Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron (HOPE) Mass Spectrometer for the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission

The HOPE mass spectrometer of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission (renamed the Van Allen Probes) is designed to measure the in situ plasma ion and electron fluxes over 4π sr at each RBSP spacecraft within the terrestrial radiation belts. The scientific goal is to understand the underlying physical processes that govern the radiation belt structure and dynamics. Spectral measurements for both ions and electrons are acquired over 1 eV to 50 keV in 36 log-spaced steps at an energy resolution ΔE FWHM/E≈15 %. The dominant ion species (H+, He+, and O+) of the magnetosphere are identified using foil-based time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry with channel electron multiplier (CEM) detectors. Angular measurements are derived using five polar pixels coplanar with the spacecraft spin axis, and up to 16 azimuthal bins are acquired for each polar pixel over time as the spacecraft spins. Ion and electron measurements are acquired on alternate spacecraft spins. HOPE incorporates several new methods to minimize and monitor the background induced by penetrating particles in the harsh environment of the radiation belts. The absolute efficiencies of detection are continuously monitored, enabling precise, quantitative measurements of electron and ion fluxes and ion species abundances throughout the mission. We describe the engineering approaches for plasma measurements in the radiation belts and present summaries of HOPE measurement strategy and performance

Influence of Ca/Si ratio on the microstructure and properties of blended cements elaborated with kaolinite based waste

ICCC 2015, Beijing, China, 13~16 October 2015; http://iccc2015.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/1To reduce the environmental impact of cement industries, cementitious materials are added to the manufacture of eco-efficient cements, focusing in industrial wastes. In this paper metakaolinite (MK) based industrial wastes have been mixed with cement in order to study the effect of the chemical composition of the raw material in both microstructural and mechanical properties of the pastes. Frattini test was also determined. The selected metakaolin based industrial wastes were previously activated for two hours at temperatures around 600ºC to transform the inert waste into a cementing material. The industrial wastes materials used were coal mining and paper sludge. The second one was mixed with fly ash (50/50 w/w) in order to evaluate the performance of ternary blended cements. The mixtures were prepared with OPC and both 6 and 20% of activated industrial waste (coal mining and paper sludge + fly ash). Prismatic samples (1x1x6 cm) were prepared with water/cement ratio of 0.5 and cured 28 days. After this time, mineralogical composition of the samples was determined by XRD as well as mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strength, total porosity, etc). Besides, portlandite and ettringite, both monocarboaluminate and C4AH13 have been formed in the samples after 28 days of hydration. It can be observed that C4AH13 decreases as Ca/Si ratio decreases; with the opposite behaviour for the monocarboaluminate. From the mechanical properties, porosity decreases from 1 to 28 days of curing as compressive strength increases.To the Ministry of Economy and Competiveness by the financial support (MAT2012-37005-C03-01-02-03).Peer Reviewe

Anti-giardia activity of hexane extract of Citrus aurantifolia (Christim) swingle and some of its constituents

Background: Giardia lamblia is a parasite that causes giardiasis in humans and other mammals. The common treatment includes different drugs, which were described to produce unpleasant side effects. Citrus aurantifolia, popularly known as “lima”, is a plant used in traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal symptoms. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-Giardia activity of 10 pure compounds obtained from a hexanic extract of Mexican lime on the basis of trophozoite growth inhibition.Materials and Methods: A hexanic extract obtained from fresh fruit peels of Citrus aurantifolia was tested on G. lamblia strain 0989:IMSS trophozoites cultured in TYI-S-33 medium. The concentration of all standard drugs, analyzed by gas chromatography, was adjusted at 10 mg/mL. Metronidazole was used as a positive control. Growth inhibition was determined by counting the number of trophozoites using a Neubauer chamber. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of each drug was calculated by probit analysis and 95% confidence limits were calculated.Results: 4-hexen-3-one, citral and geraniol showed IC50 values of 34.2, 64.5 and 229.49 μg/ml in axenic cultures after 24 hr of incubation, respectively. When these results were compared with a positive control of metronidazole; 4-hexen-3-one was 66 times; citral was 112 and geraniol was 441 times less active respectively. The other tested compounds did not inhibit the growth of cultured G. lamblia trophozoites.Conclusion: The obtained results lead us to propose that these tested compounds from C. aurantifolia have potential for use as therapeutic agents against giardiasis.Keywords: antigiardial ; Citrus aurantifolia; antiprotozoal activity; Giardia lambli

Um estudo da legislação e das métricas do setor elétrico brasileiro para fomentar a digitalização e a descentralização do mercado de energia

CIES2020 - XVII Congresso Ibérico e XIII Congresso Ibero-americano de Energia SolarRESUMO: A energia elétrica gerada de forma distribuída deve ser transacionada de forma segura e eficaz, o que pode ser obtido por meio da aplicação da tecnologia blockchain no setor elétrico. Objetiva-se com este artigo trabalhar com questões legais relacionadas ao setor de comercialização de energia elétrica indicando as necessidades de alterações na legislação e na regulamentação, a fim de possibilitar a aplicação da tecnologia blockchain. Assim como, objetiva-se propor métricas relacionadas à aplicação de blockchain no mercado de comercialização de energia elétrica brasileiro para promover a digitalização e o aprimoramento de seus processos. O estudo fundamenta-se e desenvolve-se por revisão documental do ambiente regulatório brasileiro; e por revisão documental e bibliográfica sobre o mercado de comercialização de energia elétrica. Os resultados são indicações de alterações na legislação e na regulamentação, e métricas de impactos para aplicação da tecnologia blockchain no mercado de comercialização de energia elétrica brasileiro.ABSTRACT: The electric energy generated in a distributed manner must be transacted safely and effectively. It can be obtained through the application of blockchain technology in the electric sector. The aim of this article is to work with legal issues related to the electric energy trading sector. It will be possible indicating the necessity for changes in legislation and regulation to enable the application of blockchain technology in this sector. As well, it aims to propose metrics related to the application of blockchain in the Brazilian electric energy trading market for the purpose of promote the digitization and improvement of its processes. This study is based and developed by documentary review of the Brazilian regulatory environment; and by documentary and bibliographic review about the electric energy commercialization market. The results are indications of changes in legislation and regulations, and metrics of impacts for the application of blockchain technology in the Brazilian electric energy commercialization market.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efecto de la adición de lodos de papel activados térmicamente en las propiedades mecánicas y de porosidad de pastas de cemento

The present article discusses the effect of paper sludge additions, calcined at 700 ºC for two hours, on cement paste pore structure and mechanical strength. Both total and capillary porosity were observed to depend on the percentage of calcined sludge added to the cementitious matrix. While a 10% addition induced values for both slightly higher than the control, adding 20% prompted the opposite result, reducing porosity values with respect to the control. Substantial refinement was observed, with a rise in pores smaller than 0.01 μm (gel pores) when the calcined sludge was added. Such refinement was greater at the higher percentage of sludge. After approximately 15 days, strength was lower in both the additioned pastes compared to the control. A high correlation (R2≥0.939) was found between total porosity and compressive strength for both percentages studied.El presente trabajo muestra el resultado de una investigación llevada a cabo en pastas de cemento que contienen un 10 y un 20% de lodo de papel calcinado a 700 ºC, durante 2h. Se estudia cómo afecta esta adición activa en la estructura porosa y las resistencias mecánicas. Se demuestra que tanto la porosidad total como la capilar dependen del porcentaje de lodo calcinado añadido a la matriz cementante. Así, un 10% de adición muestra para ambas porosidades valores ligeramente superiores al de la pasta de referencia, sin embargo la incorporación de un 20% produce un resultado contrario, disminuyendo ambas porosidades con respecto a la pasta control. Para el caso de poros de tamaño inferior a 0,01 μm (poros de gel) se detecta un importante proceso de refinamiento con la incorporación del lodo calcinado, este refinamiento es tanto mayor cuanto mayor es el porcentaje añadido. En cuanto a los valores de resistencia, para los dos porcentajes de adición se produce una disminución a partir de aproximadamente 15 días, respecto a la pasta patrón. Se muestra una buena correlación entre la porosidad total y la resistencia a compresión para ambas adiciones (R2≥0,939)

Solution-based synthesis of kesterite thin film semiconductors

Large-scale deployment of photovoltaic modules is required to power our renewable energy future. Kesterite, Cu2ZnSn(S, Se)4, is a p-type semiconductor absorber layer with a tunable bandgap consisting of earth abundant elements, and is seen as a potential 'drop-in' replacement to Cu(In,Ga)Se2 in thin film solar cells. Currently, the record light-to-electrical power conversion efficiency (PCE) of kesterite-based devices is 12.6%, for which the absorber layer has been solution-processed. This efficiency must be increased if kesterite technology is to help power the future. Therefore two questions arise: what is the best way to synthesize the film? And how to improve the device efficiency? Here, we focus on the first question from a solution-based synthesis perspective. The main strategy is to mix all the elements together initially and coat them on a surface, followed by annealing in a reactive chalcogen atmosphere to react, grow grains and sinter the film. The main difference between the methods presented here is how easily the solvent, ligands, and anions are removed. Impurities impair the ability to achieve high performance (>∼10% PCE) in kesterite devices. Hydrazine routes offer the least impurities, but have environmental and safety concerns associated with hydrazine. Aprotic and protic based molecular inks are environmentally friendlier and less toxic, but they require the removal of organic and halogen species associated with the solvent and precursors, which is challenging but possible. Nanoparticle routes consisting of kesterite (or binary chalcogenides) particles require the removal of stabilizing ligands from their surfaces. Electrodeposited layers contain few impurities but are sometimes difficult to make compositionally uniform over large areas, and for metal deposited layers, they have to go through several solid-state reaction steps to form kesterite. Hence, each method has distinct advantages and disadvantages. We review the state-of-the art of each and provide perspective on the different strategies.Fil: Todorov, I. T.. IBM Research. Thomas J. Watson Research Center; Estados UnidosFil: Hillhouse, H. W.. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Aazou, S.. Mohammed V University; MarruecosFil: Sekkat, Z.. Mohammed V University; MarruecosFil: Vigil Galán, O.. National Polytechnic Institute; MéxicoFil: Deshmukh, S. D.. Purdue University; Estados UnidosFil: Agrawal, R.. Purdue University; Estados UnidosFil: Bourdais, S.. No especifíca;Fil: Valdes, Matias Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Arnou, P.. University Of Luxembourg; LuxemburgoFil: Mitzi, D.B.. University of Duke; Estados UnidosFil: Dale, P.. University Of Luxembourg; Luxemburg

D-cycloserine augmentation of exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data

Importance: Whether and under which conditions D-cycloserine (DCS) augments the effects of exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders is unclear. Objective: To clarify whether DCS is superior to placebo in augmenting the effects of cognitive behavior therapy for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and posttraumatic stress disorders and to evaluate whether antidepressants interact with DCS and the effect of potential moderating variables. Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, and PsycINFO were searched from inception to February 10, 2016. Reference lists of previous reviews and meta-analyses and reports of randomized clinical trials were also checked. Study Selection: Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were (1) double-blind randomized clinical trials of DCS as an augmentation strategy for exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy and (2) conducted in humans diagnosed as having specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Raw data were obtained from the authors and quality controlled. Data were ranked to ensure a consistent metric across studies (score range, 0-100). We used a 3-level multilevel model nesting repeated measures of outcomes within participants, who were nested within studies. Results: Individual participant data were obtained for 21 of 22 eligible trials, representing 1047 of 1073 eligible participants. When controlling for antidepressant use, participants receiving DCS showed greater improvement from pretreatment to posttreatment (mean difference, -3.62; 95% CI, -0.81 to -6.43; P = .01; d = -0.25) but not from pretreatment to midtreatment (mean difference, -1.66; 95% CI, -4.92 to 1.60; P = .32; d = -0.14) or from pretreatment to follow-up (mean difference, -2.98, 95% CI, -5.99 to 0.03; P = .05; d = -0.19). Additional analyses showed that participants assigned to DCS were associated with lower symptom severity than those assigned to placebo at posttreatment and at follow-up. Antidepressants did not moderate the effects of DCS. None of the prespecified patient-level or study-level moderators was associated with outcomes. Conclusions and Relevance: D-cycloserine is associated with a small augmentation effect on exposure-based therapy. This effect is not moderated by the concurrent use of antidepressants. Further research is needed to identify patient and/or therapy characteristics associated with DCS response.2018-05-0

The regulatory subunit of PKA-I remains partially structured and undergoes β-aggregation upon thermal denaturation

Background: The regulatory subunit (R) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is a modular flexible protein that responds with large conformational changes to the binding of the effector cAMP. Considering its highly dynamic nature, the protein is rather stable. We studied the thermal denaturation of full-length RIα and a truncated RIα(92-381) that contains the tandem cyclic nucleotide binding (CNB) domains A and B. Methodology/Principal Findings: As revealed by circular dichroism (CD) and differential scanning calorimetry, both RIα proteins contain significant residual structure in the heat-denatured state. As evidenced by CD, the predominantly α-helical spectrum at 25°C with double negative peaks at 209 and 222 nm changes to a spectrum with a single negative peak at 212-216 nm, characteristic of β-structure. A similar α→β transition occurs at higher temperature in the presence of cAMP. Thioflavin T fluorescence and atomic force microscopy studies support the notion that the structural transition is associated with cross-β-intermolecular aggregation and formation of non-fibrillar oligomers. Conclusions/Significance: Thermal denaturation of RIα leads to partial loss of native packing with exposure of aggregation-prone motifs, such as the B' helices in the phosphate-binding cassettes of both CNB domains. The topology of the β-sandwiches in these domains favors inter-molecular β-aggregation, which is suppressed in the ligand-bound states of RIα under physiological conditions. Moreover, our results reveal that the CNB domains persist as structural cores through heat-denaturation. © 2011 Dao et al

Small Worlds and Semantic Network Growth in Typical and Late Talkers

Network analysis has demonstrated that systems ranging from social networks to electric power grids often involve a small world structure-with local clustering but global ac cess. Critically, small world structure has also been shown to characterize adult human semantic networks. Moreover, the connectivity pattern of these mature networks is consistent with lexical growth processes in which children add new words to their vocabulary based on the structure of the language-learning environment. However, thus far, there is no direct evidence that a child's individual semantic network structure is associated with their early language learning. Here we show that, while typically developing children's early networks show small world structure as early as 15 months and with as few as 55 words, children with language delay (late talkers) have this structure to a smaller degree. This implicates a maladaptive bias in word acquisition for late talkers, potentially indicating a preference for “oddball” words. The findings provide the first evidence of a link between small-world connectivity and lexical development in individual children