Origin of Gas Porosity in Gold-Based Alloys Cast in Calcium Sulfate-Bonded Investment and Influence of Metal Oxide Acid–Base Properties on Calcium Sulfate Thermal Stability

The origin of gas-porosity in gold-based alloys produced via lost-wax casting in CaSO₄-bonded investment has been identified using a combination of microanalytical and thermal techniques. The occurrence of gas-porosity is related to the thermal decomposition of CaSO₄, which, with SiO₂, constitutes the investment material and decomposes at a temperature very close to the casting temperature of some typical gold alloys used for jewelry production. The thermal reaction generates SO₂, leading to gas-porosity and, therefore, to defective products. Furthermore, the results show the detrimental effect of thermal decomposition caused by the presence of ZnO, Cu₂O, CuO, NiO, and Ag₂O formed on the surface of the gold-based alloy during air melting or casting. Therefore, the solid-state thermal decomposition of CaSO₄ in the presence of other ceramic oxides has been investigated and found to be related to their surface acid–base properties, measured as isoelectric points on the solid surface.     

Utilization of Lactobacillus sp. for steroid glycoalkaloids degradation by lactic acid fermentation

The degradation fo steroid glycoalkaloids (SGAs) has been studied in model solutions. The number of colony forming units (CFU) was determined using a nondirect (cultivation) method during all stages of fermentation. The changes in SGAs content were observed by HPLC on the Supelcosil LC-NH2 column. The changes in alpha-tomatine concentration added to fermented Lactobacillus MRS broth have been studied. A mathematical model of steroid glycoalkaloids degradation during lactic fermentation was proposed. The mathematical model was based on the experimental data of SGA and glucose concentration and should be used for study and prediction of SGA concentration changes of fermented samples. The ratio of SGA degradation rate by fermentation and by lactic acid hydrolysis was calculated. The experimental data evaluated by proposed mathematical model for the selected strain of Lactobacillus plantarum 976H show real feasibility for SGA degradation by lactic acid fermentation.     

Electrokinetic removal of 2,6-dichlorophenol and diuron from kaolinite and humic acid-clay system

This paper presents the results of a study on the electrokinetic treatment of kaolinite and humic acid kaolinite complexes spiked with 2,6-dichlorophenol or 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (diuron). In particular, the attention was paid to the interaction between solid surface and dissolved organics: the effects of contaminant sorption as well as the physicochemical reactions on the efficiency of electrokinetic remediation were investigated. Using a 3V/cm voltage gradient, approximately 90% of diuron was removed from kaolinite after one water pore volume was collected in the cathode reservoir, but much lower efficiency was obtained in the electrokinetic removal of this compound from humic acid-coated kaolinite. The results also showed that partial degradation of the contaminant occurred during electrokinetic treatment of kaolinite clay spiked with 2,6-dichlorophenol: the contamination in the clay could be remediated by the combination of electrokinetic extraction and electrochemical reactions.     

Solid‐state NMR and morphological studies of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate)/poly(vinyl acetate) blends

To obtain a correlation among structure–morphology–mobility–compatibility properties of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) (EVA)/poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) blends, we have used scanning electron microscopy and solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance in our investigations. The results are discussed in terms of blends, component dispersion, plasticization effect, and domain mobilities to acquire a response of the correlation between structural properties. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 2990–2996, 1999     

Muscle tissue structural changes and texture development in sea bream, Sparus aurata L., during post-mortem storage

Sea bream, Sparus aurata L., specimens were studied in pre-rigor (3 h) and during the following post-mortem days: 1, 5, 10, 15 and 22. Muscle and textural parameters were evaluated on 6 specimens/stage. Structural results showed scarce fibre-to-fibre detachment on pre-rigor, which increased during the post-mortem degradation. Ultrastructural changes revealed rapid muscle degradation. In pre-rigor myofibrils were detached to both sarcolemma and endomysium. Intermyofibrillar spaces increased and some mitochondriae and sarcoplasmic reticulum were swollen. After 1 day, the sarcolemma appeared occasionally disrupted and the interfibrillar spaces increased. From 5 to 10 days, the I-band and Z line presented some alterations, although these were more severe at 15-22 days. Thus, in these two last stages, loss of I-band, Z line and actin filaments was observed, that coincides with the alteration of the hexagonal arrangement in these advanced stages. Also, the fragmentation of myofibrils increased from 5 to 10 days on. Sarcolemma and endomysium were gradually disrupted throughout the post-mortem stages with total loss at 22 days. Consequently, the interfibrillar spaces increased at last stages. Autophagic mechanisms increased from 5 days on, with an intense destruction of all the intracytoplasmic organelles. Textural parameters decreased from pre-rigor until 5-10 days, mainly associated to detachment of myofibers to sarcolemma-endomysium.     

Influence of processing on the levels of amines and proline and on the physico-chemical characteristics of concentrated orange juice

The influence of processing on the levels of bioactive amines and proline as well as on some physico-chemical characteristics of concentrated orange juice was investigated. Samples were collected at seven points of a production line on three non-consecutive days, and analysed for the levels of 12 bioactive amines, proline, and reducing and non-reducing sugars, and for some physico-chemical characteristics. Among the amines analysed, only putrescine, spermidine and synephrine were found in the samples at all processing stages. Significant differences were observed for spermidine and total amine levels throughout processing. Synephrine and putrescine were resistant to processing. Proline levels changed significantly throughout processing, as did levels of reducing and non-reducing sugars. The pH varied from 3.59 to 3.72, acidity from 0.873 to 0.918 g citric acid/100 mL, and density from 1.0378 to 1.0970 g/mL. Among these parameters, pH, acidity and density were significantly affected by processing.     

Modeling of defects,dopant diffusion and clustering in silicon

Ion implantation is a very well established technique to introduce dopants in semiconductors. This technique has been traditionally used for junction formation in integrated circuit processing, and recently also in solar cells fabrication. In any case, ion implantation causes damage in the silicon lattice that has adverse effects on the performance of devices and the efficiency of solar cells. Alternatively, damage may also have beneficial applications as some studies suggest that small defects may be optically active. Therefore it is important an accurate characterization of defect structures formed upon irradiation. Furthermore, the technological evolution of electronic devices towards the nanometer scale has driven the need for the formation of ultra-shallow and low-resistive junctions. Ion implantation and thermal anneal models are required to predict dopants placement and electrical activation. In this article, we review the main models involved in process simulation, including ion implantation, evolution of point and extended defects and dopant-defect interactions. We identify different regimes at which each type of defect is more relevant and its inclusion in the models becomes crucial. We illustrate in some examples the use of atomistic modeling techniques to gain insight into the physics involved in the processes as well as the relevance of the accuracy of models.     

Effect of voluntary repetitive long-lasting muscle contraction activity on the BOLD signal as assessed by optimal hemodynamic response function

Objective

Among other neuroimaging techniques, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can be useful for studying the development of motor fatigue. The aim of this study was to identify differences in cortical neuronal activation in nine subjects on three motor tasks: right-hand movement with minimum, maximum, and post-fatigue maximum finger flexion.

Materials and methods

fMRI activation maps for each subject and during each condition were obtained by estimating the optimal model of the hemodynamic response function (HRF) out of four standard HRF models and an individual-based HRF model (ibHRF).

Results

ibHRF was selected as the optimal model in six out of nine subjects for minimum movement, in five out of nine for maximum movement, and in eight out of nine for post-fatigue maximum movement. As compared to maximum movement, a large reduction in the total number of active voxels (primary sensorimotor area, supplementary motor area and cerebellum) was observed in post-fatigue maximum movement.

Conclusion

This is the first approach to the evaluation of long-lasting contraction effort in healthy subjects by means of the fMRI paradigm with the use of an individual-based hemodynamic response. The results may be relevant for defining a baseline in future studies on central fatigue in patients with neuropathological disorders.     

Comments on “A new heuristic approach for optimal reconfiguration in distribution systems” in 81 (2011) 282-289

This short communication is a discussion of the paper entitled “A new heuristic approach for optimal reconfiguration in distribution systems” introduced a new approach for optimal reconfiguration of radial distribution systems. Besides, a load flow algorithm based on graph theory was presented in order to give precise branch currents, node voltages and system power losses. In the abstract and in the conclusion section of the above mentioned study, the author stated that the results show that the performance of the proposed method is better than that of several methods available in other published articles, and that the proposed technique represents an improved, more efficient method which can easily solve the distribution network reconfiguration problem compared with those other methods. However, this conclusion can not be deduced from the results given by the author because with the optimal radial configuration given for the test system used, the power losses obtained are higher than those obtained by some of the other methods. So, the proposed final solution is worse.