A combined support vector machine-FCGS classification based on the wavelet transform for Helitrons recognition in C.elegans

Multimedia Tools and Applications - The Helitrons, an important sub-class of the transposable elements (TEs) class II, have been revealed in diverse eukaryotic genomes. They are mobile elements...     

Evaluation of tire-derived fuel for use in nitrogen oxide reduction by reburning

BACKGROUND: Recently, a mutation in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene (N291S) has been reported in 2% to 5% of individuals in western populations and is associated with increased triglyceride (TG) and reduced HDL cholesterol (HDLC) concentrations. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here we report a significant alteration in biochemical and clinical phenotype in subjects with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) who are heterozygous for this N291S LPL mutation. Sixty-four FH heterozygotes carrying the N291S mutation had significantly a higher TG level (P=.004), a higher ratio of total cholesterol to HDLC (P<.001), and lower HDLC concentrations (P=.002) compared with 175 FH heterozygotes without this LPL mutation. Moreover, the N291S mutation conferred a significantly greater risk for developing cardiovascular disease in FH heterozygotes compared with FH heterozygotes without this LPL mutation (odds ratio, 3.875; P=.006). CONCLUSIONS: These data provide evidence that a common LPL variant (N291S) significantly influences the biochemical phenotype and risk for cardiovascular disease in patients with FH.     

Preparation and characterization of mesoporous lithium borosilicate material via the sol–gel process

The lithium borosilicate gels were prepared from the cohydrolysis of the tetraehtylorthosilicate (Si(C₂H₅O)₄) and triethylborate (B(C₂H₅O)₃) by using an ethanolic solution of tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) as surfactant. The Li⁺ ions were introduced from an acidic solution of lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃). Depending on the B/Si, Li/Si and TTAB/Si molar ratios at pH equal to 1 and at room temperature, monolithic and transparent colourless gels were obtained. The structure of the gel was investigated by infrared spectroscopy (IR), ²⁹Si, ¹¹B and ⁷Li solid-state magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) and by thermal analysis (DTA–TG). The results show the possibility of obtaining a borosilicate network via B–O–Si bonds in which Li⁺ ions were dispersed. The adsorption–desorption isotherms of the xerogel were characteristic of mesoporous materials. These materials may provide a greater free volume through which conducting ions can move.     

Mg(OH)2 Nanorods Synthesized by A Facile Hydrothermal Method in the Presence of CTAB

Nano-Micro Letters - Magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) nanorods were synthesized by a simple and facile hydrothermal method in the presence of cetyltetramethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a surfactant....     

New chitosan microspheres supported [bis(2-methylallyl)(1,5-cyclooctadienne)ruthenium(II)] as efficient catalysts for colour degradation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide

This paper concerns the immobilisation of either [bis(2-methylallyl)(1,5-cyclooctadienne)ruthenium(II)] (I) or ruthenium chloride (RuCl₃) (II) on chitosan microspheres (catalyst I and catalyst II, respectively). These heterogenised catalysts were used for the oxidative degradation of two acid dyes, i.e. [Calmagite (Calma) and Acid Blue 25 (AB25)] in aqueous solution at pH 7.0 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Prepared solid supports were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral study, thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. The efficiency of decolourisation was justified using UV–visible spectroscopic analysis. The factors affecting dye degradation were studied. Some tests for Calma decolourisation achieved up to 100% colour removal using catalyst I. The pseudo first-order equation was shown to fit degradation kinetics in most cases. However, for some cases, it was necessary to use a reversible equation. The energetic parameters were determined and the activation energy (E _a) was found to be low, between 11 and 36?kJ?mol^?1, confirming that these catalysts were very efficient for the degradation of anionic dyes using H₂O₂. The interpretation of the equilibrium sorption data complies well with the Freundlich adsorption model. The combination of adsorption process and catalytic oxidation made the new developed catalyst systems to achieve a simple and efficient water treatment.     

MOCVD growth of HfSixOy films from hafnium β-diketonato silylamides and siloxides

New hafnium β-diketonato-silylamide and siloxides namely Hf(thd)₂[N(SiMe₃)₂]₂ (1), Hf(thd)₂(OSiMe₃)₂ (2) and Hf(thd)₂(OSi^tBuMe₂)₂ (3) (thd=2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate) were investigated as single-source precursors for low-pressure pulsed liquid injection MOCVD of HfSi_xO_y thin films on Si(1 0 0) and R-plane sapphire. Films were characterized by XRD, XPS and AFM. The growth rate increased in order 1>2>3 in agreement with the decreasing precursor thermal stability. The activation energy was ∼80-100 kJ/mol. The as-deposited at 550-800 °C films were essentially amorphous; hafnia reflections appeared after 1 h annealing at 900 °C probably due to phase separation into amorphous Si-rich silicate and crystallized HfO₂. The surface of the films showed similar amounts of Hf and Si (∼1:1) and was overstoichiometric in oxygen (ratio O/(Hf+Si) >2). The bulk of the films was Hf-rich (70-85% of Hf/ Hf+Si) and slightly oxygen-deficient. The new complexes are attractive single-source precursors for the deposition of pure and very smooth (R_a∼0.7 nm, <1% relative to thickness) HfSi_xO_y films. Dielectric constant 11.3 and leakage current density 8×10⁻⁴ A/cm² (at −1 V) were measured for a 22 nm thick film.     

A neural network-based approach for an assembly cell control

In several robotics applications, the robot must interact with the workspace, and thus its motion is constrained by the task. In this case, pure position control will be ineffective since forces appearing during the contacts must also be controlled. However, simultaneous position and force control called hybrid control is then required. Moreover, the nonlinear plant dynamics, the complexity of the dynamic parameters determination and computation constraints makes more difficult the synthesis of control laws. In order to satisfy all these constraints, an effective hybrid force/position approach based on artificial neural networks for multi-inputs/multi-outputs systems is proposed. This approach realizes, simultaneously, an identification and control of systems, and it is implemented according to two phases: At first, a neural observer is trained off-line on the basis of the data acquired during contact motion, in order to realize a smooth transition from free to contact motion. Then, an online learning of the neural controller is implemented using neural observer parameters so that the closed-loop system maintains a good performance and compensates for uncertain/unknown dynamics of the robot and the environment. A typical example on which we shall focus is an assembly task. Experimental results on a C5 links parallel robot demonstrate that the robot's skill improves effectively and the force control performances are satisfactory, even if the dynamics of the robot and the environment change.     

Grafting of Hindered Amine Stabilizer in Poly(propylene) Films under γ‐Irradiation

Summary: In this paper, the grafting of a hindered amine stabilizer (HAS) is studied in isotactic poly(propylene) (PP) films under γ‐irradiation. The HAS used has a definite structure that combines a hindered amine functionality and a UV‐absorbing unit (benzylidene malonate ester group) detectable at 308 nm in the UV spectrum of PP film and 314 nm in chloroform. The stabilizer is added to the polymer at various concentration ratios: 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt.‐%. The percentage of HAS grafting in the PP film at various additive concentrations is determined as a function of γ‐radiation dose in the range of 0–100 kGy by direct spectroscopic measurements through the absorption band of the stabilizer in the UV spectra of the PP film. The percentage of free HAS extracted with chloroform from the PP film versus the radiation dose is determined by UV spectroscopy for all the additive concentrations used. This study reveals that only 80% of the HAS is grafted on the 100 kGy irradiated PP matrix independent of the additive concentration used. However, the percentage of HAS grafted on PP films displays an exponential dependence on γ‐radiation dose. These results are consistent with the data obtained on the free HAS content. γ‐Irradiation grafting of HAS in the PP is accompanied by the oxidative degradation of the polymer substrate that is evaluated by increasing the carbonyl index and reducing significantly the oxidation induction time of the PP films.

The percentage of hindered amine stabilizer grafted to the PP film as a function of γ‐radiation dose.