Magnetic State and Magnetocaloric Effect of SmMnO3

We present a study of magnetization and magnetocaloric effect for the SmMnO₃ compound. This compound was synthesized by combustion reaction and its magnetic and structural properties studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and magnetization (M) measurements as a function of temperature and under magnetic fields. The XRD pattern at room temperature confirmed the presence of a single phase with orthorhombic structure. From magnetization versus temperature, we observe two magnetic orderings, the first one at 6 K due to Sm³⁺, and the other one at T _N =57(2) K is the anti-ferromagnetic long-range ordering. The magnetic entropy change, ΔS _M , was obtained from magnetization isotherms close to T _N where it reaches a maximum value of about 8.0 J/kg K for an applied field of 7 T.     

Short-term screening of multiple phytogenic compounds for their potential to modulate chewing behavior,ruminal fermentation profile,and pH in cattle fed grain-rich diets

In cattle, proper rumen functioning and digestion are intimately linked to chewing behavior. Yet, high grain feeding impairs chewing activity, increasing the risk of subacute ruminal acidosis and dysfermentation. This study aimed to screen 9 different phytogenic compounds for their potential to modulate chewing activity, meal size, rumino-reticular short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and pH during consumption in a first daily meal and shortly thereafter in cattle fed a grain-rich diet. Treatments were control (total mixed ration without phytogenic) or addition of a phytogenic compound at a low or high dose. Phytogenic compounds and doses (all in mg/kg) were angelica root (6.6 and 66), capsaicin (10 and 100), gentian root (6.6 and 66), garlic oil (0.3 and 3), ginger extract (40 and 400), L-menthol (6.7 and 67), mint oil (15.3 and 153), thyme oil (9.4 and 94), and thymol (5 and 50), for the low and high groups, respectively. Before the start of the screening experiment, cows were fed to reach subacute ruminal acidosis conditions, confirmed with the time of ruminal pH <5.8 being 655 ± 148.2 min/d. During the screening experiment, the treatments were offered in a controlled meal (2.5 kg of DM for 4 h) as part of the daily diet with 65% concentrate. Each treatment was tested in 4 of the 9 cannulated Holstein cows using an incomplete Latin square design. Ruminal and reticular fluids were sampled before and after each treatment, and data collected before the meal were used as covariates. Chewing and ruminal pH were monitored during the treatment, followed by 2 h of complete feed restriction, and then 4 h of ad libitum feed intake without phytogenic. Data showed that supplementation of angelica root tended to linearly increase rumination time immediately after the first meal when feed was restricted (27.3, 41.9, and 42.6 ± 5.99 min for control, low and high groups, respectively). Capsaicin increased eating time (43.6, 49.4, and 66.4 ± 4.93 min) during consumption but did not affect ruminal total SCFA or mean ruminal pH. Garlic oil reduced the concentration of reticular total SCFA (75.7, 71.3, and 60.1 mM) and tended to decrease ruminal acetate-to-propionate ratio (2.50, 1.78, and 1.87 ± 0.177) with no effect on ruminal pH. The L-menthol affected reticular total SCFA quadratically (76.1, 64.9, and 81.0 ± 4.22%), and ruminal pH responded quadratically when feed was reintroduced ad libitum (6.0, 6.3, and 6.1 ± 0.07). Mint oil did not affect chewing or total SCFA during consumption, but the low dose increased ruminal pH (6.5, 6.7, and 6.5 ± 0.08). Thyme oil tended to lower the severity of ruminal acidosis. Overall, phytogenic compounds demonstrated distinct dose-dependent effects to beneficially influence chewing behavior, modulate fermentation, and mitigate ruminal acidosis in dairy cows under a high-grain challenge diet.     

Cathode-Ray Tube panel glass replaces frit in transparent glazes for ceramic tiles

The disposal of Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) from end-of-life personal computers and TV screens represents a serious problem in electronic-waste management. As an assembly of different materials, finding a use for each of a monitor's parts is a critical step forward a solution. However, the CRT panel is a silicate glass with a relatively high proportion of alkaline and alkaline-earth oxides, for which recycling is a natural task, and the replacement of frit in ceramic glazes arises as an interesting alternative. In this context, we investigated the effect of CRT panel glass in glazes for ceramic tiles based on a comparative analysis. We replaced up to 40?wt% of commercial transparent frit with CRT panel glass in the formulation of one reference slurry. Chemical analyses were conducted by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission (ICP-OES) spectrometry. The thermal expansion coefficient and the glass transition and dilatometric softening temperatures were characterized by dilatometry and compared to such properties calculated as a function of composition, using the SciGlass software and database. 20- and 30-min firing cycles were applied in a fast-firing roller kiln, replicating industrial conditions. The samples transparency was measured by spectrophotometry and compared to the colorimetric parameters of a standard glaze. The maximum content of panel glass possible to add in the transparent glaze formulation without affecting the expected properties was 20?wt%, above which transparency decreased due to heterogeneities. The reformulation of a ceramic glaze with waste CRT panel glass was successful, thus suggesting an interesting approach for disposal of other electronic wastes.     

Nanostructured porous silicon micropatterns as a tool for substrate-conditioned cell research

ABSTRACT: The localized irradiation of Si allows a precise patterning at the microscale of nanostructured materials such as porous silicon (PS). PS patterns with precisely defined geometries can be fabricated by using ion stopping masks. The nanoscale textured micro patterns were used to explore their influence as microenviroments for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). In fact, the change of photoluminescence emission from PS upon aging in physiological solution suggests the intense formation of silanol surface groups, which may play a relevant role in ulterior cell adhesion. The experimental results show that hMSCs are sensitive to the surface micropatterns. In this regard, preliminary -catenin labeling studies reveal the formation of cell-cell interaction structures, while microtubule orientation is strongly influenced by the selective adhesion conditions. Relevantly, Ki67 assays support a proliferative state of hMSCs on such nanostructured micropatterns comparable to that of standard cell culture platforms, which reinforces the candidature of porous silicon micropatterns to become a conditioning structure for in-vitro culture of hMSCs.     

Multicolor Layer-by-Layer films using weak polyelectrolyte assisted synthesis of silver nanoparticles

In the present study, we show that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with different shape, aggregation state and color (violet, green, orange) have been successfully incorporated into polyelectrolyte multilayer thin films using the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. In order to obtain colored thin films based on AgNPs is necessary to maintain the aggregation state of the nanoparticles, a non-trivial aspect in which this work is focused on. The use of Poly(acrylic acid, sodium salt) (PAA) as a protective agent of the AgNPs is the key element to preserve the aggregation state and makes possible the presence of similar aggregates (shape and size) within the LbLcolored films. This approach based on electrostatic interactions of the polymeric chains and the immobilization of AgNPs with different shape and size into the thin films opens up a new interesting perspective to fabricate multicolornanocomposites based on AgNPs.     

A number-theoretic framework for the mitigation of fragmentation loss in elastic optical links

This paper addresses the problem of minimizing total slot idle time in assigning spectrum to a 2-class traffic, considering both incremental and dynamic arrival and permanence rules. Deadlock avoidance under incremental traffic is first shown to be possible with the use of non-greedy spectrum assignment policies in some link states which are identified from knowledge of the connection request sizes, thus keeping total idleness finite and minimal. Then, the concept of deadlock avoidance is extended to dynamic traffic with the purpose of proposing an algorithm that mitigates fragmentation losses with appropriate greedy traffic-aware assignment policies. Since deadlock is not permanent under dynamic traffic, avoidance by assignment denial is not used. Instead, the proposed algorithm is only reluctant to assign dysfunctional, deadlock-prone voids in favour of functional voids if they are available. Other priorities may also apply if multiple searches are allowed.

     

Three-dimensional electrical impedance tomography: a topology optimization approach.

Electrical impedance tomography is a technique to estimate the impedance distribution within a domain, based on measurements on its boundary. In other words, given the mathematical model of the domain, its geometry and boundary conditions, a nonlinear inverse problem of estimating the electric impedance distribution can be solved. Several impedance estimation algorithms have been proposed to solve this problem. In this paper, we present a three-dimensional algorithm, based on the topology optimization method, as an alternative. A sequence of linear programming problems, allowing for constraints, is solved utilizing this method. In each iteration, the finite element method provides the electric potential field within the model of the domain. An electrode model is also proposed (thus, increasing the accuracy of the finite element results). The algorithm is tested using numerically simulated data and also experimental data, and absolute resistivity values are obtained. These results, corresponding to phantoms with two different conductive materials, exhibit relatively well-defined boundaries between them, and show that this is a practical and potentially useful technique to be applied to monitor lung aeration, including the possibility of imaging a pneumothorax.