On the use of 2-D coding techniques for ECG signals.

This paper discusses the convenience of using two-dimensional (2-D) coding techniques for the compression of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. These signals present a very clear periodicity that can be exploited by the use of a 2-D time/frequency transform to decorrelate it as much as possible. A brief theoretical approach is given to justify the use of this technique, and a comparison is made between a 2-D and a one-dimensional (1-D) uniform quantization scenarios. The influence of the error as well as the frame size on the estimation of the fundamental period is studied.     

The impacts of a GTL plant on Brazil's oil products supply and refinery expansion

This paper assesses the impacts of a GTL plant on the expansion of Brazil's oil refining segment. The GTL plant (50,000 bpd) was sized to start up operations in 2015, producing diesel and naphtha through the indirect route (FT-synthesis). This plant will consume the non-associated natural gas production from the recent discoveries at the Santos Basin (around 419 Bm³), and the associated gas production from the Campos Basin. Both basins are located in the Southeast of Brazil, the most populated, rich and industrialized region of the country. Two different criteria for refinery expansion were simulated in order to meet oil product demand scenarios. Findings show that depending on the refinery expansion criteria considered GTL will play a fundamental hole to meet the oil product demand forecast to Brazil in the next 10 years.     

Infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopic studies of silica, [(Cp)2ZrCl2] and trimethylaluminum interactions

Infrared and UV–vis studies of metallocene immobilization on silica are reported here. The results have indicated changes in the Zr coordination sphere of metallocene depending on the immobilization route used. The reaction of [(Cp)₂ZrCl₂] with silica formed [(Cp)₂ZrCl]⁺[SiO]⁻ species. The same metallocene, reacting with TMA modified silica, formed monomethylated and dimethylated species by the substitution of chloro for methyl ligands, stabilized on the surface by interaction with “MAO-like” species (methylaluminoxane, MAO). These monomethylated and dimethylated cationic zirconium species are the active centers for the polymerization reaction. Different order of TMA addition in the silica modification step generated surface species of a similar nature, differing in their relative quantities. The highest amount of these active species was obtained when the support was added to the TMA solution rather than adding the TMA solution to the silica support. This was the most significant parameter affecting catalytic activity in ethylene polymerization.     

Deposition of carbon films by electrolysis of a water-ethylene glycol solution

An attempt was made to deposit carbon films by electrolysis of a water-ethylene glycol solution. Carbon plate and an n-type silicon substrate were dipped in the solution and a high d.c. potential was negatively applied on the silicon substrate. Some deposits were observed in the region between the boiling point curve and the line approximately 50 °C below and parallel to the boiling point, when electrolysis was carried out at 1 kV for 6 h. For higher potentials of 1.4–2.0 kV and longer electrolysis of 12 h, some samples showed a broad X-ray diffraction peak and Raman peaks, corresponding to graphitic carbon.     

Stabilization of Cubic Zirconia with Manganese Oxide

A directionally solidified eutectic (DSE) of MnO-ZrO₂ has been investigated using a variety of electron optical techniques. It is found that considerable MnO goes into ZrO₂ to form a substitutional solid solution. About 14 wt% of MnO is soluble in ZrO₂ close to the eutectic temperature. The solubility of ZrO₂ in MnO, however, is quite low, less than 0.50 wt%. Electron diffraction experiments indicate that ZrO₂ (MnO) has the cubic fluorite structure. Diffuse scattering, similar to other cubic zirconias (e.g., CaO, MgO stabilized zirconia), is also observed in manganese-stabilized zirconia. Diffuse scattering indicates the presence of oxygen vacancies and thus confirms the defect nature of the fluorite structure. Electron energy loss spectrometry (EELS) fine structure analysis of the Mn L₂₃ edge provided clear evidence that Mn is present as Mn²⁺ in Mn-stabilized cubic ZrO₂.     

Model for the potential barrier depth along the grain boundaries of an ultrathin tin dioxide gas sensor

A potential barrier model along the grain boundaries in ultrathin tin dioxide (SnO₂) gas sensors is presented. It is assumed that the negatively charged oxygens are adsorbed only on the grain boundaries. The potential barrier depth is expressed as functions of grain size, donor concentration and surface coverage of adsorbed oxygen ions at the boundaries. A direct consequence is that the conduction electrons are effectively confined in a grain when the film thickness becomes smaller than a critical value. This indicates a drastic increase in resistivity with decreasing film thickness in air, and thus an occurrence of an extremely high gas sensitivity.