The Impact of PbF2-Based Glasses on Radiation Shielding and Mechanical Concepts: An Extensive Theoretical and Monte Carlo Simulation Study

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - This work aimed to investigate the impact of Lead-fluoride based glasses via theoretical and simulation techniques on mechanical and...     

Space-domain method of moments solution for a strip on a dielectricslab

This paper presents a space-domain method of moments (MoM) solution to the problem of a strip dipole on a dielectric slab. The solution involves the use of a special junction basis function which models the nearly singular polarization currents in the vicinity of the strip/dielectric junction     

Trans FA and solid fat contents of margarines marketed in Turkey

Trans FA (TFA), solid fat contents (SFC), and slip melting points of 12 different tub and stick margarines marketed in Turkey were examined in this study. No trans isomers were found in four margarines, which suggests they were formulated from interesterified or blended fats and oils. The products with no TFA generally had more short-chain saturated FA, which suggests coconut oil-based oil components. TFA content of the other 10 products varied from 7.7 to 37.8%. Compared to the products formulated in North America, Turkish margarines contain more TFA and have higher SFC.     

Wavelet ridges for musical instrument classification

The time-varying frequency structure of musical signals have been analyzed using wavelets by either extracting the instantaneous frequency of signals or building features from the energies of sub-band coefficients. We propose to benefit from a combination of these two approaches and use the time-frequency domain energy localization curves, called as wavelet ridges, in order to build features for classification of musical instrument sounds. We evaluated the representative capability of our feature in different musical instrument classification problems using support vector machine classifiers. The comparison with the features based on parameterizing the wavelet sub-band energies confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed feature.     

Synthesis and dielectric relaxation behavior of 55B2O3–15SiO2– 30Na2O: WO3 glass system

55 B₂O₃ – 15 SiO₂ – 30 Na₂O: x WO₃, (x ranging from 0 to 5 wt%) glass composites were prepared according to the melt-quenching procedure. The prepared samples were characterized via X-ray diffraction and broad band dielectric spectroscopy (viz., dielectric constant (ε₁), tanδ and AC conductivity (σ_AC) over a wide range of frequency and temperature). No sharp peaks were shown in the XRD pattern and is evidence of the amorphous nature of the samples. It turns out that the values of ε₁ and ε₂ are increasing at higher temperatures particularly at lower frequencies. The energy barrier height, W_M values decreased as 0.27, 0.25 and 0.22 while showed value of 0.29 eV for 5.0 wt% WO₃. In the dielectric modulus plots, two relaxation processes are found especially on the higher temperature side. It also shifted a higher frequency with increasing temperature. The values of exponent s have been found to lie between 0.48 and 0.74, which confirms that the conduction mechanism in the glass samples follows the correlated barrier hopping model. By calculating the activation energy associated with the relaxation processes and DC conductivity, it was found that the values are close, which indicates that the same charges contribute to the two processes.     

Towards more active and stable PdAgCr electrocatalysts for formic acid electrooxidation: The role of optimization via response surface methodology

In this study, multiwall carbon nanotube (MCNT)‐supported Pd (Pd/MWCNT) catalysts are prepared by using NaBH₄ reduction method. In order to maximize the oxidation and reduction of H₂SO₄, synthesis conditions (Pd ratio, molar ratio of NaBH₄/K₂PdCl₄, volume of deionized water, and duration of agitation) are optimized by using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum synthesis conditions are determined as 58.2% of Pd by weight, 154.6 molar ratio of NaBH₄ to K₂PdCl₄, 19.48 mL of deionized water, and 186.16 min of agitation duration. The effect of electrochemical measurement conditions on the oxidation kinetics of Pd/MWCNT is also investigated by RSM. The optimum electrochemical measurement conditions are found as 10 μL of catalyst mixture, 90°C of H₂SO₄ solution, and 5.5 M H₂SO₄. The Pd/MWCNT, Pd₅₀Ag₅₀/MWCNT, and Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT catalysts prepared under optimized conditions are characterized by using X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption‐desorption, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The crystallite sizes of these catalysts are found as 4.85, 5.66, and 5.26 nm for Pd/MWCNT, Pd₅₀Ag₅₀/MWCNT, and Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT catalysts, respectively. Isotherms of all these catalysts are found to be similar to Type V isotherms with H3 hysteresis loop. The average particle size of Pd₅₀Ag₅₀/MWCNT and Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT catalysts are determined as 5.2 and 9.2 nm, respectively. Electrochemical performance of as‐prepared catalysts is evaluated by using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The formic acid electrooxidation (FAEO) activities are found as 18.9, 27.8, and 51.6 mA/cm² for Pd/MWCNT, Pd₅₀Ag₅₀/MWCNT, and Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT, respectively. Pd_65.6Ag_33.6Cr_0.80/MWCNT shows the highest activity and stability. Optimization of synthesis conditions and electrochemical measurement parameters allow us to obtain very good electrochemical activity and stability for FAEO reaction compared with anode catalysts in the literature.     

An Organoid for Woven Bone

Bone formation (osteogenesis) is a complex process in which cellular differentiation and the generation of a mineralized organic matrix are synchronized to produce a hybrid hierarchical architecture. To study the mechanisms of osteogenesis in health and disease, there is a great need for functional model systems that capture in parallel, both cellular and matrix formation processes. Stem cell-based organoids are promising as functional, self-organizing 3D in vitro models for studying the physiology and pathology of various tissues. However, for human bone, no such functional model system is yet available. This study reports the in vitro differentiation of human bone marrow stromal cells into a functional 3D self-organizing co-culture of osteoblasts and osteocytes, creating an organoid for early stage bone (woven bone) formation. It demonstrates the formation of an organoid where osteocytes are embedded within the collagen matrix that is produced by the osteoblasts and mineralized under biological control. Alike in in vivo osteocytes, the embedded osteocytes show network formation and communication via expression of sclerostin. The current system forms the most complete 3D living in vitro model system to investigate osteogenesis, both in physiological and pathological situations, as well as under the influence of external triggers (mechanical stimulation, drug administration).     

Effects of pomegranate sauce on quality of marinated anchovy during refrigerated storage

Effects of pomegranate sauce on the quality of marinated anchovy during storage at 4 °C were investigated. Anchovy were marinated with 30 g/L acetic acid and 150 g/L salt, put into glass jars, filled with either sunflower oil or pomegranate sauce and stored at 4 °C. Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and trimethylamine (TMA-N) values increased during the storage. Higher values for free fatty acid (FFA), conjugated diens (k-dien) and para-anisidine (p-Av) were found in samples with sunflower oil than those with pomegranate sauce. Samples in pomegranate sauce showed better oxidative stability. Higher taste and flavour and lower appearance scores were found for samples in pomegranate sauce than those samples in sunflower oil. It was found that pomegranate sauce was as least effective as the traditional sunflower oil to keep quality. Pomegranate sauce also produced desirable taste and flavour but the coloration should be studied in further studies.