Identification of potential areas for biomass production in China: Discussion of a recent approach and future challenges

A standard methodology is needed to recognize potentially suitable areas for sustainable bioenergy crop production. This facilitates better identification of promising crops and cropping systems, logistical and economic studies, and work needed to meet regulatory criteria. A possible approach is built upon three layers of internationally available spatial data: (1) degrading and abandoned areas, (2) potentially suitable land cover classes, (3) exclusion zones such as nature reserves and areas of high biodiversity. For China, areas identified as potentially suitable range from 1.2 to 6.0% of the national territory, depending on different levels of statistical confidence in degrading area status and allowable limits of terrestrial carbon. Verification on the ground showed that about 60% of points tested conformed to the remote suitability assessment in the scenario, which represents the results for the combination of all degrading areas and a terrestrial carbon stock limit of 200 t ha⁻¹. A top-down approach is useful in framing potentially suitable locations, but a complementary bottom-up analysis is still required to ultimately identify areas for sustainable bio-fuel production.     

Can implementation intentions and text messages promote brisk walking? A randomized trial.

Objective: To test the efficacy in promoting brisk walking of two theory-based interventions that incorporate implementation intentions and text message (Short Message Service; SMS) reminders directed at one’s walking-related plans or goals. Design: Participants (N = 149) were randomized to one of three conditions (implementation intention + SMS plan reminder, implementation intention + SMS goal reminder, control) before completing measures at baseline and follow-up 4 weeks later. At follow-up, the experimental groups were given a surprise recall task concerning their plans. All participants completed an equivalent goal recall task. Main Outcome Measures: Validated self-report measures of physical activity and measures of implementation intention and goal recall, weight, and waist-to-hip ratio. Results: Both intervention groups increased their brisk walking relative to the control group, without reducing other physical activity. The goal reminder group lost the most weight. The SMS plan reminder group recalled more of their plans than the SMS goal reminder group, but the latter were more successful in goal recall. Conclusion: Both interventions can promote brisk walking in sedentary populations. Text messages aid the recall of, and could enhance interventions that target, implementation intentions and goals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of fatigue resistance in photochromic composite materials for 3D rewritable optical memory applications

Fatigue resistance of the photochromic diarylethene molecules 1,2-bis[2-methylbenzo[b]thyophen-3-yl]-3,3,4,4,5,5-hexafluoro-1-cyclopentene embedded in three different acrylic polymers is studied upon multiple coloration–decoloration cycles. The resistance to photofatigue is found to be different in the three polymeric materials when one-photon excitation was used for the reversible photoconversion experiment. In particular, the photochromic molecules lose their photoisomerization ability faster if they are embedded in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with respect to poly(ethyl methacrylate-co-methyl acrylate) (PEMMA) and poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA). We propose several explanations based on the physico-chemical properties of the matrix and of the photochromic molecules. In the case of two-photon excitation, which is necessary for 3D optical writing, the fatigue resistance is found to be poorer than in the one-photon case. The accelerated photodegradation can be assigned to the non-linear nature of interaction between the polymeric composite material and light.     

Mathematical Modeling of Fluid Flow in a Water Physical Model of an Aluminum Degassing Ladle Equipped with an Impeller-Injector

In this work, a 3D numerical simulation using a Euler–Euler-based model implemented into a commercial CFD code was used to simulate fluid flow and turbulence structure in a water physical model of an aluminum ladle equipped with an impeller for degassing treatment. The effect of critical process parameters such as rotor speed, gas flow rate, and the point of gas injection (conventional injection through the shaft vs a novel injection through the bottom of the ladle) on the fluid flow and vortex formation was analyzed with this model. The commercial CFD code PHOENICS 3.4 was used to solve all conservation equations governing the process for this two-phase fluid flow system. The mathematical model was reasonably well validated against experimentally measured liquid velocity and vortex sizes in a water physical model built specifically for this investigation. From the results, it was concluded that the angular speed of the impeller is the most important parameter in promoting better stirred baths and creating smaller and better distributed bubbles in the liquid. The pumping effect of the impeller is increased as the impeller rotation speed increases. Gas flow rate is detrimental to bath stirring and diminishes the pumping effect of the impeller. Finally, although the injection point was the least significant variable, it was found that the “novel” injection improves stirring in the ladle.     

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of epitaxial graphene nanoisland on Ir(111)

ABSTRACT: Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) was used to measure local differential conductance (dI/dV) spectra on nanometer-size graphene islands on an Ir(111) surface. Energy resolved dI/dV maps clearly show a spatial modulation, which we ascribe to a modulated local density of states due to quantum confinement. STS near graphene edges indicates a position dependence of the dI/dV signals, which suggests a reduced density of states near the edges of graphene islands on Ir(111).     

Yogurt-like beverages made of a mixture of cereals, soy and grape must: microbiology, texture, nutritional and sensory properties

Cereal (rice, barley, emmer and oat) and soy flours and concentrated red grape must were used for making vegetable yogurt-like beverages (VYLB). Two selected strains of Lactobacillus plantarum were used for lactic acid fermentation, according to a process which included the flour gelatinization. All VLYB had values of pH lower than 4.0 and both selected starters remained viable at ca. 8.4 log cfu/g throughout storage. All VLYB showed high values of apparent viscosity and water holding capacity. During fermentation, lactic acid bacteria consumed glucose, fructose, and malic acid, which was supplied with grape must. Compared to control vegetable yogurt-like beverages (CVYLB), without bacterial inoculum, an increase of total free amino acids (FAA) was found during fermentation and storage. Also the concentration of polyphenolic compounds and ascorbic acid (ASC) was higher in VLYB compared to CVYLB. This was reflected on the antioxidant activity. As determined by Solid Phase Micro-Extraction/Gas-Chromatography/Mass-Spectrometry analysis, several volatile compounds were identified. Beverages made with the mixture of rice and barley or emmer flours seemed to possess the best combination textural, nutritional and sensory properties.     

Quasiharmonic Vibrational Properties of TiNiSn from Ab?Initio Phonons

We report an ab?initio study of vibrational and thermodynamic properties of TiNiSn, a half-Heusler alloy that has been investigated in the context of thermoelectrics, based on density functional theory and density functional perturbation theory. The quasiharmonic approximation, where the Helmholtz free energy obtained from phonons of multiple strained structures is fitted to a model equation of state, is employed to estimate thermodynamic properties. Good quantitative correspondence is achieved between experimental observations and our theoretical calculation for various thermodynamic quantities: lattice parameter, thermal expansion coefficient, and heat capacity. Estimates of lattice thermal conductivity are also provided by using a semianalytic model previously proposed in the literature. Though this yields good qualitative agreement, a more accurate ab?initio approach that explicitly includes anharmonic interactions between atoms should be employed for quantitative predictions of thermal conductivity.