Nonlinear absorption of light: Optical saturation of electronic transitions in organic molecules with high intensity laser radiation

A review of spectroscopic properties of complex molecules is presented and used to show that a simple two-level scheme is inadequate to describe the optical bleaching of dye molecules. Experimental data are reported for the transmission of intense ruby laser radiation by several types of dyes. Rate equation analyses are carried out using steady-state solutions and iterative computer solutions; calculated bleaching curves are compared with our data for cryptocyanine. On these bases, we show that, in general, the optical bleaching process involves the removal of ground-state molecules to other states having smaller absorption cross sections at the exciting frequency, and that recovery of absorption at this frequency is characterized by a complex relaxation mechanism.     

On the coexistence of power-controlled ultrawide-band systems with UMTS, GPS, DCS1800, and fixed wireless systems

Ultrawide bandwidth (UWB) wireless technology will play a key role in short-range wireless connectivity supporting very high bit rates availability, low power consumption, and location capabilities. UWB can be conveniently deployed in the design of wireless local and personal area networks, providing advanced integrated multimedia services to nomadic users within hot-spot areas. The very large bandwidth required by the UWB signals cannot be exclusively allocated; thus, UWB band overlaps with the bands allocated to many other narrow-band systems. Therefore, the assessment of the interference caused by UWB devices on already-existing systems is of primary importance to ensure coexistence and, therefore, to guarantee acceptance of UWB technology worldwide. We study the coexistence issues between an UWB-based system and universal mobile telecommunication systems, global positioning systems, DCS1800, and fixed wireless access systems and point-to-point (PP) links terminals. UWB interference is evaluated accounting for the UWB signal model, a realistic UWB master/slave system architecture with power-controlled terminals. Furthermore, we analyze the dependence of the UWB interference from the UWB signal parameters and demonstrate through computer simulation that, in all practical cases, a UWB system can coexist with the selected victim terminals without causing any dangerous interference.     

A simulated insect diet as a water source for quail: effects on body mass and reproduction

Compared with control birds receiving ad libitum free-water, the total water intake of male and female northern bobwhite declined when only mealworms were available as a source of water. Male northern bobwhite sustained tissue mass and reproductive function with mealworms as their only source of water. Female northern bobwhite could not sustain body, ovary, and oviduct mass, and rate of egg production with mealworms as their only source of water. We suggest that, without free-water, breeding females require a diet with a water:dry matter ratio of greater than 1:1.29 (> 44% water).     

Lymphocyte subpopulations of workers in a plant producing plastic materials (preliminary study)

Lymphocyte subpopulations were studied in 31 men working in a plant producing plastic materials in relation with control groups of similar age and smoking habit. 8 workers (group A) were exposed to solvents (mainly methylethylketone and dimethylformamide), 8 men (group B) to dust containing particles of calcium carbonate, polyvinylchloride, phtalates, unsaturated oils, paraffin wax, iron oxides, titanium bioxides, barium, zinc and lead and 15 men (group C), working in the same department as group B, were studied after a period of 16 months during which lead chromate was employed in the preparation of colors. The lymphocyte subpopulations were normal in group A, while in B there was a significant increase of HLA-DR + cells (monocytes, B and activated T lymphocytes). In group C, T helper/inducer lymphocytes (mainly CD4(+)-CD45RO- "virgin" lymphocytes), CD19+ B lymphocytes, CD3-HLADR+ and CD3-CD25+ (activated B lymphocytes and monocytes) were significantly reduced without changes of serum IgM, IgG and IgA. Highly significant correlation was found between B lymphocytes (reduced in the workers about 40%) and CD4(+)-CD45R0+ "memory" lymphocytes (reduced about 20%). Moreover, blood lead (correlated with urinary chromium) showed a highly significant negative correlation with the B lymphocytes. This study demonstrates that combined exposure to toxic agents produces specific modifications in the lymphocyte subsets without changes in immunoglobulins and confirms the results of previous researches showing that the exposure to lead or chromate induces reduction of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood.     

A Neural Networks Approach for Deriving Irrigation Reservoir Operating Rules

A neural networks approach is applied to the derivation of the operating rules of an irrigation supply reservoir. Operating rules are determined as a two step process: first, a dynamic programming technique, which determines the optimal releases byminimizing the sum of squared deficits, assumed as objective function, subject to various constraints is applied. Then, theresulting releases from the reservoir are expressed as a functionof significant variables by neural networks. Neural networks aretrained on a long period, including severe drought events, andthe operation rules so determined are validated on a differentshorter period. The behaviour of different operating rules is assessed by simulating reservoir operation and by computing several performance indices of the reservoir and crop yield through a soil water balance model. Results show that operating rules based on an optimization with constraints resembling real system operation criteria lead to a good performance both in normal and in drought periods, reducing maximum deficits and water spills.     

Luminescence dating of quaternary deposits in geology in Brazil

In the present work, systematic dating by luminescence methods has been done on 50 Quaternary geological samples within the study area of S?o Paulo State, Brazil. Bleaching experiments showed that residual TL intensity of 375 degrees C peak, of the quartz, was obtained after 10 h of sunlight exposition. Intensities decays of the 325 and 375 degrees C TL peaks can be fitted using second order exponential equation. Paleodose values were evaluated using regeneration methods with multiple aliquots. Samples dated indicate preliminary ages varying from 9 +/- 1 to 935 +/- 130 ka for colluvio-elluvial deposits, and from 17 +/- 2 to 215 +/- 30 ka for alluvial deposits of the study area. They cover four peneplained surfaces shaped during the Quaternary: I (1000-400 ka), II (400-120 ka), III (120-10 ka) and IV (10 ka until today), in decreasing order.     

A comparison between K $K$ and G $G$ approaches for a viscoelastic material: the case of environmental stress cracking of HDPE

Mechanics of Time-Dependent Materials - According to linear elastic fracture mechanics the stress intensity factor and the energy release rate are two fracture parameters linked by the elastic...     

Shell Perturbations of an Acoustic Thermometer Determined from Speed of Sound in Gas Mixtures

With the goal of achieving a better understanding of gas–shell coupling perturbations in the acoustic resonators used at INRiM for the determination of the Boltzmann constant, we measured the variation of their acoustic and microwave resonances induced by changing the composition of a binary He–Ar mixture which filled the cavity at constant temperature and pressure. As a consequence of the progressive dilution of a sample of initially pure He with Ar, the radial acoustic modes of the resonator spanned decreasing frequency intervals, partially overlapping, for several modes. In addition to the expected breathing mode of the shell, the results evidenced the presence of several other shell resonances at lower and higher frequencies, confirming that the elastic response of the assembled resonator significantly differs from that of a simple spherical shell. Experimental results are reported for two resonators which differ in design, dimensions, and constructing material. In spite of their being preliminary and susceptible of significant improvement, these results favor the interpretation of acoustic thermometry measurements with pure gases.