A Remote Raman System and Its Applications for Planetary Material Studies.

A remote Raman prototype with a function of excitation energy adjusting for the purpose of obtaining a Raman signal with good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), saving power consumption, and possibly avoiding destroying a target by high energy pulses, which may have applications for Chinese planetary explorations, has been setup and demonstrated for detecting different minerals. The system consists of a spectrograph equipped with a thermoelectrically cooled charge-coupled device (CCD) detector, a telescope with 150 mm diameter and 1500 mm focus length, and a compact 1064 nm Nd:YAG Q-switched laser with an electrical adjusted pulse energy from 0 to 200 mJ/pulse. A KTP crystal was used for second harmonic generation in a 1064 nm laser to generate a 532 nm laser, which is the source of Raman scatting. Different laser pulse energies and integration time were used to obtain distinguishable remote Raman spectra of various samples. Results show that observed remote Raman spectra at a distance of 4 m enable us to identify silicates, carbonates, sulfates, perchlorates, water/water ice, and organics that have been found or may exist on extraterrestrial planets. Detailed Raman spectral assignments of the measured planetary materials and the feasible applications of remote Raman system for planetary explorations are discussed.

Design and development of a stand-off Raman brassboard (SDU-RRS) for the spectroscopic study of planetary materials.

Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a crucial mineral analysis technique in planetary surface exploration missions. Nonetheless, the inherently low Raman scattering efficiency of planetary silicate materials makes it challenging to extract enough Raman information. Theoretical and experimental studies of the remote Raman scattering properties of planetary materials are also urgent requirements for future lunar and planetary explorations. Here, Shandong University Remote Raman Spectrometer (SDU-RRS) was developed to demonstrate the feasibility of lunar remote Raman technology and conduct preliminary research on remote Raman scattering properties. SDU-RRS utilizes a pulsed 532 nm laser, a non-focal Cassegrain telescope, a volume phase holographic grating, an intensified charge-coupled device, and the time-gating technique to detect weak-signal silicate minerals. The spectral resolution obtained with atomic emission lamps was <4.91 cm-1, and the wavelength accuracy was <1 cm-1, across the spectral range of 241-2430 cm-1. SDU-RRS can detect natural augite within a feldspar-olivine-augite matrix at a concentration of 20 % at ∼1 m under ambient lighting conditions. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of measurement conditions and physical matrix effects on acquired Raman signals, either qualitatively or quantitatively, on geological materials. The study indicates that the transmission of Raman-scattered light conforms to Lambert's cosine law, and a linear correlation exists between Raman intensity and laser power. The study also evaluated the impact of grain size, surface roughness, porosity, and shadow-hiding effects. Reducing grain size decreases Raman intensity and broadens Raman spectra. These characteristics are essential for achieving definitive mineralogical information from granular materials by remote Raman spectroscopy in lunar and planetary explorations.

Experimental study and theoretical analysis on fluidized activation of coal gasification fly ash from an industrial CFB gasifier.

The gasification fly ash (GFA), a bulk industrial solid waste from coal gasification process, urgently needs to be effectively disposed. In order to use the GFA as porous carbon materials, fluidized activation experiments of the GFA from an industrial circulating fluidized bed (CFB) gasifier were conducted in a bench-scale CFB test rig, as well as steam activation experiments of GFA in a vertical tube furnace and theoretical analysis on the activation process. Due to the ultrafine particle size, the GFA faces a fluidization problem and auxiliary particles are needed to stabilize its fluidization. In the fluidized activation, the pore structure of GFA particles becomes developed in a seconds-level time (about 1.5 s). The specific surface area (SBET) of activated GFA increases with temperature, maximally increasing by 48.9 % and reaching 204 m2/g. Steam activation experiments show that the GFA has an activation potential of 362 m2/g (SBET) and the pore structure evolution of GFA can be quantified by carbon conversion ratio. Based on this, the fluidized activation of GFA is found in the stage of pore development. By appropriately increasing the carbon conversion ratio (below 40 %), the fluidized activation effect of GFA is expected to be improved. Theoretical analysis indicates for the GFA the features of ultra-fine particle size and well-developed pore structure greatly enhance the diffusion rate of active component into the particles. Under the strong diffusion effect, increasing temperature is a critical means to realize the rapid and effective activation of GFA in a finite time.

Associations between Gene-Gene Interaction and Overweight/Obesity of 12-Month-Old Chinese Infants.

Background: Childhood overweight and obesity (OW/OB) is a worldwide public health problem, and its genetic risks remain unclear. Objectives: To investigate risks of OW/OB associated with genetic variances in SEC16B rs543874 and rs10913469, BDNF rs11030104 and rs6265, NT5C2 rs11191580, PTBP2 rs11165675, ADCY9 rs2531995, FAM120A rs7869969, KCNQ1 rs2237892, and C4orf33 rs2968990 in Chinese infants at 12-month old. Methods: We conducted a case-control study with 734 infants included at delivery and followed up to 12-month old. The classification and regression tree analysis were used to generate the structure of the gene-gene interactions, while the unconditional multivariate logistic regression models were applied to analyze the single SNP, gene-gene interactions, and cumulative effects of the genotypes on OW/OB, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: There were 219 (29.84%) OW/OB infants. Rs543874 G allele and rs11030104 AA genotype increased the risk of OW/OB in 12-month-old infants (P < 0.05). Those carrying both rs11030104 AA genotype and rs10913469 C allele had 4.3 times greater OW/OB than those carrying rs11030104 G allele, rs11191580 C allele, rs11165675 A allele, and rs543874 AA genotype. Meanwhile, the risk of OW/OB increased with the number of the risk genotypes individuals harbored. Conclusions: Rs543874, rs11030104, and rs11191580 were associated with OW/OB in 12-month-old Chinese infants, and the three SNPs together with rs10913469 and rs11165675 had a combined effect on OW/OB.

Influence of Ashing Temperature on Predicting Slagging Characteristics of Xinjiang High-Sodium Low-Rank Coal and Strategy of Using Mineral Additives as Potential Slagging Preventatives.

It is crucial to accurately evaluate the slagging characteristics of coal before industrial application. However, when evaluating the Xinjiang high-sodium low-rank coal (XJc) according to the properties of the ash prepared at 815 °C, the ashing temperature of the coal sample specified by Chinese standards, forecasting failures are frequent. To figure out the internal reason, the influence of ashing temperature on predicting slagging characteristics of XJc was investigated via an ashing test and thermodynamic equilibrium calculation. Experimental results show that when XJc is ashed at 815 °C, the ash yield apparently reduces compared to the case when ashed at 500 °C since numerous volatile components are released. The release of these components contributes to an obvious inhibition in the formation of the liquid phase in the residual ash, especially at temperatures below 1200 °C. Hence, reducing the ashing temperature is conducive to the acquirement of more real ash compositions of XJc and thereby to the accurate prediction of the slagging behaviors. By a comparison with reported experimental results, it is found that the liquid ratio-temperature curve calculated from the ash compositions of the ash prepared at 500 °C basically reflects the actual slagging tendency of XJc. According to the evolution of minerals with temperature, two slagging mechanisms, self-fusion of sodium-bearing salts and low-temperature eutectics, are confirmed. In addition, effects of antislagging measures of adding refractory oxides greatly differ among coal types due to the diversity in ash compositions.