Relationships Between Surface Thermal Gradients and Disc Distortion During Stop-Braking with High Energy Dissipation

This paper focuses on the study of the relationships between brake disc surface temperatures and disc distortion for various high-energy stop-braking conditions. An original thermal metrology method combining an infrared camera and a fibre-optic two-colour pyrometer was used to record the spatial and temporal variation in disc surface temperature during braking. Disc distortion was investigated in situ by means of a high-frequency displacement sensor. In addition, an optical trigger kept track of disc revolutions and enabled the synchronization of the IR camera, two-colour pyrometer and displacement sensor measurements. This experimental set-up was successfully used to determine the surface temperature and investigate thermal localization and waviness distortion during braking. The results were correlated with each other in relation to the level of energy dissipation. It was shown that the highest temperature was reached in the hot spot regions at an early stage of stop-braking. By contrast, the greatest disc distortion appeared much later, during the last stage of stop-braking.     

Prevention of volatile fatty acids production and limitation of odours from winery wastewaters by denitrification

The effect of the addition of nitrate to winery wastewaters to control the formation of VFA in order to prevent odours during storage and treatment was studied in batch bioreactors at different NO(3)/chemical oxygen demand (COD) ratios and at full scale in natural evaporation ponds (2 x 7000 m(2)) by measuring olfactory intensity. In the absence of nitrate, butyric acid (2304 mgL(-1)), acetic acid (1633 mgL(-1)), propionic acid (1558 mgL(-1)), caproic acid (499 mgL(-1)) and valeric acid (298 mgL(-1)) were produced from reconstituted winery wastewater. For a ratio of NO(3)/COD=0.4 gg(-1), caproic and valeric acids were not formed. The production of butyric and propionic acids was reduced by 93.3% and 72.5%, respectively, at a ratio of NO(3)/COD=0.8, and by 97.4% and 100% at a ratio of NO(3)/COD=1.2 gg(-1). Nitrate delayed and decreased butyric acid formation in relation to the oxidoreduction potential. Studies in ponds showed that the addition of concentrated calcium nitrate (NITCAL) to winery wastewaters (3526 m(3)) in a ratio of NO(3)/COD=0.8 inhibited VFA production, with COD elimination (94%) and total nitrate degradation, and no final nitrite accumulation. On the contrary, in ponds not treated with nitrate, malodorous VFA (from propionic to heptano?c acids) represented up to 60% of the COD. Olfactory intensity measurements in relation to the butanol scale of VFA solutions and the ponds revealed the pervasive role of VFA in the odour of the untreated pond as well as the clear decrease in the intensity and not unpleasant odour of the winery wastewater pond enriched in nitrates. The results obtained at full scale underscored the feasibility and safety of the calcium nitrate treatment as opposed to concentrated nitric acid.     

Role of Physical Exercise and Nutraceuticals in Modulating Molecular Pathways of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful and disabling disease that affects millions of patients. Its etiology is largely unknown, but it is most likely multifactorial. OA pathogenesis involves the catabolism of the cartilage extracellular matrix and is supported by inflammatory and oxidative signaling pathways and marked epigenetic changes. To delay OA progression, a wide range of exercise programs and naturally derived compounds have been suggested. This literature review aims to analyze the main signaling pathways and the evidence about the synergistic effects of these two interventions to counter OA. The converging nutrigenomic and physiogenomic intervention could slow down and reduce the complex pathological features of OA. This review provides a comprehensive picture of a possible signaling approach for targeting OA molecular pathways, initiation, and progression.     

L'avantage même-main: effet de la préparation motrice ou de la compatibilité indices-réponses?

Studied the goodness-of-fit of 2 explanations of the same-hand advantage (SHA), i.e., faster reaction time (RT) if responses cued before stimulus presentation are from the same hand as opposed to different hands. Ss were 82 university students (aged 20–40 yrs). Exp 1 consisted of a computerized 4-choice reaction task involving variations in (1) the placement of the fingers on the keyboard, (2) duration of the preparation period, and (3) same-hand vs different-hand preparation. RTs under these experimental variations were compared. Exp 2 involved a greater number of trials than Exp 1 and cued responses either visually or by vibration of the appropriate response keys. Duration of the preparation period and same-hand vs different-hand preparation also were varied. RTs under the different experimental conditions were compared. (English abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assembly of Molecular Building Blocks into Integrated Complex Functional Molecular Systems: Structuring Matter Made to Order

Function‐inspired design of molecular building blocks for their assembly into complex systems has been an objective in engineering nanostructures and materials modulation at nanoscale. This article summarizes recent research and inspiring progress in the design/synthesis of various custom‐made chiral, switchable, and highly responsive molecular building blocks for the construction of diverse covalent/noncovalent assemblies with tailored topologies, properties, and functions. Illustrating the judicious selection of building blocks, orthogonal functionalities, and innate physical/chemical properties that bring diversity and complex functions once reticulated into materials, special focus is given to their assembly into porous crystalline networks such as metal/covalent–organic frameworks (MOFs/COFs), surface‐mounted frameworks (SURMOFs), metal–organic cages/rings (MOCs), cross‐linked polymer gels, porous organic polymers (POPs), and related architectures that find diverse applications in life science and various other functional materials. Smart and stimuli‐responsive or dynamic building blocks, once embedded into materials, can be remotely modulated by external stimuli (light, electrons, chemicals, or mechanical forces) for controlling the structure and properties, thus being applicable for dynamic photochemical and mechanochemical control in constructing new forms of matter made to order. Then, an overview of current challenges, limitations, as well as future research directions and opportunities in this field, are discussed.     

Solar‐grade boron emitters by BF3 plasma doping and role of the co‐implanted fluorine

We investigate the electrical properties and dopant profiles of boron emitters performed by plasma immersion ion implantation from boron trifluoride (BF₃) gas precursor, thermally annealed and passivated by silicon oxide/silicon nitride stacks. High thermal budgets are required for doses compatible with screen‐printed metal pastes, to reach very good activation rates. However, if good sheet resistances and saturation current densities may be obtained, we met strong limitations of the implied open‐circuit voltage of the n‐type Czochralski silicon substrates, which is incompatible with high‐efficiency solar cells. Such limitations are not encountered with beamline where pure B⁺ ions are implanted. Efforts on the passivation quality may improve the implied open‐circuit voltage but are not sufficient. We provide experimental comparison between beamline and plasma immersion allowing us to discriminate the causes explaining this observation (implantation technique or ion specie used) and to infer our interpretation: The co‐implantation of fluorine seems to indirectly impact the lifetime of the core substrate after thermal annealing. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.