic electrolytes have been prepared by conventional melt quenching using a twin roller. These electrolytes are characterized by X-ray diffraction, SEM, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) for structural investigation. Electrical characterizations have been carried out by the AC impedance analysis. The conductivity of LiPO₃ glassy system at room temperature is improved by doping with the silver bromide (AgBr)_x(LiPO₃)_(1−x) and the mixture of silver iodide, silver bromide (AgI-AgBr-LiPO₃ system) up to 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹ cm⁻¹, respectively (improvements by four or five orders of magnitude). The frequency response of ionic conductivity has been analyzed by universal dynamic response model (Jonscher's law) and AC conductivity data are fitted using the Jonscher's power law. The conductivity values obtained by the power law and impedance plots are comparable. The frequency exponent (n) has a value between 0 and 1. The AgI-AgBr-LiPO₃ system shows the mixed alkali effect. Summerfield scaling master curve is temperature dependent, which may be due to the contribution of the both lithium and silver ions to ionic conduction.     

Sensory Neuron-Specific Deletion of Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase A (TrkA) in Mice Abolishes Osteoarthritis (OA) Pain via NGF/TrkA Intervention of Peripheral Sensitization

Tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA/NTRK1) is a high-affinity receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF), a potent pain mediator. NGF/TrkA signaling elevates synovial sensory neuronal distributions in the joints and causes osteoarthritis (OA) pain. We investigated the mechanisms of pain transmission as to whether peripheral sensory neurons are linked to the cellular plasticity in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and are critical for OA hyperalgesia. Sensory neuron-specific deletion of TrkA was achieved by tamoxifen injection in 4-week-old TrkA^fl/fl;Na_V1.8^CreERT2 (Ntrk1 ^fl/fl;Scn10a^CreERT2) mice. OA was induced by partial medial meniscectomy (PMM) in 12-week-old mice, and OA-pain-related behavior was analyzed for 12 weeks followed by comprehensive histopathological examinations. OA-associated joint pain was markedly improved without cartilage protection in sensory-neuron-specific conditional TrkA knock-out (cKO) mice. Alleviated hyperalgesia was associated with suppression of the NGF/TrkA pathway and reduced angiogenesis in fibroblast-like synovial cells. Elevated pain transmitters in the DRG of OA-induced mice were significantly diminished in sensory-neuron-specific TrkA cKO and global TrkA cKO mice. Spinal glial activity and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) were significantly increased in OA-induced mice but were substantially eliminated by sensory-neuron-specific deletion. Our results suggest that augmentation of NGF/TrkA signaling in the joint synovium and the peripheral sensory neurons facilitate pro-nociception and centralized pain sensitization.     

A Novel Neurofilament Light Chain ELISA Validated in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease,Frontotemporal Dementia,and Subjective Cognitive Decline,and the Evaluation of Candidate Proteins for Immunoassay Calibration

Neurofilament light chain (Nf-L) is a well-known biomarker for axonal damage; however, the corresponding circulating Nf-L analyte in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is poorly characterized. We therefore isolated new monoclonal antibodies against synthetic peptides, and these monoclonals were characterized for their specificity on brain-specific intermediate filament proteins. Two highly specific antibodies, ADx206 and ADx209, were analytically validated for CSF applications according to well-established criteria. Interestingly, using three different sources of purified Nf-L proteins, a significant impact on interpolated concentrations was observed. With a lower limit of analytical sensitivity of 100 pg/mL using bovine Nf-L as the calibrator, we were able to quantify the Nf-L analyte in each sample, and these Nf-L concentrations were highly correlated to the Uman diagnostics assay (Spearman rho = 0.97, p < 0.001). In the clinical diagnostic groups, the new Nf-L ELISA could discriminate patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD, n = 20) from those with frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTD, n = 20) and control samples with subjective cognitive decline (SCD, n = 20). Henceforth, this novel Nf-L ELISA with well-defined specificity and epitopes can be used to enhance our understanding of harmonizing the use of Nf-L as a clinically relevant marker for neurodegeneration in CSF.     

Electronic fingerprints of DNA bases on graphene

We calculate the electronic local density of states (LDOS) of DNA nucleotide bases (A,C,G,T), deposited on graphene. We observe significant base-dependent features in the LDOS in an energy range within a few electronvolts of the Fermi level. These features can serve as electronic fingerprints for the identification of individual bases in scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) experiments that perform image and site dependent spectroscopy on biomolecules. Thus the fingerprints of DNA-graphene hybrid structures may provide an alternative route to DNA sequencing using STS.     

A generalised back-flow model to predict the tracer response in liquid—liquid stagewise contactors

A generalized transient back-flow model to predict the transient tracer concentration in a multistage extraction column has been developed. The model does not assume any extra stage at the end of the contactor and is based on unified formulation. The solution can be obtained in a straight forward way by using the linear operator theoretic approach as opposed to Laplace transform.     

Diffusion phenomena in the α-Si3N4-solid solution and 304L stainless steel static interaction couple

Compositional varieties of α-SiAlON a yttrium stabilized solid solution of α-Si₃N₄, were studied against 304L stainless steel through interacting couples prepared under hot pressing (1100-1300 °C, 1.8 MPa, 5 h) with respect to their chemical interactions and interface bonding formation. Interdiffusion of elements in both ceramic and steel side followed by the series of reactions those produced the interfaces between the joints were seen. Chemical behaviour of α′ vis-à-vis its compositional nitrogen content has been discussed.     

Studies in isodielectric media Part—I. Standard potentials of the silver—silver chloride electrode in dimethyl formamide + ethylene glycol mixtures at 25°C

Standard potentials (_sE^s) of the silver—silver chloride electrode have been determined at 25°C in some approximately isodielectric media containing ethylene glycol (EG) and 10, 30 and 50% by weight of N-N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) from emf measurements performed on the cell: H₂ (g, 1 atm)/HCl (m). solvent/AgClAg. From these values the activity coefficients (^s_sγ) of HCl at several concentration in each of the mixed solvents and the standard Gibbs energies of transfer (ΔG⁰_t) of HCl from EG to the mixed solvents have been computed. Comparison of the observed ΔG⁰_t (HCl)-composition profile with those for three other related solvent systems studied earlier, reveals that the observed profile results from the opposing effects of the larger proton-accepting and the pronounced anion-desolvating propensities of DMF and its glycolic mixtures compared to pure EG and that the increased stabilization of proton is superseded by the increased desolvation of Cl^? at higher proportions of DMF.     

Pyrolysis conditions and ozone oxidation effects on ammonia adsorption in biomass generated chars

Ammonia adsorbents were generated via pyrolysis of biomass (peanut hulls and palm oil shells) over a range of temperatures and compared to a commercially available activated carbon (AC) and solid biomass residuals (wood and poultry litter fly ash). Dynamic ammonia adsorption studies (i.e., breakthrough curves) were performed using these adsorbents at 23 degrees C from 6 to 17 ppmv NH(3). Of the biomass chars, palm oil char generated at 500 degrees C had the highest NH(3) adsorption capacity (0.70 mg/g, 6 ppmv, 10% relative humidity (RH)), was similar to the AC, and contrasted to the other adsorbents (including the AC), the NH(3) adsorption capacity significantly increased if the relative humidity was increased (4 mg/g, 7 ppmv, 73% RH). Room temperature ozone treatment of the chars and activated carbon significantly increased the NH(3) adsorption capacity (10% RH); resultant adsorption capacity, q (mg/g) increased by approximately 2, 6, and 10 times for palm oil char, peanut hull char (pyrolysis only), and activated carbon, respectively. However, water vapor (73% RH at 23 degrees C) significantly reduced NH(3) adsorption capacity in the steam and ozone treated biomass, yet had no effect on the palm shell char generated at 500 degrees C. These results indicate the feasibility of using a low temperature (and thus low energy input) pyrolysis and activation process for the generation of NH(3) adsorbents from biomass residuals.