Total Band Area Research Articles

Higher order correction and spectral deconvolution of wavelength-resolved neutron transmission imaging at the CONRAD-2 instrument

This paper uses a Fourier self-deconvolution method for improving the wavelength resolution in transmission experiments at continuous neutron sources utilizing a double-crystal monochromator device to probe as well as correct the generation of higher-order neutron scattering in a monochromatic neutron beam. The cold neutron radiography CONRAD-2 equipment has been utilized to resolve the steel transmission spectra of changing BCC phase and FCC phase fractions. Therefore, both low and high-spectral resolution instruments with equivalent wavelength resolution have been proposed. The primary benefit of Fourier self-deconvolution is its ability to precisely narrow individual bands without modifying their relative position or the total band area. Thus, the resolution of the transmission spectrum has been improved by a factor of 3.16, and the info that the sample material comprises two crystallographic phases has been determined by the wavelength resolution improvement employing the deconvolution approach. Additionally, the slight variation in Bragg edge position for different phase fractions and the locations of the double phase Bragg edges have also been obtained using the ray-tracing simulation tool McStas. The high resolution neutron wavelength selection experiment with the ESS test_beamline (V20) instrument employing the neutron time-of-flight detection demonstrates the precision of the resolving steel Bragg edge.

Pyrolysis of rubber seed oil over high-temperature copper slag: Gas and mechanism of coke formation

In the process of direct use and upgrading of rubber seed oil (RSO), coke formation is a severe problem. Therefore, evolution of the cokes structure is a key factor affecting the efficient utilization of RSO. This study investigates the production of coke during RSO pyrolysis. All cokes are analyzed and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, CHNS/O analysis, and Raman. The results indicate that cokes on the surface of copper slag (SCS-cokes) are coral-like and the surfaces are relatively rough while cokes on the quartz tube wall (QTW-cokes) have a flat structure. According to FT-IR (500–4000 cm−1), QTW-cokes and SCS-cokes contain a variety of O-containing functional groups. Raman spectra indicate a decrease in the total band area with increasing temperature due to the loss of O-containing functional groups at high temperature. The small aromatic ring systems in cokes are transformed into the large aromatic ring systems. In addition, the yields of pyrolysis gas and cokes increase with increasing temperature, while the opposite is true for tar. RSO pyrolysis products also have value for further processing. Therefore, there is great potential for the co-treatment of CS with RSO.

FTIR and multivariate analysis to study the effect of bulk and nano copper oxide on peanut plant leaves

In this article the potential variation in biochemical constituents of peanut plant leaves affect by presoaking peanut seeds in copper oxide nanoparticles suspension has been studied and compared with its bulk counterpart. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) studies. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis shows the most prominent peaks at ∼2923 cm−1, ∼1636 cm−1 and ∼1033 cm−1, which correspond to lipids, protein and carbohydrate content in leaf samples respectively. The calculated mean ratio of the peak intensities for various frequency regions and total band area calculation for various band regions explain the variation in lipid, protein and carbohydrate content of leaf samples. Further the FTIR spectra were processed by de-convolution and curve fitting to quantitatively examine the chemical contents and structure changing of the secondary structure of protein. The calculated integrated band area of β – sheet, β – turn and α – helix secondary structure of protein varies to greater extent in all samples compared to control. Principal component analysis (PCA) has been carried out to explain the total variance in secondary structure of protein content in peanut plant leaves. Principal component 1 (PC1) accounts for 63.50% variation in secondary structure of protein whereas principal component 2 (PC2) accounts for 29.56%. The application of nanoparticles via presoaking method implies potential variation in biochemical constituents but doesn't affect the growth of plants considerably.

Spectral investigations to the effect of bulk and nano ZnO on peanut plant leaves

The potential variation in peanut plant leaves were examined by the application of bulk and nano ZnO through presowing method. ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by chemical route and were characterized using x-ray diffraction, atomic force, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. ZnO nanoparticles and bulk counterpart are applied to the peanuts by presowing method in two concentrations of 500 ppm and 4000 ppm. Fourier transform infrared spectra exhibit variation in most prominent peaks ∼2923, ∼1636, ∼1033 cm−1 due to ZnO stress in both nano and bulk form, which was supported from the calculated mean ratio of the peak intensities for various frequency region and total band area calculation for various band region. The infrared spectra were further processed by de-convolution and curve fitting analysis to examine the variation in secondary structure protein of leaf samples stressed with ZnO bulk and nanoparticles. Multivariate analyses shows the successive factors account for decreasing amounts of residual variance using two factors for the wave numbers 1633, 1648, 1656, 1666, 1673 and 1684 cm−1 assigned to protein secondary structure of leaf samples.

Effect of bulk and nano-Fe2O3 particles on peanut plant leaves studied by Fourier transform infrared spectral studies

The interaction of metal oxide nanoparticles with plants has not been extensively studied. An attempt has been made to examine the potential variation in peanut plant leaves due to the application of Fe2O3 nanoparticle by pre-sowing technique and to compare with its bulk counterpart. Fe2O3 nanoparticle was synthesized by chemical route and characterized using X-ray diffraction, atomic force and scanning electron microscopy. The Fe2O3 nanoparticle and its bulk counterpart are applied to the peanut seeds by pre-soaking method at two different concentrations: 500 and 4000ppm. A total of three replicates were chosen for each morphological and physiological measurement (at an average of three plants per replica). The Fourier transform infrared spectral analysis shows the most prominent peaks at 2923 and 1636cm−1, and other peaks vary due to Fe2O3 stress, which was confirmed by the calculated mean ratio of the peak intensities for various frequency regions. All leaf samples show considerable increase in glycoprotein, with 500ppm bulk and 4000ppm nano-Fe2O3 samples exhibiting a maximum increase of 73.86% and 71.45%, respectively. The total amide I and II protein content of leaf sample soaked in 500ppm bulk Fe2O3 suspension decreased to a greater extent compared with other leaf samples. The leaf samples soaked in 500ppm concentration of both bulk and nano-Fe2O3 suspension exhibited lower lipid content with total band area of 76.97±0.832 and 76.31±0.468, respectively. The cumulative percentage of explained variance in secondary structure of protein of all leaf samples is 83.888% in which factor 1 accounts for 51.870% and factor 2 accounts for 32.018% of the total data variance. The principal component (PC) loadings plot for the spectral range 1600–1700cm−1 clearly shows that the PC1 factor might establish the maximum variation of the secondary structure of protein in leaf samples.

Pheromones and body coloration affect mate recognition in the Japanese nine-spotted moth Amata fortunei (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Adults of the Japanese nine-spotted moth, Amata fortunei, are diurnal and have white-spotted black wings and a black-and-yellow striped body pattern. We evaluated whether this species uses sex pheromones and whether visual cues from the female body are used in mate recognition. We introduced extracts of potentially scent-bearing abdominal tips of females to males. Males responded more to the extracts than to dried female specimens, suggesting the presence of sex pheromones in the extracts. Indeed, no males responded to the dried female specimens. To evaluate the importance of visual cues, we conducted the experiments with crude extract and an additional model stimulant. Males responded more to model females with the same number and similar area of yellow bands to the original conspecific females than to those with more bands and greater total band area, suggesting that dissimilarity in band number and area to conspecific females could interrupt male mating behavior. Males of A. fortunei likely find mating partners using olfactory cues over relatively long distances, while using both olfactory and visual cues over short distances. These results suggest that olfactory cues play a major role in mate recognition, whereas visual cues play a supplementary role.

Secretory expression and characterization of a recombinant-deleted variant of human hepatocyte growth factor inPichia pastoris

To study the secretory expression of human hepatocyte growth factor (hdHGF) gene in Pichia pastoris. The full-length gene of human cDNA encoding the deleted variant of hdHGF was cloned by RT-PCR and overlapping-fragment PCR technique using mRNA of human placenta as a template. The cloned hdHGF cDNA was inserted into the Escherichia coli-yeast shuttle vector of pPIC9. The constructed plasmid, pPIC9-hdHGF, was transformed into the GS115 cells of the methylotrophic yeast, P pastoris, using a chemical method. The Mut(+ ) transformants were screened to obtain high-expression strains by the test and analysis of expressed products of shake-flask culture. A secretory form of rhdHGF was made with the aid of the leader peptide sequence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor. The expressed products, which showed a band of molecular mass of about 80 ku, were observed on 15% SDS-PAGE and identified by Western blotting and N-terminal amino acid sequencing. In the high cell density culture of 5 L fermentor by fed-batch culture protocol, the cell biomass was reached at approximately 135 g (DCW)/L. The productivity of secreted total supernant protein concentration attained a high-level expression of more than 8.0 g/L and the ratio of rhdHGF band area was about 12.3% of the total band area scanned by SDS-PAGE analysis, which estimated that the product of rhdHGF was 500-900 mg/L. The P pastoris system represents an attractive tool of generating large quantities of hdHGF for both research and industrial purposes.

Effects of crystallization on the heme-carbon monoxide moiety of bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase carbonyl

Cytochrome c oxidase isolated from bovine heart was crystallized in the fully reduced carbon monoxide (CO)-bound form. To evaluate the structure of the O2 reaction site in crystals and in solution, the bound C-O stretch infrared band in protein crystals was compared with the band for protein solution. In solution, the C-O stretch band could be deconvoluted into two extremely narrow bands, one at 1963.6 cm-1 with delta v1/2 = 3.4 cm-1 of 60% Gaussian/40% Lorentzian character represented 86% of the total band area and the other at 1960.3 cm-1 with delta v1/2 = 3.0 cm-1 of 47% Gaussian/53% Lorentzian character represented 14% of the total band area. The crystals exhibited two deconvoluted C-O infrared bands having very similar band parameters with those in solution. These findings support the presence of two structurally similar conformers in both crystals and solution. Thus crystallization of this enzyme does not affect the structure at the CO-binding site to as great extent as has been noted for myoglobin and hemoglobin carbonyls, indicating that the active (CO- or O2-binding) site of cytochrome c oxidase must be conformationally very stable and highly ordered compared to other hemoproteins such as hemoglobin.

Some considerations on the use of Lα series of transition metals in electron probe microanalysis: The example of zinc minerals

AbstractIt is shown, using measurements on certain zinc minerals, that the Lα emission of transition metals can be affected as follows. First, the band shape is often changed in the range of the satellite emission which implies, for data acquisition, the use of the total band area instead of the measurements at the peak maximum. Second, the physical process of self‐absorption of Lα photons (here, the absorption of Zn Lα in Zn) depends on the nature of the specimen (metal, semiconductor, insulator), In EPMA, the corresponding theoretical parameter, which is the mass self‐absorption coefficient, may be then changed between an unknown and standard, despite the assumption of constancy in matrix‐effect correction models. Both phenomena are correlated because of their strong dependence on the electronic structure of the M5 level, which can be modified in poor conducting materials by the presence of holes. The choice of suitable standards is then crucial in order to perform accurate k‐ratio measurements.

An infrared study of sulfated zirconia

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and vacuum microbalance methods have been used to study the sulfation of zirconium oxide. Sulfation could be carried out by oxidizing either H 2S or SO 2 in excess O 2 at 450°C and the infrared spectrum showed an intense three component band near 1375 cm −1 accompanied by a complex profile having at least six components between 1100 and 800 cm −1. Two surface sulfate species were formed after oxidation of between 10 and about 250 μmol g −1, and although the extent of formation of each was dependent on the quantity oxidized, the total band area between 1400–1350 cm −1 was a linear function of the quantity of H 2S or SO 2 introduced into the infrared cell. Both species contain a single S=O oscillator and their structures are possibly of the type (ZrO) 3S=O resident on different crystal faces of ZrO 2. A third species is formed at higher coverages and its suggested structure is a S 2O 7 type species in which four of the oxygen atoms are bonded to surface Zr atoms, there being one SOS bridge and two uncoupled S=O oscillators. All three sulfate species have similar thermal stabilities (decomposition between 600 and 800°C) and are reduced at the same rate in hydrogen (the IR bands disappear rapidly between 450 and 475°C). Finally, sulfation could also be carried out via impregnation of ZrO 2 with H 2SO 4, (NH 4) 2SO 4 or Zr(S0 4) 2 followed by heating under vacuum at 450°C.

Infrared spectral absorption intensities in the ν 3 and ν 4 regions of SF 6

Band intensity measurements in the regions of the two infrared-active ν 3 and ν 4 fundamental modes of SF 6 have been made. For the first time, the results were deduced from total band area measurements in pure gas. An analysis of hot bands, combination bands and isotopic transitions present in the regions of adsorption is given. The intensity values are compared with the literature data obtained by different methods.