Optical Diagnostics for Solid Rocket Plumes Characterization: A Review

In recent decades, solid fuel combustion propulsion of spacecraft has become one of the most popular choices for rocket propulsion systems. The reasons for this success are a wide range of applications, lower production costs, simplicity, and safety. The rocket’s plumes leave the nozzle at high temperatures; hence, the knowledge of produced infrared (IR) emissions is a crucial aspect during the design and tests of the rocket motors. Furthermore, rocket plume composition is given by N2, H2, H2O, CO and CO2, while solid rocket motors (SRM) additionally inject some solid particles, given by metal fuel additives in the propellant grain, i.e., aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particles. The main issue is the detection of the particles remaining in the atmosphere due to the exhaust gas of the solid rocket propulsion system that could have effects on ozone depletion. The experimental characterization of SRM plumes in the presence of alumina particles can be conducted using different optical techniques. The present study aims to review the most promising ones with a description of the optics system and their potential applications for SRM plume measurements. The most common measurement techniques are infrared spectroscopy imaging, IR imaging. UV–VIS measurements, shadowgraph, and Schlieren optical methods. The choice of these techniques among many others is due to the ability to study the plume without influencing the physical conditions existing in and around the study object. This paper presents technical results concerning the study of rocket engines plumes with the above-mentioned methods and reveals the feasibility of the measurement techniques applied

CaO&CaSO4 and CaO&Al2(SO4)3 as Pectin Precipitants–Model of Overlapping Diffuse Layers

This work is concerned with the theoretical basis of novel sugar beet juice purification method using binary systems CaO&CaSO4 and CaO&Al2(SO4)3. The Gouy–Chapman–Stern (GCS) model of overlapping of diffuse layers of EDLs on pectin surface and that on Ca2+ and Al3+ ions, theoretically explains this method. The change of the zeta potential was used to quantitatively indicate overlapping of diffuse layers. For the experiment two model solutions of pectin (0.1 % w/w) were prepared, while the concentrations of CaO&CaSO4 and CaO&Al2(SO4)3 in the range of 50–500 g dm-3 were used. The greater decrease in the absolute value of zeta potential indicated greater overlapping of diffuse layers between pectin particles and Ca2+ and Al3+ ions and faster coagulation of pectin. The overlapping degree increased with increased concentration of these binary systems. Pectin with a greater surface charge and multivalent Al3+ from CaO&Al2(SO4), exerted a greater impact on the zeta potential. Optimal quantities of the applied binary mixtures were as follows: 256–640 mg g-1 pectin. This is much lower than CaO commonly used in the conventional process of sugar beet juice purification (about 9 g g-1 pectin)

Konzervirana morska riba na srpskome tržištu: razine cinka, bakra i željeza i njihov doprinos dnevnom unosu ovih esencijalnih metala

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of Zn, Cu, and Fe in three canned fish species marketed Serbia to see if they meet recommended daily intake requirements or exceed safety limits. We collected a total of 207 samples of canned tuna, sardine, and mackerel, in oil or tomato sauce and analysed them with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after acid digestion. The highest levels were obtained for Zn (15.1 mg kg-1) and Cu (1.37 mg kg-1) in sardine in oil and tomato sauce, respectively, and for Fe (18.98 mg kg-1) in mackerel in tomato sauce. Our results keep within the ranges reported by several national food databases and available literature data, with a few exceptions. Our findings also single out canned sardines as the richest source of the three essential elements combined. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of the three essential elements, however, was subpar, and ranged between 0.14 % and 0.72 % of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Zn, Cu, and Fe.Cilj ovoga rada bio je utvrditi razinu cinka, bakra i željeza u trima vrstama ribljih konzervi sa srpskoga tržišta kako bi se ustanovilo zadovoljavaju li zahtjeve za preporučenim dnevnim unosom, ili pak prekoračuju sigurnosne granice. Sadržaj esencijalnih elemenata utvrđen je u ukupno 207 uzoraka konzerve tune, sardine i skuše primjenom masene spektrometrije s induktivno spregnutom plazmom (ICP-MS) nakon kisele digestije uzoraka. Najveći sadržaj cinka (15,1 mg kg-1) utvrđen je u sardini u ulju, bakra (1,37 mg kg-1) u sardini u umaku od rajčice, a željeza (18,98 mg kg-1) u skuši u umaku od rajčice. Dobiveni rezultati su u opsegu vrijednosti za analizirane elemente koje je objavilo nekoliko nacionalnih baza podataka o hrani, kao i u opsegu dostupnih literaturnih podataka, s nekoliko iznimaka. Rezultati istraživanja izdvajaju sardinu u konzervi kao najbogatiji izvor proučavanih esencijalnih elementa. Procijenjeni dnevni unos (EDI) bio je između 0,14 % i 0,72 % preporučenih dnevnih unosa cinka, bakra i željeza. Iako sardina u konzervi, u odnosu na tunu i skušu, doprinosi oko 1,5 puta više preporučenom dnevnom unosu (RDI) esencijalnih elemenata, konzervirana morska riba ne može se smatrati značajnim izvorom cinka, bakra i željeza u prehrani srpskoga stanovništva

Automated terrestrial laser scanning with near-real-time change detection – monitoring of the Séchilienne landslide

We present an automated terrestrial laser scanning (ATLS) system with automatic near-real-time change detection processing. The ATLS system was tested on the Séchilienne landslide in France for a 6-week period with data collected at 30min intervals. The purpose of developing the system was to fill the gap of high-temporal-resolution TLS monitoring studies of earth surface processes and to offer a cost-effective, light, portable alternative to ground-based interferometric synthetic aperture radar (GB-InSAR) deformation monitoring. During the study, we detected the flux of talus, displacement of the landslide and pre-failure deformation of discrete rockfall events. Additionally, we found the ATLS system to be an effective tool in monitoring landslide and rockfall processes despite missing points due to poor atmospheric conditions or rainfall. Furthermore, such a system has the potential to help us better understand a wide variety of slope processes at high levels of temporal detail

Application of Peleg Model on Mass Transfer Kinetics During Osmotic Dehydratation of Pear Cubes in Sucrose Solution

The applicability of Peleg model was investigated for predicting mass transfer kinetics during the osmotic dehydration (OD) process of pears, at different concentrations (40, 60 and 70%, w/w) and temperatures (20, 35 and 50 degrees C) of sucrose solution. Increase in sucrose solution concentration resulted in higher water loss (WL) and solid gain (SG) values through the osmotic treatment period. After 360 min of osmotic treatment of pears, WL ranged from 23.71 to 31.68% at 20 degrees C, from 24.80 to 40.38% at 35 degrees C and from 33.30 to 52.07% at 50 degrees C of initial weight of pears. The increase of dry mass of the samples, SG, after 360 min of osmotic treatment ranged from 3.02 to 6.68% at 20 degrees C, from 4.15 to 7.71% at 35 degrees C and from 5.00 to 8.92% at 50 degrees C. Pelegs rate constants, k(1)(WL) and k(1)(SG), decreased with increasing temperature, as well as decreased with increasing concentration of osmotic solution at constant temperature. Both capacity constants k(2)(WL) and k(2)(SG) also exhibited the inverse relationship between capacity constant and temperature, as well as concentration of the osmotic solution. Pelegs rate constants for WL and SG at all temperatures followed an Arrhenius type relationship. The predicted equilibrium values were very close to experimental ones, which was confirmed with high coefficients of determination and by the residual analysis

High potency silencing by single-stranded boranophosphate siRNA

In RNA interference (RNAi), double-stranded short interfering RNA (ds-siRNA) inhibits expression from complementary mRNAs. Recently, it was demonstrated that short, single-stranded antisense RNA (ss-siRNA) can also induce RNAi. While ss-siRNA may offer several advantages in both clinical and research applications, its overall poor activity compared with ds-siRNA has prevented its widespread use. In contrast to the poor gene silencing activity of native ss-siRNA, we found that the silencing activity of boranophosphate-modified ss-siRNA is comparable with that of unmodified ds-siRNA. Boranophosphate ss-siRNA has excellent maximum silencing activity and is highly effective at low concentrations. The silencing activity of boranophosphate ss-siRNA is also durable, with significant silencing up to 1 week after transfection. Thus, we have demonstrated that boranophosphate-modified ss-siRNA can silence gene expression as well as native ds-siRNA, suggesting that boranophosphate-modified ss-siRNAs should be investigated as a potential new class of therapeutic agents

The influence of obesity on survival in early, high-risk breast cancer: results from the randomized SUCCESS A trial

Introduction: Obese breast cancer patients have worse prognosis than normal weight patients, but the level at which obesity is prognostically unfavorable is unclear. Methods: This retrospective analysis was performed using data from the SUCCESS A trial, in which 3754 patients with high-risk early breast cancer were randomized to anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy with or without gemcitabine. Patients were classified as underweight/normal weight (body mass index (BMI) < 25.0), overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9), slightly obese (BMI 30.0–34.9), moderately obese (BMI 35.0–39.9) and severely obese (BMI ≥ 40.0), and the effect of BMI on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was evaluated (median follow-up 65 months). In addition, subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the effect of BMI in luminal A-like, luminal B-like, HER2 (human epidermal growth factor 2)-positive and triple-negative tumors. Results: Multivariate analyses revealed an independent prognostic effect of BMI on DFS (p = 0.001) and OS (p = 0.005). Compared with underweight/normal weight patients, severely obese patients had worse DFS (hazard ratio (HR) 2.70, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.71–4.28, p < 0.001) and OS (HR 2.79, 95 % CI 1.63–4.77, p < 0.001), while moderately obese, slightly obese and overweight patients did not differ from underweight/normal weight patients with regard to DFS or OS. Subgroup analyses showed a similar significant effect of BMI on DFS and OS in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but not in patients with other tumor subtypes. Conclusions: Severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40) significantly worsens prognosis in early breast cancer patients, particularly for triple-negative tumors. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02181101. Registered September 200

Aptamers for pharmaceuticals and their application in environmental analytics

Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotides, which are able to bind with high affinity and specificity to their target. This property is used for a multitude of applications, for instance as molecular recognition elements in biosensors and other assays. Biosensor application of aptamers offers the possibility for fast and easy detection of environmental relevant substances. Pharmaceutical residues, deriving from human or animal medical treatment, are found in surface, ground, and drinking water. At least the whole range of frequently administered drugs can be detected in noticeable concentrations. Biosensors and assays based on aptamers as specific recognition elements are very convenient for this application because aptamer development is possible for toxic targets. Commonly used biological receptors for biosensors like enzymes or antibodies are mostly unavailable for the detection of pharmaceuticals. This review describes the research activities of aptamer and sensor developments for pharmaceutical detection, with focus on environmental applications

Automatic Mapping of Discontinuity Persistence on Rock Masses Using 3D Point Clouds

Finding new ways to quantify discontinuity persistence values in rock masses in an automatic or semi-automatic manner is a considerable challenge, as an alternative to the use of traditional methods based on measuring patches or traces with tapes. Remote sensing techniques potentially provide new ways of analysing visible data from the rock mass. This work presents a methodology for the automatic mapping of discontinuity persistence on rock masses, using 3D point clouds. The method proposed herein starts by clustering points that belong to patches of a given discontinuity. Coplanar clusters are then merged into a single group of points. Persistence is measured in the directions of the dip and strike for each coplanar set of points, resulting in the extraction of the length of the maximum chord and the area of the convex hull. The proposed approach is implemented in a graphic interface with open source software. Three case studies are utilized to illustrate the methodology: (1) small-scale laboratory setup consisting of a regular distribution of cubes with similar dimensions, (2) more complex geometry consisting of a real rock mass surface in an excavated cavern and (3) slope with persistent sub-vertical discontinuities. Results presented good agreement with field measurements, validating the methodology. Complexities and difficulties related to the method (e.g. natural discontinuity waviness) are reported and discussed. An assessment on the applicability of the method to the 3D point cloud is also presented. Utilization of remote sensing data for a more objective characterization of the persistence of planar discontinuities affecting rock masses is highlighted herein