Correlations of global and diffuse solar luminous efficacy for all sky conditions and comparisons with experimental data of five localities

Some simplified correlations of mean hourly global and diffuse luminous efficacy on the horizontal plane for all sky conditions have been obtained for Arcavacata di Rende (Italy) and have been compared with other literature models and other experimental data measured in Geneva (Switzerland), Vaulx-en-Velin (France), Bratislava (Slovakia) and Osaka (Japan). The comparisons show that, for global efficacy, the differences among the various models are not significant, and the use of a model with a constant value of efficacy gives good predictions of global illuminance. For the prediction of diffuse illuminance the differences among the models are larger, but the use of a constant diffuse efficacy provides a good first estimate of diffuse illuminance.     

The many facets of the locomotor response to a novel environment test: Theoretical comment on Mitchell, Cunningham, and Mark (2005).

Several animal studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between locomotor activity in response to a novel environment and acquisition of drug self-administration behavior. This finding led to the assumption that animals with heightened reactivity to novel environments are more sensitive to the rewarding effects of drugs compared with animals with reduced reactivity. But are these individuals really more responsive to drugs, or could they have enhanced sensitivity to rewards in general or even simply be better learners? In the previous issue of this journal, J. M. Mitchell, C. L. Cunningham, and G. P. Mark (2005) (see record 2005-03585-010), investigated these important matters. They reported that the locomotor response to a novel environment does not predict responding for cocaine but reflects overall differences in the ability to learn operant tasks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of milk high pressure homogenization on biogenic amine accumulation during ripening of ovine and bovine Italian cheeses

The aim of this work was to evaluate the biogenic amine (BA) content during the ripening of both bovine and ovine cheeses obtained using milk subjected to a homogenization treatment at 100 MPa before cheese-making. The data obtained were compared with those from cheeses produced by the same milks without any treatment or thermized. The results showed that both microbial ecology and BA concentrations of cheeses during ripening were significantly influenced by the type of milk used for cheese-making and by the treatment applied to the raw materials. In particular, the microbial counts found in Caciotta indicated that the high pressure homogenization (HPH) of milk significantly reduced the presence of the yeasts, Micrococcaceae and lactobacilli at the end of ripening. On the other hand, the HPH treatment of milk favoured the proliferation of yeasts in ovine cheese. Moreover, the ovine cheeses were characterized by a remarkably higher accumulation of BA than bovine cheeses. However, the HPH treatment of milk was able to drastically reduce the biogenic amine concentrations in both cheese typologies at the end of ripening.     

Threshold current reduction in InGaN MQW laser diode withλ/4 air/semiconductor Bragg reflectors

A 13% reduction in the threshold current density of InGaN laser diodes is demonstrated upon the introduction of two 5λ/4 air/nitride Bragg reflectors. These are defined at one end of the laser cavity by means of focused ion beam etching     

Characterization of the temperature sensitivity of gain and recombination mechanisms in 1.3-/spl mu/m AlGaInAs MQW lasers

The potential of 1.3-/spl mu/m AlGaInAs multiple quantum-well (MQW) laser diodes for uncooled operation in high-speed optical communication systems is experimentally evaluated by characterizing the temperature dependence of key parameters such as the threshold current, transparency current density, optical gain and carrier lifetime. Detailed measurements performed in the 20/spl deg/C-100/spl deg/C temperature range indicate a localized T/sub 0/ value of 68 K at 98/spl deg/C for a device with a 2.8 /spl mu/m ridge width and 700-/spl mu/m cavity length. The transparency current density is measured for temperatures from 20/spl deg/C to 60/spl deg/C and found to increase at a rate of 7.7 A/spl middot/cm/sup -2//spl middot/ /spl deg/C/sup -1/. Optical gain characterizations show that the peak modal gain at threshold is independent of temperature, whereas the differential gain decreases linearly with temperature at a rate of 3/spl times/10/sup -4/ A/sup -1//spl middot//spl deg/C/sup -1/. The differential carrier lifetime is determined from electrical impedance measurements and found to decrease with temperature. From the measured carrier lifetime we derive the monomolecular ( A), radiative (B), and nonradiative Auger (C) recombination coefficients and determine their temperature dependence in the 20/spl deg/C-80/spl deg/C range. Our study shows that A is temperature independent, B decreases with temperature, and C exhibits a less pronounced increase with temperature. The experimental observations are discussed and compared with theoretical predictions and measurements performed on other material systems.     

Potential Effect of CD271 on Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Proliferation and Differentiation

The Low-Affinity Nerve Growth Factor Receptor (LNGFR), also known as CD271, is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. The CD271 cell surface marker defines a subset of multipotential mesenchymal stromal cells and may be used to isolate and enrich cells derived from bone marrow aspirate. In this study, we compare the proliferative and differentiation potentials of CD271⁺ and CD271⁻ mesenchymal stromal cells. Mesenchymal stromal cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirate and adipose tissue by plastic adherence and positive selection. The proliferation and differentiation potentials of CD271⁺ and CD271⁻ mesenchymal stromal cells were assessed by inducing osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic in vitro differentiation. Compared to CD271⁺, CD271⁻ mesenchymal stromal cells showed a lower proliferation rate and a decreased ability to give rise to osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes. Furthermore, we observed that CD271⁺ mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from adipose tissue displayed a higher efficiency of proliferation and trilineage differentiation compared to CD271⁺ mesenchymal stromal cells isolated from bone marrow samples, although the CD271 expression levels were comparable. In conclusion, these data show that both the presence of CD271 antigen and the source of mesenchymal stromal cells represent important factors in determining the ability of the cells to proliferate and differentiate.     

Principal component analysis for the identification of pollution sources in mussel survey by trace metals

Summary Principal component analysis has been applied to analyze the correlation matrix obtained from a 8 × 43 data matrix. The 8 trace metals are Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Ph, which are contained in the soft part of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck). Mussels were sampled from two sites in the Gulf of Trieste. In both samples, 76–78% of the total variance is explained by the four principal components. The orthogonally rotated factor matrix indicates that Co and Ni are bonded to the first principal component and Cd and Pb to the first (site 2) or second principal component (site 1). The origin of trace metals in the soft part of mussels from the Gulf of Trieste is discussed.

---

Analyse der Hauptkomponenten zur Identifizierung der Verunreinigungsursachen von Muscheln über die Spurenmetalle

Zusammenfassung Die Analyse der Hauptkomponenten wurde auf die Korrelationsmatrix, die aus der 8 × 43-Datenmatrix hervorgeht, angewandt. Diese 8 Spurenmetalle sind Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb, die im Fleisch der Miesmuscheln (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck) gefunden worden sind. Die Miesmuscheln stammen aus zwei Gegenden des Golfes von Triest. Vier Hauptkomponenten erklären 76–78 % der totalen Varianz der beiden Stichproben. Die orthogonale-rotierte Faktorenmatrix zeigt, daß Co und Ni an die erste Hauptkomponente und Cd und Pb an die erste (Lage 2) oder an die zweite Hauptkomponente (Lage 1) gebunden sind. Die Herkunft der Spurenmetalle im Muschelfleisch aus dem Golf von Triest wird diskutiert.

---

---

L. Felician is the author of the statistical analysis for site 1 as a part of his thesis in Commodity Science, Faculty of Economics, University of Trieste- L. Gabrielli Favretto is the author of the statistical analysis of the data for site 2. All authors contributed to the rest of the paper     

Development of composites based on recycled polyethylene/sugarcane bagasse fibers

In this work, sugarcane bagasse fibers were used as filler in composites having recycled high‐density polyethylene (PEr) as matrix. Because of the poor interaction between fibers surface and the PEr, the surface of bagasse was chemically modified. This modification consists of washing with water at 80°C, a mercerization process using sodium hydroxide and acetylation reaction with acetic anhydride. The chemical modification was characterized by Fourier transform infrared–horizontal attenuated total reflectance (FTIR‐HATR) and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The composites were prepared from modified and unmodified fibers into PEr matrix, containing 5, 10, and 20% (w/w) of fiber. The samples were processed by extrusion and molds were prepared by injection process in order to perform mechanical tests. These materials were analyzed by SEM, TGA, and the water uptake was evaluated. Also, their mechanical properties were analyzed. Morphological analysis indicated that the chemical modification of sugarcane bagasse increased the compatibility between matrix and reinforcement. Tensile, flexural, and impact tests showed that the mechanical properties of the composite were improved compared to PEr due to the presence of the fibers. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:768–774, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Role of surface-inoculated Debaryomyces hansenii and Yarrowia lipolytica strains in dried fermented sausage manufacture. Part 2: Evaluation of their effects on sensory quality and biogenic amine content

The aim was to study the effects of Debaryomyces hansenii and Yarrowia lipolytica strains, used with lactic acid starter cultures (Lactobacillus plantarum), in the manufacture of dried fermented sausages in order to understand their effects on volatile profile, biogenic amine content and sensory properties. The experimental data showed that every yeast strain produced a specific profile of volatile metabolic products. The yeasts also gave sausages with distinctive sensory properties. The degree of mincing also influenced these properties, but none of these factors had significant influence upon the accumulation of biogenic amines.