Influence of oxides on the stability of zinc foam

The influence of oxides on the stabilisation of zinc foam made by foaming-compacted powder mixtures has been investigated by varying the oxide content in the zinc powder used by oxidation and reduction. Optical, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy as well as energy dispersive X-ray mapping were used to determine the oxide distribution, morphology and structure in the foams. The study revealed that with increase in the oxide content of the foam, the maximum expansion and expansion rate increased. Small amount of nano-sized oxide particles and their cluster, which are randomly distributed, were observed within the bulk of foam. But the major fraction of oxides is observed on the surface of pores in the form of clusters. These clusters are distributed uniformly all over the surface. Effect of these oxides on the stability of foam is discussed. The formation of satellite pores, which is characteristic signature of zinc foams, and their stability, is investigated.     

Is time really important for research into contracting out public services in cities? Evidence for urban water management in Southern Spain

Local governments are responsible for the supply of important public services in cities. On many occasions the management of those services is externalized. There is extensive literature analyzing the explanations for the governance option taken by local governments, aiming to ascertain the reasons why the management of certain services is externalized. Recent research has highlighted the fact that time has not been contemplated by research dealing with explanatory factors in the decision to contract out municipal services. This is a key issue in order to identify the real reason behind policymakers’ decisions about the management of the services in cities. This paper tests the importance of taking into account time in the research into contracting out. This is undertaken by means of two methodological tests in the design of variables from a dataset containing 744 municipalities in Southern Spain. Using this empirical analysis as a basis, it is concluded that considering time contributes towards enhancing the specification of the model and that omitting this aspect could lead to misunderstanding the motivation behind such decisions.     

Optomagnetic Nanoplatforms for In Situ Controlled Hyperthermia

Magnetic nanoparticles (M:NPs) are unique agents for in vivo thermal therapies due to their multimodal capacity for efficient heat generation under optical and/or magnetic excitation. Nevertheless, their transfer from laboratory to the clinic is hampered by the absence of thermal feedback and by the influence that external conditions (e.g., agglomeration and biological matrix interactions) have on their heating efficiency. Overcoming these limitations requires, first, the implementation of strategies providing thermal sensing to M:NPs in order to obtain in situ thermal feedback during thermal therapies. At the same time, M:NPs should be modified so that their heating efficiency will be maintained independently of the environment and the added capability for thermometry. In this work, optomagnetic hybrid nanostructures (OMHSs) that simultaneously satisfy these two conditions are presented. Polymeric encapsulation of M:NPs with neodymium‐doped nanoparticles results in a hybrid structure capable of subtissue thermal feedback while making the heating efficiency of M:NPs independent of the medium. The potential application of the OMHSs herein developed for fully controlled thermal therapies is demonstrated by an ex vivo endoscope‐assisted controlled intracoronary heating experiment.     

Nanocrystalline TiO2 photosensitized with natural polymers with enhanced efficiency from 400 to 600 nm

TiO₂ sensitization for solar applications requires not only efficient but also stable and inexpensive sensitizers. Different condensed tannins extracted from bark wastes of tropical wood trees were studied as possible sensitizers of TiO₂. These natural polymers adhere strongly to the TiO₂ even from aqueous solutions. Absorption spectra are presented for 1 mM aqueous sensitizing solutions prepared with lyophilized condensed tannins which absorb light in the visible range. Spectral photocurrent measurements and I–V characterization show that no bias is required for electron injection to the TiO₂ from all studied condensed tannins. Incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE) analysis indicates that surface complexation originates absorption bands with different electron injection efficiencies. These play a dominant role in determining IPCE spectral shape. We propose that surface modification by the sensitizer changes the surface trap density, thereby decreasing recombination losses.     

Analysis of stepwise charging limits and its implementation for efficiency improvement in switched capacitor DC–DC converters

In this work we analysed the stepwise charging technique to find the limits from which it is beneficial in terms of load capacitance and charge–discharge frequency. We included in the analysis practical limitations such as the consumption of auxiliary logic needed to implement the technique and the minimum size of auxiliary switches imposed by the technology. We proposed an ultra-low-power logic block to push these limits and to obtain benefits from this technique in small capacitances. Finally, we proposed to use a stepwise driver in the driving of the gate capacitance of power switches in switched-capacitor (SC) DC–DC converters. We designed and manufactured, in a 130 nm process, a SC DC–DC converter and measured a 29% energy reduction in the gate-drive losses of the converter. This accounts for an improvement of 4% (from 69 to 73%) in the overall converter efficiency.

     

Effects of different levels of fat on rheological changes and microstructure of meat batters during heat processing

Summary The effect of differences in fat content (5.3% and 20.8%) on the rheological characteristics and microstructure of meat batters in the course of heating was studied. Rheological properties were assessed using nondestructive measurements (thermal scanning rigidity monitor) and structural failure (penetration test) analyses. Microstructure was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of fat content on the modulus of rigidity (G) only became evident as gel structures began to form, giving higher G values for meat batters the higher the fat content of the sample. As the temperature was raised in the product (between 40 and 70° C), penetration stress and elasticity increased. The work of penetration, on the other hand, increased between 40 and 60° C, remaining steady at higher temperatures. Analysis of the results on the basis of different treatments indicates that an increase in fat content significantly raises penetration stress, elasticity and work of penetration. Increased temperature causes the formation of a matrix structure typical of heat-induced protein gels, which became compact and determine the formation of stronger, more elastic structures. Differences in microstructure caused by fat content were more evident at low temperature (40° C).

---

Auswirkungen verschiedener Fettgehalte auf die rheologischen Veränderungen und Mikrostruktur von Fleischmischungen während des Erwärmungsprozesses

Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Wirkung verschiedener Fettgehalte (5,3% und 20,8%) auf die rheologischen Eigenschaften und Mikrostruktur von Fleischbräten während des Erwärmungsprozesses untersucht. Die rheologischen Eigenschaften wurden mittels nicht zerstörender Messungen (thermal scanning rigidity monitor, TSRM) und Penetrationstests bewertet. Die Untersuchungen der MikroStruktur wurde durch Raster-Elektronenmikroskopie (REM) durchgeführt. Der Einfluß des Fettgehalts auf den Festigkeitsgleitmodul (G) wird im gleichen Ausmaß ersichtlich, in welchem die Gelstrukturen beginnen, sich zu bilden. Je höher der Fettgehalt des Bräts ist, desto größer werden die G-Werte in den Bräten. Je mehr die Temperatur des Erzeugnisses gesteigert wurde (zwischen 40 °C und 70 °C), um so mehr stiegen Penetrationdruck und Elastizität an. Obwohl sich die Penetration zwischen 40 °C und 60 °C erhöhte, blieb diese bei höheren Temperaturen konstant. Die Analyse der Ergebnisse aufgrund der Behandlungen zeigt, daß ein größerer Fettgehalt den Penetrationdruck, die Elastizität und Eindringungseffekt bedeutend erhöhen. Die Erhöhung der Temperatur verursacht die Bildung von Matrix-Strukturen, die typisch für die durch Hitze herbeigeführten Proteingele sind, deren stärkere Verdichtung die Bildung von stärkeren und elastischeren Strukturen bedeutet. Die durch die Einwirkung des Fettgehalts in der Mikrostruktur entstandenen Unterschiede scheinen bei niedriger Temperatur (40 °C) klarer hervorzutreten.

     

Surface copper enrichment by reduction of copper chromite catalyst employed for carbon monoxide oxidation

The effect of prereduction on CO oxidation activity of unsupported copper-chromite oxide catalysts was examined. Results were found to be in good agreement with two mechanisms for a surface copper enrichment due to CO prereduction which produced an activity increase in the copper-chromite catalyst.     

Inhibitory pheromonal activity promoted by sulfur analogs of the sex pheromone of the female processionary mothThaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and schiff)

New sulfur analogs of the sex pheromone of the female processionary mothThaumetopoea pityocampa have been found to be effective inhibitors of the natural pheromone activity both in EAG bioassays and field tests. The structures of these analogs have been derived from replacement of the oxygen atom(s) of the acetate group by sulfur (compounds 3-5) and the olefinic moiety of the enyne function by the isosteric SCH₂ group (compounds 6 and 7). The synthesis and biological activity of 3-[(Z)-12-pentadecen-10-ynylthio]-1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-one (8), a closely related structure to the pheromone is also described.     

Compressive Creep of SiC-Whisker-Reinforced Al2O3

Compressive creep of SiC-whisker-reinforced Al₂O₃ composites (0, 5, 15, and 25 wt% SiC) was measured in the temperature range of 1300° to 1500°C in air and argon. The creep resistance increased with increasing whisker concentration. The results indicated that the whiskers degraded in air, increasing strain rates compared to those in argon. Stress exponents between 1.0 and 2.0 and an activation energy of 620 ± 100 kJ/mol were measured. Transmission electron microscopy observations indicated that cavitation was minimal and that the deformed composites had the same dislocation structure as did the as-received samples.