Search for Superconductivity in Ultra-dense Deuterium D(?1) at Room Temperature: Depletion of D(?1) at Field Strength >0.05 T

Ultra-dense deuterium D(?1) is expected to be both a superfluid and a superconductor as shown by recent theoretical research. Condensed D(?1) can be deposited on surfaces by a source which produces a stream of clusters. A magnetic field strongly influences the type of material formed. Very little of D(?1) and of the form D(1), which is strongly coupled to D(?1), exists on the magnet surface or within several mm from the magnet surface. Even the formation of D(?1) on the source emitter is strongly influenced by a magnetic field, with a critical field strength in the range 0.03?C0.07 T. Higher excitation levels D(2) and D(3) dominate in a magnetic field. The excitation level D(2) is now observed for the first time. The removal of D(?1) and D(1) in strong magnetic fields is proposed to be due to a Meissner effect in long D(?1) clusters by large-orbit electron motion. The lifting of long D(?1) clusters above the magnet surface is slightly larger than expected, possibly due to the coupling to D(1). The previously reported oscillation between D(?1) and D(1) in an electric field is proposed to be due to destruction of D(?1).     

Carrot cropping on organic soil is a hotspot for nitrous oxide emissions

The emissions of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N₂O) were measured from a non nitrogen fertilized carrot (Daucus carota ssp. sativa) field on an organic soil in Sweden during one cropping and post-harvest season. The cumulative emission during the measuring period of 149?days was 41 (±2.8) kg N₂O ha^?1. Dividing the measuring period into a cropping and a post-harvest period revealed that the presence of carrots strongly stimulated N₂O emissions, as the emission during the cropping period was one order of magnitude higher compared to the post-harvest period. The N₂O emission from the carrot field were higher than fluxes reported from cereal crop and grass production, but in the same order as reported fluxes from vegetable cropping on organic soils. In conclusion, our results indicate that the cultivation of root vegetable, such as carrots, on organic soil can be a high point source for N₂O emissions.     

Parallel enzymatic and non-enzymatic formation of zinc protoporphyrin IX in pork

Zinc protoporphyrin is formed in pork homogenates in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions. Ferrochelatase is active in formation of the highly fluorescent pigment known from Parma ham as demonstrated by inhibition with N-methylmesoporphyrin and by thermal inactivation. A non-enzymatic transmetallisation reaction, exchange of iron in myoglobin by zinc(II), is demonstrated by Pb(II) inhibition of zinc protoporphyrin formation at low Pb(II) concentrations, but promoted at higher Pb(II) concentrations. The non-enzymatic reaction is characterised as a slow bimolecular reaction between protoporphyrin IX and zinc(II) with a second-order rate constant of 0.63 l mol⁻¹ s⁻¹ at 35 °C and a high energy of activation of 98 kJ mol⁻¹ for acetone:water (3:1, v/v) as solvent. Zinc protoporphyrin formation is concluded to be thermodynamically controlled with a formation constant of 4 × 10⁵ M (35 °C, acetone:water (3:1)). An efficient inhibition of formation of zinc protoporphyrin by nitrite is related to myoglobin as substrate and involves both enzymatic and non-enzymatic reactions.     

Angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activity of bioactive peptides produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of skin from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Grass carp skin pieces were homogenized in water and hydrolyzed by Alcalase®, collagenase, proteinase K, and/or trypsin at their optimum conditions. Samples were taken at various degrees of hydrolysis and were evaluated for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activities. Alcalase and collagenase completely hydrolyzed the skin with different rates, and released peptides with antioxidant and angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitory activity. These activities increased linearly with increasing degrees of hydrolysis. Subsequent incubation of the collagenase hydrolysates with trypsin slightly increased the antioxidant activity. Proteinase K, although only partially hydrolyzing the skin, also catalyzed the release of peptides with antioxidant and angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitory activities. These results show that skin by-products from grass carp can be a source of bioactive peptides produced by a one-step reaction. Such hydrolysates may be applied in food products to prolong shelf life and provide beneficial effects on blood pressure.     

Rheology of natural fibers thermoplastic compounds: Flow length and fiber distribution

The presented study investigates the flow length and the corresponding fiber content distribution in the injection‐moulded natural fiber reinforced thermoplastics and its relation to fiber type and processing parameters such as injection pressure, temperature, injection rate and mould tempering by increasing die temperature. In this research, polypropylene compounds with nominally 30 wt % hemp and sisal fibers are investigated. The influence of the injection pressure (500 and 1000 bar), melt temperature (180°C, 200°C, and 220°C), and die temperature (23°C and 80°C) on the fiber content distribution all over the sample is investigated. An increasing linear trend of fiber content along the spiral length is observed as an evidence of a fiber/polymer multiflow system. A pattern for fiber content distribution with respect to the fiber length along the injected spiral can be distinguished, where the longer fibers are usually found at the end of the injected part and the shorter fibers remain near mould entrance point. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39861.     

Effects of climate change on biomass production and substitution in north-central Sweden

In this study we estimate the effects of climate change on forest production in north-central Sweden, as well as the potential climate change mitigation feedback effects of the resulting increased carbon stock and forest product use. Our results show that an average regional temperature rise of 4 °C over the next 100 years may increase annual forest production by 33% and potential annual harvest by 32%, compared to a reference case without climate change. This increased biomass production, if used to substitute fossil fuels and energy-intensive materials, can result in a significant net carbon emission reduction. We find that carbon stock in forest biomass, forest soils, and wood products also increase, but this effect is less significant than biomass substitution. A total net reduction in carbon emissions of up to 104 Tg of carbon can occur over 100 years, depending on harvest level and reference fossil fuel.     

Molecularly imprinted polymer coatings for open-tubular capillary electrochromatography prepared by surface initiation

Molecularly imprinted polymer coatings were synthesized in fused-silica capillary columns by the use of a surface-coupled radical initiator. The coatings were prepared using either toluene, dichloromethane, or acetonitrile in the prepolymerization mixtures and were 0.15-2 microm thick as determined by scanning electron microscopy. Solvent-dependent differences in appearance were observed. All the molecularly imprinted polymer-based open-tubular capillary columns were able to separate the enantiomers of propranolol by means of electrochromatography. Electrochromatographic performance was found to be dependent on the type of solvent used during the synthesis.     

The mechanism of failure in bending of paperboard

The behaviour of paperboard beams subjected to pure bending is analysed and related to tensile and compression stress-strain behaviour. Since the compression strength is lower than the tensile strength, beam failure occurs in compression. However, beam failure does not occur when the ultimate strain in pure compression is reached in the surface fibres. A plastic yielding in compression, which gives good agreement between experimentally-determined and theoretically-calculated bending moments up to failure is therefore suggested. At failure, the elastic energy stored in the sample causes propagation of an interlaminar crack at the compression side, which is observed in scanning electron micrographs.