Experimental results of nanofluids flow effects on metal surfaces

The results of an experimental study on the effects of the flow of nanofluids (water-based suspensions of nanometer-sized solid particles) on metal surfaces are presented. Either different nanofluids (containing TiO₂, Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, and SiC, respectively) and different target materials (aluminum, copper, stainless steel) have been investigated, under similar operating conditions. Different behaviors were observed depending on the specific combination nanofluid-target material, which in some cases led to severe damaging of the tested target, thus highlighting the need for an adequate preliminary investigation of the possible interactions between the selected nanofluid and the apparatus materials, before its adoption as heat transfer fluid.     

Bioaccessible selenium in Italian agricultural soils: Comparison of the biogeochemical approach with a regression model based on geochemical and pedoclimatic variables

Biogeochemical mapping of selenium in Italian agricultural soils was accomplished by measuring the Se concentration of representative samples of wheat grains from 71 provinces. The range of the concentration values averaged on a provincial basis was 7-245 ng Se g(-1). A multiple regression model based on six geochemical and pedoclimatic variables was developed to interpret the observed data and to predict Se concentration of wheat in areas where analytical data were missing and in the different Italian soil regions. The statistical model explained only part of the observed variance, but succeeded in identifying Se-enriched as well as Se-depleted areas with an acceptable level of agreement with the biogeochemical map based on measured Se in wheat. Furthermore, the model showed that within the range of concentrations measured in Italian soils, Se-bioaccessibility is controlled not only by the Se content of the soil parent rocks, but also by their overall geochemical nature (carbonatic vs. silicatic) and by pedoclimatic variables (temperature and rain intensity excursions) related to fluctuations of soil moisture and pH. Overall, several Se-marginal and Se-deficient areas were identified on the Italian territory. The implications of these findings for public health are discussed briefly.     

Influence of Feeding and Oviposition by Phytophagous Pentatomids on Photosynthesis of Herbaceous Plants

Feeding by herbivorous insects may change photosynthetic activity of host plants. We studied how feeding and oviposition by herbivorous stink bugs, Murgantia histrionica and Nezara viridula (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae), affect photosynthetic parameters of Brassica oleracea (savoy cabbage) and Phaseolus vulgaris (French bean). First, we measured photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence imaging, and emission of induced volatile organic compounds (VOC) immediately after feeding and during a post-feeding period. Photosynthesis decreased rapidly and substantially in B. oleracea and P. vulgaris infested by feeding bugs. Stomatal conductance did not decrease proportionally with photosynthesis; instead, inhibition of photosynthesis likely was due to a reduced diffusion of CO₂ in the mesophyll. We also measured the impact of oviposition per se and oviposition associated with feeding on photosynthetic parameters. A surprisingly large inhibition of photosynthesis was detected in cabbage leaves in response to oviposition by M. histrionica, even when oviposition was not associated with feeding activity. High resolution chlorophyll fluorescence imaging revealed that the damage to photochemistry caused by feeding and oviposition was restricted to the attacked areas. By contrast, the photochemical yield increased temporarily in the unaffected areas of the attacked leaves, indicating the onset of a compensatory response. Measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOC) revealed that feeding-damaged plants did not emit detectable amounts of VOC, indicating cellular damage (methanol and green leaf volatiles). However, feeding by M. histrionica induced emission of mono- and sesquiterpenes in savoy cabbage leaves. The different time-course of the induction of these two classes of terpenes may reflect the induction of two different biosynthetic pathways and indicate different roles of these terpenoids in tritrophic interactions.     

A note on the mixture transition distribution and hidden Markov models

We discuss an interpretation of the mixture transition distribution (MTD) for discrete‐valued time series which is based on a sequence of independent latent variables which are occasion‐specific. We show that, by assuming that this latent process follows a first order Markov Chain, MTD can be generalized in a sensible way. A class of models results which also includes the hidden Markov model (HMM). For these models we outline an EM algorithm for the maximum likelihood estimation which exploits recursions developed within the HMM literature. As an illustration, we provide an example based on the analysis of stock market data referred to different American countries.     

Note: Electrical resolution during conductive atomic force microscopy measurements under different environmental conditions and contact forces

Conductive atomic force microscopy experiments on gate dielectrics in air, nitrogen, and UHV have been compared to evaluate the impact of the environment on topography and electrical measurements. In current images, an increase of the lateral resolution and a reduction of the conductivity were observed in N(2) and, especially, in UHV (where current depends also on the contact force). Both effects were related to the reduction/elimination of the water layer between the tip and the sample in N(2)/UHV. Therefore, since current measurements are very sensitive to environmental conditions, these factors must be taken into consideration when comparisons between several experiments are performed.     

Closed form solutions of axisymmetric bending of circular plates having non-linear variable thickness

A new analytical method for evaluation of elastic stresses and deformations in axisymmetric plates having variable thickness according to a power of a linear function, either solid or annular, subjected to symmetrical bending due to lateral loads either distributed on upper surface or distributed along the inner or the outer edges. The proposed procedure is based on two independent integrals of the hypergeometric differential equation describing the rotation field and constitutes the generalization of the one found in the literature. This method allows to study a wide range of plates, be they solid or annular, converging or diverging with linear or non-linear thickness function, convex, concave or linear tapered, without the restrictions of the known procedures. Analytical results obtained by using this method utterly match both theoretical results which may be obtained in the specific case known (constant-thickness circular plate, linear variable thickness annular circular plate) and numerical results obtained by using FEA.     

Use of polarimetric lidar for the study of oriented ice plates in clouds

A polarization lidar operating at 532 nm was converted into an automatic, polarimetric lidar capable of measuring the entire Stokes vector of backscattered light and its derived quantities. Among these quantities, circular and linear depolarizations were studied as tools for investigating the presence of anisotropic scattering media. Isotropic scatterers show a simple relationship between linear and circular depolarization, a relation that we confirm theoretically and experimentally. Deviations from this relation, which are possible in the presence of anisotropic scatterers such as horizontally oriented ice plates when they are observed with a slant lidar, were studied both numerically and experimentally.     

Photorefractivity of poly-N-vinylindole-based materials as compared with that of poly-N-vinylcarbazole-based blends

The asymmetric two-beam coupling technique has been employed to measure the photorefractivity of thin films of polymer blends containing 2,5-dimethyl-4-(p-nitrophenylazo)anisole as the nonlinear optical component. Poly-(1-vinylindole) and poly-(2,3-dimethyl-1-vinylindole) were the photoconductive polymer counterparts. The values of the photorefractivity are reported. It appears that they are comparable with those of similar blends based on the well-known poly-(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK), here considered as a reference standard. Careful differential scanning calorimetry analyses have been accomplished on the different blends taken into account to rationalize the significantly longer shelf lifetime of the indolyl-based films with respect to the PVK-based blends.     

Some developments in neutron and charged particle dosimetry

There is an increasing need for dosimetry of neutrons and charged particles. Increasing exposure levels are reported in the nuclear industry, deriving from more frequent in-service entries at commercial nuclear power plants, and from increased plant decommissioning and refurbishment activities. Another need stems from the compliance with requirements of the regulations and standards. The European Council directive 96/29 requires dosimetric precautions if the effective dose exceeds 1 mSv a(-1). On average, aircrew members exceed this value. Further, there is a trend of increasing use of charged particles in radiotherapy. The present situation is that we have reasonably good photon dosemeters, but neutron and charged particle dosemeters are still in need of improvements. This work highlights some of the developments in this field. It is mainly concentrated on some developments in passive dosimetry, in particular thermally and optically stimulated luminescent detectors, indicating the direction of ongoing research. It shows that passive dosemeters are still a very active field. Active dosemeters will not be discussed with the exception of new developments in microdosimetric measurements [new types of tissue equivalent proportional counters (TEPCs)]. The TEPC is unique in its ability to provide a simultaneous determination of neutron / charged particle / gamma ray doses, or dose equivalents using a single detector.     

Efficiency of a zeolitized pumice waste as a low-cost heavy metals adsorbent

The unextracted residue obtained after a countercurrent two-step extractive process of silica from pumice lapillus, at 100 degrees C and room pressure, has been found mainly crystallized to the pseudo-cubic form typical of zeolite P. This residue could be active as a low-cost agent for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater. In this paper the removal capacity of six metallic cations (i.e. Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Cd(2+), Pb(2+) and Cr(3+)) was studied in a stirred batch reactor. Results obtained showed that the removal of metal ions (100-500mgg(-1)) from wastewater is achieved in a short time and the concentration lowered under the legal limits. The adsorption mechanism mainly involves an ionic exchange between sodium ions from the solid phase and heavy metals in solution. However, if wastewater was accompanied by free acidity, it first should be neutralized to pH 4-5 to prevent zeolite destruction.