Superconducting Vortex Lattice Configurations on Periodic Potentials: Simulation and Experiment

Nb films have been fabricated on top of array of Ni nanodots. The array of periodic pinning potentials modifies the vortex lattice for specific values of the external applied magnetic field. By means of an implemented code developed from scratch, computer simulations based only on the vortex?Cvortex and the vortex?Cnanodot interactions provide the total interaction between vortices and pinning sites as well as the position of the vortices in the array unit cell. This simulation approach could be performed on square, rectangular or triangular arrays of nanodefects of different size.     

Stability and mechanical evaluation of bovine pericardium cross-linked with polyurethane prepolymer in aqueous medium

The present study investigates the potential use of non-catalyzed water-soluble blocked polyurethane prepolymer (PUP) as a bifunctional cross-linker for collagenous scaffolds. The effect of concentration (5, 10, 15 and 20%), time (4, 6, 12 and 24 h), medium volume (50, 100, 200 and 300%) and pH (7.4, 8.2, 9 and 10) over stability, microstructure and tensile mechanical behavior of acellular pericardial matrix was studied. The cross-linking index increased up to 81% while the denaturation temperature increased up to 12 °C after PUP crosslinking. PUP-treated scaffold resisted the collagenase degradation (0.167 ± 0.14 mmol/g of liberated amine groups vs. 598 ± 60 mmol/g for non-cross-linked matrix). The collagen fiber network was coated with PUP while viscoelastic properties were altered after cross-linking. The treatment of the pericardial scaffold with PUP allows (i) different densities of cross-linking depending of the process parameters and (ii) tensile properties similar to glutaraldehyde method.     

In Vivo Skin Permeation of Sodium Naproxen Formulated in Pluronic F-127 Gels: Effect of Azone® and Transcutol®

The objective of this study was to determine the penetration of sodium naproxen, formulated in Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) gels containing Azone® and Transcutol® as penetration enhancers, through human skin in vivo. It was found that the combination of Azone® and Transcutol® in PF-127 gels enhanced sodium naproxen penetration, with enhancement ratios of up to two fold compared with the formulation containing only Transcutol®. These results were confirmed by TEWL and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, suggesting a synergic action for Azone® and Transcutol®. Because of the thermo-reversible behavior of Pluronic gels, the influence of the components added to the gel formulations on viscosity, as a function of temperature, was also studied.     

Structural,optical and electrical properties of silicon nanocrystals embedded in SixC1−x/SiC multilayer systems for photovoltaic applications

In this work we present a structural, optical and electrical characterization of Si_xC_1?x/SiC multilayer systems with different silicon content. After the deposition process, an annealing treatment was carried out in order to induce the silicon nanocrystals formation. By means of energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) we observed the structural morphology of the multilayers and the presence of crystallized silicon nanoprecipitates for samples annealed up to 1100 °C. We discuss the suitability of optical techniques such as Raman scattering and reflectance and transmittance (R&T) for the evaluation of the crystalline fraction of our samples at different silicon excess ranges. In addition, the combination of R&T measurements with simulation has proved to be a useful instrument to confirm the structural properties observed by EFTEM. Finally, we explore the origin of the extremely high current density revealed by electrical measurements, probably due to the presence of an undesired defective SiC_yO_z ternary compound layer, already supported by the structural and optical results. Nevertheless, the variation of the electrical measurements with the silicon amount indicates a small but significant contribution from the multilayers.     

Effect of heavy metals on the surface free energy and zeta potential of volcanic glass: implications on the adhesion and growth of microorganisms

We studied the surface properties of eruptive material from Deception Island (South Shetland Islands, Antarctica). The surface free energy and zeta potential were analyzed in obsidian and pumice stones immersed in different electrolytes (NaCl, BaCl₂, AlCl₃, VCl₂, PbCl₂, CdCl₂, FeCl₃, and CrCl₃). The results show that obsidian has a monopolar character. The value of the obsidian electron-donor component increased in the presence of heavy metals, reaching 61.0 mJ/m² in the case of CrCl₃. This means that the heavy metals transform the surface of obsidian into a hydrophilic material in almost all cases, except in the case of FeCl₃, which makes the obsidian surface hydrophobic. The pH variation of the liquid phase has a significant influence on the zeta potential, not only changing its value, but also the sign of the surface electric charge. A significant result is that a variation of two in pH (between 5 and 7) changes the sign of the charge from positive to negative or vice versa, depending on the electrolyte used. In general, the presence of electrolytes changes the surface properties of solid materials and consequently the adhesion and growth of microorganisms on coastal rocks.     

Iron Ore Sintering: Process

Sintering is a thermal agglomeration process that is applied to a mixture of iron ore fines, recycled ironmaking products, fluxes, slag-forming agents, and solid fuel (coke). The purpose of the sintering process is manufacturing a product with the suitable characteristics (thermal, mechanical, physical and chemical) to be fed to the blast furnace. The process has been widely studied and researched in the iron and steelmaking industry to know the best parameters that allow one to obtain the best sinter quality. The present article reviews the sintering process that the mixture follows, once granulated, when it is loaded onto the sinter strand. There, the sinter mixture is partially melted at a temperature between 1300-1480°C and undergoes a series of reactions that forms the sinter cake to be loaded into the blast furnace to produce pig iron.