Plasma Formation and Its Parameters Used in Calibration-Free Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

A rapidly developing technique over the last two years is laser induced break-down spectroscopy (LIBS), also known as laser-induced plasma spectroscopy (LIPS), a non-destructive spectroscopy technique that is mostly used for the analytical study of samples. With this technique, multiple elemental composition of elements are analyzed simultaneously without considering the form of sample that may be solid, liquid, or gas. Moreover, economically it is a very beneficial and valuable technique because no sample preparation is required, and sample consumption is very small. This technique is powerful enough that it can bore a microscopic crater usually in the solid samples to target. This technique has great sensitivity to find the resolution down to a single grain. It has a variety of applications in the field of science such as archeology, soils, environmental protection, and so on.

Aristotle, Eleaticism, and Zeno’s Grains of Millet

This paper explores how Aristotle rejects some Eleatic tenets in general and some of Zeno’s views in particular that apparently threaten the Aristotelian “science of nature.” According to Zeno, it is impossible for a thing to traverse what is infinite or to come in contact with infinite things in a finite time. Aristotle takes the Zenonian view to be wrong by resorting to his distinction between potentiality and actuality and to his theory of mathematical proportions as applied to the motive power and the moved object (Ph. VII.5). He states that some minimal parts of certain magnitudes (i.e., continuous quantities) are perceived, but only in potentiality, not in actuality. This being so, Zeno’s view that a single grain of millet makes no sound on falling, but a thousand grains make a sound must be rejected. If Zeno’s paradoxes were true, there would be no motion, but if there is no motion, there is no nature, and hence, there cannot be a science of nature. What Aristotle noted in the millet seed paradox, I hold, is that it apparently casts doubt on his theory of mathematical proportions, i.e., the theory of proportions that holds between the moving power and the object moved, and the extent of the change and the time taken. This approach explains why Aristotle establishes an analogy between the millet seed paradox, on the one hand, and the argument of the stone being worn away by the drop of water (Ph. 253b15–16) and the hauled ship, on the other.

Applicability of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy to Predict Amylose Contents of Single-Grain Maize

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) and reference data were used to determine the amylose contents of single maize seeds to enable rapid, effective selection of individual seeds with desired traits. To predict the amylose contents of a single seed, a total of 1069 (865 as calibration set, 204 as validation set) single seeds representing 120 maize varieties were analyzed using chemical methods and performed calibration and external validation of the 150 single seeds set in parallel. Compared to various spectral pretreatments, the regression of partial least squares (PLS) with mathematical treatment of Harmonization showed the final optimization. The single-seed amylose contents showed the root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 2.899, coefficient of determination for calibration (R2) of 0.902, and root mean square error of validation (RMSEV) of 2.948. In external validations, the coefficient of determination in cross-validation (r2), root mean square error of the prediction (RMSEP) and ratio of the standard deviation to SEP (RPD) were 0.892, 2.975 and 3.086 in the range of 20–30%, respectively. Therefore, NIRS will be helpful to breeders for determining the amylose contents of single-grain maize.

Experimental Studies of Moisture Transport in Grain Material and Individual Grain

The issue of moisture transfer in the total mass of the material and in a single grain is discussed taking into account the biological characteristics of the endosperm cells of the grain. Experimental studies of this process have been performed. The results of the oscillating mode with laying have been analyzed. It was found that during the time of laying, the moisture content of the grain shell increases significantly and the moisture content of the core decreases slightly, and during the implementation of the laying after the heating period, a larger amount of moisture moves from the core into the shell than after the cooling period.

A novel preform compaction method for fabricating high-performance Y–Ba–Cu–O single-grain bulk superconductor

A novel preform compaction method based on one new type of divisible mould was employed for fabricating single-grain YBCO bulk superconductor, which can complete the preform demoulding process through opening of the mould, rather than pushing the preform out in the regular mould. Thus it has natural superiority on eliminating macro-cracks, which has been proved by the sample surface morphology and the trapped field characterization. In addition, the divisible mould pressed sample exhibits higher levitation force and trapped field properties than the regular mould pressed samples, verifying the potentials of the divisible mould on improving the bulk performance. The optical micrograph results prove the superiority of the divisible mould on eliminating tiny cracks on sample surface. The processing facility and sample reliability brought by the divisible mould should also be emphasized, because the crushing and re-pressing of preform when it presents visible cracks can be omitted and the failed samples with surface cracks will no longer appear. Consequently, the experimental efficiency and stability are both enhanced.

Supplemental Material: Deformation between the highly oblique Yakutat–North American plate boundary and the Eastern Denali fault

All peak fitting results from this study and previously published catchments (Table S1) and the single-grain data of the new data (Table S2).

Supplemental Material: Deformation between the highly oblique Yakutat–North American plate boundary and the Eastern Denali fault

All peak fitting results from this study and previously published catchments (Table S1) and the single-grain data of the new data (Table S2).