Reference Samples Research Articles

ANALYSIS OF THE SPATIO-TEMPORAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TECHNIQUE OF KICKING WITH THE LEFT FOOT TO THE SIDE FROM THE LEFT-HANDED STANCE OF HIGHLY SKILLED ATHLETES SPECIALISING IN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT

The relevance of the research topic. A wide arsenal of technical actions and a wide range of potential conflict situations that regularly occur in the course of martial arts determine the peculiarities of operations, actions and mechanisms for their improvement. The aim of the research was to analyse the indicators of the spatial-temporal structure of the technique of a kick with the left foot to the side from the left- handed stand performed by highly skilled sportsmen. Research methods: analysis of literature sources, video recording and biomechanical video computer analysis using the optoelectronic system "Qualisys", methods of mathematical statistics. Results. The movement of the biolinks of the athletes' body during the phase of preparing for the impact is from 0.03 m to 0.25 m. During the kicking phase, the values of the average velocities of the right ankle and right knee joints are 4.23 m·s-1 and 2.26 m·s -1 respectively. Conclusions. The execution of a blow is effective from the point of view of biomechanical analysis, and the indicators of the kinematic structure of movements during the execution of this blow can be used both as a reference sample of sports technique and for the development of model characteristics of movements based on them. The values of the average velocities of the shoulder, elbow, and carpal joints of the right hand during the walking phase are 0.50 m·s-1, 1.10 m·s-1, and 0.95 m·s-1, respectively. The average speed of the shoulder joint of the left hand is 0.69 m·s-1, the left elbow joint - 0.97 m·s-1, and the left carpal joint - 2.03 m·s-1. Such high indicators of the average speeds of the hand joints during the walking phase indicate swinging movements to increase the force of the impact due to the use of inertial forces. The movement of the biolinks of the athletes' body during the walking phase ranges from 0.08 m to 0.63 m. The values of the indicators of the joints of the upper limbs during the two support phases when performing a left leg kick to the side from the left stance are: right shoulder joint - 0.65 m·s-1, left shoulder joint -0.52 m·s-1, right elbow joint – 2.73 m·s-1, left elbow joint – 1.71 m·s-1, right and left carpal joints – 1.84 m·s-1. In the two-support phase, the movement of the studied body points of the athletes is in the range from 0.08 m to 0.56 m. The values of the average velocities of the studied body points of the athletes during the contact phase when performing a left leg kick to the side from the left stance range from 0.23 m s- 1 to 2.53 m·s-1, and the displacement of the same points during this phase is from 0.02 m to 0.20 m

Exploring metal carbamates as precursors for the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks.

In the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), the choice of the metal precursor plays a key role because of the influence that it can exert on the crystallization kinetics. The present work explores the use of metal-carbamato complexes for the synthesis of benchmark MOFs, namely HKUST-1 and UiO-66. Cu2(O2CNEt2)4·2NHEt2 and Zr(O2CNEt2)4, prepared using straightforward CO2 fixation reactions starting from the corresponding metal chlorides and diethylamine, were employed as metal precursors for MOF formation. The synthesis conditions, including the solvent, temperature, and ligand protonation degree, were systematically investigated, revealing metal carbamates as highly reactive precursors due to their prompt release of CO2 and amine upon reaction with protic species, i.e., the polycarboxylic linkers. This property of metal carbamates allowed us to identify room temperature protocols to achieve MOFs with comparable properties to those obtained using traditional metal precursors. Subsequent optimization of the reaction conditions led to the design of a one-pot synthetic strategy for HKUST-1, starting directly from copper(II) chloride and diethylamine under a CO2 atmosphere. The MOFs were characterized using various techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction, N2 sorption analysis, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and CHN elemental analysis, and compared to reference samples prepared according to literature procedures.

Inflammatory profiles are associated with long COVID up to 6 months after COVID-19 onset: A prospective cohort study of individuals with mild to critical COVID-19.

After initial COVID-19, immune dysregulation may persist and drive post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). We described longitudinal trajectories of cytokines in adults up to 6 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection and explored early predictors of PASC. RECoVERED is a prospective cohort of individuals with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between May 2020 and June 2021 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Serum was collected at weeks 4, 12 and 24 of follow-up. Monthly symptom questionnaires were completed from month 2 after COVID-19 onset onwards; lung diffusion capacity (DLCO) was tested at 6 months. Cytokine concentrations were analysed by human magnetic Luminex screening assay. We used a linear mixed-effects model to study log-concentrations of cytokines over time, assessing their association with socio-demographic and clinical characteristics that were included in the model as fixed effects. 186/349 (53%) participants had ≥2 serum samples and were included in current analyses. Of these, 101/186 (54%: 45/101[45%] female, median age 55 years [IQR = 45-64]) reported PASC at 12 and 24 weeks after COVID-19 onset. We included 37 reference samples (17/37[46%] female, median age 49 years [IQR = 40-56]). In a multivariate model, PASC was associated with raised CRP and abnormal diffusion capacity with raised IL10, IL17, IL6, IP10 and TNFα at 24 weeks. Early (0-4 week) IL-1β and BMI at COVID-19 onset were predictive of PASC at 24 weeks. Our findings indicate that immune dysregulation plays an important role in PASC pathogenesis, especially among individuals with reduced pulmonary function. Early IL-1β shows promise as a predictor of PASC.

MoS2-assisted growth of highly-oriented AlN thin films by low-temperature van der Waals epitaxy

Aluminum nitride (AlN) is a wide bandgap material used in acoustic devices, piezo- micro-electromechanical system and is promising for other electronic applications. However, for most applications, the AlN crystalline quality obtained by PVD or MOCVD is insufficient, and suitable growth substrates providing an adapted lattice match and coefficient of thermal expansion are limited. Alternatively, monocrystalline AlN wafers are not yet available in 200/300 mm sizes and suffer from high costs and quality issues. Here, we propose a novel approach involving a two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) material as a seed layer, which displays an excellent lattice matching with AlN (>98%) allowing a strong enhancement in the c axis texture of sputtered AlN layers on Si(100)/SiO2 thermal oxide (500 nm) substrates. We have successfully demonstrated an eightfold improvement of the AlN (002) rocking curve compared to reference samples grown on thermal SiO2, thus providing a relevant and cost-effective process for the large-scale deployment of high-quality III-N materials on silicon-based substrates.

Linearity Study of Color Measurement Methods in Digital Image Colorimetry

Color metrology is steadily developing in the interests of fundamental and applied science, improving industrial production processes. The author considers the problem of ensuring metrological traceability of color measurements under natural conditions.Digital image colorimetry methods demonstrate good linearity and precision in relatively small application ranges in studies of same type and mainly non-luminous objects. For complex scenes with a wide range of brightnesses, nonlinear functional color rendering models are used that are focused on visual perception, peak brightness of the monitor and reference viewing conditions, which complicates the processing of measurement results and reduces a confidence interval.The described method of measuring the chromaticity coordinates of an object by its digital image is based on tensor calculus and consists of multiple registration of an object and sets of reference samples with different exposure times, building calibration dependencies forming a multidimensional colorimetric scale in color space and determining chromaticity coordinates as points of intersection of color tensors with the plane of the color locus. In order to ensure accuracy and reliability of the measurement results in the software and hardware environments, a validation study of the performance indicators of this method was carried out, one of which is linearity. An experiment based on comparing the developed method with the reference measurement method showed the effectiveness of the developed wide-range measurement method with good linearity (correlation coefficient R=0.97… 0.99, residual relative standard deviation s0≈1–2%) when adjusting from the subjective factor and display device.The experimental materials may be useful to metrologists solving problems of determining the metrological traceability of the color of digital images in media. The article will be of interest to a wide range of readers with professional interests related to the colorimetry of digital images.

Noise analysis and optical response of microwave kinetic inductance detectors with an optical stack

We report on the experimental investigation of optical coupling for superconducting microresonators known as microwave kinetic inductance detectors (MKIDs) in the visible and near-infrared bands. MKIDs are photon-counting, time and energy-resolving detectors that still suffer from a poor quantum efficiency. To improve this efficiency, we propose to add a superconducting reflective layer below the absorbing part of the detector separated by a transparent Al2O3 layer with a quarter-wavelength thickness optimized around a single wavelength λ = 405 nm. We have first fabricated samples patterned from stoichiometric TiN ( Tc∼4 K), one with the full optical stack, one without for reference and one with a partial optical stack in order to characterize the noise influence of each layer individually. We observe that the full optical stack geometry has the most impact on the resonator’s noise and quality factors. A second design was fabricated to characterize the optical response to short pulses of the optical stack and we show from both the frequential noise and optical response that a strong signature of TLS is still present in the optical stack sample. We have finally obtained single-photon response with the optical stack using a more sensitive tri-layer TiN/Ti/TiN absorber ( Tc∼1.3 K) for which a maximum energy resolving power of R=E/ΔE∼ 1.3 was achieved using 405 nm laser pulses at 225 mK. The quality factors of both the reference and optical stack samples are similar but the frequency noise is still a tenfold higher for the optical stack sample which degrades the energy-resolving power of the detector.

Sn99Ag0.3Cu0.7–TiO2 composite solder joints and their influence on thermal parameters of power components

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of composite solder joint preparation on the thermal properties of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) and the mechanical strength of the soldered joint. Design/methodology/approach Reinforced composite solder joints with the addition of titanium oxide nanopowder (TiO2) were prepared. The reference alloy was Sn99Ag0.3Cu0.7. Reinforced joints differed in the weight percentage of TiO2, ranging from 0.125 to 1.0 Wt.%. Two types of components were used for the tests. The resistor in the 0805 package was used for mechanical strength tests, where the component was soldered to the FR4 substrate. For thermal parameters measurements, a power element MOSFET in a TO-263 package was used, which was soldered to a metal core printed circuit board (PCB) substrate. Components were soldered in batch IR oven. Findings Shear tests showed that the addition of titanium oxide does not significantly increase the resistance of the solder joint to mechanical damage. Titanium oxide addition was shown to not considerably influence the soldered joint’s mechanical strength compared to reference samples when soldered in batch ovens. Thermal resistance Rthj-a of MOSFETs depends on TiO2 concentration in the composite solder joint reaching the minimum Rthj at 0.25 Wt.% of TiO2. Research limitations/implications Mechanical strength: TiO2 reinforcement shows minimal impact on mechanical strength, suggesting altered liquidus temperature and microstructure, requiring further investigation. Thermal performance: thermal parameters vary with TiO2 concentration, with optimal performance at 0.25 Wt.%. Experimental validation is crucial for practical application. Experimental confirmation: validation of optimal concentrations is essential for accurate assessment and real-world application. Soldering method influence: batch oven soldering may affect mechanical strength, necessitating exploration of alternative methods. Thermal vs mechanical enhancement: while TiO2 does not notably enhance mechanical strength, it improves thermal properties, highlighting the need for balanced design in power semiconductor assembly. Practical implications Incorporating TiO2 enhances thermal properties in power semiconductor assembly. Optimal concentration balancing thermal performance and mechanical strength must be determined experimentally. Batch oven soldering may influence mechanical strength, requiring evaluation of alternative techniques. TiO2 composite solder joints offer promise in power electronics for efficient heat dissipation. Microstructural analysis can optimize solder joint design and performance. Rigorous quality control during soldering ensures consistent thermal performance and mitigates negative effects on mechanical strength. Social implications The integration of TiO2 reinforcement in solder joints impacts thermal properties crucial for power semiconductor assembly. However, its influence on mechanical strength is limited, potentially affecting product reliability. Understanding these effects necessitates collaborative efforts between researchers and industry stakeholders to develop robust soldering techniques. Ensuring optimal TiO2 concentration through experimental validation is essential to maintain product integrity and safety standards. Additionally, dissemination of research findings and best practices can empower manufacturers to make informed decisions, fostering innovation and sustainability in electronic manufacturing processes. Ultimately, addressing these social implications promotes technological advancement while prioritizing consumer trust and product quality in the electronics industry. Originality/value The research shows the importance of the soldering technology used to assemble MOSFET devices.

Sn99Ag0.3Cu0.7–TiO2 composite solder joints and their influence on thermal parameters of power components

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the influence of composite solder joint preparation on the thermal properties of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) and the mechanical strength of the soldered joint. Design/methodology/approach Reinforced composite solder joints with the addition of titanium oxide nanopowder (TiO2) were prepared. The reference alloy was Sn99Ag0.3Cu0.7. Reinforced joints differed in the weight percentage of TiO2, ranging from 0.125 to 1.0 Wt.%. Two types of components were used for the tests. The resistor in the 0805 package was used for mechanical strength tests, where the component was soldered to the FR4 substrate. For thermal parameters measurements, a power element MOSFET in a TO-263 package was used, which was soldered to a metal core printed circuit board (PCB) substrate. Components were soldered in batch IR oven. Findings Shear tests showed that the addition of titanium oxide does not significantly increase the resistance of the solder joint to mechanical damage. Titanium oxide addition was shown to not considerably influence the soldered joint’s mechanical strength compared to reference samples when soldered in batch ovens. Thermal resistance Rthj-a of MOSFETs depends on TiO2 concentration in the composite solder joint reaching the minimum Rthj at 0.25 Wt.% of TiO2. Research limitations/implications Mechanical strength: TiO2 reinforcement shows minimal impact on mechanical strength, suggesting altered liquidus temperature and microstructure, requiring further investigation. Thermal performance: thermal parameters vary with TiO2 concentration, with optimal performance at 0.25 Wt.%. Experimental validation is crucial for practical application. Experimental confirmation: validation of optimal concentrations is essential for accurate assessment and real-world application. Soldering method influence: batch oven soldering may affect mechanical strength, necessitating exploration of alternative methods. Thermal vs mechanical enhancement: while TiO2 does not notably enhance mechanical strength, it improves thermal properties, highlighting the need for balanced design in power semiconductor assembly. Practical implications Incorporating TiO2 enhances thermal properties in power semiconductor assembly. Optimal concentration balancing thermal performance and mechanical strength must be determined experimentally. Batch oven soldering may influence mechanical strength, requiring evaluation of alternative techniques. TiO2 composite solder joints offer promise in power electronics for efficient heat dissipation. Microstructural analysis can optimize solder joint design and performance. Rigorous quality control during soldering ensures consistent thermal performance and mitigates negative effects on mechanical strength. Social implications The integration of TiO2 reinforcement in solder joints impacts thermal properties crucial for power semiconductor assembly. However, its influence on mechanical strength is limited, potentially affecting product reliability. Understanding these effects necessitates collaborative efforts between researchers and industry stakeholders to develop robust soldering techniques. Ensuring optimal TiO2 concentration through experimental validation is essential to maintain product integrity and safety standards. Additionally, dissemination of research findings and best practices can empower manufacturers to make informed decisions, fostering innovation and sustainability in electronic manufacturing processes. Ultimately, addressing these social implications promotes technological advancement while prioritizing consumer trust and product quality in the electronics industry. Originality/value The research shows the importance of the soldering technology used to assemble MOSFET devices.

Analysis of the Quality of Fresh and Used Cooking Oil Among Fried Catfish Street Vendors in the Eastern Region of Lamongan Sub-District, Lamongan District

Cooking oil that is repeatedly used by vendors can cause damage and a decline in quality. Moreover, it can pose health risks. Repeated use of cooking oil leads to various degradation reactions such as oxidation, hydrolysis, and polymerization. This research aims to analyze the quality differences between initial and used cooking oil. The study is a survey with a cross-sectional study method. The sampling technique used purposive sampling (13 vendors) with data analysis using a paired t-test at a 5% significance level. Cooking oil samples were taken twice a day. The chemical quality analysis results of 13 initial cooking oil samples showed that the percentage that did not meet SNI 7709:2019 standards for water content was 46.15%, free fatty acids were 46.15%, and peroxide values were 69.23%. For used cooking oil samples, the percentages that did not meet SNI 7709:2019 standards for water content were 92.30%, free fatty acids were 100%, and peroxide values were 100%. The average TBA value for all initial-use cooking oil samples was 0.44 mg MDA/kg, and for used cooking oil samples was 0.65 mg MDA/kg, both higher than the reference sample (0.15 mg MDA/kg).. The t-test results showed that there were quality differences between the initial and used cooking oil used by street vendors selling pecel lele in the eastern region of Lamongan District.

An innovative approach for low input forensic DNA sample analysis using the GlobalFiler™ IQC PCR amplification Kit on the Magelia® platform

Short Tandem Repeat (STR) markers have been the gold standard for human identification testing in the forensic field for the last few decades. The GlobalFiler™ IQC PCR amplification Kit has shown sensitivity, high power of discrimination and is therefore widely used. Samples with limited DNA quantities remain a significant hurdle for streamlined human forensic identification. Reaction volume reduction in a closed system paired with automation can provide solutions to secure DNA profiles when routine methods fall short. We automated and optimized the GlobalFilerTM IQC PCR Amplification Kit on the Magelia®, a closed molecular biology platform, to test whether reaction volume reduction in a confined automated system would improve signal and sensitivity. We evaluated the platform’s performance using reference and real casework samples (blood, cigarette butt, saliva and touch DNA) in the context of a 5-fold volume reduction when compared to the routine protocol. This strategy showed distinct advantages over standard treatment, notably increased signal for lower DNA inputs. Importantly, negative casework samples through routine treatment yielded “usable” DNA profiles after amplification using this strategy. This novel approach represents a first proof of concept for a method enabling users to treat limited samples, or to partition routine samples for multiple analyses.

Improving the reliability of a nonprobability web survey: application to measuring gender pay gap

ABSTRACT Nonprobability web surveys suffer from selection and coverage biases and are generally not representative of the target population. To carry out statistical modelling in a nonprobability web survey, we explore different methods of statistical adjustments to compensate for biases through the use of a probability-based reference sample. We also show that we need to account for these biases when imputing missing data. The methods for statistical adjustments include propensity score weighting with post-stratification and a technique called sample matching. For the substantive study, we use a nonprobability online web-survey taken from the WageIndicator (WI) programme (www.wageindicator.org) to estimate the gender pay gap (GPG) using the 2016 WI survey data from the Netherlands. We use the 2016 EU-SILC data as the probability-based reference sample. Based on the study of GPG, we show that using propensity score weighting with post-stratification outperforms sample matching with respect to compensating for biases and improves the outcome of the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition model in terms of the degree of similarity relative to patterns found in representative probability samples in the Netherlands.

3-Dimensional Printed Model of the Temporal Bone for Neurosurgical Training.

The development of neurosurgical skills stands out as a paramount objective for neurosurgery residents during their formative years. Mastery of intricate and complex procedures is a time-intensive process marked by a gradually ascending learning curve. Consequently, the study and simulation on surgical models assume significant importance. One of the most intricate neuroanatomical regions includes the petrous and mastoid portions of the temporal bone. These regions host critical, highly functional, and vital neurovascular structures, including the facial nerve, cochlea, semicircular canals, internal carotid artery, and middle ear. This fully open-source 3-dimensional (3D) model of the temporal bone, created for educational purposes, should be easily and economically reproducible using a 3D printer, offering all residents the opportunity to understand the spatial location, three-dimensional anatomical structures, and fundamental intricacies of mastoidectomy. A 3D model of the temporal bone was fabricated using a computed tomography (CT) scan derived from an actual human body. The CT scan of the model was meticulously juxtaposed with the reference sample CT scan. Neurosurgical residents were recruited as participants for this study. Each participant was tasked with executing a mastoidectomy on 2 separate occasions, with a 2-week interval between attempts. Throughout these sessions, various parameters, including the time taken for task completion, the volume of bone removal, and any potential complications, were systematically registered. The mean volume of bone removed increased by 34.5%, and the mean task time and the mean number of complications decreased by 10.3% and 25%, respectively, during the training. Engaging in training with cost-effective anatomical models constitutes a valuable tool for refining technical skills during residency. We posit that this type of model training should be incorporated as part of the trainee's curriculum during the residency program because of the myriad advantages evidenced by the findings of this study.

Cationization agent affects the stability of secondary ions in MeV-SIMS

The work presents studies of the cationization agent effect on the ionization efficiency, and on the stability of secondary molecules, which are desorbed from the surface as a result of bombardment by MeV primary ions. Different organic molecule standards were mixed with various trifluoroacetate (TFA) salts, namely AgTFA, LiTFA, NaTFA and KTFA, with Ag, Li, Na and K being common cationization agents of secondary ions besides hydrogen. Results show modest differences in ionization efficiency, and significant variation of secondary ions’ stability when different cationization agents are attached to the molecule. For all reference samples, lithium provided the most stable secondary ions with almost none detected fragmentations after the desorption, while secondary ions with attached potassium were measured as much less stable, and the ratio between neutrals (fragments) and normal positive ions is estimated to be more than 0.2. However, even potassium – ionized molecules were recognized as more stable than protonated molecules.

Comparative Evaluation of Select Serological Assays for Zika Virus Using Blinded Reference Panels

In response to the 2015 Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic that occurred in Brazil, numerous commercial serological assays have been developed for clinical and research applications. Diagnosis of recent infection in pregnant women remains challenging. Having standardized, comparative studies of ZIKV tests is important for implementing optimal diagnostic testing and disease surveillance. This is especially important for serology tests used to detect ZIKV infection given that antibodies against ZIKV can cross-react with other arboviruses in the same virus family, such as dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV) and West Nile virus (WNV). We looked at the sensitivity and specificity of tests detecting ZIKV antibodies (IgM, IgG) from multiple manufacturers using panels of samples previously collected with known exposure to ZIKV and other arboviruses. We found that performance of the IgM tests was highly variable, with only one test (Inbios 2.0 IgM capture ELISA) having both high sensitivity and specificity. All IgG tests showed good sensitivity; however, specificity was highly variable, with some assays giving false-positive results on samples infected by another flavivirus. Overall, the results confirmed that accurate ZIKV antibody testing is challenging, especially in specimens from regions endemic for multiple other flaviviruses, and highlight the importance of available and suitable reference samples to evaluate ZIKV diagnostics.

Analysis of the quality of reproduction on a graphic product with more positive environmental aspects

In recent years, there has been a growing trend worldwide to replace traditional wood fibres as a raw material for paper production with non-wood fibres. By using alternative sources of cellulose fibres for paper production, such as cereal straw, deforestation is reduced, which is one of the positive environmental aspects of producing a of a graphic product with such a composition. Another positive environmental aspect of the graphic product produced in this way is the elimination of the bleaching process in paper production, which has a positive effect on reducing chemical pollution. In the paper manufacturing process, the paper used for printing usually goes through a bleaching process that reduces the yellowish tone of the paper and increases light emission, brightness and contrast. However, looking at the matter from a different perspective, especially for small-scale production, the process of paper whitening can also be done differently, namely by coating the paper with a white pigment. The aim of this research was to analyse whether it is possible to achieve the same reproduction quality with one or two layers of titanium dioxide on non-wood paper substrates as on commercially available standard paper type 7 according to ISO 12647. The reproduction quality was tested by analysing the reproduction of lines printed in different sizes using piezo inkjet technology. Double-coated samples achieved 2.6 % better results than single-coated samples. The result closest to the reference sample PS7 was obtained with a paper containing 10 % wheat straw and coated with two layers of titanium dioxide. The results obtained show that the proportion of wheat pulp does not lead to a deterioration in the quality of line reproduction in the prints.

Optimal Limestone Content on Hydration Properties of Ordinary Portland Cement with 5% Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag.

In this study, the effect of limestone content on the mechanical performance and the heat of hydration of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was investigated. Changes in the phase assemblage were analyzed through XRD and thermodynamic modeling. The purpose of the study was to identify the optimal limestone content in OPC. As a result of the experiment, all samples were found to have equal fluidity. Increasing the limestone content accelerated the hydration of the cement before approximately 13 h and shortened the setting time due to the acceleration of the initial hydration reaction. The compressive strength of the cement mortar showed a dilution effect, with lower compressive strength compared to the reference sample at an early age, but it gradually recovered at a later age. This is because, as shown in the XRD and thermodynamic modeling results, the carboaluminate phases formed due to the chemical effect of limestone contributed to the development of compressive strength. As a result, within the scope of this study, it is believed that maintaining the limestone content in OPC within 10% is optimal to minimize quality degradation.

Composite Materials with Glass Fiber Waste and Blast Furnace Slag

Fiberglass is a waste generated in the construction materials industry, which is not dangerous for the environment, but long-term and very long-term storage is expensive. Finding a method of reuse as in creating a useful composite material led to the research work in this study. The impact of waste fiberglass and furnace slag on the characteristics of novel composite materials was examined in this study. The density and mechanical properties of the composite samples were examined to determine the impact of waste fiberglass (WFG) concentration in it. Washed river aggregates were replaced with WFG in various ratios in our laboratory tests. Concrete class C16/20 was utilized, having 0.35–0.7 w. % WFG and 2–10% slag. The obtained material was evaluated for density, workability, and compressive strength. The experiments were carried out in an accredited concrete station laboratory. The density of the resulting materials decreased as the WFG content was increased. The densities were higher than the witness sample, ranging from 2358 to 2405 kg/m3. The findings show that adding WFG and slag to concrete has a positive impact on its characteristics. With the addition of WFG, the mixture became more non-homogenous, but these characteristics can be optimized in future. Because of the differential in density between WFG and natural coarse aggregates, the fresh density of obtained composites dropped as the percentage of WFG increased; this could be an advantage, as the newly obtained material became lighter. The findings show that adding waste to concrete has a detrimental impact on its qualities. The introduction of blast furnace slag up to 5% does not modify the compressive strength, compared to the reference samples, but 10% slag causes a decrease in compressive strength of 4.2%. A proportion of 0.25% WFG causes a slight increase in mechanical strength; therefore, 0.25% WFG and 5% slag increased the compressive strength, the maximum value being obtained for a composite with 0.25% WFG, 5% slag, 5% sand and aggregates. Capitalization of WFG and slag resulted in significant economic and environmental benefits by reducing waste storage costs and production costs, and advantages resulted from the new material.

Effect of preparation routes on the performance of a multi-component AB2-type hydrogen storage alloy

This article presents experimental results on the preparation and characterisation of a multi-component AB2–type intermetallic hydrogen storage alloy (A = Ti0.85Zr0.15, B = Mn1.22Ni0.22Cr0.2V0.3Fe0.06). The alloy samples were prepared by induction melting using Y2O3-lined alumo-silica and graphite crucibles. The characterisation results were compared with the ones for the reference sample of the same composition prepared by arc melting. It has been shown that the induction-melted samples exhibit reduced hydrogen sorption capacities and sloping plateaux on the pressure composition isotherms (PCI’s). The origin of the observed effects has been shown to be in the inhomogeneity of the induction-melted alloys and their contamination due to crucible—melt interaction, particularly pronounced for the alloy melted in the alumo-silica crucible; this alloy was additionally characterised by the decrease of Zr/Ti ratio and, in turn, higher plateau pressures of the PCI’s.

Exome sequencing identifies novel genes underlying primary congenital glaucoma in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.

Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) affects approximately 1 in 10,000 live born infants in the United States (U.S.). PCG has a autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, and variable expressivity and reduced penetrance have been reported. Likely causal variants in the most commonly mutated gene, CYP1B1, are less prevalent in the U.S., suggesting that alternative genes may contribute to the condition. This study utilized exome sequencing to investigate the genetic architecture of PCG in the U.S. and to identify novel genes and variants. We studied 37 family trios where infants had PCG and were part of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (births 1997-2011), a U.S. multicenter study of birth defects. Samples underwent exome sequencing and sequence reads were aligned to the human reference sample (NCBI build 37/hg19). Variant filtration was conducted under de novo and Mendelian inheritance models using GEMINI. Among candidate variants, CYP1B1 was most represented (five trios, 13.5%). Twelve probands (32%) had potentially pathogenic variants in other genes not previously linked to PCG but important in eye development and/or to underlie Mendelian conditions with potential phenotypic overlap (e.g., CRYBB2, RXRA, GLI2). Variation in the genes identified in this population-based study may help to further explain the genetics of PCG.

Isotopic Differentiation (δ18OPO4) of Inorganic Phosphorus among Organic Wastes for Nutrient Runoff Tracing Studies: A Summary of the Literature with Refinement of Livestock Estimates for Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed (Ohio)

The use of stable isotopes, specifically δ18OPO4 ratios, in differentiating potential sources of inorganic phosphorus (e.g., wastewater, septic, wild animals, domesticated animals, livestock, substrates, or commercial fertilizers) to watersheds is a growing field. This method produces data that, used in conjunction with statistical mixing models, enables a better understanding of contributing sources of runoff. However, given the recent development of this research area there are obvious limitations that have arisen, due in large part to the limited available reference data to compare water samples. Here, we attempt to expand the availability of reference samples by applying stable isotope methods to three types of common agricultural manures: poultry, dairy, and swine. We also aim to concatenate the organic waste literature on this topic, creating a more robust comparison database for future study and application in phosphorus source partitioning research. Among our samples, δ18OPO4 ratios for poultry were considerably elevated compared to dairy and swine manures (values of 18.5‰, 16.5‰, and 17.9‰, respectively). Extending this to other published ratios of δ18OPO4 from various types of waste products (e.g., septic, wastewater, livestock, other animals), a total range from 8.7‰ to 23.1‰ emerged (with existing poultry manure samples also ranking among the highest overall). Variation among samples in the larger dataset demonstrates the need for a further compilation of δ18OPO4 ratios for various types of waste, especially specific to geographic regions and watershed scales. With an increased sample size, the statistical strength associated with these methods would greatly improve.