pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Batch injection analysis with adsorptive stripping voltammetry for the determination of traces of nickel and cobalt

Square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV) in conjunction with the batch injection analysis technique has been investigated at mercury thin-film electrodes, using analysis of nickel and cobalt ions with nioxime ligand as example, and injection of sample volumes of le100muL. Experiments were conducted in a HEPES neutral buffered medium, suitable for analysis of biological fluids. Sensitivity is maximized by continuing the adsorptive accumulation after the end of the injection period, and employing the lowest possible injection rate from the electronic micropipette of 24.5muLs-1. The practical detection limit is 5 nM for nickel and 2 nM for cobalt. Comparison is made with batch injection analysis with anodic stripping voltammetry and the merits of the technique relative to continuous flow-through methods are assessed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elan.114008070
Topological Features of Lax Algebras

Having as starting point Barr's description of topological spaces as lax algebras for the ultrafilter monad, in this paper we present further topological examples of lax algebras – such as quasi-metric spaces, approach spaces and quasi-uniform spaces – and show that, in a suitable setting, the categories of lax algebras have indeed a topological nature. Furthermore, we generalize to this setting known properties of special categories of lax algebras and, extending the construction of Manes, we describe the Cech–Stone compactification of lax algebras.http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:102427431577
Scaling properties of the longitudinal and transversal asymmetries of the nd total cross section

The longitudinal and transversal asymmetries of the total nd cross section are calculated. Four modern nucleon-nucleon interactions: AV18, CD Bonn, NijmI and NijmII, give different predictions for these observables. When the three-nucleon Hamiltonian is supplemented by the 2π-exchange Tucson-Melbourne three-nucleon force (3NF), individually adjusted with each particular NN potential to reproduce the experimental triton binding energy, all predictions practically coincide. We propose to check this scaling behavior experimentally in order to get a clear signal for 3NF effects in the low energy three-nucleon continuum. Connected to that is the proposal to measure the energy at which the longitudinal asymmetry goes through zero. This energy is shifted by about 400 keV when 3NF\u27s are acting
Microscopic origins of the surface exciton photoluminescence peak in ZnO nanostructures

We report photoluminescence (PL) studies of the surface exciton peak in ZnO nanostructures at ∼3.367 eV aimed at elucidation of the nature and origin of the emission and its relationship to the nanostructure morphology. PL spectra in conjunction with localized voltage application in high vacuum and different gas atmospheres show a consistent variation (and recovery), allowing an association of the PL to a bound excitonic transition at the ZnO surface, which is modified by an adsorbate. PL studies of samples treated by plasma and of samples exposed to UV light under high vacuum conditions, both well-known processes for desorption of surface adsorbed oxygen,\ud
show no consistent effects on the surface exciton peak indicating the lack of involvement of oxygen species.\ud
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data strongly suggest involvement of adsorbed OH species. X-ray diffraction,\ud
scanning, and transmission electronmicroscopy data are presented also, and the relationship of the surface exciton\ud
peak to the nanostructure morphology is discussed
Liquid Phase – pulsed laser ablation: a route to fabricate different carbon nanostructures

Carbon nanostructures in various forms and sizes, and with different speciation properties have been prepared from graphite by Liquid Phase – Pulsed Laser Ablation (LP-PLA) using a high frequency Nd:YAG laser. High energy densities and pulse repetition frequencies of up to 10 kHz were used in this ablation process to produce carbon nanomaterials with unique chemical structures. Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), micro-Raman and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) were used to confirm the size distribution, morphology, chemical bonding, and crystallinity of these nanostructures. This article demonstrates how the fabrication process affects measured characteristics of the produced carbon nanomaterials. The obtained particle properties have potential use for various applications including biochemical speciation applications
On the epistemological foundations of the law of the lever

In this paper I challenge Paolo Palmieri’s reading of the Mach-Vailati debate on Archimedes’s proof of the law of the lever. I argue that the actual import of the debate concerns the possible epistemic (as opposed to merely pragmatic) role of mathematical arguments in empirical physics, and that construed in this light Vailati carries the upper hand.\ud
This claim is defended by showing that Archimedes’s proof of the law of the lever is not a way of appealing to a non-empirical source of information, but a way of explicating the mathematical structure that can represent the empirical information at our disposal in the most general way
Effect of concentration on the performance of quantum dot intermediate-band solar cells

Implementation of a high-efficiency quantum dot intermediate-band solar cell (QD-IBSC) must accompany a sufficient photocurrent generation via IB states. The demonstration of a QD-IBSC is presently undergoing two stages. The first is to develop a technology to fabricate high-density QD stacks or a superlattice of low defect density placed within the active region of a p-i-n SC, and the second is to realize half-filled IB states to maximize the photocurrent generation by two-step absorption of sub-bandgap photons. For this, we have investigated the effect of light concentration on the characteristics of QDSCs comprised of multi-layer stacks of self-organized InAs/GaNAs QDs grown with and without impurity doping in molecular beam epitaxy
Electrical Power Fluctuations in a Network of DC/AC inverters in a Large PV Plant: relationship between correlation, distance and time scale

This paper analyzes the correlation between the fluctuations of the electrical power generated\ud
by the ensemble of 70 DC/AC inverters from a 45.6 MW PV plant. The use of real electrical\ud
power time series from a large collection of photovoltaic inverters of a same plant is an impor-\ud
tant contribution in the context of models built upon simplified assumptions to overcome the\ud
absence of such data.\ud
This data set is divided into three different fluctuation categories with a clustering proce-\ud
dure which performs correctly with the clearness index and the wavelet variances. Afterwards,\ud
the time dependent correlation between the electrical power time series of the inverters is esti-\ud
mated with the wavelet transform. The wavelet correlation depends on the distance between\ud
the inverters, the wavelet time scales and the daily fluctuation level. Correlation values for time\ud
scales below one minute are low without dependence on the daily fluctuation level. For time\ud
scales above 20 minutes, positive high correlation values are obtained, and the decay rate with\ud
the distance depends on the daily fluctuation level. At intermediate time scales the correlation\ud
depends strongly on the daily fluctuation level.\ud
The proposed methods have been implemented using free software. Source code is available\ud
as supplementary material
Bringing pervasive embedded networks to the service cloud: a lightweight middleware approach

The emergence of novel pervasive networks that consist of tiny embedded nodes have reduced the gap between real and virtual worlds. This paradigm has opened the Service Cloud to a variety of wireless devices especially those with sensorial and actuating capabilities. Those pervasive networks contribute to build new context-aware applications that interpret the state of the physical world at real-time. However, traditional Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA), which are widely used in the current Internet are unsuitable for such resource-constraint devices since they are too heavy. In this research paper, an internetworking approach is proposed in order to address that important issue. The main part of our proposal is the Knowledge-Aware and Service-Oriented (KASO) Middleware that has been designed for pervasive embedded networks. KASO Middleware implements a diversity of mechanisms, services and protocols which enable developers and business processing designers to deploy, expose, discover, compose, and orchestrate real-world services (i.e. services running on sensor/actuator devices). Moreover, KASO Middleware implements endpoints to offer those services to the Cloud in a REST manner. Our internetworking approach has been validated through a real healthcare telemonitoring system deployed in a sanatorium. The validation tests show that KASO Middleware successfully brings pervasive embedded networks to the Service Cloud
Label free non-invasive imaging of topically applied actives in reconstructed human epidermis by confocal Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy has become a versatile tool for the in vivo charaterisation of skin. Here we describe use of Raman spectroscopy for high resolution optical cross sectioning to resolve skin constituents and administered drugs at the cellular level. Percutaneous penetration is typically studied using permeation cells with biopsies of animals or human skin. Although this technique provides valuable clinical data, little insight is gained in the microstructure of drug penetration (intercellular or transcellular) or in the mode of action of applied vehicles or penetration enhancers. Therefore, a Raman microspectroscopic method was combined with a confocal scanning setup to image the microstructure of commercially available skin models (SkinEthic®) and the spatial distribution of penetrated actives. The models’ microstructure was scanned without any special treatment or environment such as cutting, staining, freezing, or application of vacuum. The non-invasive Raman images reveal the layered structure of stratum corneum. This in particular for lipids while water tends to be more evenly distributed. When penetration of the hydrophilic active glycerol and the lipophilic octyl methoxycinnamate, OMC, was studied, a strong correlation between the local distribution of skin constituents and the hydrophilic/lipophilic character of the active was observed
Comparative analysis of internalisation, haemolytic, cytotoxic and antibacterial effect of membrane-active cationic peptides: aspects of experimental setup

Cationic peptides proved fundamental importance as pharmaceutical agents and/or drug carrier moieties functioning in cellular processes. The comparison of the in vitro activity of these peptides is an experimental challenge and a combination of different methods, such as cytotoxicity, internalisation rate, haemolytic and antibacterial effect, is necessary. At the same time, several issues need to be addressed as the assay conditions have a great influence on the measured biological effects and the experimental setup needs to be optimised. Therefore, critical comparison of results from different assays using representative examples of cell penetrating and antimicrobial peptides was performed and optimal test conditions were suggested. Our main goal was to identify carrier peptides for drug delivery systems of antimicrobial drug candidates. Based on the results of internalisation, haemolytic, cytotoxic and antibacterial activity assays, a classification of cationic peptides is advocated. We found eight promising carrier peptides with good penetration ability of which Penetratin, Tat, Buforin and Dhvar4 peptides showed low adverse haemolytic effect. Penetratin, Transportan, Dhvar4 and the hybrid CM15 peptide had the most potent antibacterial activity on Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC lower than 1.2 μM) and Transportan was effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well. The most selective peptide was the Penetratin, where the effective antimicrobial concentration on pneumococcus was more than 250 times lower than the HC50 value. Therefore, these peptides and their analogues will be further investigated as drug delivery systems for antimicrobial agents
Valorization of CH4 emissions into high-added-value products: Assessing the production of ectoine coupled with CH4 abatement

Producción CientíficaThis study assessed an innovative strategy for the valorization of dilute methane emissions based on the bio-conversion of CH4 (the second most important greenhouse gas (GHG)) into ectoine by the methanotrophic ectoine-producing strain Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20 Z. The influence of CH4 (2–20%), Cu2+ (0.05–50 μM) and NaCl (0–9%) concentration as well as temperature (25–35 °C) on ectoine synthesis and specific CH4 biodegradation rate was evaluated for the first time. Concentrations of 20% CH4 (at 3% NaCl, 0.05 μM Cu2+, 25 °C) and 6% NaCl (at 4% CH4, 0.05 μM Cu2+, 25 °C) supported the maximum intra-cellular ectoine production yield (31.0 ±1.7 and 66.9 ±4.2 mg g biomass−1, respectively). On the other hand, extra-cellular ectoine concentrations of up to 4.7 ± 0.1 mg L−1 were detected at high Cu2+concentrations (50 μM), despite this methanotroph has not been previously classified as an ectoine-excreting strain. This research demonstrated the feasibility of the bio-conversion of dilute emissions of methane into high-added value products in an attempt to develop a sustainable GHG bioeconomy.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Proyect CTM2015-70442-R
Electronic calibration of the ATLAS LAr calorimeter

to appear in Proceedings (NIM A)International audienceThe Liquid Argon (LAr) calorimeter is a key detector component in the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, designed to provide precision measurements of electrons, photons, jets and missing transverse energy. A critical element in the precision measurement is the electronic calibration. In this article, the computation of the energy deposited in a cell is presented as well as the role of the diﬀerent calibration constants, revealing the complex calibration scheme which has been put in place. Since the installation of the LAr calorimeter in the ATLAS cavern, the electronic calibration of the readout system has been continuously exercised in the commissioning phase. The large amount of collected calibration data allows careful studies of the stability of constants, like pedestals and pulse shapes. Thanks to the experience gained during the last two years, a calibration procedure has been put in place for the LHC running period
Technology and Epistemic Possibility

My aim in this paper is to give a philosophical analysis of the relationship between contingently available technology and the knowledge that it makes possible. My concern is with what specific subjects can know in practice, given their particular conditions, especially available technology, rather than what can be known “in principle” by a hypothetical entity like Laplace’s Demon. The argument has two parts. In the first, I’ll construct a novel account of epistemic possibility that incorporates two pragmatic conditions: responsibility and practicability. For example, whether subjects can gain knowledge depends in some circumstances on whether they have the capability of gathering relevant evidence. In turn, the possibility of undertaking such investigative activities depends in part on factors like ethical constraints, economical realities, and available technology. In the second part of the paper, I’ll introduce “technological possibility” to analyze the set of actions made possible by available technology. To help motivate the problem and later test my proposal, I’ll focus on a specific historical case, one of the earliest uses of digital electronic computers in a scientific investigation. I conclude that the epistemic possibility of gaining access to scientific knowledge about certain subjects depends (in some cases) on the technological possibility for making responsible investigations
Facing the future : scanning, synthesizing and sense-making in horizon scanning

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenen (http://www.nationallizenz.ch)In this paper, we discuss key issues in harnessing horizon scanning to shape systemic policies, particularly in the light of the foresight exercise ‘Facing the future: Time for the EU to meet global challenges’ which was carried out for the Bureau of European Policy Advisors. This exercise illustrates how horizon scanning can enable collective sense-making processes which assist in the identification of emerging signals and policy issues; the synthesis of such issues into encompassing clusters; and the interpretation of resulting clusters as an important step towards the coordinated development of joint policy measures. In order to achieve such objectives, horizon scanning can benefit from methods of multi-criteria decision-making and network analysis for prioritizing, clustering and combining issues. Furthermore, these methods provide support for traceability, which in turn contributes to the enhanced transparency and legitimacy of foresight
Boltzmannian Immortality

Plausible assumptions from Cosmology and Statistical Mechanics entail that it is overwhelmingly likely that there will be exact duplicates of us in the distant future long after our deaths. Call such persons “Boltzmann duplicates,” after the great pioneer of Statistical Mechanics. In this paper, I argue that if survival of death is possible at all, then we almost surely will survive our deaths because there almost surely will be Boltzmann duplicates of us in the distant future that stand in appropriate relations to us to guarantee our survival
On the temporal analysis of acoustic waves using schlieren imaging

The primary objective of the present study was to develop a quantitative schlieren-imaging technique that can be used to study the dynamics of instability waves. The technique was initially validated by optically capturing a controlled acoustic wave generated by a compression driver and excellent agreement was obtained with microphone measurements. An underexpanded jet was considered as an ideal test case due to the complexity and multitude of instability mechanism. Further analysis of the underexpanded jet demonstrated that this technique can be used to capture the very high frequency mode related to the phenomenon of screech
Global Non-rigid Alignment of Surface Sequences

This paper presents a general approach based on the shape similarity tree for non-sequential alignment across databases of multiple unstructured mesh sequences from non-rigid surface capture. The optimal shape similarity tree for non-rigid alignment is defined as the minimum spanning tree in shape similarity space. Non-sequential alignment based on the shape similarity tree minimises the total non-rigid deformation required to register all frames in a database into a consistent mesh structure with surfaces in correspondence. This allows alignment across multiple sequences of different motions, reduces drift in sequential alignment and is robust to rapid non-rigid motion. Evaluation is performed on three benchmark databases of 3D mesh sequences with a variety of complex human and cloth motion. Comparison with sequential alignment demonstrates reduced errors due to drift and improved robustness to large non-rigid deformation, together with global alignment across multiple sequences which is not possible with previous sequential approaches. © 2012 The Author(s)
Uniaxial stress and Zeeman spectroscopy of the 3.324 eV Ge-related photoluminescence in ZnO

Recently observed photoluminescence (PL) in ZnO, positioned at 3.324 eV and known to be related to Ge impurities, is investigated here by uniaxial stress and Zeeman spectroscopy measurements. The 3.324 eV PL line shifts but does not split under uniaxial stress both parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis, indicating trigonal defect symmetry. This reinforces the findings of prior work that the defect centre is related to a substitutional Ge impurity in ZnO. Applied magnetic fields result in linear splittings of the line into two components for fields parallel and perpendicular to the c-axis. This result combined with the temperature dependence of the Zeeman spectra enables the line to be assigned to neutral donor bound exciton recombination. Some possible models for the defect are considered
Raman and infrared spectra of dimethyl ether 13C-isotopologue (CH3O13CH3) from a CCSD(T) potential energy surface

So far, no experimental data of the infrared and Raman spectra of 13C isotopologue of dimethyl ether are available. With the aim of providing some clues of its low-lying vibrational bands and with the hope of contributing in a next spectral analysis, a number of vibrational transition frequencies below 300 cm−1 of the infrared spectrum and around 400 cm−1 of the Raman spectrum have been predicted and their assignments were proposed. Calculations were carried out through an ab initio three dimensional potential energy surface based on a previously reported one for the most abundant dimethyl ether isotopologue (M. Villa et al., J. Phys. Chem. A 115 (2011) 13573). The potential function was vibrationally corrected and computed with a highly correlated CCSD(T) method involving the COC bending angle and the two large amplitude CH3 internal rotation degrees of freedom. Also, the Hamiltonian parameters could represent a support for the spectral characterization of this species. Although the computed vibrational term values are expected to be very accurate, an empirical adjustment of the Hamiltonian has been performed with the purpose of anticipating some workable corrections to any possible divergence of the vibrational frequencies. Also, the symmetry breaking derived from the isotopic substitution of 13C in the dimethyl ether was taken into account when the symmetrization procedure was applied
Optically-enhanced performance of polymer solar cells with low concentration of gold nanorods in the anodic buffer layer

In this work, the effect of gold nanorods on the performance of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric-acid-methyl-ester bulk heterojunction solar cells was investigated. Gold nanorods were introduced into the anodic buffer layer by simply blending them with the solution of poly(3,4-ethyl-enedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate). Even with a fairly low density of the nanorods, the resulting devices showed a remarkable 21.3% enhancement in the power conversion efficiency and a 13% enlargement in the short circuit current. By examining the absorbance profiles of active films made with different conditions, such enhancements can be related to the localized transverse and longitudinal plasmon resonance modes in the metallic nanoparticles. Gold nanorods helped as well in reducing the device series resistance by up to 36%, which also contributed to the global enhancement in the efficiency
The millimeter and submillimeter wave spectrum of cis-methyl vinyl ether

Among the species of potential interstellar relevance, methyl vinyl ether (CH3OCH=CH2) is the simplest
ether compound containing both alkyl and alkene functional groups. In order to facilitate its detection in
the ISM, we have measured the millimeter and submillimeter wave spectra from 50 to 650 GHz. We present
the analysis of pure rotational spectrum of the cis-methyl vinyl ether in the vibrational ground state
and in the first excited states of in-plane bending mode (v16) and methyl (v23) and skeletal (v24) torsional
modes. Coriolis and Fermi type interactions between the v24 = 1 and v23 = 1 states have been explicitly
treated using an effective two-state Hamiltonian