A novel approach to correlation reflectometry

The use of microwave synthesized sources improved significantly the performance of correlation reflectometry diagnostics for fusion plasmas providing broadband operation with high quality signals and fast frequency switching times. Recent new developments of those sources made at IPFN opened an all-new way to build correlation reflectometry diagnostics with improved performance and measuring capability. Some of the key features now attainable are independent probing and local oscillator signals generated by separated frequency synthesizers; very good frequency control and synchronization of both the local and the radio-frequency oscillators providing very high stability. The technological advances make it possible to further reduce the switching time between adjacent probing frequencies while keeping the ability to operate in a broad frequency range.Here we present a multichannel correlation system based on those novel technologies using several independent and self-contained fully synthesized broadband channels. With this type of system various type of measurements are possible: (i) fast stepwise radial scans to extract the radial profile of turbulence parameters (spectra, RMS, rotation from Doppler shift, etc.); (ii) radial scans of the plasma using two identical systems in parallel where one system operates in frequency steps and the other makes multiple small steps around each selected frequency of the first system. The proposed diagnostic is very powerful and versatile. With a system having n identical channels, all transmitting and receiving simultaneously, the number of simultaneous correlations measurements that can be performed is given by n × (n ? 1)/2. The minimal configuration uses two channels thus providing one (time domain) correlation signal channels can be easily added at any time increasing the measuring capability of the diagnostic. Several examples are given that illustrate the wide range of measurements that can be made using the novel approach for correlation reflectometry diagnostics.     

Adhesion, spreading and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured on micropatterned amorphous diamond, titanium, tantalum and chromium coatings on silicon

It was hypothesized that human mesenchymal stromal cell (hMSC) can be guided by patterned and plain amorphous diamond (AD), titanium (Ti), tantalum (Ta) and chromium (Cr) coatings, produced on silicon wafer using physical vapour deposition and photolithography. At 7.5 h hMSCs density was 3.0–3.5× higher (P < 0.0003, except Ti) and cells were smaller (68 vs. 102 μm, P 0.000006–0.02) on patterns than on silicon background. HMSC-covered surface of the background silicon was lower on Ti than AD patterns (P = 0.015), but at 5 days this had reversed (P = 0.006). At 7.5 h focal vinculin adhesions and actin cytoskeleton were outgoing from pattern edges so cells assumed geometric square shapes. Patterns allowed induced osteogenesis, but less effectively than plain surfaces, except for AD, which could be used to avoid osseointegration. All these biomaterial patterns exert direct early, intermediate and late guidance on hMSCs and osteogenic differentiation, but indirect interactions exist with cells on silicon background.     

Colours in La Boca: Patrimonial identity in the Urban landscape

This article explores the chromatic reconstruction of La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina and seeks to protect its patrimonial heritage. This article is organized into three parts: an Introduction, a section entitled Searching for Colours, and a Conclusion. The Introduction explains the historical factors contributing to the large‐scale Italian immigration that settled in La Boca neighborhood as well as their influence in shaping the character and landscape of the area. This section also comments on the emergence of the zone's brightly coloured homes, which have become a trademark of the neighborhood. The second section, Searching for Colours, details the composition of the paints made and used by La Boca residents, in addition to the field research, the method of analysis and the results of the study. The Conclusion highlights the importance of preserving areas of significant historical and patrimonial heritage such as La Boca, an ever more timely challenge in an increasingly globalized world. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 36, 222–228, 2011;     

Capacitance properties of electrochemically deposited polyazulene films

Polyazulene films formed by electrochemical oxidation of azulene have been studied as active components in electrochemical capacitors. The film shows reversible electrochemical behavior in the positive potential range and exhibits p-doping properties. The influence of film formation conditions on the films electrochemical properties has been investigated. A strong effect of solvent on the polyazulene deposition has been observed. The highest yield of film deposition was found for dichloromethane. Polyazulene films also exhibit stable voltammetric properties in aprotic solvents. The voltammetric response of the film is affected by the size of the anion of the supporting electrolyte. In solutions containing tetra(alkyl)ammonium perchlorates, tetrafluoroborates or hexafluorophosphates, reversible oxidation of polyazulene is obtained. In the presence of large tetra(phenyl)borate anions, polyazulene is irreversibly oxidized upon electrochemical oxidation. The capacitance properties of these materials have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The polyazulene film displays a relatively high specific capacitance close to 400 F g⁻¹. Such high value of C_s locates this material among very good polymeric redox pseudo-capacitors.     

Evolution of available lysine and furosine contents in milk‐based infant formulas throughout the shelf‐life storage period

The evolution of the Maillard reaction (MR) by measuring the available lysine and furosine (FUR) contents in adapted and follow‐up powdered milk‐based infant formulas over the shelf‐life storage period, at 20 and 37 °C, was studied. Available lysine and FUR contents were determined by fluorimetry and high‐performance liquid chromatography respectively. Statistically significant differences were found between adapted and follow‐up infant formulas with respect to the available lysine and FUR contents. Available lysine contents decreased significantly throughout the storage time, and the contents at 37 °C were lower than at 20 °C. A statistically significant increase in FUR contents was observed during the storage period, with the contents being high at 37 °C than at 20 °C. A simple regression analysis between the available lysine and FUR contents during (a) the first year (b) the second year and (c) the two storage years was applied. The best correlations were obtained during the first year of storage. The results obtained show a clear MR evolution during the storage of infant formulas. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Multi-Gbit/s 60 GHz Transceiver Analysis Using FDM Architecture and Six-Port Circuit

This paper presents an analysis and validation by advanced system simulation of compact and low-cost six-port transceivers for future wireless local area networks （WLANs） operating at millimeter-wave frequencies. To obtain realistic simulation results, a six-port model based on the measurement results of a fabricated V-band hybrid coupler, the core component, is used. A frequency-division multiplexing scheme is used by introducing four quadrature phase-shift keying （QPSK） channels in the wireless communication link. The data rate achieved is about 4 Gbit/s. The operating frequency is in the 60-64 GHz unlicensed band. Bit error rate （BER） results are presented, and a comparison is made between single-carrier and multicarrier architectures. The proposed wireless system can be considered an efficient candidate for millimeter-wave communication systems operating at quasi-optical data rates.     

Microwave-assisted photochemical reactor for the online oxidative decomposition and determination of p-hydroxymercurybenzoate and its thiolic complexes by cold vapor generation atomic fluorescence detection

We developed a photochemical method for the online oxidation of p-hydroxymercurybenzoate (PHMB), an organic mercury species widely used for mercaptan and thiolic compound labeling. The method is based on a fully integrated online UV/microwave (MW) photochemical reactor for the digestion of PHMB, followed by cold vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVG-AFS) detection. The MW/UV process led to the quantitative conversion of PHMB and thiol-PHMB complexes to Hg(II), with a yield between 91% and 98%, without using chemical oxidizing reagents and avoiding the use of toxic carcinogenic compounds. This reaction was followed by the reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0), performed in a knitted reaction coil with NaBH(4) solution, and AFS detection in an Ar/H(2) miniaturized flame. The low MW power applied (18 W) allowed us to keep constant the temperature of the photochemical reactor (21 ± 1 °C), using a flowing water bath. This avoided peak widening due to diffusion processes generally occurring at high temperatures and in the additional cooling coil. This method has been applied to the determination of thiols in human plasma, blood, and wine.     

Pooled versus separate measurements of tree-ring stable isotopes

δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O of tree rings contain time integrated information about the environmental conditions weighted by seasonal growth dynamics and are well established as sources of palaeoclimatic and ecophysiological data. Annually resolved isotope chronologies are frequently produced by pooling dated growth rings from several trees prior to the isotopic analyses. This procedure has the advantage of saving time and resources, but precludes from defining the isotopic error or statistical uncertainty related to the inter-tree variability. Up to now only a few studies have compared isotope series from pooled tree rings with isotopic measurements from individual trees. We tested whether or not the δ¹³C and the δ¹⁸O chronologies derived from pooled and from individual tree rings display significant differences at two locations from the Iberian Peninsula to assess advantages and constraints of both methodologies. The comparisons along the period 1900-2003 reveal a good agreement between pooled chronologies and the two mean master series which were created by averaging raw individual values (Mean) or by generating a mass calibrated mean (MassC). In most of the cases, pooled chronologies show high synchronicity with averaged individual samples at interannual scale but some differences also show up especially when comparing δ¹⁸O decadal to multi-decadal variations. Moreover, differences in the first order autocorrelation among individuals may be obscured by pooling strategies. The lack of replication of pooled chronologies prevents detection of a bias due to a higher mass contribution of one sample but uncertainties associated with the analytical process itself, as sample inhomogeneity, seems to account for the observed differences.     

Transglutaminase effects on gelation capacity of thermally induced beef protein gels

Transglutaminase (TG) is an enzyme that catalyzes an acyl-transfer reaction between the γ-carboxyamide group of peptide or protein-bound glutaminyl residues, and primary amines. TG action on protein molecules, causes a cross-linking and polymerizing effect of these latter, through ε-(γ-glutamyl)lysine bonds. This TG-mediated protein cross-linking creates drastic physical changes in protein-rich foods.