Theoretical explanation of enhanced low dose rate sensitivity in erbium-doped optical fibers

A new theoretical framework is proposed to explain the dose and dose-rate dependence of radiation-induced absorption in optical fibers. A first-order dispersive kinetics model is used to simulate the growth of the density of color centers during an irradiation. This model succeeds in explaining the enhanced low dose rate sensitivity observed in certain kinds of erbium-doped optical fiber and provides some insight into the physical reasons behind this sensitivity.     

Relations between structure and property of polyamide 11 nanocomposites based on raw clays elaborated by water‐assisted extrusion

Bio‐based polymers and polymer nanocomposites have known an increasing interest during the past few years. This work is focused on the elaboration and the characterization of bio‐based nanocomposites made from polyamide 11 (PA11) and nonorganomodified montmorillonite. To elaborate these materials an original elaboration process, consisting in injecting water during the extrusion, was used. Results show that thanks to this process, a well exfoliated morphology is obtained for clay contents as high as 10% wt. This was explained on the one hand by the fact that the clay is soluble in water and on the other hand by the fact that water and PA11 are miscible at high pressure and high temperature. Moreover, the morphology analyses have revealed that from 10% wt of clay, the platelets were not totally randomly distributed but they were rather organized at a mesoscopic scale. The obtaining of such clay's dispersion involves an enhancement of thermomechanical properties. For example, for a clay content of 10% wt, the Young's modulus of the material can be doubled and its degradation temperature increased. The role of the elaboration conditions on the morphology and subsequent properties of the nanocomposites are also carefully analyzed. Finally, it has been evidenced that the presence of the filler infers on both the crystalline form induced and the crystallization kinetics. In summary, this study demonstrates that, in the case of PA11 nanocomposites, the water‐assisted injection process leads to the achievement of an exfoliated morphology for clay contents as high as 10% wt that allows to obtain high performance materials and to be free from using organomodified clays. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Production of Oxidized Derivatives of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was catalytically converted in a bench-scale flow reactor to the oxidized derivatives 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFCA), and 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF). Conversions and selectivities to these products depended on oxidant, pH, catalyst, and reactor operating conditions. The feasibility of producing these species in a flow reactor was demonstrated.     

On the influence of deformation rate on intergranular crack propagation in Type 304 stainless steel

The influence of deformation rate on the stable intergranular crack propagation behaviour of Type 304 stainless steel, as reflected in the crack width, length, and angular orientation parameters was examined. Specimens deformed to failure in the slow tension and creep-rupture modes at 650°C were studied. The results indicate that a rapid, step-wise crack propagation between grain-boundary triple junctions does not occur for these specimens, but that the triple junctions do provide a significant barrier to crack propagation. The crack angular orientation and width, as a function of deformation rate, were concluded to be the parameters which reflect the crack growth rate for the test conditions employed in this work.     

Primary high-dose intradermal hepatitis B vaccination in hemodialysis: cost-effectiveness evaluation at 2 years

Reinforced hepatitis B (HB) vaccination schedules have been tested in nonresponsive hemodialysis (HD) patients. Primary high-dose intradermal (ID) vaccination in HD has been proposed in one study with higher seroconversion rate, but no cost analysis was made. The aim of this prospective study was to confirm this previous report and focus on a cost-effectiveness evaluation of the thorough vaccination with a maintenance program. Thirty-five chronic incident HD patients received primary ID HB vaccination with a reinforced schedule (20 microg Engerix-B every 2 weeks). Revaccination with a monthly single ID dose of 20 microg was performed whenever anti-HBs titer fell under 20 IU/L and continued until a titer of 20 U/L was reached. Outcome measures were cumulative seroconversion rates, mean levels of anti-HBs, maintenance booster doses, rate of seroprotection at the end of the 2-year follow-up and subsequent costs. The present study was associated with an earlier peak of anti-HBs titer (3.9+/-1.7 months) and a higher cumulative seroconversion rate (96.9%) after 1 year. Moreover, a low-booster shot (17.4 microg) of ID Engerix-B/year/patient confers a 100% seroprotection for all responders for a second-year period. The mean cost of our schedule is 127.7 euro/patient for a 2-year period, revaccination included. This current study demonstrates that primary reinforced ID HB vaccination with a maintenance program for a 2-year period warrants the best cost-effectiveness ratio with rapid and sustained seroprotection in almost all HD patients.     

Thermodynamic and spectroscopic measurements of the electron-hole drop binding energy in Ge: An old problem revisited

One can expect to get the electron-hole (EHD) binding energy φ either from spectroscopic or from threshold measurements. While the value obtained by the former is in excellent agreement with theory, the results given by the latter did not seem to lead to φ in a simple way. We present here new optical threshold studies in which we think that the right conditions to obtain a direct thermodynamic measurement of φ have been mastered. Besides, our results present novel features like a sharp jump of the EHD luminescence at threshold above 2.4 K and observation of hysteresis in the whole temperature range of our work.