A determination of the products of reaction betweer various sulfide minerals and aqueous xanthate solution,and a correlation of the products with electrode rest potentials

The surface reaction products formed when sulfide minerals react with xanthates were analyzed by spectrophotometric methods. These products were found to be predominantly either metal xanthate or dixanthogen, depending on the particular sulfide mineral. Dixanthogen is formed on those minerals that, in a solution of xanthate, assume a rest potential greater than the equilibrium potential for the reduction of dixanthogen or xanthate.     

MEG forward problem formulation using equivalent surface current densities

We present a formulation for the magnetoencephalography (MEG) forward problem with a layered head model. Traditionally the magnetic field is computed based on the electric potential on the interfaces between the layers. We propose to express the effect of the volumetric currents in terms of an equivalent surface current density on each interface, and obtain the magnetic field based on them. The boundary elements method is used to compute the equivalent current density and the magnetic field for a realistic head geometry. We present numerical results showing that the MEG forward problem is solved correctly with this formulation, and compare it with the performance of the traditional formulation. We conclude that the traditional formulation generally performs better, but still the new formulation is useful in certain situations.     

A far infra-red study of conformational disorder in PTFE

The examination of the 250–350 cm^?1 region of the infra-red spectrum of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has been extended by studies of thermally degraded and sintered material. We conclude that a band at 277 cm^?1 does not arise from a true mode of the crystal but has its origin in regions where the chain has a bent conformation. Our previous speculation that bands at 292 cm^?1 and 312¹ cm^?1 (Raman active only, for the isolated chain) acquire their weak activity in the infra-red through conformational disorder is confirmed. It is likely that the conformational disorder in question arises from chain folding in the polymer crystal.     

Aqua regia extractable selenium concentrations of some Scottish topsoils measured by ICP‐MS and the relationship with mineral and organic soil components

BACKGROUND: To provide information concerning the geographical distribution of selenium (Se) in the soils of Scotland, we analysed 47 arable soils selected on the basis of their parent rock, which were expected to have relatively high, low or unclassified Se concentrations. To investigate relationships between the actual minerals in the soils and the aqua regia extractable Se concentration of the soil, soil minerals were quantified by X‐ray diffraction. RESULTS: The aqua regia extractable Se concentrations of the soils were between 0.19 and 1.46 mg kg^?1. No simple correlation between the aqua regia extractable Se concentrations of the soil and the parent rock classification estimated by soil survey was evident. Partial least squares analysis revealed that the aqua regia extractable Se concentration of the soils was positively related to loss on ignition (LOI) or C concentration and negatively related to the K‐feldspar concentration, with other minerals being less important. CONCLUSION: The Se concentration of arable topsoils from Scotland is more related to LOI or carbon concentration, with parent material being less important. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Soft,Implantable Bioelectronic Interfaces for Translational Research

The convergence of materials science, electronics, and biology, namely bioelectronic interfaces, leads novel and precise communication with biological tissue, particularly with the nervous system. However, the translation of lab-based innovation toward clinical use calls for further advances in materials, manufacturing and characterization paradigms, and design rules. Herein, a translational framework engineered to accelerate the deployment of microfabricated interfaces for translational research is proposed and applied to the soft neurotechnology called electronic dura mater, e-dura. Anatomy, implant function, and surgical procedure guide the system design. A high-yield, silicone-on-silicon wafer process is developed to ensure reproducible characteristics of the electrodes. A biomimetic multimodal platform that replicates surgical insertion in an anatomy-based model applies physiological movement, emulates therapeutic use of the electrodes, and enables advanced validation and rapid optimization in vitro of the implants. Functionality of scaled e-dura is confirmed in nonhuman primates, where epidural neuromodulation of the spinal cord activates selective groups of muscles in the upper limbs with unmet precision. Performance stability is controlled over 6 weeks in vivo. The synergistic steps of design, fabrication, and biomimetic in vitro validation and in vivo evaluation in translational animal models are of general applicability and answer needs in multiple bioelectronic designs and medical technologies.     

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry at the true cyclotron frequency

Ion cyclotron resonance (ICR) cells provide stability and coherence of ion oscillations in crossed electric and magnetic fields over extended periods of time. Using the Fourier transform enables precise measurements of ion oscillation frequencies. These precisely measured frequencies are converted into highly accurate mass-to-charge ratios of the analyte ions by calibration procedures. In terms of resolution and mass accuracy, Fourier transform ICR mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) offers the highest performance of any MS technology. This is reflected in its wide range of applications. However, in the most challenging MS application, for example, imaging, enhancements in the mass accuracy of fluctuating ion fluxes are required to continue advancing the field. One approach is to shift the ion signal power into the peak corresponding to the true cyclotron frequency instead of the reduced cyclotron frequency peak. The benefits of measuring the true cyclotron frequency include increased tolerance to electric fields within the ICR cell, which enhances frequency measurement precision. As a result, many attempts to implement this mode of FT-ICR MS operation have occurred. Examples of true cyclotron frequency measurements include detection of magnetron inter-harmonics of the reduced cyclotron frequency (i.e., the sidebands), trapping field-free (i.e., screened) ICR cells, and hyperbolic ICR cells with quadrupolar ion detection. More recently, ICR cells with spatially distributed ion clouds have demonstrated attractive performance characteristics for true cyclotron frequency ion detection. Here, we review the corresponding developments in FT-ICR MS over the past 40 years.     

Assessment of the austemperability of high-silicon cast steels through Jominy hardenability tests

The austemperability of seven high silicon cast steels with different alloy contents was characteri sed. The maximum round bar diameter that can be fully austempered changed from about 10?mm for an unalloyed steel to more than 70?mm for a low-alloy steel. The austemperability was calculated by applying a procedure based on a standard Jominy test and the characterisation of the microstructure along the Jominy sample. The method, which was validated experimentally, creates a relatively simple procedure to measure austemperability. Processing factors such as the ability of the salt bath to extract heat and the austempering temperature are accounted for the method. The metallographic study revealed the influence of microsegregation on hardenability, which is particularly important for cast steels.     

Correction to: Online Identity Crisis: Identity Issues in Online Communities

Minds and Machines - An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.     

Multivariate Analysis of Multiple Datasets: a Practical Guide for Chemical Ecology

Chemical ecology has strong links with metabolomics, the large-scale study of all metabolites detectable in a biological sample. Consequently, chemical ecologists are often challenged by the statistical analyses of such large datasets. This holds especially true when the purpose is to integrate multiple datasets to obtain a holistic view and a better understanding of a biological system under study. The present article provides a comprehensive resource to analyze such complex datasets using multivariate methods. It starts from the necessary pre-treatment of data including data transformations and distance calculations, to the application of both gold standard and novel multivariate methods for the integration of different omics data. We illustrate the process of analysis along with detailed results interpretations for six issues representative of the different types of biological questions encountered by chemical ecologists. We provide the necessary knowledge and tools with reproducible R codes and chemical-ecological datasets to practice and teach multivariate methods.