Non-destructive and quantitative imaging of a nano-structured microchip by ptychographic hard X-ray scanning microscopy

We used hard X-ray scanning microscopy with ptychographic coherent diffraction contrast to image a front-end processed passivated microchip fabricated in 80 nm technology. No sample preparation was needed to image buried interconnects and contact layers with a spatial resolution of slightly better than 40 nm. The phase shift in the sample is obtained quantitatively. With the additional knowledge of the elemental composition determined in parallel by X-ray fluorescence mapping, quantitative information about specific nanostructures is obtained. A significant enhancement in signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution is achieved compared to conventional hard X-ray scanning microscopy.     

Comparison of the functional properties of pea,chickpea and lentil protein concentrates processed using ultrafiltration and isoelectric precipitation techniques

In this study, two methods, isoelectric precipitation (IEP) and ultrafiltration (UF) were optimised for the extraction of proteins from yellow pea, desi and kabuli chickpeas, red and green lentils. For IEP, the following optimal extraction conditions were used: pH 9.5, 1/15 solid/liquid ratio, 35 °C for yellow pea, desi and kabuli chickpeas, and pH 9.0, 1/10 solid/liquid ratio, 25 °C for red and green lentils. UF experiments were performed with a 50 kDa MWCO membrane with diafiltration (4X) at pH 6.0. The initial protein content of the pulses (16.7–24.8%, w/w) was concentrated nearly 4-fold. UF process generated concentrates with slightly higher protein contents (69.1–88.6%, w/w) compared to the IEP process (63.9–81.7%, w/w). Yields for both processes on a protein basis ranged from 50.3% to 69.1% (w/w). All concentrates exhibited good functional properties. However, functional properties varied to some extent as a function of the type of pulse and manufacturing process. For pH ranging from 1 to 3 and from 7 to 10, the red and green lentil concentrates were the most soluble (70–77%) and their UF concentrates were more soluble at all pH values studied compared to the IEP samples which was not the case for the pea and chickpea samples. Water holding capacity was highest for IEP-processed yellow pea and lowest for the UF-processed desi and kabuli chickpeas. Emulsifying properties and foam expansion were generally higher for the chickpea concentrates but they had less foam stability. Protein extracts from green lentils appeared to have the best gelling properties. The results highlight the technological potential of pulse protein extracts for food applications.     

剩余丁烯脱水-精馏净化工艺在2500t/a甲乙酮装置的应用

介绍了在2 500t/a甲乙酮装置上外甩尾气中剩余丁烯经脱水-精馏净化工艺的回收利用。结果表明,经过脱水-精馏净化工艺的处理后,含水质量分数降至0.000 6%,完全脱除了剩余丁烯中的仲丁醇、仲丁醚和甲乙酮,满足甲乙酮装置的进料要求,可以循环利用。     

Axial Changes of Catalyst Structure and Temperature in a Fixed-Bed Microreactor During Noble Metal Catalysed Partial Oxidation of Methane

The catalytic partial oxidation of methane (CPO) over flame-made 2.5%Rh–2.5%Pt/Al₂O₃ and 2.5%Rh/Al₂O₃ in 6%CH₄/3%O₂/He shows the potential of in situ studies using miniaturized fixed-bed reactors, the importance of spatially resolved studies and its combination with infrared thermography and on-line mass spectrometry. This experimental strategy allowed collecting data on the structure of the noble metal (oxidation state) and the temperature along the catalyst bed. The reaction was investigated in a fixed-bed quartz microreactor (1–1.5 mm diameter) following the catalytic performance by on-line gas mass spectrometry (MS). Above the ignition temperature of the catalytic partial oxidation of methane (310–330 °C), a zone with oxidized noble metals was observed in the inlet region of the catalyst bed, accompanied by a characteristic hot spot (over-temperature up to 150 °C), while reduced noble metal species became dominant towards the outlet of the bed. The position of both the gradient in oxidation state and the hot spot were strongly dependent on the furnace temperature and the gas flow (residence time). Heating as well as a higher flow rate caused a migration of the transition zone of the oxidation state/maximum in temperature towards the inlet. At the same time the hydrogen concentration in the reactor effluent increased. In contrast, at low temperatures a movement of the transition zone towards the outlet was observed at increasing flux, except if the self-heating by the exothermic methane oxidation was too strong. The results indicate that in the oxidized zone mainly combustion of methane occurs, whereas in the reduced part direct partial oxidation and reforming reactions prevail. The results demonstrate how spatially resolved spectroscopy can help in understanding catalytic reactions involving different reaction zones and gradients even in micro scale fixed-bed reactors. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

辛酸铑二聚体的合成

目前,国内辛酸铑催化剂的生产工艺复杂落后,产品纯度和收率较低,不能满足工业化生产的需要。以醋酸铑二聚体为铑源,选用一种特殊溶剂,采取配体交换的方法,合成高纯度的辛酸铑二聚体催化剂,生产条件绿色环保。并运用红外光谱及元素分析对其进行表征,确定产物的组成及其结构,辛酸铑二聚体的元素组成与理论结果基本一致。考察合成反应温度、反应时间及辛酸与醋酸铑二聚体物质的量比对产物收率的影响。结果表明,在反应温度120 ℃、反应时间3 h和辛酸与醋酸铑二聚体物质的量比为4条件下,辛酸铑二聚体产率达98％。     

A prospective study of children aged <16 years in motor vehicle collisions in Norway: Severe injuries are observed predominantly in older children and are associated with restraint misuse

Objective

The implementation of the compulsory wearing of seat belts (SBs) for children and improvements in child restraint systems have reduced the number of deaths and severe injuries among children involved in motor vehicle (MV) collisions (MVCs). Establishing the characteristics predictive of such injuries may provide the basis for targeted safety campaigns and lead to a further reduction in mortality and morbidity among children involved in MVCs. This study performed a multidisciplinary investigation among child occupants involved in MVCs to elucidate injury mechanisms, evaluate the safety measures used and determine the characteristics that are predictive of injury.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted of all child occupants aged <16 years involved in severe MVCs in south-eastern Norway during 2009–2013. The exterior and interior of the MVs were investigated and the injured children were medically examined. Supplementary information was obtained from witnesses, the crash victims, police reports, medical records and reconstructions. Each case was reviewed by a multidisciplinary team to assess the mechanism of injury.

Results

In total, 158 child occupants involved in 100 MVCs were investigated, of which 27 (17%) exhibited Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores of 2+ injuries and 15 (9%) exhibited AIS 3+ injuries. None of the children died. Of those with AIS 2+ injuries (n = 27), 89% (n = 24) were involved in frontal impact collisions and 11% (3/27) were involved in side impacts. Multivariate analysis revealed that restraint misuse, age, the prevailing lighting conditions and ΔV were all independently correlated with AIS 2+ injuries. Safety errors were found in 74% (20/27) of those with AIS 2+ injuries and 93% (14/15) of those with AIS 3+ injuries. The most common safety error was misuse of restraints, and in particular loose and/or improperly positioned SBs.

Conclusion

The risk of injury among child occupants is significantly higher when the child occupants are exposed to safety errors within the interior of the vehicle. Future campaigns should focus on the prevention of restraint misuse and unsecured objects in the passenger compartment or boot.     

基于条件生成对抗网络的非侵入式负荷分解

以建筑楼宇电力负荷为核心的电能管理技术是智能电网的研究热点.非侵入式负荷分解技术通过对每户电表总表数据分解,在不侵犯用户隐私的前提下,得到家庭每个用电器的耗电情况.对图像翻译模型Pix2pix进行针对性改进,提出一种基于条件生成对抗网络的非侵入式负荷分解方法.将随机噪声和总负荷作为生成器的输入,生成类似真实电器负荷的序...     

Are minichromosomes valid model systems for DNA replication control? Lessons learned from Escherichia coli

Conventional chemotherapy produces varying degrees of response in patients with many advanced cancers and has significant side effects. Receptors for luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) are present in a high percentage of human ovarian, prostatic, breast and endometrial tumors and targeted chemotherapy based on cytotoxic analogs of LH-RH might yield better results. The present study was undertaken to determine whether human cancer cell lines express mRNA for LH-RH receptors and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. Using radioligand binding studies, we showed the presence of high-affinity binding sites for LH-RH and EGF in the membranes of human ovarian, prostatic, breast and endometrial cancer cell lines as well as in the JAR choriocarcinoma cell line. The expression of the mRNA for LH-RH receptors and EGF receptors in these cell lines was demonstrated by RT-PCR using specific primers and by subsequent Southern blot analysis. The PCR products obtained were of the expected size, 319 bp for LH-RH receptors and 400 bp for EGF receptors. These findings support the view that cytotoxic analogs of LH-RH could be used for targeted chemotherapy of these cancers. Moreover, the results suggest that these human cancer cell lines might have local regulatory systems for their proliferation based on LH-RH and EGF. Further investigations are required to elucidate the signal transduction pathways involved in the effects of cytotoxic LH-RH analogs on human tumors.     

Thermal processing effects on the functional properties and microstructure of lentil, chickpea, and pea flours

Pulses are rich in nutrients. The existence of anti-nutritional components and the length of time required for preparation have, however, limited their frequency of use compared to recommended intake levels. Anti-nutritional components in pulses can be largely removed by heat treatment. Additionally pre-treatment of pulses with heat and processing of seeds into flour could further enhance their use by decreasing processing and preparation times. In this study, trypsin inhibitor activity, functional properties, and microstructural characteristics of flours prepared from different varieties of lentil, chickpea, and pea as affected by roasting and boiling were evaluated. Both thermal treatments resulted in significant reduction (p < 0.05) in trypsin inhibitor activity ranging from − 95.6% to − 37.8%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the roasted pulse flours had similar microstructure (i.e., starch granule and protein matrix structure) to the raw samples. For the pre-boiled flours, amorphous flakes were observed by SEM with no presence of intact starch granules. This is likely due to gelatinization of starch during cooking. Interestingly, flours treated by boiling exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) fat binding capacity, water holding capacity, and gelling capacity, while protein solubility was significantly reduced compared to the raw and roasted pulse flours. Overall, thermal treatments either had no impact or impacted to different extents the emulsifying and foaming properties of the flours. Our results suggest that thermally-treated pulse flours may have very good potential to be used as value-added food ingredients for food applications due to their improved nutritional value and, in some instances, superior functionality.