Mechanical properties and thermal shock in thin ZrO2–Y2O3–Al2O3 films obtained by the sol-gel method

Thin multilayer coatings of ZrO₂–Y₂O₃–Al₂O₃ were prepared using the sol-gel method and dip-coating technique in order to advance in the study of what influence the incorporation of Al₂O₃ has on films of Y₂O₃-doped ZrO₂, investigating its role in the synthesis of the solutions and in the characteristics and properties of the coatings. After the characterization of the solutions used in the process, the microstructure of the films was studied and their mechanical behaviour and resistance to thermal shock were determined so as to optimize the characteristics and functionality of these coatings. With increased alumina content, 3YSZ-Al₂O₃ (20 mol%), the cubic phase of the zirconia disappeared completely at the sintering temperature used (700 °C), resulting in the tetragonal phase with Al in solution. There was also a decrease in the coatings' hardness and Young's modulus, and an increase in toughness and resistance to thermal shock. These results allow guidelines to be established for the design of multilayer structures that are, tougher, more resistant, and have improved surface properties.     

Color evolution during a coating process of pharmaceutical tablet cores by random spraying

Placebo white tablet cores (lactose anhydrous [47.6%], corn starch [23.8%], microcrystalline cellulose [19.1%], polyvinylpyrrolidone [7.9%], magnesium stearate [0.8%], and talcum powder [0.8%]) were coated with a colorant (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose [8% w/v], titanium dioxide [0.2% w/v], FD&C yellow No. 6 with aluminum lacquer [0.8% w/v], polyethylene glycol 4000 [0.4% w/v], and purified water [q.s.p. 100 mL]) using a random spraying method during 130 minutes. During the coating process, batches of 21 samples were extracted every 10 minutes and measured with a DigiEye imaging system. The initial cores showed very similar and uniform colors (Mean Color Difference from the Mean [MCDM] of 0.8 CIELAB units), but partially coated tablets showed lower uniformity (MCDM below 2.0 CIELAB units). There was a high color variability (MCDM about 4.0 CIELAB units) among tablets of the same batch in the period between 10 and 30 minutes, which decreased as the coating process progressed, until achieving a final acceptable value (MCDM below 2.0 CIELAB units). During the coating process, L^* decreased, C^*_ab strongly increased, and h _ab remained nearly constant (disregarding results at 0 and 10 minutes). CIELAB and CIEDE2000 color differences (mainly chroma differences) with respect to the initial color of the tablets were modeled as a function of time by exponential functions with three coefficients. The color change in the interval from 90 to 130 minutes (4.3 CIELAB units, or 2.6 CIEDE2000 units), may be considered negligible bearing in mind the color variability in the batches of 21 samples and typical values of visual color thresholds.     

New sinusoidal basis functions and a neural network approach to solve nonlinear Volterra–Fredholm integral equations

Neural Computing and Applications - In this paper, we present and investigate the analytical properties of a new set of orthogonal basis functions derived from the block-pulse functions. Also, we...     

Strategic Assessment of Lisbon’s Accessibility and Mobility Problems from an Equity Perspective

Accessibility planning with reference to sustainability and equity principles has been advocated as the best approach to deal with the urban mobility complexity. It has enabled the development of more sustainable and fair policies in relation to access provision. However, despite this paradigm shift, many planning initiatives in practice are still focused on assessing alternatives and proposing solutions, instead of centering on the understanding and assessment of problems as the primary activity of planning. Therefore, in order to contribute for the problem-oriented paradigm in the accessibility planning, this work proposes a strategic assessment methodology for unequal and inequitable distribution problems of accessibility and mobility. This methodology relies on spatial analysis techniques and allows the characterization of accessibility and mobility conditions, as well as the diagnosis of accessibility and mobility problems and their causal relationships. It was applied for the case of Lisbon and the results of the performed assessment allowed an intelligent reading of the problems considered. Specifically, it was found that Lisbon presents an unequal and inequitable distribution of job accessibility and mobility by private car and public transport, and also that job accessibility, along with other transportation, land-use and socioeconomic variables, impact the mobility levels of its citizens.     

A Numerically Efficient Dissipation-Preserving Implicit Method for a Nonlinear Multidimensional Fractional Wave Equation

The partition of unity (PU) method, performed with local radial basis function (RBF) approximants, has been proved to be an effective tool for solving large scattered data interpolation problems. However, in order to achieve a good accuracy, the question about how many points we have to consider on each local subdomain, i.e. how large can be the local data sets, needs to be answered. Moreover, it is well-known that also the shape parameter affects the accuracy of the local RBF approximants and, as a consequence, of the PU interpolant. Thus here, both the shape parameter used to fit the local problems and the size of the associated linear systems are supposed to vary among the subdomains. They are selected by minimizing an a priori error estimate. As evident from extensive numerical experiments and applications provided in the paper, the proposed method turns out to be extremely accurate also when data with non-homogeneous density are considered.     

Bienenwachs – Zusammensetzung und Beurteilung der Reinheit durch gaschromatographische Analyse

Beeswax – Composition and Determination of Purity by Gas Chromatographic Analysis Beeswax, a product of the honeybee Apis mellifica, is one of the most ancient natural waxes in use. Beeswax consists of 70–80% of fatty acid-and hydroxy fatty acid esters of higher alcohols, 10–15% free fatty acids and 10–20% hydrocarbons. By gas chromatographic analysis about 65% of the nonhydrolysed wax can be detected. The remaining fraction contains mainly nonvolatile di- and triesters. A complete analysis of the components of beeswax is obtained after hydrolysis and silylation of the wax. The chromatograms of beeswax show characteristic patterns. Addition of foreign substances and adulteration can be detected easily.     

Interactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus mojavensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium verticillioides</Emphasis> with a Benzoxazolinone (BOA) and its Transformation Product,APO

The benzoxazolinones, specifically benzoxazolin-2(3H)-one (BOA), are important transformation products of the benzoxazinones that can serve as allelochemicals providing resistance to maize from pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and insects. However, maize pathogens such as Fusarium verticillioides are capable of detoxifying the benzoxazolinones to 2-aminophenol (AP), which is converted to the less toxic N-(2-hydroxyphenyl) malonamic acid (HPMA) and 2-acetamidophenol (HPAA). As biocontrol strategies that utilize a species of endophytic bacterium, Bacillus mojavensis, are considered efficacious as a control of this Fusarium species, the in vitro transformation and effects of BOA on growth of this bacterium was examined relative to its interaction with strains of F. verticillioides. The results showed that a red pigment was produced and accumulated only on BOA-amended media when wild type and the progeny of genetic crosses of F. verticillioides are cultured in the presence of the bacterium. The pigment was identified as 2-amino-3H-phenoxazin-3-one (APO), which is a stable product. The results indicate that the bacterium interacts with the fungus preventing the usual transformation of AP to the nontoxic HPMA, resulting in the accumulation of higher amounts of APO than when the fungus is cultured alone. APO is highly toxic to F. verticillioides and other organisms. Thus, an enhanced biocontrol is suggested by this in vitro study.     

Antifungal Activity of a New Phenolic Compound from Capitulum of a Head Rot-resistant Sunflower Genotype

In a previous study, we observed that bract and corolla extracts from a Sclerotinia sclerotiorum-resistant sunflower contained high amounts of the known coumarins scopoletin, scopolin, and ayapin. There was a correlation between coumarin concentration and disease resistance. Thin layer chromatography showed higher concentrations of three other compounds in the resistant genotype when compared to the susceptible. A bioassay-directed purification that used column chromatography and HPLC allowed the isolation of a new compound, 3-acetyl-4-acetoxyacetophenone, and known compounds, demethoxyencecalin and 3-acetyl-4-hydroxyacetophenone. Structures were assigned from spectral data, and bioactivities were characterized by in vitro bioassays against S. sclerotiorum. The new compound, 3-acetyl-4-acetoxyacetophenone, had an antifungal activity similar to the coumarin ayapin, previously described as a potent Sclerotinia inhibitor. The speed and simplicity by which these compounds can be detected make them suitable for use in screening procedures that may identify genotypes with valuable levels of resistance. A screening of seven sunflower genotypes in a field experiment showed a correlation between these compounds and resistance to Sclerotinia.     

Coefficient of restitution and linear–dashpot model revisited

With the assumption of a linear–dashpot interaction force, the coefficient of restitution, , can be computed as a function of the elastic and dissipative material constants, k and γ by integrating Newton’s equation of motion for an isolated pair of colliding particles. If we require further that the particles interact exclusively repulsive, which is a common assumption in granular systems, we obtain an expression which differs even qualitatively from the known result . The expression allows to relate Molecular Dynamics simulations to event-driven Molecular Dynamics for a widely used collision model. This research was supported by German Science Foundation and by the G.I.F., the German-Israeli Foundation for Scientific Research and Development.     

Effect of spontaneous breathing trial duration on outcome of attempts to discontinue mechanical ventilation. Spanish Lung Failure Collaborative Group

The duration of spontaneous breathing trials before extubation has been set at 2 h in research studies, but the optimal duration is not known. We conducted a prospective, multicenter study involving 526 ventilator-supported patients considered ready for weaning, to compare clinical outcomes for trials of spontaneous breathing with target durations of 30 and 120 min. Of the 270 and 256 patients in the 30- and 120-min trial groups, respectively, 237 (87.8%) and 216 (84.8%), respectively, completed the trial without distress and were extubated (p = 0.32); 32 (13.5%) and 29 (13.4%), respectively, of these patients required reintubation within 48 h. The percentage of patients who remained extubated for 48 h after a spontaneous breathing trial did not differ in the 30- and 120-min trial groups (75.9% versus 73.0%, respectively, p = 0.43). The 30- and 120-min trial groups had similar within-unit mortality rates (13 and 9%, respectively) and in-hospital mortality rates (19 and 18%, respectively). Reintubation was required in 61 (13.5%) patients, and these patients had a higher mortality (20 of 61, 32.8%) than did patients who tolerated extubation (18 of 392, 4.6%) (p < 0.001). Neither measurements of respiratory frequency, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and oxygen saturation during the trial, nor other functional measurements before the trial discriminated between patients who required reintubation from those who tolerated extubation. In conclusion, after a first trial of spontaneous breathing, successful extubation was achieved equally effectively with trials targeted to last 30 and 120 min.