Sol–Gel Processing and Characterization of Pure and Metal-Doped SnO2 Thin Films

A chloride-based inorganic sol–gel route was used for preparing pure and metal (osmium, nickel, palladium, platinum)-doped SnO₂ sol. SnCl₄ was first reacted with propanol, then the resulting compound was hydrolyzed and subsequently mixed with solutions of the metal dopants. The obtained sols were used for depositing thin films by spin coating or for preparing powders by solvent evaporation at 110°C. FTIR spectroscopy and thermal analysis of the powders revealed that chlorine still bound to tin stabilized the sol against gelation by hindering the condensation reactions. Film characterizations showed that platinum and palladium, unlike nickel and osmium, were likely to form nanoparticles in the SnO₂ lattice. This result was discussed with regard to the different ways that platinum and palladium, on one hand, and nickel and osmium, on the other, modified the growth of SnO₂ grains and the film roughness and morphology. Dopants that formed nanoparticles (platinum, palladium) resulted in the roughest film, while dopants that did not form particles (nickel, osmium) resulted in SnO₂ grain size very close to that of pure SnO₂.     

Experimental study on the restart of core-annular flow

We show the results of an experimental campaign to study the pressure drop during the restart of a core-annular flow from a stratified configuration. In normal core annular flow operations, due to fouling or pump failures, a core flow may not be sustained anymore and hence it stratifies. Since the pressure drops connected to the stratified flow regime are much larger than the ones of core annular, the flow suddenly stops. To restart it there are two possibilities: one is to try to provide a higher pressure gradient trying to restore the flow of water and oil, the other is to clean the pipe using water only: in both cases an attachment of a thin layer of oil on the pipe internal wall occurs and the pressure drop for water only or oil–water are higher than the previous ones with clean pipe wall. We focused our attention on the cleaning by water only and we provide experimental data on the evolution of the pressure drop as function of time in order to find when the pipe could be considered as perfectly cleaned or, at least, when the pressure drop are low enough to restart the oil flow. The experimental results are finally compared with a two-fluid model available in literature.     

Carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan: a novel thermosensitive hydrogel forming polysaccharide for drug delivery applications

A carboxymethyl derivative of scleroglucan (Scl-CM) with a derivatization degree of 65 ± 5% was synthesized. The rheological behaviour of this novel polymer was studied and compared with that of the starting polymer. We observed that the charged moieties carried on the chains could prevent the triple helix formation of Scl. Scl-CM aqueous solutions behave like true polymer solutions up to 1% w/v, whereas above this concentration a weak gel behaviour was observed. CaCl₂ addition to aqueous Scl-CM solutions led to a physical gel formation; the hydrogel strength was related to polymer and CaCl₂ concentrations. Temperature sweeps, registered at 1 Hz on hydrogels differing in CaCl₂ concentration, evidenced a gel → sol transition in the range of 30–40°C, depending on the molar ratio between carboxylic groups and Ca⁺². In order to verify a possible use of these hydrogels as drug delivery systems, acyclovir was loaded into the network. Rheological analysis evidenced that the loaded drug can affect the hydrogel elastic modulus. The release of acyclovir in phosphate buffer was evaluated at different temperatures in order to assess the suitability of this novel drug delivery system in topical applications.     

Multilayer coatings on glass for painting protection and optimized color rendering

Optical coatings offer a solution to the problem of damage to paintings, caused by ultraviolet and infrared radiation, by cutting radiation wavelengths outside the visible range. Simultaneously, these coatings can enhance an observer's viewing of the paintings by reducing the reflections from ordinary glass panes. All these functions should be performed by the same coating. The design of such a coating, as well as the evaluation of existing products, requires the definition of an appropriate merit function in which coating absorption, high transparency, and color rendering are combined.     

Reflective grating interferometer: a folded reversal and shearing wave-front interferometer

The reflecting grating interferometer (RGI) is a folded and reversal wave-front interferometer sensitive only to asymmetrical aberrations such as third-order coma. The RGI can isolate and evaluate coma both in nearly collimated and in noncollimated beams. We propose a RGI with a different optical configuration that includes a lateral shearing in addition to folding and reversal operations. With lateral shear, the RGI also becomes sensitive to other terms of third-order aberrations such as defocusing, astigmatism, and spherical aberration. Optical path difference equations for interpreting interferograms and numerical simulations are presented to show how the interferometer works in the shearing configuration. Its potential applications are described and discussed.     

Rational Unification in 28 Characters

We present a case study where Synchronising Graphs, a system of parallel graph transformation, are used to solve the syntactic unification problem for first order rational terms (with possibly infinite unifier). The solution we offer is efficient, that is quasi-linear, and simple: a program of 28 characters.     

Modelling of fluid properties in hydraulic positive displacement machines

This paper presents a numerical model for the simulation of a swash-plate axial piston pump, focusing on the characterization of fluid properties.As it is well known, the reduction of flow oscillations (which generates pressure ripples and produces vibration and noise in the entire circuit) and the avoidance of cavitation are the major problems in the design of these pumps. Developing a simulation code can be very useful for component optimisation in order to predict and reduce the undesired phenomena. The paper first gives a quick overview on a previously developed pump model; afterwards four different models of the fluid are presented: they take into account cavitation in different ways. Their aim at characterizing as well as possible the unsteady and erratic cavitation features in a simplified manner, in order to apply the models to the simulation of hydraulic components.In the second part of the paper an application is shown of these models to an axial piston pump: a few results are presented and compared with available test data. The effects of the fluid models on the predicted pump performance are shown and commented.     

Predictable and unpredictable shock: Behavioral measures of aversion and physiological measures of stress.

Reviews the literature on predictable and unpredictable shock conditions relative to physiological measures of stressfulness and considers the possible role of stress-induced analgesia in both physiological and behavioral effects. Findings suggest that unpredictable conditions are physiologically more stressful than predictable conditions when Ss are exposed to them for one or a few sessions and when parameters of stress are relatively severe. However, predictable conditions may be more stressful than unpredictable conditions when sessions are long and extend over days and when parameters of stress are less severe. The effect of extended stress appears to depend on the physiological measure used. These findings are discussed in terms of the phasic vs chronic nature of predictable vs unpredictable stress and the organism's ability to adapt physiologically to these conditions. Data on stress-induced analgesia are also reviewed. It is concluded that stress-induced analgesia does not significantly contribute to either preference for predictable over unpredictable stress or to their differential physiological effects. (88 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)